The Western Esoteric Tradition as an Object of Sociological Studies: History and Prospects

The article is aimed at presenting a particular way of developing sociological reflection upon the tradition of Western esotericism in the categories of counterculture. The author makes an attempt to indicate the significance of practicing this reflection within a separate sociological subdiscipline – the sociology of esotericism. The study consists of two parts: the first comprises a reconstruction of the sociological perspective in the research into Western esoteric tradition, while in the second, a certain way of practising sociology of esotericism is suggested, one focussing on the notions of visibility and recognition.

Research Perspectives in Political Science of Religion

The article presents political science of religion as an explanatory framework of the political role of religion, grounded in political science. It proceeds from the critique of the prevailing legal and theological approaches as being normatively overloaded and failing to grasp the actual impact of religion on power relations, to formulating metatheoretical/methodological postulates of the political science of religion as an empirical subdiscipline of social science. It then proposes a multilevel approach to the study of the political role of religion. It consists of three distinct – but integrated – theoretical perspectives: the economic or transactional approach, grounded in rational choice theory and economic theories of religion; the social movements theory (SMT) approach, looking at the internal assets, organization and dynamics of religious actors; and the cultural/humanistic approach, exploring evolutionary, psychological and sociological determinants behind individual propensity to religion-inspired political mobilization. 

Literary Cartography in the Keralan Hagiographies of the Advaita Vedānta Tradition

The proposed paper concerns the hitherto unstudied regional hagiographic tradition of Śaṅkara – the great Indian philosopher and founder of the pan-Indian monastic order within the Advaita Vedānta doctrine in Kerala (South India). This literary tradition is represented by a series of lesser-known texts in Sanskrit and Malayalam. The objective of this article is to examine some of the cultural and literary methods of space valorization and creation of literary cartographies. The sacred topography created through the hagiographic narrative causes the overlap of spatial religious concepts and physical geography of temples, monasteries and pilgrimage sites. Therefore, the theoretical approach applied during the examination of the hagiographic tradition in question remains informed by the method of literary cartography.

On the Origins of Metropolitan Józef Sołtan

Metropolitan Józef Sołtan was one of the most prominent hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century. Most researchers believe that Józef Sołtan, Smolensk Orthodox Bishop (1503-1507) and later the Metropolitan of Kiev (1507-1521), was the son of Sołtan Alexandrowicz and Wasylissa Chreptowiczówna, brother of Alexander Sołtan. The findings presented in the article show that the view of the origin of the family of metropolitan Józef Sołtan from the Łohojska line is fully credible in confrontation with the names of the persons mentioned in the Supraśl book of the deceased. An analysis of the Supraśl book of the dead shows that it contains the names of people from the family of Archbishop Józef Sołtan, and that Eliasz Sołtan, a farmer from the Łohojsk region, is the same person as Metropolitan Józef Sołtan.

Universal Basic Income from the Perspective of Catholic Social Thought

A universal basic income is a government guarantee that each citizen receives a minimum income. It is also called a citizen’s income, guaranteed minimum income, or basic income. The intention behind the payment is to provide enough to cover the basic costs of living and provide financial security. The concept has regained popularity as a way to offset job losses caused by technology.The incomes would be unconditional, automatic, non-withdrawable, individual, and considered a right. The main goal of the article was to consider whether the idea of universal basic oncome income is compatible with Catholic social teaching. Opinions on this matter are still divided, and there are no official statements from the Church's Magisterium on this matter.

Rec.: Jakub Bohuszewicz, Od opętania do rytuału. Pojęcie i praktyka transu w kultach vodun i katolicyzmie, „Jagiellońskie Monografie Religioznawcze”, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, Kraków 2017, ss. 276.