"Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities" Conference
Wednesday-Saturday, April 26-29, 2023
Registration Now Open for In-Person and Virtual Participation
Harvard Divinity School’s Program for the Evolution of Spirituality is delighted to announce that our spring 2023 conference will be organized around the theme of “Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities.” We will offer three days of panels and workshops devoted to this theme and other aspects of alternative spirituality.
Our conference will explore a twofold reality: alternative spiritualities can be enormously empowering for the persons who participate in them, but they can also be sites of deeply harmful abuses of power. Our sessions will explore both sides of this reality and strive to foster open-hearted dialogue between people who have benefited from alternative spiritualities and those who have experienced significant harm from them.
For the purposes of this conference, we define “alternative spiritualities” broadly in keeping with the Program for the Evolution of Spirituality’s mission to support the scholarly study of emerging spiritual movements, marginalized spiritualities, and the innovative edges of established religious traditions.
This conference is free to the public, but registration is required using the link below. Please note that there are only a few in-person spaces still available, while virtual participation is unlimited. A full conference program will be posted at this site soon.
2023 Conference Abstracts (listed alphabetically by title)
Stafford, Brian. 2023. “A Look at Leadership Archetypes in Traditional and Alternative Spiritualities.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Stafford, Brian. 2023. “A Look at Leadership Archetypes in Traditional and Alternative Spiritualities.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Curtis, Morgan. 2023. “Ancestors and Money: The Spiritual Dimension of Reparations Work for White People.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Curtis, Morgan. 2023. “Ancestors and Money: The Spiritual Dimension of Reparations Work for White People.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Louie, Jenn. 2023. “Authority Over the Alternative: The Role of Social Media, Content Moderation and Secularism in Authorizing the Rise and Fall of Alternative Spiritualities.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Louie, Jenn. 2023. “Authority Over the Alternative: The Role of Social Media, Content Moderation and Secularism in Authorizing the Rise and Fall of Alternative Spiritualities.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Gregorius, Fredrik. 2023. “Becoming Indigenous? The Development of Nordic Animism.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Gregorius, Fredrik. 2023. “Becoming Indigenous? The Development of Nordic Animism.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Sundar, Sudarshan, and Judy Rodgers. 2023. “Brahma Kumaris: A Women-Led Spiritual Organization Challenging a Male-Dominated Spiritual Landscape.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Sundar, Sudarshan, and Judy Rodgers. 2023. “Brahma Kumaris: A Women-Led Spiritual Organization Challenging a Male-Dominated Spiritual Landscape.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Lovejoy, Allegra. 2023. “Building Safer Spaces: Ethics and Transparency in Alternative Spiritualities.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Lovejoy, Allegra. 2023. “Building Safer Spaces: Ethics and Transparency in Alternative Spiritualities.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Jemmett, Amy. 2023. “Can You Find Me?: Growing up in Scientology in 1990s Toronto.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Jemmett, Amy. 2023. “Can You Find Me?: Growing up in Scientology in 1990s Toronto.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Koehlinger, Amy. 2023. “Cautions and Correctives to Prevent Religious Abuse in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Lessons from the Oregon Psilocybin Services Initiative.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Koehlinger, Amy. 2023. “Cautions and Correctives to Prevent Religious Abuse in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Lessons from the Oregon Psilocybin Services Initiative.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Osterhold, Helge, and Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold. 2023. “Chasing the Numinous: Hungry Ghosts in the Shadow of the Psychedelic Renaissance.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Osterhold, Helge, and Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold. 2023. “Chasing the Numinous: Hungry Ghosts in the Shadow of the Psychedelic Renaissance.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Palmer, Susan. 2023. “Children and ‘Spiritual Abuse’ in Alternative Spiritualities: Issues of Harm, Questions of Blame, and the Search for Solutions.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Palmer, Susan. 2023. “Children and ‘Spiritual Abuse’ in Alternative Spiritualities: Issues of Harm, Questions of Blame, and the Search for Solutions.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Di Marzio, Raffaella. 2023. “Choosing and Leaving a Spiritual Community. Paths of Change and Personal Development.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Di Marzio, Raffaella. 2023. “Choosing and Leaving a Spiritual Community. Paths of Change and Personal Development.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Assadourian, Erik, Ian Mowll, and Michelle Merrill. 2023. “Countering the Eco-Abuses of Dominant Societal Paradigms.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Assadourian, Erik, Ian Mowll, and Michelle Merrill. 2023. “Countering the Eco-Abuses of Dominant Societal Paradigms.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Jaoudi, Maria. 2023. “Cultivating Spiritual Experiences: The Chan Buddhist Ox Herding Pictures.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Jaoudi, Maria. 2023. “Cultivating Spiritual Experiences: The Chan Buddhist Ox Herding Pictures.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Arredondo, Tianna. 2023. “Curiosity As Inner-Alchemy.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Arredondo, Tianna. 2023. “Curiosity As Inner-Alchemy.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Shankar, Dwivedi. 2023. “Daṇḍapāṇi Bhairava in Mokṣadāyinī Kāśī: An Inquiry into the Tantric and Folk Connections of the Purāṇic Guardian-Deity of Banaras.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Shankar, Dwivedi. 2023. “Daṇḍapāṇi Bhairava in Mokṣadāyinī Kāśī: An Inquiry into the Tantric and Folk Connections of the Purāṇic Guardian-Deity of Banaras.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Zheng, Matthew. 2023. “Dharmic Disidentifications: Queer Buddhists of Color, Racial Capitalism, and Power.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Zheng, Matthew. 2023. “Dharmic Disidentifications: Queer Buddhists of Color, Racial Capitalism, and Power.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Bentsman, Michelle. 2023. “Drinking Poison, Integrating Shadows: Paths Toward Community, Integrity & Protection.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Bentsman, Michelle. 2023. “Drinking Poison, Integrating Shadows: Paths Toward Community, Integrity & Protection.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Mondragón, Delores. 2023. “Drumming As the Oppressed of the Oppressed: Two Spirit Survivance In the Time of Native American Ceremonial Resurgence.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Mondragón, Delores. 2023. “Drumming As the Oppressed of the Oppressed: Two Spirit Survivance In the Time of Native American Ceremonial Resurgence.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Tarwater, Bonnie. 2023. “Earth Crisis Support Groups.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Tarwater, Bonnie. 2023. “Earth Crisis Support Groups.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Good, Jennifer. 2023. “Earth-Based Spirituality’s Power to Counter Earthly Disconnection?.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Good, Jennifer. 2023. “Earth-Based Spirituality’s Power to Counter Earthly Disconnection?.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Dansac, Yael. 2023. “Embodying Celtic Heritage in Brittany’s Megaliths: Creative Rituality for Cultural Belonging..” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Dansac, Yael. 2023. “Embodying Celtic Heritage in Brittany’s Megaliths: Creative Rituality for Cultural Belonging..” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Harvey, Sarah, and Suzanne Newcombe. 2023. “Empowerment and Abuse: Gender and Sexuality in Two Syncretistic NRMs.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Harvey, Sarah, and Suzanne Newcombe. 2023. “Empowerment and Abuse: Gender and Sexuality in Two Syncretistic NRMs.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Gracia, Agustina. 2023. “Empowerment and Agency Among Llave Mariana’s Practitioners: An Ethnographic Approach to an Argentinian Spiritual Movement.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Gracia, Agustina. 2023. “Empowerment and Agency Among Llave Mariana’s Practitioners: An Ethnographic Approach to an Argentinian Spiritual Movement.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Smith, Margaret. 2023. “Empowerment and Disempowerment in Moral Re-Armament.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Smith, Margaret. 2023. “Empowerment and Disempowerment in Moral Re-Armament.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Goodwillie, Christian. 2023. “From Lion to Lamb: The Spiritual Humiliation of Shaker Richard McNemar.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Goodwillie, Christian. 2023. “From Lion to Lamb: The Spiritual Humiliation of Shaker Richard McNemar.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Lord, Phil. 2023. “From the “Cult Watchers” to the ‘Anti-Cult Wars’: Tracing the Path to Rich and Rigorous Scientology Research.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Lord, Phil. 2023. “From the “Cult Watchers” to the ‘Anti-Cult Wars’: Tracing the Path to Rich and Rigorous Scientology Research.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Burschel, Maria. 2023. “Genderspecific Manipulation (Gaslighting) through Non-Violent Communication, Spirituality and Biologistic Concepts of Mother- and Fatherhood.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Burschel, Maria. 2023. “Genderspecific Manipulation (Gaslighting) through Non-Violent Communication, Spirituality and Biologistic Concepts of Mother- and Fatherhood.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Breau, Jeffrey. 2023. “God Came to Party: Psychedelic Spirituality at Burning Man.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Breau, Jeffrey. 2023. “God Came to Party: Psychedelic Spirituality at Burning Man.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Khalsa, Nirinjan. 2023. “Healthy Happy Holy? Harm and Healing in Sikh Dharma’s Kundalini Yoga Community.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Khalsa, Nirinjan. 2023. “Healthy Happy Holy? Harm and Healing in Sikh Dharma’s Kundalini Yoga Community.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Rendlen, Chelsea. 2023. “Improving Self Improvement: How ‘The Untethered Soul’ Exemplifies Barriers to Healing for Abuse Survivors When Reading Self-Help Books.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Rendlen, Chelsea. 2023. “Improving Self Improvement: How ‘The Untethered Soul’ Exemplifies Barriers to Healing for Abuse Survivors When Reading Self-Help Books.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.