According to the Public Relations Department of IICT, the 18th edition of the Khorasan Seminary Research Works Call has announced its winners.
A total of 1,830 works were submitted to the 18th Call for Research Works of the Khorasan Seminary, which were categorized into four academic levels. After evaluation, the first, second, and third-place winners were identified. In total, 407 works, including articles, dissertations, books, research projects, and final studies from 260 researchers of the Khorasan Seminary, were selected as chosen works.
The book “Erfanvareha: Genealogy and Critique of Thought Foundations” by the Spirituality Research Group of the Institute, authored by Hojatoleslam Moslem Gerivani and published by the Institute’s Publications Organization, was recognized as a chosen work in this edition of the call.
In this book, we read:
“Erfanvareha,” which are referred to as new religions, emerging religious movements, and alternative religions in the West, and as new or pseudo-spiritualities in Iran, encompass a diverse array of emerging spiritual and esoteric movements that largely formed following the period of religious denial and the West’s subsequent “spiritual crisis.”
From the author’s perspective, despite having superficial or sometimes substantial attractions, which often relate to the charisma of the movement’s leader, adoption of teachings from various religions and schools, or the legitimization of sexual freedom, these pseudo-spiritualities also harbor neglected vulnerabilities.
With a comprehensive approach to spiritual studies (religious, non-religious, trans-religious, and anti-religious mysticism), the author categorizes these pseudo-spiritualities within trans-religious mysticisms, and analyzes and critiques their various dimensions, including their insights, methods, tendencies, and actions, against the foundations and measures of authentic mysticism in religions and Islamic mysticism.
