This page contains links to PDF and online versions of selected articles and chapters, made available as per copyright agreements with the various publishers.

Theory and Methodology in the Study of Religion

· Undisciplining the Study of Religion: Critical Posthumanities and More-than-human Ways of Knowing. Special issue “Animal Spirits: Knowing with Otherbodies,” ed. by Teya Brooks Pribac & Jay Johnston. Religion (21 September 2023), DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2023.2258705 (Open Access).

· Review of Siv Ellen Kraft, Bjørn Ola Tafjord, Arkotong Longkumer, Gregory D. Alles & Greg Johnson, “Indigenous Religion(s): Local Grounds, Global Networks.” Indigenous Religious Traditions 1/1 (2023): 155–158. https://doi.org/10.1558/irt.26078 (Open Access)

· The Circularity in Defining Religion: A Response to Shaul Magid. In: Aaron W. Hughes & Russell T. McCutcheon (eds.): What is Religion? Debating the Academic Study of Religion. New York: Oxford University Press 2021: 110–120. Open Access (Download PDF)

· The Accountability of Embedded Scholarship: Reply to Laurie L. Patton. In: Aaron W. Hughes & Russell T. McCutcheon (eds.): What is Religion? Debating the Academic Study of Religion. New York: Oxford University Press 2021: 237–242. Open Access (Download PDF)

· Institutional Histories, Identity Work, and Critical Theory: A Response to Markus Davidsen. NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion 74 (2020): 243–252. (Download PDF)

· Discourse. In: Robert A. Segal & Kocku von Stuckrad (eds.): Vocabulary for the Study of Religion. 3 vols. Leiden & Boston: Brill 2015: vol. 1, 429–438. (Download PDF)

· Discursive Study of Religion: Approaches, Definitions, Implications. Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 25/1 (2013): 5–25. (Download PDF)

· Utopian Landscapes and Ecstatic Journeys: Friedrich Nietzsche, Hermann Hesse, and Mircea Eliade on the Terror of Modernity. Numen: International Review for the History of Religions 57/1 (2010): 78–102. (Download PDF)

· Reflections on the Limits of Reflection: An Invitation to the Discursive Study of Religion. Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 22 (2010): 156–169. (Download PDF)

· Theologies and Scholars (A Forum on ‘Theology’ and Scholarly Inquiry). Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture 3 (2009): 392–397. (Download PDF)

· Finding Data: Some Reflections on Ontologies and Normativities. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture 1/1 (2007): 39–46. (Download PDF)

· Relative, Contingent, Determined: The Category ‘History’ and Its Methodological Dilemma. Journal of the American Academy of Religion 71/4 (2003): 905–912. (Download PDF)

Religion, Ecology, Science, and Esoteric Discourse in European Cultural History

· Bron Taylor’s Dark Green Religion After 12 Years. AЯGOS 1 (2022): 58–64. DOI: 10.26034/fr.argos.2022.3563. Available Open Access.

· Review of Yves Mühlematter & Helmut Zander (eds.), “Occult Roots of Religious Studies: On the Influence of Non-Hegemonic Currents on Academia around 1900”. Theologische Revue 118 (2022). https://doi.org/10.17879/thrv-2022-3899  (Open Access)

· Making Senses: Poetic Knowledge of Nature in Science, Art, and Shamanic Ritual. Counterpoint: Navigating Knowledge, 24 August 2018. Available in Open Access | Download PDF (6 MB).

· Magie und Wissenschaft – Wie geht das zusammen? Kultur & Technik 1 (2016): 7–11. (Download PDF)

· Religion and Science in Transformation: On Discourse Communities, the Double-Bind of Discourse Research, and Theoretical Controversies. In: Frans Wijsen & Kocku von Stuckrad (eds.): Making Religion: Theory and Practice in the Discursive Study of Religion. Leiden & Boston: Brill 2016: 203–224. (Download PDF)

· Esotericism Disputed: Major Debates in the Field. In: April DeConick (ed.): Secret Religion (Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks: Religion). Farmington Hills: Macmillan 2016: 171–181. (Download PDF)

· The Hybridity of Scientific Knowledge: A Response to Leonardo Ambasciano. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 51/4 (2016): 1067–1071. (Download PDF)

· Ancient Esotericism, Problematic Assumptions, and Conceptual Trouble. Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism 15/1 (2015): 15–18. (Download PDF)

· Astrology. In: Robert A. Segal & Kocku von Stuckrad (eds.): Vocabulary for the Study of Religion. 3 vols. Leiden & Boston: Brill 2015: vol. 1, 129–132. (Download PDF)

· Esoteric/Esotericism. In: Robert A. Segal & Kocku von Stuckrad (eds.): Vocabulary for the Study of Religion. 3 vols. Leiden & Boston: Brill 2015: vol. 1, 526–529. (Download PDF)

· Stars and Powers: Astrological Thinking in Imperial Politics from the Hasmoneans to Bar Kokhba. In: George H. van Kooten & Peter Barthel (eds.): The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Experts on the Ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman World, and Modern Astronomy. Leiden & Boston: Brill 2015: 387–398. (Download PDF)

· Refutation and Desire: European Perceptions of Shamanism in the Late Eighteenth Century. Journal of Religion in Europe 5/1 (2012): 100–121. (Download PDF)

· Interreligious Transfers in the Middle Ages: The Case of Astrology. Journal of Religion in Europe 1/1 (2008): 34–59. (Download PDF)

· Esoteric Discourse and the European History of Religion: In Search of a New Interpretational Framework. In: Tore Ahlbäck (ed., with the assistance of Björn Dahla): Western Esotericism. Based on Papers Read at the Symposium on Western Esotericism Held at Åbo, Finland, on 15–17 August 2007  (Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis, vol. 20). Åbo: Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History 2008: 217–236. (Download PDF)

· Rewriting the Book of Nature: Kabbalah and the Metaphors of Contemporary Life-Sciences. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture 2/4 (2008): 419–442. (Download PDF)

· Constructing Femininity – the Lilith Case. In: Robert Platzner (ed.): Gender, Tradition and Renewal. Frankfurt/M. etc.: Peter Lang 2005. (Download PDF of first proofs with independent pagination)

· Reenchanting Nature: Modern Western Shamanism and Nineteenth-Century Thought. Journal of the American Academy of Religion 70 (2002): 771–799. (Download PDF)

· Jewish and Christian Astrology in Late Antiquity—A New Approach. Numen 47/1 (2000): 1–40. (Download PDF)

Op-eds, blog posts, podcasts, interviews, and recorded lectures

· “Relationale Wende – Die Trennung von Geist und Materie überwinden.” Podcast of the Society for Anomalistics with podcast host David Garcia. 10 March 2025.

· “Aus der Zeit gefallen, in die Zeit gefallen: Raunächte.” Contribution to Feinschwarz.net, 27 December 2024.

· “Introducing ‘Mitwelt’ Ethics.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 14 October 2024.

· “Wie schaffen wir mehr Verbundenheit mit unserer Umwelt?” Interview and public discussion at “Das philosophische Radio” about Kocku von Stuckrad’s recent book Nach der Ausbeutung: Wie unser Verhältnis zur Erde gelingen kann. German Radio WDR5, 7 October 2024.

· Podcast on “Astrology,” hosted by the Erlangen Center for Advanced Studies on “Esotericism and Alternative Rationalities” (CAS-E), moderated by Michael Lackner, featuring Christof Niederwieser, Darrel Rutkin, and Kocku von Stuckrad. Available on YouTube.

· “Esoterik – Gefahr oder Bereicherung für die Gesellschaft?” Conversation with Monika Elbert (General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in Germany) and Jens Heisterkamp (editor of the info3 magazine), Berlin, Germany, November 2023; video published 18 April 2024.

· “Junge Menschen und die Astrologie.” Feature for the German radio WDR3 and WDR5 by Inga Waschke and Hannah Lesch, 14 April 2024. Streaming available online.

· “In Krisenzeiten hat die Astrologie immer eine Blüte erlebt.” Interview with Nico Schwab for the Swiss Radio and TV SRF, 6 January 2024.

· “Change Comes from the Arts.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 28 November 2023.

· European Animisms. Ivar Paulson Lectures in the Study of Religion, organized by the Estonian Society for the Study of Religions, 3 invited lectures at the University of Tartu, Estonia, November 2023. Lecture 1: “The Colonial Invention of Animism”; Lecture 2: “European Animisms Today”; Lecture 3: “The Relational Turn and the Study of Religion.” Recordings of the three lectures

. “Encounters with the Uncanny: Stopping Clocks and Spooky Pianos.” Interview with the “ukrant,” University of Groningen, 1 November 2023.

. “They Believe in Astrology: Your Destiny is in the Stars.” Interview with the “ukrant,” University of Groningen, 5 June 2023.

. “Discussing Esotericism and Spirituality in Germany.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 31 May 2023. German version: “Esoterik und Spiritualität in Deutschland – eine schwierige Diskussion.” Blogpost für den Counterpoint Blog, 31. Mai 2023.

. “Monotheist Astrologies in (Late) Antiquity.” Conversation with Earl Fontainelle for The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP), 30 March 2023.

. “Das Wissen der Götter.” Interview by Jens Heisterkamp for Info3, March 2023, p. 40–45. (Download PDF)

. “A Cultural History of the Soul: Teya Brooks Pribac in Conversation with Kocku von Stuckrad.” Blogpost for the Australasian Animal Studies Association, 30 December 2022.

. “Sterne lügen nicht – warum Astrologie in Indien ernstgenommen wird,” by Gabriele Höfling. Interview for Deutschlandfunk / Deutschlandradio, 29 December 2022.

. “Sternedeuten und Horoskope: Die Geschichte der Astrologie.” Podcast “BR Radiowissen,” by Martin Trauner (Bayerischer Rundfunk), 7 December 2022.

. “On Environmental Grief.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 18 October 2022.

. “C.G. Jung, Lilith und die Seele im 20. Jahrhundert.” Interview with Amelie Hüneke on occasion of the Astrologie Online Kongress 2022, 13 October 2022.

. “Under the Radar of Hegemonic Perception: Alternative Spiritualities.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 16 August 2022.

. “Mit Astrologie zur Selbsterkenntnis?” Conversation with Olivia Röllin and Felizitas Ambauen about astrology for the Swiss TV format “Sternstunde Philosophie,” 1 May 2022.

· The Secular as a Religious Power House: A Conversation Between Kocku von Stuckrad and Courtney Bender. Online Webinar organized by the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po Paris, 21 April 2022.

. Everything is Animated”: Nature-Based Spiritualities and Their Intellectual Prehistory. Online lecture for the Program in the Study of Spirituality, Florida International University, 24 March 2022.

. “Hokuspokus oder Magie: Gibt es eine ‘vernunftverträgliche’ Esoterik?” Interview with Verena Gleitsmann for the Austrian radio ORF, 23 March 2022.

. “The Author’s Corner with Kocku von Stuckrad.” An online interview with John Fea for his blog “The Way of Improvement Leads Home,” 11 February 2022.

. “Bei der Astrologie halte ich es mit Goethe…” Interview with Sonja Panthöfer about astrology, published in the Wiener Zeitung Extra, 24/25/26 December 2021, p. 28–29. Online version here.

. “Berl-Berl and the Normality of Animism.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 2 November 2021.

. “Scientification of Esoteric Practices.” Interview with Angela Puca for her academic YouTube Channel on witchcraft, paganism, and esotericism, 29 August 2021.

. “Wir verkleinern unseren Horizont unnötig.” Interview with Die Zeit / Zeit Online about esotericism, spirituality, climate change, and academic positioning, 17 March 2021.

. “‘Nature’ and ‘Culture’: How We Perceive the World and Why This Should Change.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 26 January 2021.

. Interview with Helena Avelar and Luís Ribeiro on “Astrology in Cultural and Historical Context” for The Astra Project Podcast Series, 4 December 2020.

. “Embracing the Magicality of Science.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 22 September 2020.

. Podcast (lecture and interview) “Geschlecht und Sexualität in paganen und naturspirituellen Gemeinschaften.” Podcast series of the Institute for the Study of Religion, Freie Universität Berlin, 29 June 2020.

. “How the Soul Became Consciousness.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 23 June 2020.

. “Remembering and Forgetting Genocide in Germany.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 18 February 2020.

. “We Need Elders, Not Heroes.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 20 November 2019.

. Interview with Earl Fontainelle for The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast project, October 2019.

. With Whitney A. Bauman, “Counterpoint One Year On: Reflections and Experiences.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 11 September 2019.

. “Here’s to Astrology!” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 28 August 2019.

. “Counterpoint: Change Comes from the Margins.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 21 May 2019.

. “Unholy Alliances and the End of Taker Culture.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 14 May 2019.

· “Poetic Science: How Literature Conveys Knowledge of Nature.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 20 February 2019.

· Interview with Olivia Röllin about astrology for the Swiss TV format “Sternstunde Religion,” 6 January 2019. “Was sagen uns die Sterne wirklich?”

· Interview and contribution to radio feature by Rolf Cantzen on “Magisch, mystisch, energetisch? Der neue Schamanismus,” Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Format “Freistil,” 11 November 2018.

· “Accountability or Objectivity? Being a Scholar in an Age of Crisis.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 31 October 2018.

· “Berlin’s Contrapuntal Agency: Or, How Admitting the Knowledge of Place Can Change Science, Politics, and Culture.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 15 August 2018.

· Interview and contribution to radio feature by Rolf Cantzen on “Schamanismus im digitalen Zeitalter.” WDR “Lebenszeichen,” 20 May 2018.

· “Scientification of Religion.” Interview with Jessa Crispin for her “Public Intellectual” podcast series, April 2018.

· With Whitney A. Bauman: “Ten Theses on Academia, Society, and the Planetary Future: A Counterpoint Manifesto.” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 24 April 2018.

· “In Memoriam: Michael J. Harner (1929–2018).” Post for the Counterpoint Blog, 7 February 2018.

· “Das Private und das Öffentliche: Wie patriarchale Strukturen Liebe und Gemeinschaft deformieren.” Blog post for philosophie.ch: Swiss portal for Philosophy, 10 December 2017.

· “If I Only Knew Then… Tenured Scholars on Professionalization.” Blog post for the Bulletin for the Study of Religion, April 2016.

· Conversation with David G. Robertson about “Discursive Approaches and the Crises of Religious Studies.” Podcast on The Religious Studies Project website, December 2015.