Ecstasy research in the 20th century – an introduction

Authors

• Nils Holm Åbo Akademi University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30674/scripta.67128

Keywords:

Experience (Religion) -- Comparative studies, Ecstasy, Trance, Mysticism, Spirit possession, Altered states of consciousness

Abstract

Scholars have always been interested in distinctive phenomena in culture and religion. Thus the accounts and achievements of yogis and mystics received attention at an early stage. There is a similar tendency with shamans, different kinds of sorcerers and with the "group-hysterical" phenomena that have appeared from time to time. There is, on the other hand, no major collection of research contributions on all the phenomena belonging to this field. Before proceeding to discuss some of the research produced over this vast area, some of the technical terms and concepts current in this field of study need to be introduced: ecstasy, trance, mysticism, possession, and altered states of consciousness.