A science for the soul

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In A Science for the Soul, historian Corinna Treitel examines the allure and significance of German occultism from the 1870s to the 1940s, highlighting its role amid the nation’s struggle with modernization and public discontent with scientific materialism. Occultism bridged traditional religious beliefs and the emerging values of a scientific, secular society. Utilizing extensive archival research, Treitel profiles the individuals and groups involved in the occult movement, detailing their organizational history and the economic and social factors contributing to their success. She explores how Germans engaged with the occult across three domains: Theosophy, where it facilitated spiritual enlightenment; the arts, where altered states of consciousness inspired avant-garde creativity; and applied sciences, where professionals in psychology, law enforcement, engineering, and medicine utilized occult methods to address modern challenges. Treitel concludes by examining the conflicting perceptions of occultism, particularly the anti-spiritualist campaigns led by the national press, religious institutions, and the Nazi regime, which ultimately suppressed the movement by 1945 after years of fluctuating attitudes toward it.