Fantasy and Belief: Alternative Religions, Popular Narratives, and Digital Cultures

205 Pages·2014·3.99 MB·English

by  Danielle Kirby

FANTASY AND BELIEF
Approaches to New Religions
Series Editors: James R. Lewis, University of Tromsø, & Henrik Bogdan, University of
Gothenburg
Editorial Board
Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion; Ingvild Gilhus,
University of Bergen; Wouter Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam; James T.
Richardson, University of Nevada Reno; Steve Sutcliffe, Edinburgh University;
Jo Pearson, University of Winchester; Massimo Introvigne, CESNUR
Published
Cults: A Reference Guide, 3rd edition
James R. Lewis
Fantasy and Belief: Alternative Religions, Popular Narratives and Digital Cultures
Danielle Kirby
FANYTSAISSY AND BELIEF
Alternative religions, popular
narratives and digital cultures
Danielle Kirby
First Published 2013 by Equinox Publishing Ltd, an imprint of Acumen
Published 2014 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor and Francis Group, an informa business
© Danielle Kirby 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.

Notices
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience
and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods,
compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information
or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of
others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors,
contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage
to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or
otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products,
instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.
isbn: 978-1-908049-23-0 (hardback)
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kirby, Danielle, 1980–
Fantasy and belief : alternative religions, popular narratives and digital cultures /
Danielle Kirby.
p. cm. — (Approaches to new religions)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-908049-23-0
1. Religion and culture. 2. Mass media—Religious aspects. I. Title.
BL65.C8K567 2013
201'7—dc23
2012026810
Typeset by JS Typesetting Ltd, Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan
To David Campbell and Dr Barry Fryar
Thanks for, well, everything…
This page intentionally left blank
CoNTENTS
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
1. Religion, occulture and the modern world 7
2. The Otherkin 39
3. Fantasy and re-enchantment: sources of content 69
4. The internet and popular cultures: sources of context 103
Conclusions 129
Appendix: Otherkin survey results 133
Notes 151
Bibliography 175
Index 189
This page intentionally left blank
ACkNowLEDgEmENTS
This book has been a long time in the making, and would not have been pos-
sible without the help and support of a number of people. First and foremost,
I’d like to thank Lynne Hume, who has offered both knowledge and guidance
for longer than I (and probably she) would care to admit. Phillip Almond, Rick
Strelan and Helen Farley have also provided invaluable advice, support and
discussion, as more recently has Carole Cusack, Elizabeth Coleman, Christian
McCrea, Rebecca Hill and Peter Horsfield. It would also be remiss of me not to
mention the decade or so of incredible conversations had with the artists from
half/theory, many of which are still ongoing, which are a source of constant
inspiration. Finally, particular mention must be made of the contribution of
David Campbell, who has both tolerated and participated in more conversa-
tions about dragons than he thought humanly possible.