Writing a History of Spiritualities Today:

A Crossroads Between Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Psychology

Abstract

Through an interdisciplinary intersection of philosophy, religious studies, and psychology, this article aims to explore the potentialities of a history of spirituality conceived from a postmodern historiographical perspective. To accomplish this, the article presents the debate within these three branches of knowledge concerning the deconstruction of the concept of spirituality and spiritual exercise. As a result of this reflection, the potential for a history of spirituality grounded in the present is unveiled, as it allows for the thematic exploration of experiences frequently neglected by historical disciplines. Among these experiences are philosophical ways of life present in ancient philosophy (platonism, epicureanism, etc.); spiritual exercises of esoteric movements (gnosticism, freemasonry, etc.); practices framed in contemporary psychology (psychotherapy, mindfulness, etc.); disciplines originating from the East (modern yoga, martial arts, etc.), among many others.