Julia von Boguslawski

Doctoral Researcher, Study of Religions, University of Helsinki

I am a doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki Study of Religions department. First I studied philosophy, but ended up graduating as a Master of Arts majoring in history. In my current research these perspectives are combined. My research interests include changes in the Finnish religious landscape, especially the history of esotericism, transnational networks and mediation of ideas, different interpretations of esotericism, and the uses of history.

My doctoral dissertation focuses on how theosophists and anthroposophists organized themselves as societies in Finland during the first decades of the 20^th century. I am interested in the transnational networks of these movements and the central mediators who introduced them to the Finnish audience. I also study the support the movements gained in Finland, and what kind of people they attracted. I am especially interested in how these movements positioned themselves as new religious/ideological movements on the Finnish religious field.

Keywords:  theosophy, anthroposophy, the Theosophical Society in Finland, the Anthroposophical Society in Finland, cultural history of esotericism

Tuhat research database

Academia.edu

Publications related to the project:

• ”Antroposofia” Moderni esoteerisuus ja okkultismi Suomessa. Tiina Mahlamäki & Nina Kokkinen (toim.). Tampere: Vastapaino 2020.
• ”Esoterian suhde tieteeseen” Moderni esoteerisuus ja okkultismi Suomessa. Tiina Mahlamäki & Nina Kokkinen (toim.). Tampere: Vastapaino 2020.
• ”Teosofinen ja antroposofinen liike Viipurissa” Monumenteista tanssiaskeliin. Taiteiden ja kulttuurin Viipuri 1856–1944. Anna Ripatti & Nuppu Koivisto (toim.). Helsinki: Viipurin suomalainen kirjallisuusseura 2020.
• ”Ane Gyllenberg’s Spirituality and Interest in Anthroposophy” Spiritual Treasures. Esotericism in the Finnish Art World 1890–1950. Lotta Nylund & Nina Kokkinen (eds.). Parvs 2020.
• Putting the Spiritual into Practice: Anthroposophy in the Life and Work of Uno and Olly Donner. Approaching Religion 2018 (1), 48–68. Julia von Boguslawski & Jasmine Westerlund https://journal.fi/ar/article/view/66739
• Henkisen elämän kaipuu: antroposofinen henkitiede Suomessa 1922–1935. (The longing for a spiritual life: anthroposophical spiritual science in Finland 1922–1935) Historiallinen Aikakauskirja 2017 (2), 211–224.

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