Religious minorities and exoticism

It is not uncommon for religious minorities to be the object of fear, controversies, or vilification. Yet, in some cases, they are seen as enticing and beautiful because of their otherness – as shown, for instance, by the popularisation of yoga and meditation, curiosity for shamanism and Sufism, or the craze for Kabbalah. This chapter aims to explore the appeal of foreign religious traditions in contemporary Euro-American societies by drawing on the concept of religious exoticism, an aesthetic perception that focusesonthe otherness of groups, ideas, or practices, and which bestows upon them attractiveness, value, and legitimacy. It will draw on case studies researched by the authors, referring to Kabbalah and Sufism. Indeed, while antisemitism and islamophobia have been relatively significant cultural features inWesternsocieties, mystical expressions such as Kabbalah and Sufism have proved to be incredibly appealing. Yet the fascination for the religiously foreign is often combined with discomfort and distaste, leading to selections, decontextualization, and interpretations that render otherness more palatable. Through such processes, Sufism and Kabbalah have often been presented as sources of universal wisdom and self-realization techniques transcending religious, cultural, and national differences. This has certainly contributed to the popularisation of Kabbalah and Sufism. It has, however, generated tensions, dissatisfaction, and scissions among religious movements, oscillating between universalisation and ethnoreligious particularism