Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (RENSEP)

RENSEP (Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices) is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to promote and advance the interdisciplinary and comparative study of esoteric practices from a global perspective. RENSEP’s ambition is to organise and structure a stimulating intellectual and methodological environment that allows researchers from different backgrounds and disciplines to meet and exchange their analyses and interpretations of esoteric practices from an open-minded, data-based, apolitical, and non-ideological perspective. RENSEP’s unique approach is to provide a shared cognitive and interactional space – the RENSEP website – that transcends traditional academic boundaries by supporting the participation and encounter of both scholars and practitioners of esoteric practices. What is more, RENSEP has a limited yearly budget for promoting the study of esoteric practices beyond established channels of academic funding. All fund requests are decided upon by RENSEP’s scientific committee. RENSEP is a privately funded Charitable Incorporated Organisation based in the UK. The constitution and functioning of the association is under the control of the Charity Commission. RENSEP is financed by private donations as well as by the subscriptions of its affiliate members.