Navigating Modern Individualism and Mystical Commodification

This chapter examines modern individualism in the West, contrasting it with pre-modern beliefs and addressing the anxiety stemming from a loss of enchantment. It critiques the commercialization of Eastern spirituality and the cultural appropriation that dilutes genuine traditions, highlighting how Western narratives often exploit and misrepresent Eastern mysticism. The discussion also explores the intersection of religion and commerce, where figures like 'imampreneurs' and 'pastorpreneurs' navigate the spiritual marketplace, illustrating the complexities and absurdities of commodified spirituality.