ABSTRACT
Christianity has historically been the predominant religion of southern Europe. However, in recent years, alternative forms of spirituality have claimed their presence in everyday religious practice. When it comes to Portuguese and Greek religiosity in particular, there is an evident shift towards New Age spirituality – a shift which appears to be linked to the socio-economic crisis that both Portugal and Greece are currently facing. From tarot reading to alternative forms of healing, and from practising yoga to attending meditation retreats, people in the Portuguese and the Greek capital pursue a wide range of esoteric paths in order to cope with the disquiet that surrounds them. This chapter is based on recent comparative anthropological research on New Age spirituality and esotericism in Lisbon and in Athens. Given the fact that the study of esoteric movements in the Portuguese and Greek context is practically non-existent, the author provides an account of the presence of esotericism as a type of minority religion in Portugal and Greece, its association with the current crisis, and the potential consequences New Age spirituality and esoteric movements may have for the future of the currently Christian-oriented Portuguese and Greek religiosity.
