Per Faxneld

Per Faxneld is a Professor at the Department of History and Contemporary Studies, Södertörn University. His research spans esotericism, alternative spirituality, new religious movements, and secularization, with particular attention to legitimization strategies, religious authority, identity creation, and the intersection of esotericism with art, literature, and martial arts. He is currently leading a Swedish Research Council-funded project analyzing spirituality debates within Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) communities in Sweden.

• Primary academic affiliation: Södertörn University
• Core research themes: Esotericism, secularization, religious modernity, gender dynamics in Satanism, esoteric dimensions of martial arts
• Publication record: Over 15 recent articles (2025-2020) covering Satanic feminism, occult art, martial arts spirituality, and transnational religious exchange

His work bridges historical and contemporary esoteric traditions, examining their cultural adaptation and symbolic resonance. Publications frequently address the tension between secularization and spiritual persistence, particularly in martial arts contexts. He has contributed to academic anthologies like EASTSPIRIT and Buddhist Modernities, and his 2021 article Martial Arts Spirituality in Sweden: The Occult Connection remains influential.

Current trends in his research include: gender politics in Satanic traditions, esoteric symbolism in modernist art and literature, and cross-cultural spiritual exchange. While no formal awards are listed, his 2017-2022 publications solidify his position as a leading scholar in Western esotericism and contemporary religious studies. Teaching roles and lab affiliations remain unspecified in available sources.