Henrik Bogdan, Ph.D. (2003), is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at University of Gothenburg. He is the author of Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation (2007), and co-editor of several works, including Occultism in a Global Perspective (2013).Jan A.M. Snoek, Ph.D. (1987) in the Sciences of Religions, University of Leiden (The Netherlands), is attached to the Institute for the Sciences of Religions at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), and published widely about the development of masonic rituals. Among his publications are Initiating Women in Freemasonry, The Adoption Rite (Brill, 2012).Contributors include: Marijo Ariens-Volker, José A. Ferrer Benimeli, Henrik Bogdan, Matthew Crow, James Stevens Curl, Malcolm Davies, Mark J.R. Dennis, Robert A. Gilbert, Jessica Harland-Jacobs, Kristiane Hasselmann, Arturo de Hoyos, Massimo Introvigne, Margaret Jacob, Guy Liagre, Pierre Mollier, Robert Jan van Pelt, Charles Porset, Andrew Prescott, Cecile Révauger, François Rognon, Matthew Scanlan, Jan A.M. Snoek, David Stevenson, Jeffrey Tyssens, Jean-François Var, Daniel Weinbren, and Thierry Zarconne.

"The Handbook of Freemasonry is a formidable and provocative collection of the thoughts of many of the most accomplished scholars of Freemasonry in Europe and America. Anyone involved in serious Masonic research will find it to be a valuable resource."Shawn Eyer, FPS, Philalethes, Summer 2014"At 669 pages, meticulously indexed, and boasting detailed bibliographies at the end of each chapter, the Handbook of Freemasonry functions as a valuable and insightful compendium of a remarkable quantity of knowledge about an often misunderstood and yet strangely ubiquitous initiatory society. Those looking for a detailed study or help in inspiring their own research on Freemasonry would do well to tackle the Handbook."Nathan Schradle, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nova Religio, Vol. 20, No. 2"To sum up, the volume contributes significantly to the understanding of Freemasonry with its diverse entries and points of focus. The Handbook of Freemasonry likely qualifies as the most significant work to have been published on Freemasonry in recent years, and will be a source of great importance for years to come, both in terms of its theoretical developments and as a reliable source for consultation."Peter Olsson, Correspondence 4 (2016).

• CONTENTSAcknowledgementsList of ContributorsList of IllustrationsChapter 1: IntroductionHenrik Bogdan and Jan SnoekPART IHISTORICAL PERSPECTIVESChapter 2: The History of Freemasonry: An OverviewJan Snoek and Henrik BogdanChapter 3: The Old ChargesAndrew PrescottChapter 4: The Origins of Freemasonry: ScotlandDavid StevensonChapter 5: The Origins of Freemasonry: EnglandMatthew ScanlanChapter 6: Freemasonry and TemplarismPierre MollierChapter 7: Freemasonry and the EnlightenmentMargaret Jacob and Matthew CrowChapter 8: Masonic HistoriographyCharles PorsetPART IIFREEMASONRY AND RELIGIONChapter 9: Freemasonry and the Catholic ChurchJosé A. Ferrer BenimeliChapter 10: Freemasonry and the Orthodox ChurchesJean-François VarChapter 11: Freemasonry and Protestant ChurchesGuy LiagreChapter 12: Freemasonry and JudaismRobert Jan van PeltChapter 13: Freemasonry and IslamThierry ZarconneChapter 14: Freemasonry and Eastern ReligionsJessica Harland-Jacobs and Jan SnoekChapter 15: Freemasonry and Western EsotericismHenrik BogdanChapter 16: Freemasonry and New Religious MovementsMassimo IntrovignePART IIIRITUAL, ORGANISATION, AND DIFFUSIONChapter 17: Masonic Rituals of InitiationJan SnoekChapter 18: Freemasonry and PerformanceKristiane HasselmannChapter 19: Masonic Rites and SystemsArturo De HoyosChapter 20: Relationships between Grand LodgesJan SnoekChapter 21: Freemasonry and Friendly SocietiesDaniel WeinbrenPART IVFREEMASONRY, SOCIETY, AND POLITICSChapter 22: Freemasonry and WomenJan SnoekChapter 23: Freemasonry and BlacksCecile RévaugerChapter 24: Freemasonry and ColonialismJessica Harland-JacobsChapter 25: Freemasonry and NationalismJeffrey TyssensChapter 26: Freemasonry and WarFrançois RognonPART VFREEMASONRY AND CULTUREChapter 27: Freemasonry and MusicMalcolm DaviesChapter 28: Freemasonry and LiteratureR.A. GilbertChapter 29: Freemasonry and Modern ArtMarijo Ariens-VolkerChapter 30: Freemasonry and ArchitectureJames Stevens CurlChapter 31: The Material Culture of FreemasonryMark J.R. Dennis