The Humanities Center welcomes Dr. Poulomi Saha (English, University of California, Berkeley). Graduate students from all disciplines are invited to join Poulomi Saha to talk about the methodological challenges and possibilities for studies of cults, the occult, and charismatic spiritualist communities. We will ass how to think critically about practices and ideals that seem to demand either total self-abnegation or unwavering doubt. How do we take seriously the experiential reality expressed by adherents of being moved, of being radically seen and loved, without diagnosing misrecognition and deception? Or, without ourselves becoming enthralled? To understand the power of this form of spiritual feeling, we will engage some critical readings in theology, affect theory, and psychoanalysis.