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Dr Tristán Kapp | Religious Studies Scholar | Esotericism | Secularism & Nonreligion
I am a Religion Studies scholar, public intellectual, and human rights activist with expertise in comparative religion, esoteric spirituality, digital religion, politics, and conspirituality, driven by a passion for justice, public scholarship, and human rights. I hold a PhD in Biblical and Religious Studies from the University of Pretoria, in South Africa, where my research explored post-theistic spirituality, sexuality, and digital humanities approaches to religion.
I have published in leading academic outlets, contributed chapters to Routledge (forthcoming) and Nicky Falkof (2025) “The Devil Made Me Do It: Understanding Occult Crime in South Africa” Penguin Random House, and presented internationally in Europe (Ireland’s University College Cork and France’s École Pratique des Hautes Études, PSL in association with the Institut des Mondes Africains), South Africa (University of the Western Cape), the Czech Republic (RASWE), and North America (Rejected Religion).
Beyond academia, I am an established media figure and thought leader, with 23K+ followers across TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn. My voice features frequently on TV, radio, and international podcasts, alongside op-eds and features in top South African media outlets. As Spokesperson and Interfaith Officer for the South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA), I lead grassroots advocacy on religious freedom, minority rights, and social justice, supported by paralegal expertise in mediation, dispute resolution, and policy research.
Alongside public advocacy, I privately support individuals worldwide through Alterity Counselling, my virtual practice launched during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, offering unbiased and person-centred support around mental health, spirituality, sexuality, and identity.
Bridging advanced research with intercultural communication, public engagement, and digital content creation, I stands as a unique emerging voice in academia, civil society, and global discourse. Off duty, I am a red wine connoisseur, Mozart enthusiast, postmodern philosophy reader, and cat devotee, living by the adage: “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
