In the Spirit of Progress: Kismet Mag Takes a New Approach to Religion and Mysticism

Courtesy of Dexter Simpson

Relatively few people in the United States regularly attend religious services, yet a strong majority of Americans self-identify as spiritual. So where besides a house of worship can one find an outlet for ethereal yearning these days? Some turn to astrology, cults, or even artificial intelligence — while others ultimately fall into existential despair. Alec Gewirtz took a different approach: He co-founded a magazine. 

Kismet, which launched in March 2025 under the mantle of Editor-in-Chief Samuel Rutter, doesn’t publish papal updates or doctrinal debates. The bimonthly online publication, which debuted its first issue in March 2025, is a literary magazine first and foremost, platforming poetry, prose, and essays that look toward “our longing for transcendence.”

Gewirtz, who is editor and publisher, and Rutter allow contributors to define this on their own terms, leading to a host of interpretations. Just take a glance at its contents: A few of the topics that emerge across the first two issues are modern-day hermeticism, the visions of William Blake, the ancient ritual of kissing the Blarney Stone, and the sublime softness of plush carpets. 

Religion is a heavy topic for many — and Kismet certainly takes its subject matter seriously, with textual references to philosophers, scholars, and saints abounding. Yet its tone remains inviting rather than intimidating, inquisitive rather than instructional. “We’re really about asking questions rather than finding answers,” Rutter told me. “We’re just trying to open the door and let the light in.”