Western Esotericism: A Guide for the PerplexedA&C Black, 14 февр. 2013 г. - Всего страниц: 192 Western esotericism has been a pervasive presence in Western culture from late antiquity to the present day, but until recently it was largely ignored by scholars and surrounded by misconceptions and prejudice. This accessible guide provides readers with the basic knowledge and tools that will allow them to find their way in this bewildering but fascinating field. What is it that unites phenomena as diverse as ancient gnosticism and hermetism, the "occult sciences" of astrology, alchemy, and magic, rosicrucianism, as well as Christian theosophy, occultism, spiritualism, and the contemporary New Age spiritualities? What can the study of them teach us about our common cultural and intellectual heritage, and what is it that makes them relevant to contemporary concerns? How do we distinguish reliable historical knowledge from legends and fictions about esoteric traditions? These and many other questions are answered clearly and succinctly, so that the reader can find his way into the labyrinth of Western esotericism and out of it again. |
Содержание
| 1 | |
| 18 | |
CHAPTER THREE Apologetics and polemics | 45 |
CHAPTER FOUR Worldviews | 69 |
CHAPTER FIVE Knowledge | 86 |
CHAPTER SIX Practice | 102 |
CHAPTER SEVEN Modernization | 119 |
CHAPTER EIGHT Between the disciplines | 143 |
CHAPTER NINE Sources and resources | 157 |
Notes | 183 |
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academic alchemy already alternative ancient angels antiquity approaches attempts authors basic became become beginning belief body called Cambridge century Chapter Christian Church claims concept concerned consciousness contemporary context culture currents described developed dimension divine doctrine domain early emerged Enlightenment esoteric example exist experience extremely fact famous field find first forms German gnosis gnostic Hanegraaff Hermetic human ideas imagination important influence intellectual kind knowledge known later light literature magic matter means mind modern movement mysticism nature nineteenth occult ofthe one’s organizations Orientalism original pagan particularly period perspective philosophy Platonic popular practices present radical reality reason referred rejected relation religion religious remains Renaissance result ritual Romantic scholars scholarship seen simply society soul sources spiritual theory tion tradition true truth ultimately understanding University Press Western esotericism whole wisdom worldview Wouter York