Esotericism
Esotericism, also known as "Western" esotericism, esoterism, and sometimes the Western mystery tradition,[1][2][3][4][5][6] is a term scholars use to categorize a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas and currents are united since they are largely distinct both from orthodox Christianity and Enlightenment rationalism. ':'Esotericism has pervaded various forms of Western philosophy, religion, pseudoscience, art, literature, and music and continues to influence intellectual ideas and popular culture.
Esotericism designates a series of historically related religious currents including Gnosticism, Hermetism, magic, astrology, alchemy, Rosicrucianism, the Christian Theosophy of Jacob Böhme and his followers, Illuminism, Mesmerism, Swedenborgianism, Spiritualism, the theosophical currents associated with Helena Blavatsky and her followers and Anthroposophy.
References
- ↑ Brian Morris, :'Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 298.
- ↑ Eddy, Glenys (19 September 2008). "The Ritual Dimension of Western Esotericism: The Rebirth Motif and the Transformation of Human Consciousness" (in en). Sydney Studies in Religion. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ↑ Hanegraaff 2013a, p. 3, "What is Western esotericism?". "The adjective 'esoteric' first appeared in the second century AD."
- ↑ Von Stuckrad 2005a, p. 2.
- ↑ Laurant 1998, p. 194.
- ↑ Hanegraaff 1996, p. 384