Western esotericism
Subtitle: a guide for the perplexed
By: Wouter J. Hanegraaff
Series: Guides for the perplexed
Publisher: Continuum International Pub. Group
Published: 2013
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 211
ISBN-13: 9781441187130; 9781441136466; 9781441146748; 9781441188977
Subjects: Occultism
Description: "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."--Bloomsbury Publishing.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: What is western esotericism?; title: Very short history; title: Apologetics and polemics; title: Worldviews; title: Knowledge; title: Practice; title: Modernization; title: Between the disciplines; title: Sources and resources.