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.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781441146748
Publisert
2015
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Bloomsbury Academic
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter