Topic
Western esotericism
About: Western esotericism is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 182 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2833 citations. The topic is also known as: Western mystery tradition.
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01 Jan 1996
TL;DR: In this article, a survey of major trends in New Age Religion is presented, including Channeling, Healing and Personal Growth, New Age Science, Neopaganism, and New Age in a Restricted and in a General Sense.
Abstract: Part 1: Orientation: Major Trends in New Age Religion. Preliminary Demarcation of the Field - Channeling - Healing and Personal Growth - New Age Science - Neopaganism - New Age in a Restricted and in a General Sense. Part 2: Exposition: The Varieties of New Age Experience. The Nature of Reality - Meta-Empirical and Human Beings - Matters of the Mind - Death and Survival - Good and Evil - Visions of the Past - The New Age. Part 3: Interpretation: New Age Religion and Traditional Esotericism. Towards a Historical Perspective on New Age Religion - A Historical Framework - The Mirror of Secular Thought - Conclusions: The New Age Movement and the Nature of New Age Religion.
513 citations
Book•
20 Dec 2000
TL;DR: In this article, the authors address the question of how religious creativity in the West manages to adapt to the forces of modernity and present three discursive strategies commonly employed to support the doctrinal statements of late modern esotericism.
Abstract: The study addresses the question of how religious creativity in the West manages to adapt to the forces of modernity. The empirical data are drawn from a set of historically and thematically related movements, from late nineteenth century theosophy to the contemporary New Age.The dissertation is divided into three main sections. The first serves as a necessary background, presenting a number of theoretical concepts used throughout the study. A brief historical overview of contemporary esotericism is also introduced.The second and most extensive section presents the three discursive strategies commonly employed to support the doctrinal statements of late modern esotericists. Firstly, religious innovations are bolstered by claiming that they are founded on ancient traditions. Secondly, it is claimed that modern science is beginning to confirm the validity of various esoteric doctrinal statements. Thirdly, it is commonly stated that personal experience can validate esoteric claims. The study shows how all three strategies have adapted to the changing default presuppositions of the surrounding culture regarding tradition, science and religious experience.The third and final section examines how all three strategies interconnect and form a whole, by examining a particular case: how the strategies are used to support the concept of reincarnation.
205 citations
Book•
01 Mar 2004
TL;DR: This chapter discusses Vivekananda's Raja-Yoga and the Emergence of Neo-Vedantic Occultism, as well as modern Postural Yoga as Healing Ritual of Secular Religion.
Abstract: Introduction Part I: The Prehistory of Modern Yoga 1. Roots of Modern Yoga 2. The Religious Foundations of Modern Yoga 3. Vivekananda and the Emergence of Neo-Vedantic Occultism 4. "God-Realisation" and "Self-Realisation" in Neo-Vedanta Part II: Modern Yoga Theory and Practice 5. Vivekananda's Raja-Yoga (1896): Modern Yoga Formulated 6. 20th Century Developments of Modern Yoga 7. Theory and Practice of Lyengar Yoga 8. Conclusion: Modern Postural Yoga as Healing Ritual of Secular Religion
204 citations
Book•
19 Jan 2012TL;DR: In this paper, the history of truth and error of history is discussed, focusing on the error of imagining the occult, and the truth of history: entering the Academy Conclusions: restoring memory.
Abstract: Introduction: hic sunt dracones 1. The history of truth: recovering ancient wisdom 2. The history of error: exorcizing Paganism 3. The error of history: imagining the Occult 4. The truth of history: entering the Academy Conclusions: restoring memory.
178 citations