Western Esotericism: A Brief History of Secret Knowledge (Religion in Culture: Studies in Social Contest and Construct)

Introduction: what is esotericism? -- Esotericism in the ancient world -- The Kabbalah : understanding the hidden in the revealed -- The Renaissance : re-inventing the ancient world -- Esotericism in the confessional age -- Esotericism, enlightenment, science -- Institutionalised esotericism : secret societies -- Pioneer of modern esotericism : the theosophical society -- Esotericism and modernity.;"Esotericism is the search for an absolute but hidden knowledge accessed through mystical vision, the mediation of higher beings, or personal experience. In Western cultural history esoteric approaches to religion have often been in conflict with - and suffered at the hands of - more established forms of religious belief and practice. 'Western Esotericism' presents a very broad and engaging history of the people and ideas which have shaped occult history from antiquity to today. Throughout the history of esotericism the dynamic of concealment and revelation has characterized the search for secret knowledge. Pursued both publically and privately, esotericism has come to influence more mainstream religious practice and culture and has significantly shaped our understanding of modernity. Today, esotericism continues to be practised by a range of both established and new religious movements. 'Western Esotericism' presents the essential guide to one of the most fascinating, provocative, and sustained of religious traditions."--Provided by publisher. 'Western Esotericism' presents a very broad and engaging history of the people and ideas which have shaped occult history from antiquity to today. Esotericism is the search for an absolute but hidden knowledge accessed through mystical vision, the mediation of higher beings, or personal experience. In Western cultural history esoteric approaches to religion have often been in conflict with - and suffered at the hands of - more established forms of religious belief and practice. Western Esotericism' presents a very broad and engaging history of the people and ideas which have shaped occult history from antiquity to today. Throughout the history of esotericism, the dynamic of concealment and revelation has characterized the search for secret knowledge. Pursued both publicly and privately, esotericism has come to influence more mainstream religious practice and culture and has significantly shaped our understanding of modernity. Today, esotericism continues to be practised by a range of both established and new religious movements. 'Western Esotericism' presents the essential guide to one of the most fascinating, provocative, and sustained of religious traditions. 'Western Esotericism' presents the essential guide to one of the most fascinating, provocative, and sustained of religious traditions. Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- 1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS ESOTERICISM? -- Some Scholarly Views -- Religious Pluralism and the 'Esoteric Field of Discourse' -- 2. ESOTERICISM IN THE ANCIENT WORLD -- Philosophical Religion, Religious Philosophy -- Hermetism: The Founding of a Tradition -- What is 'Gnosis'? -- Transmission into the Middle Ages -- 3. THE KABBALAH: UNDERSTANDING THE HIDDEN IN THE REVEALED -- Prehistory: Hekhalot Mysticism and Esoteric Biblical Exegesis -- The Classical Kabbalah: From Southern France to Israel