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Hey Cody, have you read Johannes Reuchlin's De Arte Kabbalistica? I don't remember
off the top of my head if he gives a definition of "esotericism" as you understand it, but
the text is very important for its theory of esotericism, which equates Kabbalah and
Christian mystical theology with pythagorean esoteric philosophy. Might be a good place
to look.On Mon, Sep 5, 2011 at 4:22 PM, Cody Bahir <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Dear Kathryn,
Good to hear from you as well! Unfortunately, the links you provided do not actually address my question (though I do greatly appreciate the time you took listing each of them!). I might not have been as clear in what I am looking for as I had imagined.
I am seeking various definitions of what exactly esotericism is. These websites hint at it, but offer do not a specific definition, nor set of guidelines for identifying esotericism as Faivre and Stuckrad have done. The websites you provided give examples of esotericism (Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, similar to giving examples of “religion” by listing Judaism, Christianity, Mormonism) but none contain a definition.
Such a definition could be broad and "symptomatic" like Faivre and Stuckrad, or could be similar to the Judaic Pardes scheme, where different exoteric and esoteric modes of scriptural (or ontological) interpretation are listed.
Below, I have pasted the example from each website in turn (or stated that there is none).
If you, or anyone else on the list knows of any references, I would be especially grateful.
Thanks again!
Best,
Cody
Good to hear from you. Association for the Study of Esotericism, and some others:
Esotericism, as an academic field, refers to the study of alternative or marginalized religious movements or philosophies whose proponents in general distinguish their own beliefs, practices, and experiences from public, institutionalized religious traditions. Among areas of investigation included in the field of esotericism are alchemy, astrology, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Kabbalah, magic, mysticism, Neoplatonism, new religious movements connected with these currents, nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first century occult movements, Rosicrucianism, secret societies, and Christian theosophy.
No definition given.
The Western esoteric tradition represents a distinct form of spirituality extending from Hermeticism, Neo-Platonism and Gnosticism in the early Christian era up until the present. Diffused by Arab and Byzantine culture into medieval Europe , these esoteric currents experienced a marked revival through the Florentine neo-Platonists of the late fifteenth century. From the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, esoteric spirituality was carried by Renaissance magic, Christian Kabbalah, astrology, alchemy, German Naturphilosophie, theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry until the modern occult revival in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in which the Theosophy of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky played an important role.
Alongside and within this Western tradition, Arabic and Jewish currents have played a major role since the Latin Middle Ages. Arabic astrology, alchemy and natural science entered the medieval West through southern Italy and Spain from the tenth century onwards. In the fifteenth-century Jewish kabbalists in Spain and Italy assisted the Christian assimilation of Kabbalah, which henceforth became a major strand of European esoteric spirituality and thought. Accounts of spiritual ascent, angelic hierarchies and religious experience evidence strong commonalities between the Jewish, Christian and Islamic esoteric traditions.
I work for this amazing organization! I could not find a definition on the website.
http://www.amsterdamhermetica.nl/What_is_Western_Esotericism.php?id=16
The modern term “Western esotericism” is used as a general label for a great variety of religious currents and trends in Western culture – from Antiquity generally, and from the Renaissance to the present more in particular – characterized by their belief that true knowledge of God, the world, and man can only be attained by means of personal spiritual experience or inner enlightenment.
-Definition could work for mysticism as well, thus, no actual definition of “esotericism”.
Could not find a definition here.
No definition listed
On Tue, Sep 6, 2011 at 1:49 AM, Kathryn Evans <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Cody,Also private universities, such as Notre Dame and Princeton, engage with "esotericism," e.g.:All Best,Kathryn----- Original Message -----From: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">Cody BahirTo: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">[log in to unmask]Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 7:22 AMSubject: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Definition of Esotericism? (related to magick vs religion and Thelema Modern)Dear Everyone,I have been following the recent conversation on the list, particularly in regards to the distinction (if any) that exists between magic and religion. I have a few different (yet related) questions...In terms of "esotericism" as a specific genre/phenomenon etc., additional to Faivre and Stuckrad, are the members of this list familiar with scholars that have attempted to "define" esotericism as a specific field of study/genre/phenomenon?Of particular interest are authors who have contrasted esotericism with either mysticism or philosophy (especially the latter).Additionally, definitions or examples of esoteric: textual hermeneutics, interpretations of ritual/liturgy and art (especially those contrasted with their "exoteric" counterparts) would be particularly appreciated.I am most interested in recent scholarship but would also appreciate primary sources from Christian, Gnostic, Islamic or classical Greco-Roman texts. I am not, however, seeking references on Masonic, Thelemic, Neo-Pagan or similar "modern" modes of discourse and interpretation.Thanks so much!Kind regards,Cody Bahir--
Cody Bahir M.A.J.S.--
Cody Bahir M.A.J.S.