Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed PDF

by Professor Wouter J. Hanegraaff

Part of the Guides for the Perplexed series

PDF

Download - Immediately Available

Please note: eBooks can only be purchased with a UK issued credit card and all our eBooks (ePub and PDF) are DRM protected.

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.

Information

Download - Immediately Available
Format:PDF
Pages:192 pages
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (Digital)
Publication Date:14/02/2013
Category:
ISBN:9781441188977

Other Formats

EPUB from £21.86
- EPUB | Published 14/02/2013 | £21.86 | View now
Paperback / softback from £21.69
- Paperback / softback | Published 17/01/2013 | £21.69 | View now
Hardback from £100.00
- Hardback | Published 17/01/2013 | £100.00 | View now