Esoteric discourse and the European history of religion: in search of a new interpretational framework
Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis January 16, 2019 DOI: 10.30674/scripta.67337 via DOAJ
Summary
The term 'esotericism' is often used interchangeably with 'New Age' or as a reference to secret initiatory knowledge accessible only to an inner circle. In academic research over the past fifteen years, however, scholars have critically examined these assumptions and instead apply 'esotericism' to currents in Western culture that have significantly influenced religious history. New Age and secret initiatory knowledge are only two aspects of these traditions, and not the most important ones. The author proposes analyzing Western esotericism as part of a broader study of European religious history, accounting for the pluralisms, polemics, diachronic developments, and diverse discourses that have shaped Western culture.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Esotericism Occult sciences Secret societies Philosophy and religion Europe -- religion |
| Key finding | The academic study of Western esotericism should be understood as part of a broader analysis of European history of religion, with all its complexities, polemics, diachronic developments, and pluralistic discourses. |
Abstract
Often, when people nowadays talk of ‘esotericism’, they are using this word either as more or less synonymous with ‘New Age’, or as a term for movements that are based on a secret wisdom that is only accessible to an ‘inner circle’ of initiates. In academic discussions, however, during the past fifteen years, a field of research has been established that critically engages these assumptions and applies the term ‘esotericism’ in a very different way, namely as a signifier of a number of currents in Western culture that have influenced the history of religions in manifold ways. ‘New Age’ and secret initiatory knowledge are but two aspects of these traditions, and certainly not the most important ones. In this article, the author reflects on the various scholarly approaches to the concept of ‘Western esotericism’. He proposes an analysis that takes into account the manifold pluralisms that have shaped Western culture—not only in modernity. He argues that the academic study of Western esotericism should be understood as part and parcel of a broader analysis of European history of religion, with all its complexities, polemics, diachronic developments, and pluralistic discourses.