what are the esoteric doctrines developed over the course of the middle ages and beyond called

What are the essential principles of the esoteric doctrine?

The essential principles of the esoteric doctrine may be formulated as follows: - Mind is the only reality. Matter is only its inferior, changing, ephemeral expression, its dynamism in space and time. — Creation is eternal and continuous as life.

What is the earliest form of esotericism?

Western esotericism. The earliest traditions which later analysis would label as forms of Western esotericism emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, where Hermetism, Gnosticism, and Neoplatonism developed as schools of thought distinct from what became mainstream Christianity.

What is esotericism in philosophy?

Esotericism as claims to higher knowledge. Somewhat crudely, esotericism can be described as a Western form of spirituality that stresses the importance of the individual effort to gain spiritual knowledge, or gnosis, whereby man is confronted with the divine aspect of existence.

What is esoteric Christianity?

Another form of esoteric Christianity is the spiritual science of the Danish mystic Martinus who is popular in Scandinavia. New esoteric understandings of magic also developed in the latter part of the 19th century.

What is esoteric doctrine?

1a : designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone a body of esoteric legal doctrine— B. N. Cardozo. b : requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group esoteric terminology broadly : difficult to understand esoteric subjects.

What is the esoteric tradition?

Abstract. Ancient esoteric tradition is a modern scholarly term useful for designating currents in Hellenistic and Late Antique Mediterranean culture that are concerned with the mediation of some kind of absolute knowledge via a dialectic of secrecy, concealment, and revelation (cf.

What is an example of esoteric knowledge?

Astrological beliefs, including supposed relationship between planets and select plants, are presented as esoteric knowledge. Those who are instructed in esoteric knowledge enter gradually into more subtle levels of understanding of the text.

What does esoteric mean in religion?

Esoteric Christianity is an approach to Christianity which features "secret traditions" that require an initiation to learn or understand. The term esoteric was coined in the 17th century and derives from the Greek ἐσωτερικός (esôterikos, "inner").

Where does the word esoteric come from?

The first records of the word esoteric come from the mid-1600s. It comes from the Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, meaning “inner.” Esoteric information is that which can only be understood by an inner circle of people, such as those with in-depth knowledge of an obscure subject.

What is esoteric study?

esoteric, the quality of having an inner or secret meaning. This term and its correlative exoteric were first applied in the ancient Greek mysteries to those who were initiated (eso, “within”) and to those who were not (exo, “outside”), respectively.

What is the meaning of esoteric psychology?

Esoteric psychology begins with a consideration of the human being as a soul, manifesting in the form of a personality, consisting of mental, emotional and etheric/physical substance, and more or less in contact and control, depending on the stage of evolution in the personality consciousness.

What are esoteric elements?

Esoteric Element Manipulation allows users to control elements that possess special properties. This gives the users the opportunity to use the elements in a variety of ways, such as physical combat or defensive purposes. The user can also gain powers from other external forces of different elements.

What are the problems with Western esotericism?

The most significant is that it rests upon the conviction that there really is a "universal, hidden, esoteric dimension of reality" that objectively exists. The existence of this universal inner tradition has not been discovered through scientific or scholarly enquiry; this had led some to claim that it does not exist, though Hanegraaff thought it better to adopt a view based in methodological agnosticism by stating that "we simply do not know - and cannot know" if it exists or not. He noted that, even if such a true and absolute nature of reality really existed, it would only be accessible through "esoteric" spiritual practices, and could not be discovered or measured by the "exoteric" tools of scientific and scholarly enquiry. Hanegraaff pointed out that an approach that seeks a common inner hidden core of all esoteric currents masks that such groups often differ greatly, being rooted in their own historical and social contexts and expressing mutually exclusive ideas and agendas. A third issue was that many of those currents widely recognised as esoteric never concealed their teachings, and in the twentieth century came to permeate popular culture, thus problematizing the claim that esotericism could be defined by its hidden and secretive nature. Moreover, Hanegraaff noted that when scholars adopt this definition, it shows that they subscribe to the religious doctrines espoused by the very groups they are studying.

How many fundamental characteristics are there in esotericism?

Faivre claimed that esotericism was "identifiable by the presence of six fundamental characteristics or components", four of which were "intrinsic" and thus vital to defining something as being esoteric, while the other two were "secondary" and thus not necessarily present in every form of esotericism.

What is the term for a large and complicated group of historical phenomena that had long been perceived as sharing an air de?

Hanegraaff, the term provided a "useful generic label" for "a large and complicated group of historical phenomena that had long been perceived as sharing an air de famille ."

What were the early forms of esotericism?

The earliest traditions that later analysis labeled as forms of Western esotericism emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, where Hermeticism, Gnosticism, and Neoplatonism developed as schools of thought distinct from what became mainstream Christianity. Renaissance Europe saw increasing interest in many of these older ideas, with various intellectuals combining " pagan " philosophies with the Kabbalah and Christian philosophy, resulting in the emergence of esoteric movements like Christian theosophy. The seventeenth century saw the development of initiatory societies professing esoteric knowledge such as Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, while the Age of Enlightenment of the eighteenth century led to the development of new forms of esoteric thought. The nineteenth century saw the emergence of new trends of esoteric thought now known as occultism. Prominent groups in this century included the Theosophical Society and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Also important in this connexion is Martinus´ "Spiritual Science". Modern Paganism developed within occultism, and includes religious movements such as Wicca. Esoteric ideas permeated the counterculture of the 1960s and later cultural tendencies, which led to the New Age phenomenon in the 1970s.

When was esotericism first developed?

The idea of grouping a wide range of Western traditions and philosophies together under the term esotericism developed in Europe during the late seventeenth century. Various academics have debated how to define Western esotericism, proposing a number of options. One model adopts its definition of "esotericism" from certain esotericist schools ...

Is esotericism a Western concept?

As Faivre stated, an "empirical perspective" would hold that "esotericism is a Western notion.". As scholars such as Faivre and Hanegraaff have pointed out, there is no comparable category of "Eastern" or "Oriental" esotericism.

Who argued that academics should cease referring to Western esotericism altogether?

Given these influences and the imprecise nature of the term "Western", the scholar of esotericism Kennet Granholm has argued that academics should cease referring to " Western esotericism" altogether, instead simply favouring "esotericism" as a descriptor of this phenomenon. Egil Asprem has endorsed this approach.

What is esoteric knowledge?

Esoteric knowledge is that which is specialized or advanced in nature, available only to a narrow circle of “enlightened,” “initiated,” or highly educated people. Typically, esoteric knowledge is contrasted with exoteric knowledge, which is well-known or public knowledge perceived as informally canonic in society at large. Items about esotericism may be known as esoteric.

Why are mysteries confused with gnosis?

The Mysteries are frequently confused with Gnosticism, perhaps in part because Greek gnosis means “knowledge. The gnosis of Gnosticism is however distinct from the arcanum, the “secret wisdom” of the Mysteries: While the Gnostics hoped to acquire knowledge through divine revelation, the mystery religions presumed to have it, with mystics of high rank revealing the possessed wisdom to acolytes of lower rank.

What is the state of being esoteric?

Esotericism or esoteric beliefs is the state or quality of being esoteric obscure and only understood or intended to be understood by a small number of people with special (and perhaps secret) knowledge. Esotericism often involves knowledge that’s only intended to be revealed to people who have been initiated into a certain group.

What is the difference between esoteric and exoteric?

The term “exoteric” may also reflect the notion of a divine identity that is outside of, and different from, human identity, whereas the esoteric notion claims that the divine is to be discovered within the human identity.

What religions have esoteric elements?

Esoteric elements are found in many religions, including major world religions such as Christianity (e.g., Gnosticism) and Judaism (e.g., Kabbalah), and small, occult NRMs such as the Theosophical Society and the Order of the Golden Dawn.

What is an esoteric person?

The term esoteric has been adopted in the spiritual community in a more philosophical sense, it is used to describe a practice or a person who seemingly has a deep knowledge of the universe and the lessons within it and actively works to connect with those things.

What is the meaning of the term "esoteric"?

The descriptive term “esoteric,” in slight contrast, has come to mean any knowledge that is difficult to understand or remember, such as theoretical physics, or that pertains to the minutiae of a particular discipline, such as “Esoteric beliefs” baseball statistics. The term “esoteric” does not necessarily refer to “esotericism” per se in the sense of “inner” knowledge, disciplines, or practices, and for this reason, “esotericists” generally choose to refer to themselves by a more specific term related to their discipline (such as Gnostic, Kabbalist, Sufi, Mystic, etc.).

What is esoteric knowledge?

Esoteric knowledge is said to have an inner or secret meaning.

What does "esoteric" mean?

Esoteric, the quality of having an inner or secret meaning. This term and its correlative exoteric were first applied in the ancient Greek mysteries to those who were initiated ( eso, “within”) and to those who were not ( exo, “outside”), respectively.

Who was the esoteric philosopher?

This distinction was probably adopted by the Pythagoreans and was also attributed to Plato and, by some late writers, to Aristotle. Esoteric in the sense of mystic is also used to describe certain schools of Buddhism.

How many volumes are there in the Book of Dzyan?

It is the first volume of fourteen volumes of commentaries on the seven secret folios of Kiu-Ti. There are 35 “exoteric” volumes of these in most Tibetan monasteries, but they are full of gross distortions and exaggerations. The Book of Dzyan is kept separate from the other volumes by the Teshu Lama of Tjigad-je.

What is the esoteric lore given to the profane?

Esoteric lore given to the profane or those not properly prepared will cause misuse or abuse. However, it was deemed that humanity, by cyclic karmic right, had reached the stage whereby further “light” (wisdom/knowledge) could be imparted. The 1880’s was the outgoing peak of a cycle that started in 1425.

What is an initiator?

An “initiate” is one whose has become self-initiated through their own initiative. Through dint of their own persistent endeavours, through “fighting their way into a greater measure of light”, they have earned the spiritual responsibility to wield great power. Hence there are only a small number of them needed on the planet at any one time, yet they vacate their positions periodically to allow other qualifying members of the “great life wave” to take their places.

What are the groups of masters?

Groups of Masters always existed throughout ages, whatever tradition you look at – Buddhist, Celtic, Christian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish or Sufi. The one common thread these exalted beings have had is their deep wisdom and love for their fellow humanity, coupled with an unerring will that has demonstrated truth and beauty in their lives.

What does it mean to be a master?

The term Master implies mastery over life; complete control of the material side of life and perfection in human living as far as is possible in earth evolution.

Where did the Masters travel?

Egypt and the Himalayas have been the main enclaves of the Masters since Atlantean times. Hence both these places were visited by H.P. Blavatsky when she received the “Call” to be their messenger.

Where did the Tashi Lama train?

In 1868 she was “called” to Tibet by the Master Morya for training at Shigatse, an abode of a few of the Masters, near Tashi Lunpo monastery (150 miles west/sou-west of Lhasa, and home of the Panchen or Tashi Lama).

What was the scholastic movement?

The term scholasticism, a word invented by sixteenth-century humanist critics, has long been used to describe the dominant intellectual movement of the Middle Ages. The humanists used the term to attack the verbose style and arid intellectualism they perceived to be the defining features of medieval intellectuals. Humanists criticized the scholastics for concentrating on legal, logical, and rationalistic issues at the expense of genuine moral and ethical problems. In truth, the thought of the schoolmen possessed considerable variety and depth. These thinkers often engaged in debating complex moral and intellectual issues in ways that were far from arid and which dealt with realistic considerations. There was not, moreover, a single set of assumptions about philosophical issues within the scholastic movement. Instead it possessed great variety and witnessed continued vitality and development throughout the later Middle Ages. But humanist philosophers came to contrast their own method of discussing and writing about philosophical problems against those of the scholastics and to argue that their ideas were more original and morally relevant than those of the medieval schoolmen. At the same time humanist thinkers were often indebted to the ideas of the scholastics, and the gulf that separated the two movements was less profound than many humanists often imagined.

Why was Aristotle a powerful ally?

Aristotle became a powerful ally in the attempt to construct a reasoned defense of the Christian faith. By the thirteenth century key aspects of Aristotle's ideas, including his system of logic, his science, and his moral philosophy, helped to fashion a new Golden Age of scholastic theology.

Where did scholastic philosophy influence?

Elsewhere, in Protestant England, Scotland, and the Netherlands, scholastic philosophy continued to play a role in the early-modern period. And by virtue of the planting of new universities by missionaries and settlers in North and South America, scholasticism exercised an influence in Europe's colonies overseas.

What was the importance of philosophy in medieval times?

This style of examining intellectual questions was common in all the disciplines that were taught in the medieval university and was particularly important in the development of law, theology, natural philosophy (that is, those studies concerned with matter and the physical world), and medicine. Philosophy itself was not an independent discipline in the medieval university, as it is today, although its methods of rational analysis and its logic pervaded all studies. Much of what we would identify today as "philosophy" was concerned with theological issues, although in every area of academic endeavor, medieval scholars wrote works that were philosophical in nature. The importance of philosophy in the medieval curriculum, especially in theological studies, had grown during the course of the high Middle Ages (the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries). In the eleventh century, for instance, many of those who taught in Europe's cathedral schools had been wary of the use of ancient philosophy within theological studies, but over time the rational and logical analysis that philosophy offered influenced theological study more and more. In the twelfth century Peter Abelard (1079–1142) compiled his Sic et non, a work that presented the conflicting statements of the scriptures and of early church fathers concerning doctrinal issues. Although Abelard was a Platonist as were many scholastics of his day, he relied on Aristotle's dialectical method as a means to analyze and harmonize contradictory statements. Peter Lombard (c. 1100–c. 1160) built upon his efforts to construct his Sentences, a work that examined the sum of the church's theology, and which attempted to harmonize the contradictory statements of the ancient church fathers concerning the key teachings of Christianity. In many cases, however, Lombard's Sentences left the contradictions that existed between early Christian authorities unresolved, and thus his work became an important textbook for those theological students who followed him. Students were expected to weigh the contradictory statements of ancient church authorities and the Scriptures the Sentences contained, and to construct their own theological judgments by confronting and harmonizing those contradictions through reasoned and logical analysis. As the Sentences became more popular the dialectical method of Aristotle and the teachings of ancient philosophy concerning the science of logic became increasingly important to European theologians, many of whom wrote commentaries on Lombard's work. By the thirteenth century, in fact, logic had a pre-eminent position in the theological curriculum of universities throughout Europe.

What was Aquinas' greatest achievement?

One of his greatest achievements was his Summa Theologiae, or Theological Summation. In this work Aquinas argued that many of the truths of the Christian religion were beyond rational explanation and that they must, by their very nature, be treated as mysteries of a "divine science.".

Why was Aristotle important to medieval theology?

Aristotle's increasing prominence in medieval theology arose, not just from his expertise in logic or the dialectical method, but because the philosopher came to be accepted as a pre-eminent authority on science, nature, and ethics.

Where did scholastic education originate?

Scholasticism first developed in schools attached to Europe's cathedrals in the twelfth century . By 1200, the most successful of these schools had emerged as universities. These first universities—places like Oxford in England, Bologna in Italy, and Paris in France—shared a common educational outlook, even though each specialized in different kinds of learning. These institutions were carefully nourished, both by the church and their local states, since the students that they trained provided a pool of eligible talent to assume positions of authority in secular and religious governments. The medieval universities enjoyed special legal status as largely autonomous bodies, free from local control. As a result, "town and gown" rivalries often erupted, even at this early point in their development. The curriculum taught in the universities changed little over time. Students began their instruction at the universities in their mid-teens after completing their preparatory work at home or in the secondary schools in Europe's cities. Since all instruction within the universities was in Latin, most students required years of elementary and secondary instruction, either formally or informally, before they could enter a university. The course of primary and secondary education differed from place to place, as did the number of schools available to educate young boys in the basic instruction that they would need before they entered the university. While there were a few notable exceptions of talented, young women who attended universities in the Middle Ages, women were prohibited from taking degrees. And as a rule, women received no instruction in Latin, so that in all but extraordinary cases, this prevented them from pursuing higher learning. Before a student entered university, he needed a basic knowledge of the seven liberal arts: the trivium (which included rhetoric, grammar, and logic) and the quadrivium (astronomy, geometry, arithmetic and music). A university's curriculum was more systematic, though, and during the four or five years a student was enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts curriculum he was expected to master logic and the other tools of the scholastic method. At the end of this course, a student usually took the degree. The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a great period in the expansion of university education throughout Europe. University education still was a rare thing, but universities spread in this period to almost every corner of the continent. In 1300 there were only 23 universities in Europe. During the fourteenth century, an additional 22 were founded, and in the fifteenth century 34 new institutions appeared. This growth was strongest in Germany, Eastern Europe, and Spain. As new universities appeared throughout the continent, the number of individual colleges within these institutions also grew, as nobles, wealthy burghers, kings, and princes moved to endow new schools within the framework of existing universities. Medieval universities also specialized, as universities do today, in particular areas of expertise. Until the sixteenth century, Paris remained Europe's premier theological university, while Bologna in Italy was known for its legal studies. It trained many of the lawyers who practiced in the church's courts. Salerno, in Sicily, was Europe's first medical school. As university specialization increased in Europe at the end of the Middle Ages, a new kind of itinerant scholar appeared. Many fourteenth- and fifteenth-century students migrated from university to university, spending only a year or two in each place, before taking the B.A. at one institution. In this way students took advantage of the lectures given at particular places by the most expert of professors. Rising complaints of students who lacked direction and seriousness, though, also accompanied these changes, and the European system of degrees allowed students to remain in school for many years. For those who desired the academic life and who possessed the resources to pursue education, the Masters of Arts degree could be attained with another two to three years of study. At this point the most dedicated students usually became teachers for several years before pursuing the doctoral degree, which required another seven or eight years to complete.

What did medieval alchemists believe?

Far from operating within the modern definition of a scientific discipline, medieval alchemists approached their craft with a holistic attitude; they believed that purity of mind, body, and spirit was necessary to pursue the alchemical quest successfully. At the heart of medieval alchemy was the idea that all matter was composed ...

What was the Philosopher's Stone?

To find the "philosopher's stone," an elusive substance that was believed to make possible the creation of an elixir of immortality and the transmutation of common substances into gold. In the later Middle Ages, to use alchemy as a tool in the advancement of medicine (as Paracelsus did).

Why was alchemy condemned?

Due to its pre-Christian origins and the secrecy in which its practitioners carried out their studies , alchemy was viewed by the Catholic Church with suspicion and ultimately condemned. Alchemy was never taught in Universities but was instead transmitted from teacher to apprentice or student clandestinely.

What elements were used in medieval alchemy?

At the heart of medieval alchemy was the idea that all matter was composed of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. With the right combination of elements, it was theorized, any substance on earth might be formed. This included precious metals as well as elixirs to cure disease and prolong life.

What were the achievements of medieval alchemists?

Achievements of Alchemists in the Middle Ages. Medieval alchemists produced hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, potash, and sodium carbonate. They were able to identify the elements arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. Through their experiments, medieval alchemists invented and developed laboratory devices and procedures that are, in modified form, ...

Where did alchemy originate?

Origins and History of Alchemy. Alchemy originated in ancient times, evolving independently in China, India, and Greece. In all these areas the practice ultimately degenerated into superstition, but it migrated to Egypt and survived as a scholarly discipline.

Who is Melissa Snell?

Melissa Snell is a historical researcher and writer specializing in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. She authored the forward for "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Crusades.". Alchemy in the Middle Ages was a mixture of science, philosophy, and mysticism.

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