Esotericism refers to knowledge suitable only for the advanced, privileged, or initiated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is public. It is used especially for mystical, occult and spiritual viewpoints. Esotericism - Etymology. Esoteric is an adjective originating in Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it comes from the Greek esôterikos, from esôtero, the comparative form of esô: "within". Esoteric refers to anything that is inner and occult. It ...

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• Esotericism - Etymology
• Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism
• Esotericism - Nuances
• Esotericism - Scope
• Esotericism - Historical sketch
• Esotericism - Esoteric themes
• Esotericism - Traditions
• Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Paulo Coelho's novel The Alchemist involves a spiritual interpretation of alchemy. Umberto Eco has written fiction with esoteric themes, notably the satirical novel Foucault's Pendulum. The plot of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code involves a centuries-old secret society called the Priory of Sion, charged with preserving certain secrets relating to Jesus Christ and the Merovingian kings. ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Religion (see etymology below) —sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine; and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions and rituals associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind's relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken ...

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• Religion - Etymology
• Religion - Religion and science
• Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics
• Religion - Esotericism and mysticism
• Religion - Spirituality
• Religion - Myth
• Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions
• Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs
• Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion
• Religion - Development of religion
• Religion - Religion today
• Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others
• Religion - Exclusivism
• Religion - Inclusivism
• Religion - Pluralism
• Religion - Syncretism
• Religion - Universalism
• Religion - Systemization
• Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe
• Religion - Related philosophical stances
• Religion - Compare with

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Humans have many different methods which attempt to answer fundamental questions about the nature of the universe and our place in it (cosmology). What is reality? How can we know? Who are we? Why we are here? How should we live? What happens after we die? Religion is only one of the methods for trying to answer one or more of these questions. Other methods include science, philosophy, metaphysics, esotericism, and mysticism. Many people use more than one of these methods. Christianity is the religion with the largest number o ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

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The origins of the word "religion" have been debated for centuries. Some explanations for the origin of the word are: re-reading--from Latin re (again) + legio (read), referring to the repetition of scripture. treating carefully--from Latin relegere (Cicero's interpretation) re-connection to the divine--from Latin re (again) + ligare (to connect, as in English ligament). This interpretation is favoured by modern scholars such as Tom Harpur, but prob ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Etymology

Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs. These include efforts to determine the meaning and application of "sacred" texts and beliefs in the context of the student's personal worldview. This generally takes one of three forms: one's own — efforts by believers to ascertain the meaning of their own sacred text or other traditions, and to conform their thoughts and actions to the principles enunciated in those traditions. For most believers, this involves ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

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There are several models for understanding how religions develop. Models which view religion as untrue include: The "Dogma Selection Model," which holds that religions, although untrue in themselves, encode instructions or habits useful for survival, that these ideas "mutate" periodically as they are passed on, and they spread or die out in accord with their effectiveness at improving chances for survival. The "Opium of the Masses Model," in which "Religion in any shape or form is regarded as pernicious and del ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

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Adherents of particular religions deal with the differing doctrines and practices espoused by other religions in a variety ways. All strains of thought appear in different segments of all major world religions. Religion - Exclusivism. People with exclusivist beliefs sometimes typically explain other religions as either in error, or as corruptions or counterfeits of the true faith. Examples include: Christian scripture states that Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

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The origins of the word "religion" have been debated for centuries. Some explanations for the origin of the word are: re-reading--from Latin re (again) + legio (read), referring to the repetition of scripture. treating carefully--from Latin relegere (Cicero's interpretation) 'to go over again' or to carefully ponder. re-connection to the divine--from Latin re (again) + ligare (to connect, as in English ligament). This interpretation is favoured by m ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

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Esotericism largely overlaps with occultism which simply means "hidden knowledge." However, in the 20th century many esotericists avoid the latter term owing to negative connotations associated with it (for example, the presumption that it involves devil-worship or black magic). For the same reason, many (predominantly Christian) opponents of esotericism prefer the term "occultism." Much overlap exists as well between esotericism and mysticism. However, many mystical traditions do not attempt to introduce additional spir ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Many religious movements in various parts of the world claim to possess a higher, truer, or better interpretation of the wider religion of which they are a part. Whether they are correct is inevitably a matter of controversy. Not infrequently, the claims of one esoteric group may be rejected by the wider religious culture, or by other esoteric groups which make their own rival claims. While esotericism tends to focus on personal enlightenment and internal spiritual practice, organized religion or exotericism tends to focus on outer sp ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Esotericism is not a single tradition but a vast array of often unrelated figures and movements. Nevertheless, the following may be helpful. The Roman Empire gave birth not only to Christianity but also to a group of mystery religions which emphasized initiation. Some see Christianity, with its initiation ritual of baptism, as a mystery religion. After Christianity became the state religion of Rome, dissident Christian groups became persecuted as traitors to the state. Also, pagan groups came to be suppressed as well. The terms ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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What, in a nutshell, does "esotericism" teach? No possible answer could do justice to the myriad groups which are subsumed under this name. However, we may venture some representative examples: Kabbalah preserves traditions describing the origin and destiny of humanity and the universe, as well as practices aimed at restoring ourselves and the world to our true stations. These are of course typical religious concerns, which in this case parallel or amplify the teachings and practices of mainstream Judaism. Gnosticism te ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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