Some Characteristics of the Interior Church
Some Characteristics of the Interior Church

Author: I. V. Lopukhin

Publisher: Scriptoria Books

Published: 2009-04-17

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 1442140100

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Some Characteristics of the Interior Church, is I.V. Lopukhin's account of his exploration of the "inward spiritual man." Ivan Vladimirovich Lopukhin (1756-1816) was a Russian statesman, writer and philanthropist. He was one of the leading Freemasons and Rosicrucians in Moscow during the late 18th century and published many mystical, Masonic, and alchemical books through his "I.V. Lopukhin Free Press." Lopukhin was not only a printer and publisher, but also an accomplished author. The idea of a spiritual "inner church" was a prominent theme in many of his writings. Arthur Edward Waite, provides a lengthy Introduction to this book and analyzes Lopukhin's work and his contribution to Hermetic literature. The first Russian edition of Some Characteristics of the Interior Church appeared in 1798. A French translation was made by Lopukhin and published in 1799. A German translation followed. The first English version was published by the Theosophical Publishing Society, London, 1912. Scriptoria Books has transcribed this edition word for word from the 1912 English translation by D.H.S. Nicholson. It was then edited, formatted, typeset, and proofread through each revision. This book is not a facsimile, nor does it contain OCR interpreted text. This is a carefully created new edition of a classic work.

Polemical Encounters
Polemical Encounters

Author: Olav Hammer

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2007-09-30

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 9047431510

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In its historical development from late antiquity to the present, western esotericism has repeatedly been the issue of polemical discourse. This volume engages the polemical structures that underlie both the identities within and the controversy about esoteric currents in European history. From Jewish and Christian kabbalah through heretical discourse and interconfessional polemics in early modernity to the legitimization of esoteric identity in modern culture, the 12 chapters, accompanied by an editors’ introduction, provide a cornucopia of relevant cases that are interpreted in a framework of polemical discourse and ‘Othering’. This volume sheds new light on the ultimately polemical structure of western esotericism and thus opens new vistas for further research into esoteric discourse.

Russian Bible Wars
Russian Bible Wars

Author: Stephen K. Batalden

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2013-03-14

Total Pages: 399

ISBN-13: 1107355435

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Although biblical texts were known in Church Slavonic as early as the ninth century, translation of the Bible into Russian came about only in the nineteenth century. Modern scriptural translation generated major religious and cultural conflict within the Russian Orthodox church. The resulting divisions left church authority particularly vulnerable to political pressures exerted upon it in the twentieth century. Russian Bible Wars illuminates the fundamental issues of authority that have divided modern Russian religious culture. Set within the theoretical debate over secularization, the volume clarifies why the Russian Bible was issued relatively late and amidst great controversy. Stephen Batalden's study traces the development of biblical translation into Russian and of the 'Bible wars' that then occurred in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Russia. The annotated bibliography of the Russian Bible identifies the different editions and their publication history.

Symbols of Sacred Science
Symbols of Sacred Science

Author: René Guénon

Publisher: Sophia Perennis

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 478

ISBN-13: 9780900588778

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In Symbols of Sacred Science, Guénon, a master of precise, even 'mathematical' metaphysical exposition, reveals himself as a consummate exegete of myth and symbolism as well, superior in many ways to Mircea Eliade, and comparable perhaps only to his respected friend Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. This extraordinary text unveils the cosmological meanings of root symbols organized under such general headings as: The Center of the World, Cyclic Manifestation, Symboic Weapons, Axial Symbolism and the Symbolsim of Passage, The Symbolism of Building, and The Symbolism of the Heart. Far more than a simple catalogue of myths and symbols from many traditions, Symbols of the Sacred Science lays the foundation for a universal esoteric symbology. In this work, Guénon demonstrates the fundamental unity-across all cultures and ages-of the images with which the Absolute clothes itself in its cosmic self-revelation.

Inner Christianity
Inner Christianity

Author: Richard Smoley

Publisher: Shambhala Publications

Published: 2002-10-08

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 083482440X

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An eye-opening introduction to the complex world of esoteric Christianity—perfect for the general reader This guide to mystical and esoteric Christianity speaks from a nonsectarian point of view, unearthing insights from the whole of the Christian tradition, orthodox and heretical, famous and obscure. The esoteric tradition has traditionally searched for meanings that would yield a deeper inner knowledge of the divine. While traditional Christianity draws a timeline from Adam's Fall to the Day of Judgment, the esoteric often sees time as folding in on itself, bringing every point to the here and now. While the Church fought bitterly over dogma, the esoteric borrowed freely from other traditions—Kabbalah, astrology, and alchemy—in their search for metaphors of inner truth. Rather than basing his book around exponents of esoteric doctrine, scholar Richard Smoley concentrates on the questions that are of interest to every searching Christian. How can one attain direct spiritual experience? What does "the Fall" really tell us about coming to terms with the world we live in? Can we find salvation in everyday life? How can we ascend, spiritually, through the various levels of existence? What was Christ's true message to humankind? From the Gospel of Thomas to A Course in Miracles, from the Jesus Prayer to alchemy and Tarot, from Origen to Dante to Jung, Richard Smoley sheds the light of an alternative Christianity on these issues and more.

The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary
The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary

Author: Councillor D'Eckartshausen

Publisher: Weiser Books

Published: 2012-04-01

Total Pages: 70

ISBN-13: 1619400723

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Master of modern occultism, Lon Milo DuQuette, (author of Enochian Vision Magick and The Magick of Aleister Crowley) introduces the newest Weiser Books Collection – The Magical Antiquarian Curiosity Shoppe. Culled from material long unavailable to the general public, DuQuette curates this essential new digital library with the eye of a scholar and the insight of an initiate. Translated by Isabel de Steige, Introduction by A.E. Waite What if all the great religious, philosophical, social, and economic movements were part of a master plan facilitated by secret chiefs for the benefit of evolution toward godhead? The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary by Karl von Eckartshausen is the document that introduced this concept to the 19th century occult communities. It is the work that inspired Aleister Crowley to pursue the Golden Dawn and magick.

Western Esotericism
Western Esotericism

Author: Antoine Faivre

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 2010-02-01

Total Pages: 139

ISBN-13: 1438433786

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An overview of Western esoteric currents since late antiquity, with an emphasis on the last six centuries. Widely received in France, this brief, comprehensive introduction to Western esotericism by the founder of the field is at last available in English. A historical and pedagogical guide, the book is written primarily for students and novices. In clear, precise language, author Antoine Faivre provides an overview of Western esoteric currents since late antiquity. The bulk of the book is laid out chronologically, from ancient and medieval sources (Alexandrian Hermetism, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism), through the Renaissance up to the present time. Its coverage includes spiritual alchemy, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, Christian theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Illuminism, “mystical” Freemasonry, the “occultist” current, Theosophical and Anthroposophical Societies, the Traditionalist School, and “esotericism” in contemporary initiatic societies and in New Religious Movements. Faivre explores how these currents are connected, and refers to where they appear in art and literature. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography, which makes it an essential resource for beginners and scholars alike. “A characteristically erudite, sweeping brief survey of the field of Western esotericism, at once accessible and bristling with details. This is a valuable overview, from the inimitable perspective of the field’s founder, for those who wish to delve into this fascinating and thriving area of contemporary scholarship.” — Arthur Versluis, author of Restoring Paradise, Wisdom’s Children, and Magic and Mysticism “The classic survey of Western esotericism by the most knowledgeable and influential scholar of his generation is now finally accessible to English readers, in an updated edition that takes account of current developments. This small but precious volume will be indispensable for anybody who wishes to be well informed about the historical backgrounds and development of esoteric currents from antiquity to the present.” — Wouter J. Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam