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'''Western Esotericism''' is a new [[academic field]] of [[research]], [[scholarship]], and [[education]] that focuses on the history of European and Middle Eastern [[esotericism]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}}.
'''Western Esotericism''' is an [[academic field]] of [[research]], [[scholarship]], and [[education]] that focuses on the history of [[Europe|European]] and [[Middle East|Middle Eastern]] [[Esotericism]].


As an academic field, Western Esotericism rose in [[1970s]] in [[continental Europe]] and specifically in the [[Netherlands]] at the [[University of Amsterdam]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}}, with its research methodologies developed by a single professor{{Fact|date=December 2007}}. It later spread in [[France]] in the [[University of Sorbonne]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}}, and it has now reached [[England]] at the [[University of Exeter]].
As an academic field, Western Esotericism rose in [[1970s]] in [[continental Europe]] and specifically in the [[Netherlands]] at the [[University of Amsterdam]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}}, with its research methodologies developed by a single professor{{Fact|date=December 2007}}. It later spread in [[France]] in the [[University of Sorbonne]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}}, and it has now reached [[England]] at the [[University of Exeter]].
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* [[Freemasonry]]
* [[Freemasonry]]
* [[Rosicrucianism]]
* [[Rosicrucianism]]
* [[Hermetecism]]
* [[Hermeticism]]
* [[Neo-Platonism]]
* [[Neo-Platonism]]
* [[Renaissance Kabbalah]]
* [[Christian Kabbalah]]
* [[Number Symbolism]]
* [[Hermetic Qabalah]]
* [[Kabbalah]]
* [[Kabbalah]]
* [[Symbolism]]
* [[Jewish esoteric traditions]]


== Academic legitimacy ==
== Academic legitimacy ==
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* [[Esoteric cosmology]]
* [[Esoteric cosmology]]
* [[Esoteric Christianity]]
* [[Esoteric Christianity]]
* [[Esotericism in Germany and Austria]]
* [[Mysticism]]
* [[Mysticism]]
* [[Christian mysticism]]
* [[Christian mysticism]]
* [[German mysticism]]
* [[German mysticism]]
* [[Theosophy]]
* [[Theosophy]]
* [[Centre for the Study of Esotericism]] also known as [[EXESESO]]
* [[Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke]]
* [[Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke]]


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* [[Science]]
* [[Science]]
* [[Mysticism]]
* [[Mysticism]]
* [[Occult]]


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.amsterdamhermetica.com University of Amsterdam Center for Study of Western Esotericism] Research & BA/MA programs in Western esotericism.

* [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/research/exeseso/ University of Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO)]
** [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/research/exeseso/staff.htm Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO): Staff]
** [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/postgrad/ma/esotericism.htm MA in Western Esotericism at the University of Exeter]
* [http://www.esswe.org ESSWE] European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism, with many links to associated organizations, libraries, scholars etc.
* [http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/ Esoterica website]
* [http://www.gnosticweb.com/ Gnosticweb] Free courses on esoteric topics such as astral projection and the esoteric path
* [http://virtuescience.com/occult-timeline.html Timeline of Esoteric History]
* [http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/logiahermes13 Masonic Esotericism] {{es icon}}
* [http://www.AmericanGnosticAssociation.org American Gnostic Association] Understanding Esotericism as the root of all religions and systems of spiritual cultivation
* [http://museum.mith.ru/ Esoteric Art] - the gallery
*[http://www.innerquest.org.ph/ Inner Quest] Free education Website
* [http://www.esoteric-lebanon.com The first Esoteric Center in Lebanon and the Arab World] Teaching the esoteric techniques of self-knowledge..
* [http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees/history/esotericismma.shtml MA in Western Esotericism from Exeter]
* [http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees/history/esotericismma.shtml MA in Western Esotericism from Exeter]
* [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/research/exeseso/staff.htm Some Western Esotericism professors]
* [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/research/exeseso/staff.htm Some Western Esotericism professors]

{{belief systems}}

[[Category:Esotericism| ]]

Revision as of 13:51, 10 March 2008

Western Esotericism is an academic field of research, scholarship, and education that focuses on the history of European and Middle Eastern Esotericism.

As an academic field, Western Esotericism rose in 1970s in continental Europe and specifically in the Netherlands at the University of Amsterdam[citation needed], with its research methodologies developed by a single professor[citation needed]. It later spread in France in the University of Sorbonne[citation needed], and it has now reached England at the University of Exeter.

Universities that teach the subject include:

University of Stockholm may also have taught a course in Western Esotericism[citation needed], perhaps taught by Thomas Karlsson[citation needed], creator[citation needed] of the left-hand-path organisation[citation needed] Dragon Rouge.

Degrees that can be granted include:

  • MA in Western Esotericism from University of Exeter, UK.

Taught subjects

University courses in Western Esotericism usually include[citation needed]:

Academic legitimacy

Studying such subjects as astrology at universities of good reputation may at first seem strange, but it should be noted that degrees in Western Esotericism usually focus on the history of esotericist currents[citation needed].

The aim of research in Western Esotericism is to discover the interactions between esotericism and society at large and to study the history and spread of esotericist currents and movements[citation needed].

One could also say that since universities already teach theology and comparative religion, it makes perfect sense to teach the history of esotericism as well[citation needed].

Criticism

One could argue that teaching the history of esotericism at universities defeats the whole purpose of esotericism, ie the fact that esotericism deals with secret knowledge through a system of initiation, rather than open research in journals[citation needed].

A scientist could argue that teaching such subjects in the academia opens the way for non-scientists to enter universities, potentially diverging grant funds away from real science. One could compare a degree in Western Esotericism with degrees in other non-scientific or pseudoscientific subjects, such as Homeopathy[citation needed]. From this viewpoint, one could say that the inclusion of such subjects at universities lead to their dumping down their quality, comparable with what some people say about vocational degrees such as nursing[citation needed].

Perhaps one could also argue that the creation of degrees in such subjects is an attempt by modern universities to attract more students from diverse backgrounds, or specifically to attract in the official academia students of non-academic schools that also teach the same subjects from a "true believer" approach without historical research or true scholarship[citation needed].

It remains to be seen whether the inclusion of esoteric subjects in universities of good reputation is a clandestine attempt by esotericists to infiltrate academia or a genuine interest by academics in the historical developments of esotericism and non-mainstream philosophical and religious currents.

See also

Compare with

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