Hermetic Spirituality and the Historical Imagination - Altered States of Knowledge in Late Antiquity

Explores the tradition of Hermetic spirituality that flourished in Roman Egypt during the first centuries CE. It was grounded in experiential techniques that had a powerful effect on the consciousness of practitioners. Their goal was to 'heal the soul' of mental delusion and lead it to gnosis, ultimate salvational knowledge.

List of contents

Prologue; 1. Hermetic Spirituality; 2. Heart of Darkness; 3. The Presence of Gods; 4. Children of Hermes; 5. Through a Glass Darkly; 6. Healing the Soul; 7. The Path of Reverence; 8. Becoming Alive; 9. The Source; 10. The Conquest of Time; Epilogue.

About the author

Wouter J. Hanegraaff is Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of six monographs, including New Age Religion and Western Culture (1996) and Esotericism and the Academy (2012), and editor of eight collective works, including the Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism (2005).

Summary

Altered States of Knowledge in Late Antiquity. Religion, History of religion, Ancient history

Product details

• Authors: Wouter J Hanegraaff, Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Hanegraaff Wouter J.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.05.2022
• EAN: 9781009123068
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0912306-8
• No. of pages: 400
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / History, History of Religion