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Esotericism in Romanian Religious History

Ionuț Daniel Băncilă

Aries January 30, 2023 DOI: 10.1163/15700593-02301003 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Historical analysis Peer reviewed
Citations 2
Key points Argues that esoteric currents including alchemy, spiritualism, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, and Traditionalism were indigenized in Romania, shaped by local Orthodox Christian discourses and practices, and that contemporary Romanian occulture, especially Orthodox occulture, continues to reflect these entanglements.

Abstract

Abstract As an expression of the complex global religious entanglements, esoteric knowledge did appeal also to Eastern Europe, in Romania being particularly imprinted by the local religious discourses and practices characteristic to Orthodox Christianity. This paper attempts to briefly sketch the indigenization of esoteric “currents” such as alchemy, spiritualism, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, Traditionalism etc. in Romania. Apart from these historical formations, various aspects of the contemporary occulture in Romania are also considered, especially the Orthodox occulture.