Introduction : Deus ex Machina : Transcending Esoteric Traditions through Modern Technology

Abstract

This special feature collects three of the presentations that we enjoyed during our online conference Deus ex Machina: Transcending Esoteric Traditions through Modern Technology, organized on 25 and 26 February 2021 by the Department for the Study of Religions, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, and RASWE – Research Association for the study of Western Esotericism. Although occurring during the unfortunate times of the pandemic, we concluded that an online conference was a solution befit-ting of the theme – an attempt to make the best of the situation by means of technology. The intent was to explore something that we had an interest in, which at the same time had historical and social relevance. The practice of magic has, in fact, frequently gone hand in hand with technological development. In contrast to the idea of esoteric practices representing an underdeveloped science, the occult arts instead have developed into an independent, fascinating albeit controversial and often confusing branch of knowledge. The dichotomy of science and religion is a common misconception, one that has arisen because of a history of intellectual skirmishes between these two spheres of human practice and thought, often resulting in violent physical conflict. For the purpose of the conference we decided, therefore, to view esotericism as a system of belief that has relied on technologies or a set of skills, methods and processes dedicated to the achievement of an objective – in this case, methods, skills and procedures that allow explorers of the invisible to extend their capacities within a determined cultural expression for the purpose of exploring the metaphysical.