Esoteric Spirituality, Devils, and Demons
Kristina Šípová
March 31, 2017 DOI: 10.4324/9781315466774-12 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Western esoteric currents such as Hermeticism, Theosophy, and occultism use Gnostic dualism to present good and evil as complementary categories, linking demons both to an illusory physical reality and to spiritual progress toward gnosis. Contends that esotericism thereby departs from conventional dualism by integrating matter and spirit, and suggests esoteric evil reflects modernist and postmodern concerns about the nature of the world. |
Abstract
This chapter presents a comprehensive account of the history of Western esotericism, and its use and application of demons and demonic entities. It explains how esoteric currents —particularly Hermeticism , Theosophy and occultism — utilise Gnostic religious views and inherent duality to present good and evil as two complementing categories. On the one hand, Gnostic and esoteric demons are linked to an illusory physical reality; on the other hand, they are discussed in relation to individual spiritual progress, leading to the attainment of spiritual knowledge, or gnosis . Thus, the chapter shows how esotericism radically departs from religious and philosophical considerations of dualism, integrating matter and spirit into one whole. Consequently, it is suggested that esoteric evil reflects modernist sensibilities as well as postmodern concerns about the nature of this world.