The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason

The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason PDF Author: Christopher McIntosh
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 1438435614
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
This new edition of Christopher McIntosh's classic book on the Golden and Rosy Cross order is eagerly awaited. The order stands out as one of the most fascinating and influential of the high-degree masonic and illuminist groups that mushroomed in Europe from the 18th century onward. Active mainly in the German-speaking lands, it recast the original Rosicrucian vision and gave it renewed vitality. At one point it became politically influential when the Prussian King, Frederick William II, was a member of the order. Historians have often perceived the Golden and Rosy Cross as having had a conservative, anti-Enlightenment agenda, but this study – drawing on rare German sources – shows that the matter was more complex. The members of the order practiced alchemy and operated a degree system that was later imitated by later orders such as the Golden Dawn. Like the latter, the Golden and Rosy Cross exerted a wide and enduring cultural influence. Both the alchemy of the order and its powerful ritual system are insightfully described in Christopher McIntosh's clear and compelling style.

The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason

The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason PDF Author: Christopher McIntosh
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 1438435614
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
This new edition of Christopher McIntosh's classic book on the Golden and Rosy Cross order is eagerly awaited. The order stands out as one of the most fascinating and influential of the high-degree masonic and illuminist groups that mushroomed in Europe from the 18th century onward. Active mainly in the German-speaking lands, it recast the original Rosicrucian vision and gave it renewed vitality. At one point it became politically influential when the Prussian King, Frederick William II, was a member of the order. Historians have often perceived the Golden and Rosy Cross as having had a conservative, anti-Enlightenment agenda, but this study – drawing on rare German sources – shows that the matter was more complex. The members of the order practiced alchemy and operated a degree system that was later imitated by later orders such as the Golden Dawn. Like the latter, the Golden and Rosy Cross exerted a wide and enduring cultural influence. Both the alchemy of the order and its powerful ritual system are insightfully described in Christopher McIntosh's clear and compelling style.

The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason

The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason PDF Author: Christopher McIntosh
Publisher: Brill's Studies in Intellectua
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
This the first comprehensive study of the eighteenth-century German Rosicrucian revival and, in particular, of the Gold und Rosenkreuz (Golden and Rosy Cross) order. It examines the order's relationship to the Enlightenment and its influence on the cultural, political and religious life of its age.

Eliphas Lévi and the French Occult Revival

Eliphas Lévi and the French Occult Revival PDF Author: Christopher McIntosh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description


The Transcendental Universe

The Transcendental Universe PDF Author: C. G. Harrison
Publisher: SteinerBooks
ISBN: 1584204974
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
"Our very 'I' consciousness is possible because the mineral earth--the first layer of the interior of the Earth--and the other chthonic regions exist. Our human nature is a reflection of the subearthly and supraearthly realms that comprise the macrocosm and the microcosm. 'The true meaning of the microcosm-macrocosm analogy is not that the human being is a little cosmos, but that the cosmos is a big human being.' From this perspective, it makes complete sense that the subterranean realms described by spiritual science live within the deepest realms of our human nature and subconscious life of darker feelings and will. Deep within the human being, they radiate into the shadows of thought. This region is more familiarly known as Hell, Hades, or the Abyss. The subterranean spheres, then, are the Earth's 'dark side'" (from Paul V. O'Leary's introduction). Throughout human history, ancient wisdom and traditional myths have placed human beings between the heavens and the underworld, describing the heavens as the light-filled realm of the gods and the source of goodness, and characterizing the underworld as a demon-filled realm of darkness and the source of evil. Modern science, however, denies the heavens and knows little of the Earth's interior -- even physically -- beyond the first few miles, after which it simply resorts to conjecture based on the extrapolation of existing sensory data. In other words, natural science fails to take into account that the Earth is a living, spiritual being and ignores the presence of its soul-spiritual qualities and influences. To remedy this, during the early twentieth century, Rudolf Steiner researched the psychic, spiritual, and cosmic nature of the Earth's interior. He described how the different layers of the inner Earth affect and interact with human beings living on Earth. More theologically and cosmically, he spoke of the layers of "Hell," through which Jesus Christ traveled in the period between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, uniting and integrating himself with the Earth and with human destiny. The seven authors in The Inner Life of the Earth approach this difficult and little-discussed topic from different directions. They discuss how the forces emanating from the interior of the Earth affect the weather, our atmosphere, human beings, and how human behavior in turn affects them, showing that earthly and human evolution are a unity and should never be thought of as occurring separately. They also discuss the deep significance of Christ's incarnation, by which he united with the Earth to become the Spirit of the Earth. Without Christ's deed, the Mystery of Golgotha, which reunites cosmic and human evolution with the divine, human beings would be unable to work in freedom with Christ or with Sophia, divine feminine Wisdom, in her form as the Soul of the Earth, to overcome evil and help lift all creation toward goodness and greater human, cosmic, and divine fellowship.

The Rosicrucian Quest for Universal Truth

The Rosicrucian Quest for Universal Truth PDF Author: Magnus Heindel
Publisher: tredition
ISBN: 3384106156
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
By reading "The Rosicrucian Quest for Universal Truth," you will be able to learn about the fascinating combination of history and mysticism that surrounds the Rosicrucians. Investigate the history of this mysterious brotherhood and the fabled tale of Christian Rosenkreuz, the man who established it. It is important to gain an understanding of how the Rosicrucians interpreted the search for the Philosopher's Stone, not as a simple material objective, but rather as a symbol for spiritual enlightenment and self-transformation. A deeper understanding and personal development can be attained through the use of profound allegories and symbols that are incorporated into their teachings and rituals. Give some thought to the ways in which the legacy of the Rosicrucians has spread throughout different cultures and influenced art, literature, and contemporary esoteric thought. Learn about the ways in which this ancient wisdom continues to motivate people who are looking for the truth and those who are yearning for a more profound connection with the universe. The book "The Rosicrucian Quest for Universal Truth" is more than just a historical account; rather, it is an invitation to a path of spiritual awakening and personal discovery. This is the beginning of your journey to enlightenment, which will be guided by the experience and knowledge of the Rosicrucian masters.

A Rosicrucian Utopia in Eighteenth-Century Russia

A Rosicrucian Utopia in Eighteenth-Century Russia PDF Author: Raffaella Faggionato
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402034873
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
This is the first investigation of the history of Russian Freemasonry, based on the premise that the facts of the Russian Enlightenment preclude application of the interpretative framework commonly used for the history of western thought. Coverage includes the development of early Russian masonry, the formation of the Novikov circle in Moscow, the ‘programme’ of Rosicrucianism and its Russian variant and, finally, the clash between the Rosicrucians and the State.

Gnostic Philosophy

Gnostic Philosophy PDF Author: Tobias Churton
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594777675
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 574

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Book Description
An extensive examination of the history of gnosticism and how its philosophy has influenced the Western esoteric tradition • Explains how the Gnostic understanding of self-realization is embodied in the esoteric traditions of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons • Explores how gnosticism continues to influence contemporary spirituality • Shows gnosticism to be a philosophical key that helps spiritual seekers "remember" their higher selves Gnosticism was a contemporary of early Christianity, and its demise can be traced to Christianity's efforts to silence its teachings. The Gnostic message, however, was not destroyed but simply went underground. Starting with the first emergence of Gnosticism, the author shows how its influence extended from the teachings of neo-Platonists and the magical traditions of the Middle Ages to the beliefs and ideas of the Sufis, Jacob Böhme, Carl Jung, Rudolf Steiner, and the Rosicrucians and Freemasons. In the language of spiritual freemasonry, gnosis is the rejected stone necessary for the completion of the Temple, a Temple of a new cosmic understanding that today's heirs to Gnosticism continue to strive to create. The Gnostics believed that the universe embodies a ceaseless contest between opposing principles. Terrestrial life exhibits the struggle between good and evil, life and death, beauty and ugliness, and enlightenment and ignorance: gnosis and agnosis. The very nature of physical space and time are obstacles to humanity's ability to remember its divine origins and recover its original unity with God. Thus the preeminent gnostic secret is that we are God in potential and the purpose of bona fide gnostic teaching is to return us to our godlike nature. Tobias Churton is a filmmaker and the founding editor of the magazine Freemasonry Today. He studied theology at Oxford University and created the award-winning documentary series and accompanying book The Gnostics, as well as several other films on Christian doctrine, mysticism, and magical folklore. He lives in England.

The Pietist Impulse in Christianity

The Pietist Impulse in Christianity PDF Author: G William Carlson
Publisher: James Clarke & Company
ISBN: 0227901401
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
Pietism is a reform movement originating among German Lutherans in the 17th century. It focused on personal faith, reacting against Lutheran Church's emphasis on doctrine and theology over Christian living. The movement quickly expanded, exerting anenormous influence on various forms of Christianity, and became concerned with social and educational matters. Indeed, Piestists showed a strong interest in issues of social and ecclesial reform, the nature of history and historical inquiry, the shape and purpose of theology and theological education, the missional task of the church, and social justice and political engagement. Though, the movement remained largely misunderstood, especially in Anglo-American contexts: negative stereotypes depicted Pietism as a quietist and sectarian form of religion, merely concerned with the 'pious soul and its God'. The main proposal of the editors of this volume is to correct this misunderstanding: assembling a deep collection of essays written by scholars from a variety of fields, this work demonstrates that Piestism was a movement characterized by great depth and originality. Besides, they show the vitality and impulse of Pietism today and emphasize the ongoing relevance of the movement for contemporary problems and questions.

Aleister Crowley: The Beast in Berlin

Aleister Crowley: The Beast in Berlin PDF Author: Tobias Churton
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1620552574
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 425

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Book Description
A biographical history of Aleister Crowley’s activities in Berlin from 1930 to 1932 as Hitler was rising to power • Examines Crowley’s focus on his art, his work as a spy for British Intelligence, his colorful love life and sex magick exploits, and his contacts with magical orders • Explores Crowley’s relationships with Berlin’s artists, filmmakers, writers, and performers such as Christopher Isherwood, Jean Ross, and Aldous Huxley • Recounts the fates of Crowley’s friends and colleagues under the Nazis as well as what happened to Crowley’s lost art exhibition Gnostic poet, painter, writer, and magician Aleister Crowley arrived in Berlin on April 18, 1930. As prophet of his syncretic religion “Thelema,” he wanted to be among the leaders of art and thought, and Berlin, the liberated future-gazing metropolis, wanted him. There he would live, until his hurried departure on June 22, 1932, as Hitler was rapidly rising to power and the black curtain of intolerance came down upon the city. Known to his friends affectionately as “The Beast,” Crowley saw the closing lights of Berlin’s artistic renaissance of the Weimar period when Berlin played host to many of the world’s most outstanding artists, writers, filmmakers, performers, composers, architects, philosophers, and scientists, including Albert Einstein, Bertolt Brecht, Ethel Mannin, Otto Dix, Aldous Huxley, Jean Ross, Christopher Isherwood, and many other luminaries of a glittering world soon to be trampled into the mud by the global bloodbath of World War II. Drawing on previously unpublished letters and diary material by Crowley, Tobias Churton examines Crowley’s years in Berlin and his intense focus on his art, his work as a spy for British Intelligence, his colorful love life and sex magick exploits, and his contacts with German Theosophy, Freemasonry, and magical orders. He recounts the fates of Crowley’s colleagues under the Nazis as well as what happened to Crowley’s lost art exhibition--six crates of paintings left behind in Germany as the Gestapo was closing in. Revealing the real Crowley long hidden from the historical record, Churton presents “the Beast” anew in all his ambiguous and, for some, terrifying glory, at a blazing, seminal moment in the history of the world.

Visions of the Enlightenment

Visions of the Enlightenment PDF Author: Michael J. Sauter
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004176519
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
This book examines the public battle sparked by the promulgation in 1788 of Prussia's Edict on Religion. Historians have seen in this moment nothing less than the end of the Enlightenment in Prussia. This book begs to differ and argues that social control had a long "enlightened" pedigree. Using both archival and published documents this book reveals deeply the entire Prussian elite was invested in social control of the masses, especially in the public sphere. What emerges is a picture of the Enlightenment in Prussia as a conservative enterprise that was limited by not merely the state but also the social anxieties of the Prussian elite.