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The '''occult''', in the broadest sense, is a category of supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing such phenomena involving otherworldly agency as mysticism, spirituality, and [[ritual magic]]. It can also refer to supernatural ideas like extra-sensory perception and parapsychology. | The '''occult''', in the broadest sense, is a category of supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing such phenomena involving otherworldly agency as mysticism, spirituality, and [[ritual magic]]. It can also refer to supernatural ideas like extra-sensory perception and parapsychology. | ||
The term occult sciences was used in 16th-century Europe to refer to [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and [[natural magic]], which | The term ''occult sciences'' was used in 16th-century Europe to refer to [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and [[natural magic]], during which time they were more or less considered legitimate proto-scientific disciplines. The term ''occultism'' emerged in 19th-century France, where it came to be associated with various French esoteric groups connected to [[Éliphas Lévi]] and [[Papus]], and in 1875 was introduced into the English language by the esotericist [[Helena Blavatsky]]. | ||
Throughout the 20th century, the term was used idiosyncratically by a range of different authors, but by the 21st century was commonly employed – including by academic scholars of esotericism – to refer to a range of esoteric currents that developed in the mid-19th century and their descendants. Occultism is thus often used to categorise such esoteric traditions as [[Spiritualism]], [[Theosophy]], Anthroposophy, the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], and [[New Age]]. | Throughout the 20th century, the term was used idiosyncratically by a range of different authors, but by the 21st century was commonly employed – including by academic scholars of esotericism – to refer to a range of esoteric currents that developed in the mid-19th century and their descendants. Occultism is thus often used to categorise such esoteric traditions as [[Spiritualism]], [[Theosophy]], Anthroposophy, the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], and [[New Age]]. | ||
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==Occultism== | ==Occultism== | ||
[[File:Aleister Crowley-Golden Dawn.jpg|350px|thumb|Occultist Aleister Crowley wearing his ritual attire]] | [[File:Aleister Crowley-Golden Dawn.jpg|350px|thumb|Occultist Aleister Crowley wearing his ritual attire]] | ||
The French esotericist [[Éliphas Lévi]] popularised the term "occultism" in the 1850s. | The French esotericist [[Éliphas Lévi]] popularised the term "occultism" in the 1850s. | ||
In | Unlike older forms of esotericism, occultism does not reject "scientific progress or modernity." In his work about Lévi, the German historian of religion Julian Strube has argued that the [[occultist]] wish for a "synthesis" of religion, science, and philosophy directly resulted from the context of contemporary socialism and progressive [[Christianity|Catholicism]]. Similar to spiritualism, but in declared opposition to it, the emergence of occultism should thus be seen within the context of radical social reform, which was often concerned with establishing new forms of "scientific religion" while at the same time propagating the revival of an ancient tradition of "true religion." | ||
Another feature of occultists is that—unlike earlier esotericists—they often openly distanced themselves from [[Christianity]], in some cases (like that of [[Aleister Crowley]]) even adopting explicitly anti-Christian stances. This reflected how pervasive the influence of secularisation had been on all areas of European society. In rejecting Christianity, these occultists sometimes turned towards pre-Christian belief systems and embraced forms of Modern [[Paganism]], while others instead took influence from the religions of Asia, such as [[Hindu]]ism and [[Buddhism]]. In various cases, certain occultists did both. | |||
Another characteristic of these occultists was the emphasis that they placed on "the spiritual realization of the individual," an idea that would strongly influence the twentieth-century [[New Age]] and Human Potential Movement. This spiritual realization was encouraged both through traditional Western 'occult sciences' like alchemy and [[ritual magic]], but by the start of the twentieth century had also begun to include practices drawn from non-Western contexts, such as [[yoga]]. | |||
==Modern usage== | ==Modern usage== | ||
The term occult has also been used as a substantivized adjective as "the occult," a term that has been particularly widely used among journalists and sociologists. This term was popularised by the publication of Colin Wilson's 1971 book ''The Occult''. This term has been used as an "intellectual waste-basket" into which a wide array of beliefs and practices have been placed because they do not fit readily into the categories of religion or science. | The term occult has also been used as a substantivized adjective as "the occult," a term that has been particularly widely used among journalists and sociologists. This term was popularised by the publication of Colin Wilson's 1971 book ''The Occult''. This term has been used as an "intellectual waste-basket" into which a wide array of beliefs and practices have been placed because they do not fit readily into the categories of religion or science. | ||
According to Hanegraaff, "the occult" is a category into which gets placed a range of beliefs from "spirits or fairies to parapsychological experiments, from UFO-abductions to Oriental mysticism, from vampire legends to [[channeling]], and so on." | According to Hanegraaff, "the occult" is a category into which gets placed a range of beliefs from "spirits or [[fairy|fairies]] to parapsychological experiments, from UFO-abductions to Oriental mysticism, from vampire legends to [[channeling]], and so on." | ||
==Occultism and technology== | ==Occultism and technology== | ||
Recently scholars have offered perspectives on the occult as intertwined with media and technology. Examples include the work of film and media theorist Jeffrey Sconce and religious studies scholar John Durham Peters, both of whom suggest that occult movements historically utilize media and apparati as tools to reveal hidden aspects of reality or laws of nature. Erik Davis in his book ''Techgnosis'' gives an overview of occultism both ancient and modern from the perspective of cybernetics and information technologies. | Recently scholars have offered perspectives on the occult as intertwined with media and technology. Examples include the work of film and media theorist Jeffrey Sconce and religious studies scholar John Durham Peters, both of whom suggest that occult movements historically utilize media and apparati as tools to reveal hidden aspects of reality or laws of nature. Erik Davis in his book ''Techgnosis'' gives an overview of occultism both ancient and modern from the perspective of cybernetics and information technologies. | ||
==Major figures== | |||
In the English-speaking world, prominent figures in the development of occultism included [[Helena Blavatsky]] and other figures associated with her [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] Society. | |||
Senior figures in the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]] like William Wynn Westcott and [[Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]], as well as other individuals such as Paschal Beverly Randolph, Emma Hardinge Britten, [[Arthur Edward Waite]], and—in the early twentieth century—[[Aleister Crowley]], [[Dion Fortune]], and [[Israel Regardie]]. | |||
More modern influences include [[Anton LaVey]], [[Damien Echols]], and [[Travis McHenry]]. | |||
==Popular culture== | ==Popular culture== | ||