Esotericism in Western Culture

"This expanded new edition of Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed (2013) brings a foundational text in the field up to date. Hanegraaff surveys key topics for which "esotericism" has become the preferred label: gnosticism and hermetism in antiquity, "occult sciences" (astrology, alchemy, magic), Renaissance hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, Christian theosophy, occultism, spiritualism, and related currents up to and including the New Age. New sections include Jewish and Islamic Esotericism, global perspectives and politics, and a final chapter on The Future of Esotericism. The book has been updated throughout to reflect current scholarship and increased accessibility for non-specialists"--