Orthodox heresy: The rise of "magic" as religion and its relation to literature - Hardcover
This work deals with the influences of magic on morality and religion and its relation to literature, especially in this age which puts more emphasis on knowledge and will than on traditional Christian concepts of faith and good works. Chapters: 1 Introductory: 'Magic' as Word and Idea; 2 From Egypt to Freemasonry; 3 Eliphas Levi; 4 Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophists; 5 The Golden Dawn; 6 Intermediary: The Magic Mountain; 7 Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy; 8 Aleister Crowley; 9 L Ron Hubbard and Scientology; 10 Concluding: 'Magic' and the Moral Continuum.
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About the Author:
Stoddard Martin is an editor, journalist and lecturer. He attended Stanford and University College, London, and has taught at Harvard and other universities. He is author of a dozen novellas, two screenplays and five critical books, published by Macmillan in the UK and St Martin's Press in the US.
Review:
'The two-edged sword of religion and magic is fully and fascinatingly explored in this provocative volume where the author questions the origins of morality in metaphysical rather than practical terms.' - Contemporary Review
'Martin takes as his subtitle 'The Rise of "Magic" as Religion and its Relation to Literature'; and while he begins with the OED's definition of magic as 'the pretended art of influencing the course of events by compelling the energy of spiritual beings,' he finds that, beneath the pretence, what initiates have really been up to is self-realisation, which he takes to be the dominant religion of our day.' - Hugo Barnacle, The Independent
'The biographical sketches are often amusing, by no means wholly credulous about the integrity of their subjects, and contain bits of unusual information, like the fact that Kafka consulted Rudolf Steiner about his asthma - with no satisfactory result.' - Julian Symons, Times Literary Supplement.
'Martin takes as his subtitle 'The Rise of "Magic" as Religion and its Relation to Literature'; and while he begins with the OED's definition of magic as 'the pretended art of influencing the course of events by compelling the energy of spiritual beings,' he finds that, beneath the pretence, what initiates have really been up to is self-realisation, which he takes to be the dominant religion of our day.' - Hugo Barnacle, The Independent
'The biographical sketches are often amusing, by no means wholly credulous about the integrity of their subjects, and contain bits of unusual information, like the fact that Kafka consulted Rudolf Steiner about his asthma - with no satisfactory result.' - Julian Symons, Times Literary Supplement.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherMacmillan
- Publication date1989
- ISBN 10 0333435400
- ISBN 13 9780333435403
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages322
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Orthodox heresy : the rise of 'magic' as religion and its relation to literature / Stoddard Martin
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Basingstoke : Macmillan
(1989)
ISBN 10: 0333435400
ISBN 13: 9780333435403
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Hardcover
First Edition
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Book Description 1st edition. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description; viii,322p ; 23cm. Notes; Includes index. Subjects; Magic. Magic in literature. Magic Religious aspects. Cults. Magic Religious aspects. Cults. Magic in literature. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 406922
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