The Fall of Spirituality: The Corruption of Tradition in the Modern World

A bold critique of the spiritual schools, philosophies, and mystical teachers of the 20th century

• Examines newer spiritual “systems” of the modern era, from spiritism and theosophy, to parapsychic research and anthroposophism, to psychoanalysis and the Church of Satan

• Compares these newer spiritual “systems” to the traditional spiritual path of the ancients and exposes the misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and occult dangers lurking in their practices

• Also examines important modern figures such as Nietzsche, Aleister Crowley, Rudolf Steiner, Dostoevsky, Freud, Jung, Gurdjieff, Krishnamurti, and Anton LaVey

Written two years before his most prominent book Revolt Against the Modern World, Julius Evola’s The Fall of Spirituality was originally published in Italian as Maschera e volto dello spiritualismo contemporaneo (The Mask and Face of Contemporary Spiritualism). In it, the Baron critiques the spiritual schools, cults, philosophies, and mystical teachers of the 20th century--from spiritism and theosophy, to parapsychic research and anthroposophism, to psychoanalysis and the Church of Satan--comparing these newer spiritual “systems” to the traditional spiritual path of the ancients and exposing the misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and occult dangers lurking in their practices.

Examining important modern figures such as Nietzsche, Aleister Crowley, Rudolf Steiner, Dostoevsky, Freud, Jung, Gurdjieff, Krishnamurti, and Anton LaVey, the author contends that their aspirations to power are limited to a focus on concerns of the mundane world. They are thereby blind to the existence of a supernatural reality that offers individuals transmutation from the fallen human personality into a semigod-like status--a status attainable only by those who can master the rigors demanded of initiates on the traditionalist path.

Offering an essential guidebook for serious spiritual seekers looking for a more profound metaphysical discipline than those of the spiritual schools of the modern era, Evola also provides contrasting insights from the age-old path of initiation and high magic.

Julius Evola (1898-1974) was one of the leading authorities on the world’s esoteric traditions and hermeticism. Among his other books published by Inner Traditions are Ride the Tiger, Revolt Against the Modern World, The Hermetic Tradition, and the three-volume set Introduction to Magic.