HIST 421 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Hermetica, Gnosticism, Kabbalah
Document Summary
Evidence raised to support her own point of view. Hermeticism seemed to open the possibility of acquiring supernatural knowledge. It has a positive concept of human powers. People say this is something unique to human beings. The hermetic corpus also demonstrates the connection between religion and magic, hermeticism was the revival of ancient forms of religion. Gnosticism was one of these religions which had various forms and which offered supernatural knowledge - mainly through idealistic approach and the rejection of the materialistic side of human beings and ascension to the higher realms. Another form of ancient religion mentioned a mystery religion and the idea of becoming part of a cult with knowledge and heretics. Ficino introduced some of these aspects into his neoplatonism. Discusses rationally philosophy and wanted to gain knowledge but ultimately you need a frenzy which is brought about by music and wine to get a sense of mysterious religions.
