| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
The source of Western theurgy can be found in the philosophy of the Neoplatonists, especially Plotinus and Iamblichus. In Neoplatonism, the universe is regarded as a series of emanations from the Godhead. Matter itself is merely the lowest of these emanations, and therefore not in essence different from the Divine. Although the number and qualities of these emanations differ, most Neoplatonists insisted that God was both singular and good. Although Neoplatonists were technically polytheists, they also embraced monism: reality was varied, with varied gods, but they all represented aspects of the one reality.
For Plotinus, the emanations are as follows:
Plotinus urged contemplations for those who wished to perform theurgy, the goal of which was to reunite with God. Therefore, his school resembles a school of meditationMeditation usually refers to a state of extreme relaxation and concentration, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of surface thoughts. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a reli or contemplationTo contemplate means that you think about stuff, isn't it? or something like that.. His student, Iamblichus of SyriaThe Syrian Arab Republic is a country in Southwest Asia, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. The border with Israel is subject to dispute, pending the resolution of outstanding conflicts over possession of the Gola, taught a more ritualized method of theurgy, that apparently involved invocationAn invocation is: A supplication. A prayer (see also). A commandment. A conjuration (see). As a supplication or prayer it implies to call upon (a god or goddess, a person, etc. When a person calls upon a god or goddess to ask for something (protection, a and religious, as well as magic, ritual. Iamblichus believed theurgy was an imitation of the gods, and in his major work, On the Egyptian Mysteries, he described theurgic observance as "ritualized cosmogonyCosmogony [Gr. Kosmogonia from Kosmos the world and root of gignesthai to be born] is the coming into existence, the creation and origination of the universe. It is also the study of these aspects. So a cosmogony is an account of how the Universe came to" that endowed embodied souls with the divine responsibility of creating and preserving the cosmos.
The Emperor JulianFlavius Claudius Julianus ( 331/ 332 June 26, 363), known to Christians as Julian the Apostate was a Roman emperor who ruled from 361 to 363, as well as the son of a half-brother of Constantine I. As a child he witnessed the murder of his family by his un (332-363), sometimes called Julian the Apostate, embraced Neoplatonic philosophy and worked to replace ChristianityChristian cross and its many variations are widely recognized as an ancient Christian symbol. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Although Christians generally chara with his own version of Neoplatonic paganismPaganism (or Heathenism ) is a catch-all term which has come to bundle together (by extension from its original classical meaning of a non- Christian religion) a very broad set of not necessarily compatible religious beliefs and practices that are usually. Due to his short reign, this was ultimately unsuccessful, but he did produce several works of philosophy and theology, including a hymn to the sun. In his theology, Helios, the Sun, was the perfect example of God's perfection and light, a symbol of divine emanation. He also held the mother goddess Cybele in high esteem.
Julian favored ritual theurgy, with an emphasis on sacrifice and prayer. He was heavily influenced by the ideas of Iamblichus.