Hermeticism

Hermeticism is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs[1] based primarily upon the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, who is put forth as a wise sage and Egyptian priest, and who is commonly seen as synonymous with the Egyptian god Thoth.[2] These beliefs have influenced Western magic traditions.

In Islam, the Hermetic cult was accepted as being the Sabians mentioned in the Qur'an in 830 CE. [3]

The Corpus Hermeticum

After centuries of falling out of favor, Hermeticism was reintroduced to the West when, in 1460 CE, a man named Leonardo[4] brought the Corpus Hermeticum to Pistoia. He was one of many agents sent out by Pistoia's ruler, Cosimo de'Medici, to scour European monasteries for lost ancient writings.[5]

In 1614 CE Isaac Casaubon, a Swiss philologist, analyzed the Hermetic texts for linguistic style and claimed that the Hermetic writings attributed to Trismegistus were not the work of an ancient Egyptian priest but in fact dated to the Christian Era.[6][7] Walter Scott places their date shortly after 200 CE, while Sir W. Flinders Petrie places them between 200 and 500 BCE.[8] Plutarch's mention of Hermes Trismegistus dates back to the first century CE, and Tertullian, Iamblichus, and Porphyry are all familiar with Hermetic writings.[9]

In 1945 CE, Hermetic writings were among those found near Nag Hammadi, in the form of one of the conversations between Hermes and Asclepius from the Corpus Hermeticum, and a text about the Hermetic mystery schools, On the Ogdoad and Ennead, written in the Coptic language, the last form in which the Egyptian language was written.[10]

Hermeticism as a religion

Not all Hermeticists consider their beliefs a religion. Many alloy the beliefs of their own Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Paganism, or Islam with their mystical ideas. Others hold that all great religions have a few mystical truths at their core, and all religions point to the esoteric tenets of Hermeticism.

Tobias Churton, scholar of obscure religious movements, states that "the Hermetic tradition was both moderate and flexible, offering a tolerant philosophical religion, a religion of the (omnipresent) mind, a purified perception of God, the cosmos, and the self, and much positive encouragement for the spiritual seeker, all of which the student could take anywhere."[11]

Hermetic beliefs

Hermeticism encompasses both panentheism and Monistic-polytheism within its belief system, which teaches that there is The All, or one "Cause", of which we, and the entire universe, are all a part. These beliefs are claimed[attribution needed] to have come from Egypt and have strong philosophical ties to that land. Also it subscribes to the notion that other beings such as gods and angels, ascended masters and elementals exist in the Universe.

Manly P. Hall, an occult and Hermetic scholar, however, claims that Hermeticism has foremost inspired three movements, the Illuminati, Freemasonry, and the Rosicrucians.[22]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism