Glossary: Theology

This is very much a work in progress. All of these definitions are provisional and will be worked on and improved during the writing of the book. Feedback on the definitions would be especially welcome.

Theology

The academic study of supernatural beliefs and religious practices.

Esotericism
- An abstract term invented in the late eighteenth century to collect together a range of previously disconnected non-mainstream religious, non-material (spiritual), and metaphysical activities and ideas. It originated from the word esoteric, which related to the inner dimensions of religious practice, as opposed to their outer, exoteric practices. Hanegraaff (2013: pp. 1-17).
Occult
- Literal meaning is hidden, covered over, invisible to our physical senses. Therefore both sub-natural and super-natural phenomena are occult phenomena.
Spiritual
- In everyday modern English this word has become exclusively used in relation to supernatural phenomena or entities. The German word Geist has a much wider range of meanings, all of which involve non-material phenomena. I therefore consider that sub-natural phenomena are also included.
Supernatural
- My understanding is very limited at present. My tentative view is that the seven ethers relate (mostly?) to natural (see physis) and sub-natural (see physis) realms. The astral and ego realms are