Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

This master thesis entitled Nazism versus Occultism in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia: The Fate of Jiří Arvéd Smíchovský and Jan Kefer, deals primarily with the life of two Czech hermeticians, Jan Kefer and Jiří Arvéd Smíchovský, on the background of their relation to occultism and Nazism. In addition to describe the lives of both persons, with a closer focus on their fates during the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, the master thesis also brings a chapter on the almost unknown Nazi action against the secret sciences and occultists which took place in the territory of the Protectorate in 1941. At the beginning of the text, reader gets familiarized with some basic concepts from occult science and the relationship between Nazism and occultism in general. Then follows the aforementioned chapter on the occultists' persecution in the protectorate. The main pillars of the thesis are the biographies of J. A. Smíchovský and J. Kefer which focus more closely on the Protectorate period. In my thesis I work with many sources, especially from historical sources stored in state and private archives or interviews with a witness. The chapter on the methodology of work deals with the used information sources. The contribution of this diploma thesis is collecting a number of sources to the fate of both...

H.P. Blavatsky’s (1831-1891) Theosophy has been defined as central to the history of modern Western spirituality and esotericism, yet to this date no major study has mapped and analysed the major themes of Blavatsky’s writings, how Blavatsky used the concept ‘Theosophy’ or to what extent she was engaged with the intellectual contexts of her time. Thus the purpose of this thesis is to fill this gap. The proposed theoretical framework is based on the centrality of language in the production of intellectual products, such as texts—but contrary to the dominant focus on strategies, rhetoric and power this thesis will focus on the construction of meaning coupled with a set of methodological tools based on contextual analysis, intellectual history and intertextuality. In addition to an overview of Blavatsky research this thesis will map and analyse Blavatsky’s use of the concept ‘Theosophy’ as well as Blavatsky’s primary discourses, identified as: (1) discourse for ancient knowledge, (2) discourse against Christian dogmatism, (3) discourse against the modern natural sciences and materialism, (4) discourse against modern spiritualism, (5) discourse for system and (7) discourse for universal brotherhood. In mapping and analysing Blavatsky’s discourses, it was found that her construction of meaning was significantly interconnected with broader intellectual contexts, such as ‘modern historical consciousness’, ‘critical enlightenment ideas’, studies in religion, studies in mythology, the modern sciences, spiritualism, systemic philosophy, reform movements and practical ethics. It, for example, becomes clear that Blavatsky’s search for an ancient ‘Wisdom Religion’ was actually a part of a common intellectual occupation during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and that her critique of the Christian dogmas was equally a common intellectual trend. To read Blavatsky’s discourses as the idiosyncratic strategies of an esotericist, isolated from their larger contexts or only engaged with them in order to legitimise minority views would therefore largely fail to account for the result of this thesis: that in historical actuality, they were a part of the larger cultural web of meaning.

The thesis deals with the issue of risks associated with modern occultism in social work and ethic reflection of dilemmas which may occur in social work in connection with the spiritual dimension of people.The first Chapter presents social work as an independentsphere, it provides a brief overview of the social care history, points out the values on which social work is based, reflects the influence of Christianity on creation of the all-society solidarity and emphasizes importance of social worker personality.The second Chapter further develops the topics of religiosity and spirituality, paying special attention in particular to the institutionalized form of spirituality. drawn. The issues of spirituality which need not have any official form are the subject matter of the third Chapter of the Thesis. The Thesis presents alternative directions associated especially with the New Age movement, which combine elements of different traditions in an unusual way. This Chapter is focused on the risks connected with practicing modern occultism and which one may face in the field of social work as well. It also reflects various dilemmas arising from the context of spirituality and from confrontation of personal values of the worker with those of the organization or the client. The fourth Chapter enriches the Thesis with a pastoral dimension which can be helpful for social workers in the improvement of quality of their work and in prevention of ethical dilemmas.

Al-Būnī est une figure centrale dans l'étude de la magie en Islam au Moyen Âge. En effet, son principal traité, le Šams al-maʿārif al-kubrā (Le « grand » soleil des connaissances), est le plus grand manuel de magie se basant sur le Coran, les beaux noms de Dieu, les invocations aux anges, etc. Malheureusement, à ce jour, cette oeuvre nous est connue à travers des éditions se basant sur des manuscrits très tardifs, fort éloignés du contenu des manuscrits des oeuvres ayant pu être écrites par al-Būnī : en témoignent les nombreux anachronismes. Aussi, ce travail de recherche propose de faire l'analyse et d'établir une édition critique d'une partie du « corpus bunianum » : le Šams al-maʿārif wa-laṭāʾif al-ʿawārif (Le soleil des connaissances et les grâces exquises) dans sa version courte (la supposée plus ancienne), al-Lumʿa l-nūrāniyya (La lueur luminescente) et d'autres traités qui ont contribué à former le Šams al-maʿārif. L'édition de ces textes correspondant au « noyau historique » de cet immense corpus met en évidence les éléments les plus anciens des oeuvres attribuées à al-Būnī et les influences ayant contribué à la formation d'une magie islamique, se référant non plus essentiellement à des autorités grecques, indiennes, mésopotamiennes, etc., mais aussi au Coran, à la tradition prophétique et aux traditions magiques, mystiques et kabbalistiques juives, chrétiennes et musulmanes. Intimement liée aux sphères du pouvoir, cette littérature magique participe également à leur mise en scène et reflète leur évolution. / Indeed, his main treatise, the Šams al-maʿārif al-kubrā (The "Great" Sun of Knowledge), is the most important magic manual based on the Qurʾān, the beautiful names of God, invocations to the angels, etc. Unfortunately, until now, this work has been known to us through editions based on very late manuscripts, very different from the contents of manuscripts of works written by al-Būnī as the many anachronisms point out. In this research, we propose an analysis and a critical edition of part of the "corpus bunianum": Šams al-maʿārif wa-laṭāʾif al-ʿawārif (The Sun of Knowledge and the ExquisiteGraces) in its short version (the supposedly more ancient one), al-Lumʿa l-nūrāniyya (The Luminescent Glow) and other treaties that have been used to write down the Šams al-maʿārif. Editing these texts corresponding to the "historic core" of this vast corpus highlights the oldest parts of the works attributed to al-Būnī and the influences that contributed to the formation of an Islamic magic, referring not only to Greek authorities, Indian, Mesopotamian, etc.., but also to the Qurʾān, the prophetic tradition and magical, mystical and Kabbalistic Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions.Closely linked to realms of power, this magical literature also contributes to their splendour andreflects their evolution.

Doctorat en philosophie et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

La représentation de Satan et de ses différentes dénominations a constitué un sujet majeur de l’histoire de l’art occidental chrétien des premiers siècles de notre ère jusqu’au début du vingtième siècle. Alors que nous estimions le thème définitivement abandonné suite au fort recul de la pensée religieuse – notamment de la croyance au Diable – dans les sociétés actuelles, nous relevons que l’art contemporain lui accorde une place prépondérante dans sa production et ses manifestations. Le constat de ce décalage ostensible est à l’origine de la volonté d’étudier les raisons, les expressions et les conséquences qui accompagnent la présence de Satan dans l’art d’aujourd’hui. Pour rendre compte de cette discordance, cette thèse se scinde en trois mouvements : une étude comparative de l’histoire de la figure entre son passé et son présent, puis de sa disparition relative à sa réincarnation effective ; une analyse du traitement de l’imagerie diabolique par les artistes, et des messages qu’ils transmettent à travers elle ; une réflexion sur la survie théorique de la figure, et sur le silence du monde de l’art face à l’omniprésence de sa représentation. Le «retour» du Diable s’explique par deux raisons principales : détaché de ses racines théologiques, il est devenu aisément manipulable ; héritière de son glorieux passé, son image possède une force symbolique irremplaçable. La figure de Satan dans l’art contemporain est le reflet de nos sociétés, de nos angoisses, et de nos espoirs de libération – symptôme et possible remède. Vouloir l’ignorer revient à refuser d’affronter la préoccupante situation sociopolitique du monde : un vœu pieux potentiellement dangereux. / The representation of Satan in his various denominations has constituted a major topic for Western Christian art history, from the first centuries A.D. to the beginning of the twentieth century. While, following the large decline of religious thought and of the belief in the Devil, the theme was considered as permanently obsolete in our present day societies, we notice that contemporary art provides it a leading place in its productions and expressions. The genuine will to study the reasons, the manifestations and the consequences accompanying the presence of Satan in today’s art comes from the observation of this blatant discrepancy. In order to figure out this discordance, this thesis is divided in three parts: a comparative study of the figure between its past and its present, then from its relative disappearance to its effective reincarnation; an analysis of the diabolical imagery as it is treated by artists, and of the messages they deliver through it; a reflection on the theoretical survival of the figure, and on the art world’s silence in the face of his omnipresent representation. The Devil’s “come back” can be explained by two main reasons: cut from his theological roots, this character is easily maneuverable; his image possesses an irreplaceable strength inherited from his glorious past. The figure of Satan in contemporary art mirrors our societies, our fears, our hope for liberation – a symptom and a possible remedy. To try to avoid it is to refuse to contend with the worrying socio-political situation of the world: a potentially dangerous vain wish.

Esoterismens förekomst i konst- och kulturlivet i Sverige är särskilt utmärkande under sekelskiftet. Fenomenet har tidigare funnits i samhället men genom lagstiftningar marginaliserats till det övre samhällsskiktet och därmed förbjöds allmänheten från sådana praktiker. Esoteriska praktiker och idéer om verkligheten kan däremot spåras i modernismens konstnärliga rörelser som symbolism och abstrakt konst. Hilma af Klint var en av de konstnärerna som praktiserade esoterism och förmedlade dess ideologier i sina verk. Uppsatsens syfte är att lyfta fram fenomenet i konst under sekelskiftet och studera hur det etablerades, samt vilken effekt hade det i konst-och kulturlivet? Hur kom de esoteriska influenserna till uttryck i konst? Hur kan dess effekter spåras i ett konstnärskap? Uppsatsen utgörs av två huvudkapitel, som undersöker den esoteriska kontexten, budskapsförmedlingen i konstverk samt dess effekt i af Klints konstnärskap. Undersökningen visar att esoterism spreds till följd av modernitetens innovationer. De skapade de rätta förutsättningarna för esoterismens etablering och influerande i konst-och kulturlivet under tiden. Kultursfärens transnationella resor bidrog också till approprierande av esoteriska idéer i andra europeiska länder, som inte begränsades av lagstiftningar. Sådana idéer togs med hem till Sverige och spreds. Det abstraherade bildspråket i konstverken är sprungen ur esoteriska praktiker som seanser och automatism, samt dess verklighetsföreställningar. Därför kan bildspråket anses vara symbolladdat och refererande. Sådan konst kräver en betraktare initierad i de esoteriska visdomarna för uttolkningen av det symboliska meddelandet. Den insikten resulterade i slutsatsen att marginaliseringen av esoterismen till övresamhällsskiktet var med syftet att bevara den visdomen bland invigda i de esoteriska kunskaperna. Konstnärer som af Klint etablerade inom den kontexten, bör således omvärderas från enbart abstrakta, till möjligen missionerande spirituella sådana, som sökte återge och etablera esoteriska ideologier.

ENG Esotericism and Occultism in the Italian Literature of the Early Twentieth Century The purpose of this research is to bring contribution to the branch of academic studies dedicated to Western Esotericism with aim to clarify the relationship between this literary field and culture in general. Numerous studies were made in this area of research, specifically tackling the influence of Esotericism on modern and contemporary literature. The goal was to show, in particular, the contribution Italian authors had to establishing of esoteric directions in literature, throughout a limited time-span (last decades of the 19th until the early 20th century). The research, based mainly upon concrete examples and documented resources, portrays the attempt of many writers and entire cultural trends in Italy, during the period considered, to adopt an original approach to expressing themselves, one which will in turn help them to overcome the literary boundaries of that time. This direction found fruitful ground and rooted itself in the esoteric culture, the occult sciences, in the lyrical dimension of dreams and of the unconscious. This study shows the relationship between esotericism and Italian science and culture scene between "fin de siècle and avant-garde", with emphasis on the undeniable influence the...

G. R. S. Mead is an important but neglected historical personality of the British fin-de-siècle occult, Theosophical, and post-Theosophical milieu. While previous scholars of Theosophy have portrayed the Theosophical movement as quite cohesive in nature, I argue that it might have been a lot more pluralistic, with ostensibly key Theosophical concepts being open for debate. By a careful study of Mead’s editorial activity, his debates with other Theosophists in leading occultist journal over the period 1890s through 1910s, I illustrate that Mead held alternative views of key Theosophical concepts. This gives us a clue as to how the movement of Theosophy can be characterized differently. I suggest that we speak of many different “Theosophies” rather than one singular “Theosophy” to better capture the seemingly diverse makeup of the Theosophical movement. I look at three areas wherein Mead’s views differed from those of other important Theosophists: the concept of “the Masters” as spiritual authority, which sources to turn to and how to interpret them, and the question of whether occultism should be understood primarily in theoretical or in practical terms. I propose that by seeing Theosophy as a debating ground where many different Theosophists competed over the definition of their particular kind of Theosophy, we might also better account for why so many post-Theosophical currents emerged. Lastly, Mead’s concept of “Gnosis” might have served as a bridge between his Theosophical and post-Theosophical periods, as the concept’s meaning, along with Mead’s spiritual outlook, does not appear to have changed over time. This gives some consequences to how we conceive of post-Theosophy, since he does not fit neatly within that category.