Changes

==General==

==General==

Terms like Esotericism, New Age and Occultism embrace certain non-religious paths to insight and forms of action. They often emphasize the role of the individual, subjective and often out-of-the-ordinary experience, especially when it avoids rational communicability and intersubjective scrutiny. Esotericism embraces certain spiritual qualities of the individual which typically cannot be falsified scientifically. Nonetheless followers of esoteric beliefs occasionally claim scientific testability for certain aspects of their, leading to [[Pseudo-Science|pseudo-scientific]] arguments. A conspicuous feature of Esotericism is the inconsiderate "borrowing" of words and concepts from other fields of knowledge, often that of natural sciences.

Terms like Esotericism, New Age and Occultism embrace certain non-religious paths to insight and forms of action. They often emphasize the role of the individual, subjective and often out-of-the-ordinary experience, especially when it avoids rational communicability and intersubjective scrutiny. Esotericism embraces certain spiritual qualities of the individual which typically cannot be falsified scientifically. Nonetheless followers of esoteric beliefs occasionally claim scientific testability for certain aspects, leading to [[Pseudoscience|pseudo-scientific]] arguments. A conspicuous feature of Esotericism is the inconsiderate "borrowing" of words and concepts from other fields of knowledge, often that of natural sciences.

A uniting element of many esoteric tenets is the claim of offering ultimate answers to the key questions of humanity. They assert to have knowledge of "higher powers", of past and future of mankind, and promises ascent to higher realms or higher forms of knowledge which are denied to the uninitiated.<ref>Heelas, Paul (1996): The New Age Movement. Oxford.</ref> This restriction of knowledge to insiders is the exact opposite of an important principle in science: Any good idea is accessible to all mankind, and not just to a circle of a chosen few.

A uniting element of many esoteric tenets is the claim of offering ultimate answers to key questions of humanity. They assert to have knowledge of "higher powers", of past and future of humankind, and promise ascent to higher realms or higher forms of knowledge which are denied to the uninitiated.<ref>Heelas, Paul (1996): The New Age Movement. Oxford.</ref> This restriction of knowledge to insiders is the exact opposite of an important principle in science: Any good idea is accessible to all humankind, and not just to a circle of a chosen few.

A part of the seductive power of Esotericism is initiated by narcissistic needs: Who wants to be a mere letter in the big book of evolution? A "nano-particle" in an inconceivable and infinite universe, if one can instead interpret one's own birth as having been inspired by cosmic fate and relevance. Worries about a fundamentally uncertain future call for a higher power which guides us. Another source of its appeal may be the complexity of the world which makes it hard to understand, and the fact that getting into the established sciences is tedious and complicated. Engagement in Esotericism can lead to the flattering impression of being able to understand and add meaning to everything.<ref>H. Uhlen: Vom ungläubigen Thomas lernen. Warum sich Wissenschaft und Religion nicht vertragen. K. Fischer, Aachen 2006, S.225</ref>

Part of the seductive power of Esotericism is initiated by narcissistic needs: Who wants to be a mere letter in the big book of evolution? A "nano-particle" in an inconceivable and infinite universe, if one can instead interpret one's own birth as having been inspired by cosmic fate and relevance. Worries about a fundamentally uncertain future call for a higher power which guides us. Another source of its appeal may be the complexity of the world which makes it hard to understand, and the fact that getting into the established sciences is tedious and complicated. Engagement in Esotericism can lead to the flattering impression of being able to understand and add meaning to everything.<ref>H. Uhlen: Vom ungläubigen Thomas lernen. Warum sich Wissenschaft und Religion nicht vertragen. K. Fischer, Aachen 2006, S.225</ref>

The human soul is often portrayed as eternal, the fate of each individual as predetermined. Esoteric practices and lores focus the craving for the mysterious which allegedly is veiled behind the mundane material world. Communication with other people, and even "higher beings" or the deceased is possible according to esoteric comprehension, requiring "channels" in addition to our five senses. Such phenomena present no logical problem to esoteric thinkers, since according to their understanding the known laws of nature are too restricted to explain the world.

The human soul is often portrayed as eternal, the fate of each individual as predetermined. Esoteric practices and lores focus the craving for the mysterious which allegedly is veiled behind the mundane material world. Communication with other people, and even "higher beings" or the deceased, is possible according to esoteric comprehension, requiring "channels" in addition to our five senses. Such phenomena present no logical problem to esoteric thinkers, since according to their understanding the known laws of nature are too restricted to explain the world.

All in all the esoteric scene shows a weak institutionalization.<ref>Knoblauch, Hubert (1989), Das unsichtbare neue Zeitalter. "New Age", privatisierte Religion und kultische Milieus, in: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie</ref>

All in all the esoteric scene shows a weak institutionalization.<ref>Knoblauch, Hubert (1989), Das unsichtbare neue Zeitalter. "New Age", privatisierte Religion und kultische Milieus, in: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie</ref>

==Present==

==Present==

Today's flavor of Esotericism saw its first big wave at the end of the 19th century and then especially in the 1970s. It has a big economic impact (see: [[esoteric market]]) and reaches far beyond the initial audience. Contrary to the past, today's Esotericism views everyone as a potential customer of esoteric products and services. Esoteric lore is no longer secret, but the air of a "higher" knowledge with which one can set oneself apart from the masses is still a big part of its appeal.

Today's flavor of Esotericism saw its first big wave at the end of the 19th century and then in the 1970s in particular. It has a big economic impact (see: [[esoteric market]]) and reaches far beyond the initial audience. Contrary to the past, today's Esotericism views everyone as a potential customer of esoteric products and services. Esoteric lore is no longer secret, but the air of a "higher" knowledge with which one can set oneself apart from the masses is still a big part of its appeal.

A huge number of esoteric authors, advisors and healers create billions in revenue every year in Germany alone. Millions of people look for esoteric solutions for everyday problems as well as severe crises, even though the effectiveness of the products and services offered is typically unknown at best. Providers themselves often do not know the details and history of their esoteric doctrines. It has become a product much like other consumer goods. The preference of followers changes accordingly. If a given practice fails or gets boring, it will simply be replaced by another.

A huge number of esoteric authors, advisors and healers create billions in revenue every year in Germany alone. Millions of people look for esoteric solutions for everyday problems as well as severe crises, even though the effectiveness of the products and services offered is typically unknown at best. Providers themselves often do not know the details and history of their esoteric doctrines. It has become a product much like other consumer goods. The preference of followers changes accordingly. If a given practice fails or gets boring, it will simply be replaced by another.

==Examples of esoteric lore==

==Examples of esoteric lore==

Typical examples of esoteric lore and ideology are [[Astrology]], [[neopagan]] interpretations of [[shamanism]], [[theosophy]] and [[anthroposophy]] by [[Rudolf Steiner]]. Further examples of currently popular esoteric ideas are [[breatharianism]] ([[Light fasting]]) and [[indigenous spirituality]].

Typical examples of esoteric lore and ideology are [[Astrology|astrology]], [[neopagan]] interpretations of [[shamanism]], [[theosophy]] and [[anthroposophy]] by [[Rudolf Steiner]]. Further examples of currently popular esoteric ideas are [[breatharianism]] ([[Light fasting|light fasting]]) and [[indigenous spirituality]].

==Esotericism in health care==

==Esotericism in health care==

Many products of the [[alternative medicine]] are influenced by esotericism. A typical exponent of that scene is [[Rüdiker Dahlke]] who claims to practice "esoteric medicine".<ref>http://www.metamedizin.info/imma/artikel_ruedigerdahlke_krankheitalssprachederseele.shtml</ref> Esoteric axioms appear to be essential, in the absence of proof of effectiveness, to make a product more appealing and separate and protect it from conventional therapies. The ambiguous and differing terminology of today's Esotericism apparently simply shrugs off rational critique of such medical practices.

Many products of [[alternative medicine]] are influenced by esotericism. A typical exponent of that scene is Rüdiger Dahlke who claims to practice "esoteric medicine".<ref>http://www.metamedizin.info/imma/artikel_ruedigerdahlke_krankheitalssprachederseele.shtml</ref> Esoteric axioms appear to be essential, in the absence of proof of effectiveness, to make a product more appealing, and separate and protect it from conventional therapies. The ambiguous and differing terminology of today's Esotericism apparently simply shrugs off rational critique of such medical practices.

The transition to [[alternative medicine]] which claims to be based on science is blurry: Esoteric elements can be found in the description of [[pseudo-medicin]]al methods like [[Energy medicine]], [[Quantum medicine]], [[Bioresonance]] and so on. This applies for example to the avoidance of a well defined terminology.

The transition to [[alternative medicine]] which claims to be based on science is blurred: Esoteric elements can be found in the description of [[Pseudomedicine|pseudo-medicin]]al methods like [[Energy medicine]], [[Quantum medicine]], [[Bioresonance]] and so on. This e.g. also applies to the avoidance of a well-defined terminology.

The market for esoterically influenced medicine often not only makes unsustainable promises about health, the methods frequently even present a potential danger for clients or patients: Critical thinking, necessary for survival, is in danger of being neglected. Competent help from actual experts can be missed or declined. A notion of anti-scientific bias is common. Prejudice and reservation are fostered by esoteric literature as well as websites and TV channels. A typical example for this is the esoterically influenced [[anti-vaccination]] attitude common among many esoteric doctrines, such as [[Anthroposophy]].

The market for esoterically influenced medicine often not only makes unsustainable promises about health, the methods frequently even present a potential danger for clients or patients: Critical thinking, necessary for survival, is in danger of being neglected. Competent help from actual experts can be missed or declined. A notion of anti-scientific bias is common. Prejudice and reservation are fostered by esoteric literature as well as websites and TV channels. A typical example for this is the esoterically influenced [[anti-vaccination]] attitude common among many esoteric doctrines, such as [[Anthroposophy|anthroposophy]].

 

==Literature==

==Literature==