Since the seventeenth century, science has been contending with philosophy, organized religion and the arts for domination over Western civilization and society. By the middle of the twentieth century, the battle appeared to be won; scientific rationalism and skepticism were triumphant. Yet in the last few decades a strong and potent counter-current has emerged. One manifestation of this has been the so-called occult revival. In The Elixir and the Stone, Baigent and Leigh argue that this occult revival -- and indeed the entire revolution in attitudes which has taken place recently -- owes a profound debt to Hermeticism, a body of esoteric teaching which flourished in Alexandria two thousand years ago and which then went underground. The authors trace the history of this intriguing and all-encompassing philosophy -- which has much in common with contemporary holistic thought -- charting it's origin in the Egyptian mysteries, and demonstrating how it continued to exercise enormous influence through the magicians and magi of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Many remarkable characters feature in the narrative, including the Franciscan friar Roger Bacon and the Elizabethan magus John Dee; prototype of Shakespeare's Prospero in The Tempest, but the central figure that emerges is that of Faust himself -- one of the defining myths of Western civilization. The Elixir and the Stoneis a remarkably rich and ambitious book that adds up to a little short of an alternative history of the intellectual world. Perhaps for the first time it puts into their true context those shadowy alchemists and magicians who have haunted the imaginations of people for centuries. Moreover it offers a way of looking at the world that is in one sense 'alternative', but in another, deeply historical.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Baigent and Leigh's best book yet:
This is a wonderful read, full of pungent insight and demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge of Western European history as it relates to individual autonomy in exploring and expressing an understanding of the sacred.
The first thirteen chapters follow the thread of the Hermetic way of seeing the world and the most notable individuals practicing this art over the past three millennia. It provides fresh information to enhance our understanding of the Renaissance, the history of science, and the history... more info
OUR WORLD IS NOTHING BUT ILLUSION:
A well researched thorough history of what is really behind the so-called social and technological progress that has lead to modern day reality. Mr. Baigent and his co-writer Mr. Leigh expose probably more than they bargained for in this book by revealing the "magic" behind the madness of our checkered past. As a long-time researcher myself I found "The Elixir and the Stone" a fascinating inside look at what has motivated many of our "greatest thinkers". While the authors are willing to accept the practice... more info
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