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Document Details : Title: The Debate about Esotericism in Buddhism and Theosophy Author(s): POORTHUIS, Marcel Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Date: 2023 Pages: 221-232 DOI: 10.2143/SID.33.2.3292476 Abstract : In spite of the fruitful development of interreligious dialogue, the claim of esoteric religiosity appears to be a major stumbling block for dialogue. However, the foundation of this claim should not be considered historical but mythical, as it aims to buttress religious identity by unveiling secrets, supposedly hidden for centuries, coupled with a strong rejection of official religion. A similar aversion against ‘institutional religion’ may be observed in claims by modern Gnostics to unearth the original teaching of Jesus and by adepts of modern hermeticism to reveal the ‘true wisdom’, supposedly suppressed by the church. |
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