From:
http://www.crossroad.to/glossary/occult/hermetic-magic.htmBrief excerpts:
"Christian Hermetism" was illustrated by the Anglican occultist Charles Williams, close friend and spiritual advisor to
C. S. Lewis. He was a Rosicrucian, a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn, yet continued to call himself Christian and participate in Anglican sacraments. A mystical blend of Catholic/Anglican Sacraments (Eucharist and Baptism) and the legendary Holy Grail, it involves a merging of occult traditions with acceptable elements of Christianity. This is the ultimate deception: Satan's timeless promise of spiritual power and eternal life without true repentance, the cross, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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The New Kabbalah: "The New Kabbalah is a philosophy and Jewish theology grounded in the union between traditional Jewish mysticism and modern rational thought. Rooted in the visionary mythos of Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-72), and interpreted through such modern and postmodern thinkers as Freud, Jung, Hegel....
"...the New Kabbalah is enriched by comparative studies and dialog between Jewish mysticism and other religious and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Platonism, and Gnosticism.
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Neo-Platonism. The belief that "Platonic Archetypes represent true reality, while what we observe and speak are only shadows of that reality."
Western Occultism: In the 20th century, ancient and medieval mysticism such as the Kabala, Gnosticism, Hermetic magic, Astrology and Alchemy blended together with Jungian psychology and Eastern spirituality. New beliefs and occult orders sprouted throughout in the fertile Western cultures, which were rejecting Christianity and hungry for new self-empowering forms of spirituality. Rosicrucian's, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Freemasonry, Unity, contemporary Yoga and various other labels help us identify some of the expressions. But with today's rising tide of suggestions and images from the Internet, Hollywood, popular books (like those by J. K. Rowling, Anne Rice,
C. S. Lewis, and Tolkien), and Japanese anime, there is no limit to its forms. Today's "success-oriented" purpose-driven and emergent churches are especially vulnerable to the mystical expressions and grandiose promises of occult deceptions.
This phenomena is summarized by occultist A. W. Waite, a founding member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a major influence both on Freemasonry and 20th century England. One of its members,
C. S. Lewis' "dearest friend" Charles Williams, a member of the Inklings, along with Lewis, Tolkien and occultist Owen Barfield. Prayerfully ponder Waite's message, for it helps explain the deceptive philosophy that permeates
C. S. Lewis' fantasy worlds of spiritual fantasies:
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[end of brief quotes]
Read it all and see how deeply pagan it is.
