Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus (Hermeneutics)

Theurgy and the Soul is a study of Iamblichus of Syria (ca. 240–325), whose teachings set the final form of pagan spirituality prior to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Gregory Shaw focuses on the theory and practice of theurgy, the most controversial and significant aspect of Iamblichus's Platonism. Theurgy literally means "divine action." Unlike previous Platonists who stressed the elevated status of the human soul, Iamblichus taught that the soul descended completely into the body and thereby required the performance of theurgic rites—revealed by the gods—to unite the soul with the One. Iamblichus was once considered one of the great philosophers whose views on the soul and the importance of ritual profoundly influenced subsequent Platonists such as Proclus and Damascius. The Emperor Julian followed Iamblichus's teachings to guide the restoration of traditional pagan cults in his campaign against Christianity. Although Julian was unsuccessful, Iamblichus's ideas persisted well into the Middle Ages and beyond. His vision of a hierarchical cosmos united by divine ritual became the dominant world view for the entire medieval world and played an important role in the Renaissance Platonism of Marsilio Ficino. Even Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that he expected a reading of Iamblichus to cause a "revival in the churches." But modern scholars have dismissed him, seeing theurgy as ritual magic or "manipulation of the gods." Shaw, however, shows that theurgy was a subtle and intellectually sophisticated attempt to apply Platonic and Pythagorean teachings to the full expression of human existence in the material world.

History

Shaw, Gregory

Ancient Civilizations

Penn State University Press

Theurgy and the Soul is a study of Iamblichus of Syria (ca. 240–325), whose teachings set the final form of pagan spirituality prior to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Gregory Shaw focuses on the theory and practice of theurgy, the most controversial and significant aspect of Iamblichus's Platonism. Theurgy literally means "divine action." 
Unlike previous Platonists who stressed the elevated status of the human soul, Iamblichus taught that the soul descended completely into the body and thereby required the performance of theurgic rites—revealed by the gods—to unite the soul with the One. Iamblichus was once considered one of the great philosophers whose views on the soul and the importance of ritual profoundly influenced subsequent Platonists such as Proclus and Damascius. The Emperor Julian followed Iamblichus's teachings to guide the restoration of traditional pagan cults in his campaign against Christianity. Although Julian was unsuccessful, Iamblichus's ideas persisted well into the Middle Ages and beyond. 
His vision of a hierarchical cosmos united by divine ritual became the dominant world view for the entire medieval world and played an important role in the Renaissance Platonism of Marsilio Ficino. Even Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that he expected a reading of Iamblichus to cause a "revival in the churches." But modern scholars have dismissed him, seeing theurgy as ritual magic or "manipulation of the gods." Shaw, however, shows that theurgy was a subtle and intellectually sophisticated attempt to apply Platonic and Pythagorean teachings to the full expression of human existence in the material world.

This fascinating book addresses the perpetual questions of mankind's age-old search for spiritual understanding. In it, Gregory Shaw has presented the results of a lifetime of spiritual investigation in a story format that is not only easy to read and understand, but also bursting with insight and revelation. 
There is a continuation of life after this physical one. It has been described and documented extensively in the surviving records of a wide variety of cultures in different places and times of human history. It has been only during the last century that modern spiritual investigators have collected and compared the evidence. Anyone who peruses the literature of near-death experiences will find a remarkable consistency to the events and situations encountered by those who have been to the other side, and come back to tell about it. There are many. 
However, Spirit is much more than an anthology of the literature of survival of the human soul. It vividly describes the physical, mental, and spiritual nature of human beings, and the nature of our relationship to other humans in flesh and in the spirit. It explains our responsibilities to those whom we live among, to the great powers of the universe, to our individual selves, and to the One Self. It derives from the ancient spiritual traditions of Taoism, Buddhism, and early Christianity, more recent Theosophy, and direct personal revelatory spiritual experience. It will be your guide to a deeper understanding of the meaning of your life and actions. If you know and understand the philosophy presented in this book, and base your actions on this new understanding, you cannot help but bring more purpose, peace of mind, and care for others into your life.

Spirit: A Story of Death ... and Life

Raven Books

Theurgy and the Soul is a study of Iamblichus of Syria (ca. 240–325), whose teachings set the final form of pagan spirituality prior to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Gregory Shaw focuses on the theory and practice of theurgy, a term meaning “divine action,” the most controversial and significant aspect of Iamblichus’s Platonism. Unlike previous Platonists, who stressed the elevated status of the human soul, Iamblichus taught that the soul descends completely into the body and requires the performance of theurgic rites—-revealed by the gods--to unite the soul with the One. Iamblichus was a seminal Platonic philosopher whose views on the soul and the importance of ritual profoundly influenced subsequent thinkers such as Proclus, Damascius, and Dionysius the Areopagite. Iamblichus’s vision of a hierarchical cosmos united by divine ritual became the dominant worldview for the entire medieval world, and played an important role in the Renaissance Platonism of Marsilio Ficino. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that he expected a reading of Iamblichus to cause a “revival in the churches.” Yet, until recently, modern scholars have dismissed him, seeing theurgy as ritual magic or an attempt to manipulate the gods. Shaw, however, shows that theurgy was a subtle and intellectually sophisticated attempt to apply Platonic and Pythagorean teachings to the full expression of human existence in the material world. This new edition includes a foreword by John Milbank and Aaron Riches showing the Christian sacramental implications of Iamblichean theurgy, and a new preface from the author.

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus (2nd edition)

Religion & Spirituality

Angelico Press/Sophia Perennis

Theurgy and the Soul is a study of Iamblichus of Syria (ca. 240-325), whose teachings set the final form of pagan spirituality prior to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Gregory Shaw focuses on the theory and practice of theurgy, a term meaning "divine action," the most controversial and significant aspect of Iamblichus's Platonism. Unlike previous Platonists, who stressed the elevated status of the human soul, Iamblichus taught that the soul descends completely into the body and requires the performance of theurgic rites--revealed by the gods--to unite the soul with the One.
 Iamblichus was a seminal Platonic philosopher whose views on the soul and the importance of ritual profoundly influenced subsequent thinkers such as Proclus, Damascius, and Dionysius the Areopagite. Iamblichus's vision of a hierarchical cosmos united by divine ritual became the dominant worldview for the entire medieval world, and played an important role in the Renaissance Platonism of Marsilio Ficino. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that he expected a reading of Iamblichus to cause a "revival in the churches." Yet, until recently, modern scholars have dismissed him, seeing theurgy as ritual magic or an attempt to manipulate the gods. Shaw, however, shows that theurgy was a subtle and intellectually sophisticated attempt to apply Platonic and Pythagorean teachings to the full expression of human existence in the material world. This new edition includes a foreword by John Milbank and Aaron Riches showing the Christian sacramental implications of Iamblichean theurgy, and a new preface from the author.
 "Theurgy and the Soul remains the one essential work not only on the mysterious yet influential figure of Iamblichus, but also on the emergence of religious or theurgical Neoplatonism. Shaw presents the reasoning and classical pedigree behind the sometimes obscure doctrines and practices belonging to this often misunderstood school of thought. His analysis reveals it as a dynamic and distinct form of philosophy in its own right, and not the last gasp of Hellenism before the onset of the Middle Ages." --L. MICHAEL HARRINGTON, author of Sacred Place in Early Medieval Neoplatonism
 "Gregory Shaw's Theurgy and the Soul is the essential guide for those seeking entry to the experiential dimension of late Neoplatonism. The book is also philosophically sound, but its primary importance lies in bringing alive for sympathetic readers the symbolic and imaginal realities that animated the spiritual practices of Iamblichus and his followers. It reveals Late Antique Platonists clearly as mystical existentialists whose teachings are just as vital now as they were in antiquity." --JOHN BUSSANICH, author of The One and Its Relation to Intellect in Plotinus

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus

Angelico Press

Hellenic Tantra: The Theurgic Platonism of Iamblichus

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Books by Shaw, Gregory

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Shaw, Gregory. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus (Hermeneutics)

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus (Hermeneutics)

Spirit: A Story of Death ... and Life

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus (2nd edition)

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus

Hellenic Tantra: The Theurgic Platonism of Iamblichus