Esotericism, Mysticism, and Occultism

[Noremac]

What are their differences or how are they related. They all seem to be closely tied together.

[Ruin]

Esoteric knowledge is that which is available only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or specially educated people.

Occult: The word has many uses in the English language, popularly meaning "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable",[3][4] usually referred to as science. The term is sometimes popularly taken to mean "knowledge meant only for certain people" or "knowledge that must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.[5] The terms esoteric and arcane can have a very similar meaning, and the three terms are often interchangeable.[6][7]

Mysticism (from the Greek μυστικός, an initiate of a mystery religion, μυστήρια meaning "initiation"[1]) is the pursuit of achieving communion, identity with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the Other, divinity, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight.


Basically Occult can mean mysticism or Esotericism. Mysticism meing knowledge or awareness of the paranormal, esotericism being knowing some form of secretive or specialised knowledge.

[Noremac]

Esoteric knowledge is that which is available only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or specially educated people.

Occult: The word has many uses in the English language, popularly meaning "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable",[3][4] usually referred to as science. The term is sometimes popularly taken to mean "knowledge meant only for certain people" or "knowledge that must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.[5] The terms esoteric and arcane can have a very similar meaning, and the three terms are often interchangeable.[6][7]

Mysticism (from the Greek μυστικός, an initiate of a mystery religion, μυστήρια meaning "initiation"[1]) is the pursuit of achieving communion, identity with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the Other, divinity, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight.


Basically Occult can mean mysticism or Esotericism. Mysticism meing knowledge or awareness of the paranormal, esotericism being knowing some form of secretive or specialised knowledge.

O.K. it's clearer now.
I notice you got that off of wikipedia. When I went to Esotericism it had Mysticism and Occult under the "Also" section. They were both also listed in the Esotericism portal, but neither Occult or Mysticism had Esotericism or the vice versa. Which leads me to believe the Occult and Mysticism are different aspects of the whole Esotericism umbrella. That or I am wrong.

[Ruin]

I think something mystic can also be esoteric, but not everything is. Something occult can be either mystic, esoteric or both, but not neither. Something esoteric can be mystic, but not everything is.

Esoteric and mystic are two different things, but something can be both. Something occult must be one or the other or both.

Atleast that's how it came across to me. Links on wikipedia are not always rational.

[Noremac]

Where does Gnosticism fall at on this line (I used the pH scale)


Esotericism 1-6
Occult 7
Mysticism 8-14

[dwringer]

I don't think mysticism is really about the paranormal though. A lot of the paranormal aspects of religion seem to be metaphors derived from mysticism. It seems to me that it's sort of about journeying in the mind, such as meditation. For example, talking about closing your eyes and seeing your chakras is, I believe, considered a form of mysticism. However it's not paranormal, it's just not externally observable.

[Ruin]

I would disagree completely, your 'chakras' would certainly fit into the paranormal, or atleast metaphysical, as they are certainly not part of our common knowledge of the human body.

I don't think it can be portrayed as a scale, as esotericism and mysticism are mutually exclusive.
I think Gnosticism may be a form of mysticism, but it seems more like a religion unto itself under the abrahamic umbrella to me.

[dwringer]

I would disagree completely, your 'chakras' would certainly fit into the paranormal, or atleast metaphysical, as they are certainly not part of our common knowledge of the human body.

I don't think it can be portrayed as a scale, as esotericism and mysticism are mutually exclusive.
I think Gnosticism may be a form of mysticism, but it seems more like a religion unto itself under the abrahamic umbrella to me.

No, I agree that it's metaphysical and largely subjective, however I don't consider that to fall under the category of "paranormal". But I could be wrong.

[Ruin]

I consider all things considered metaphysical to also fit under paranormal, but that would be because I don't believe in either, I'm guessing it'll be different from person to person.