BOOK REVIEW - The Invisble History of the Rosicrucians
Mike
Inner Traditions ISBN: 978-1-59477-255-9 576 pgs Paperback $24.95
(U.S.)
Those who view Rosicrucianism solely as an occult topic will find
their perceptions being challenged al most from the first pages of
this well-written account. The documented history, although obscured
in some times and places, is discoverable for the most part. True,
there is an amount of mythic storytelling involved to a greater or
lesser degree, but the facts are there and Mr. Churton (a lecturer on
Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry at Exeter University [England]) has
pursued them doggedly.
There is a tendency today, fostered (in my opinion) by high-speed
everything, to want to skim though things to get to the conclusion.
This book is NOT amenable to such an attitude. The research behind it
is meticulous. It is laid out in exquisite detail. It bears a
thorough, close reading. Mr. Churton looks into all the circumstance
surrounding the appearance of the Fraternity, the individuals who
influenced its development, and the connections between the
Rosicrucian movement and the other popular secret societies – the
Freemasons and the Knights Templar.
He provides translations of numerous works not easily accessible to
the average reader and, while couched in language which may seem
obtuse to the modern reader, accurately portrays the appeal to the
intelligentsia of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Mr. Churton’s membership (as a “pe4rfected” Knight of the Rose Croix
and the Pelican [18th degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite]) in the
Masons opens doors for him and his readers. There are no mystic
revelations, simply good, solid scholarship, closely reasoned personal
conclusions, and a desire to render less obscure an important phase in
the development of the modern world.
This work contains short biographies of many of the individuals most
involved in the dissemination of Rosicrucian ideas and literature.
These add immeasurably to the understanding of the times in which
these ideas first found public expression. While not essential to the
book, they are valuable in and of themselves.
All of the commonly accepted stories revolving around Rosicrucianism
and Freemasonry are explored and dissected. Connections are made and
inferences drawn based on extensive explorations covering the entire
period of the rise of Rosicrucian thought. This exploration is
continued to the modern day on both sides of the Atlantic.
How you react to his assertion that the publication of the primary
Rosicrucian manifestos was an “imposture” or a game will say more
about your beliefs than his. Heaven knows that there have been
religious and philosophical movements motivated by fiction (think The
Church of All Worlds inspired by Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert
Heinlein and/or Scientology), as well as in response to a particular
religion or movement with no preceding basis for their existence
(think the Protestant Reformation).
He does not assert that the subsequent development of Rosicrucianism
was a game, merely that it was, and is, self-defined. Does it have
validity? You must determine that for yourself. He makes sure to
identify those instances when he is being less than serious, since he
is obviously aware of the tendency of some individuals to be
indiscriminate in their belief.
This work is eye-opening and, for those interested in the development
of the Rosicrucian beliefs, a valuable resource. While it is not for
everyone, it is definitely worth a look overall.
Evergreen
> The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians by Tobias Churton =A9
> 2009 Inner Traditions ISBN: 978-1-59477-255-9 576 pgs Paperback
> $24.95 (U.S.)
>
> Those who view Rosicrucianism solely as an occult topic will
> find their perceptions being challenged al most from the first
> pages of this well-written account. The documented history,
> although obscured in some times and places, is discoverable for
> the most part. True, there is an amount of mythic storytelling
> involved to a greater or lesser degree, but the facts are there
> and Mr. Churton (a lecturer on Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry
> at Exeter University [England]) has pursued them doggedly.
>
> There is a tendency today, fostered (in my opinion) by
> high-speed everything, to want to skim though things to get
> to the conclusion. This book is NOT amenable to such an
> attitude. The research behind it is meticulous. It is laid
> out in exquisite detail. It bears a thorough, close reading.
> Mr. Churton looks into all the circumstance surrounding the
> appearance of the Fraternity, the individuals who influenced
> its development, and the connections between the Rosicrucian
> movement and the other popular secret societies =96 the
> Freemasons and the Knights Templar.
>
> He provides translations of numerous works not easily
> accessible to the average reader and, while couched in language
> which may seem obtuse to the modern reader, accurately portrays
> the appeal to the intelligentsia of the 16th, 17th, and 18th
> centuries.
>
> Mr. Churton=92s membership (as a =93pe4rfected=94 Knight of the
> Rose Croix and the Pelican [18th degree, Ancient and Accepted
> Rite]) in the Masons opens doors for him and his readers. There
> are no mystic revelations, simply good, solid scholarship,
> closely reasoned personal conclusions, and a desire to render
> less obscure an important phase in the development of the
> modern world.
>
> This work contains short biographies of many of the individuals
> most involved in the dissemination of Rosicrucian ideas and
> literature. These add immeasurably to the understanding of
> the times in which these ideas first found public expression.
> While not essential to the book, they are valuable in and of
> themselves.
>
> All of the commonly accepted stories revolving around
> Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry are explored and dissected.
> Connections are made and inferences drawn based on extensive
> explorations covering the entire period of the rise of
> Rosicrucian thought. This exploration is continued to the
> modern day on both sides of the Atlantic.
>
> How you react to his assertion that the publication of the
> primary Rosicrucian manifestos was an =93imposture=94 or a game
> will say more about your beliefs than his. Heaven knows that
> there have been religious and philosophical movements motivated
> by fiction (think The Church of All Worlds inspired by Stranger
> in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein and/or Scientology), as
> well as in response to a particular religion or movement with
> no preceding basis for their existence (think the Protestant
> Reformation).
>
> He does not assert that the subsequent development of
> Rosicrucianism was a game, merely that it was, and is,
> self-defined. Does it have validity? You must determine that
> for yourself. He makes sure to identify those instances when
> he is being less than serious, since he is obviously aware of
> the tendency of some individuals to be indiscriminate in their
> belief.
>
> This work is eye-opening and, for those interested in the
> development of the Rosicrucian beliefs, a valuable resource.
> While it is not for everyone, it is definitely worth a look
> overall.
Interesting. As you hint at above, there are a lot of
researchers who don't believe that the Rosicrucions ever existed.
They say that the only evidence of their existence is a few
documents that could just as well have been written by one person
of unkown credentials. That the Rosicrucions never existed beyond
his/her imagination.
Sid
--
Sidney Lambe
Wiccan Priest and Apprentice Magician
http://tinyurl.com/7vs9zb
usenet4444 (at) gmail (dot) com
Evergreen
> On Oct 7, 8:35=A0pm, Evergreen <sidneyla...@nospam.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> Not when everyone reading the statement obviously has access
>> to google and look into it if they are curious.
>
> Sid, speaky Engish?
>
>> It's because you are focussed on trying to harm me with your
>> words
>
> It's because I'm having difficulty following you when I'm
> trying to have a conversation with you.
>
> We've successfully driven everyone but aine and sar from this
> newsgroup. So it's just me and you now, buddy.
>
>> (because a dickless punk and faux magician like you has no
>> other weapons, and even though your words are as impotent as
>> that little thing between your legs.
>
> Sidney, when did you first know you were a homosexual?
>
>> Who just can't accept the simple fact that I am much more
>> powerful than he is.
>
> No hint of humility in your character, I see.
I'm here. As long as I am here your plans are thwarted.
And because you can't do anything but play sophomoric
bitchy word games, it's a situation you'll just have
to live with.
You may as well just relaxe about it. I mean, it should
be obvious to you, after more than a year of failures,
that I immune to your style of attack, which is worthy
of a white trash whore dying of heroin addiction and
an array of STDs.
aine
> On alt.religion.wicca, Ren <ren1...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Oct 7, 8:35=A0pm, Evergreen <sidneyla...@nospam.invalid>
> > wrote:
>
> >> Not when everyone reading the statement obviously has access
> >> to google and look into it if they are curious.
>
> > Sid, speaky Engish?
>
> >> It's because you are focussed on trying to harm me with your
> >> words
>
> > It's because I'm having difficulty following you when I'm
> > trying to have a conversation with you.
>
> > We've successfully driven everyone but aine and sar from this
> > newsgroup. So it's just me and you now, buddy.
>
> >> (because a dickless punk and faux magician like you has no
> >> other weapons, and even though your words are as impotent as
> >> that little thing between your legs.
>
> > Sidney, when did you first know you were a homosexual?
>
> >> Who just can't accept the simple fact that I am much more
> >> powerful than he is.
>
> > No hint of humility in your character, I see.
>
> I'm here. As long as I am here your plans are thwarted.<
"thwarted" ,,hehe that is a funny word.
Evergreen
> On Oct 7, 8:54=A0pm, Evergreen <sidneyla...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>> On alt.religion.wicca, Ren <ren1...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >> Not when everyone reading the statement obviously has access
>> >> to google and look into it if they are curious.
>>
>> > Sid, speaky Engish?
>>
>> >> It's because you are focussed on trying to harm me with your
>> >> words
>>
>> > It's because I'm having difficulty following you when I'm
>> > trying to have a conversation with you.
>>
>> > We've successfully driven everyone but aine and sar from this
>> > newsgroup. So it's just me and you now, buddy.
>>
>> >> (because a dickless punk and faux magician like you has no
>> >> other weapons, and even though your words are as impotent as
>> >> that little thing between your legs.
>>
>> > Sidney, when did you first know you were a homosexual?
>>
>> >> Who just can't accept the simple fact that I am much more
>> >> powerful than he is.
>>
>> > No hint of humility in your character, I see.
>>
>> I'm here. As long as I am here your plans are thwarted.<
>
> "thwarted" ,,hehe that is a funny word.
It is, isn't it. Maybe it's a contraction of 'thrice warted'
:-\