occultism

Also known as the occult, occult

The occult () is a category of esoteric or supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of organized religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving a 'hidden' or 'secret' agency, such as magic and mysticism. It can also refer to paranormal ideas such as extra-sensory perception and parapsychology.

AI overview

Occultism refers to beliefs and practices centered on hidden or secret forces—like magic and mysticism—that exist outside mainstream religion and science. It matters because it represents a significant category of human thought and behavior that many people are curious about or believe in, including ideas about paranormal abilities and unexplained phenomena.

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Research

1,105 papers

Occultism and Insanity.JAMA · 2020DOI: 10.1001/jama.2019.13620
[Occultism, parapsychology and the esoteric from the perspective of psychopathology].ReviewFortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie · 1998Scharfetter CDOI: 10.1055/s-2007-995287
Occultism and playing with the dead: When rituals go wrong.The Medico-legal journal · 2022Vyshka G, Elezi F, Çomo A et al.DOI: 10.1177/00258172221081736
Occultism and psychiatry.The Practitioner · 1974Mackarness R
Alchemy and psychology.Palliative & supportive care · 2017Breitbart WDOI: 10.1017/S1478951517000189
["Experience Medicine" Between Science and Occultism - a Controversy About Iridology 1925 - 1950].Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde · 2019Rohrbach JM, Kernstock C, Tekeva-Rohrbach CI et al.DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-123880
Alchemy restored.Isis; an international review devoted to the history of science and its cultural influences · 2011Principe LMDOI: 10.1086/660139
WITCHCRAFT TODAY.Diseases of the nervous system · 1965LUDWIG AM

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Commons category: Occult

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~19 min read

Article

15 sections

Contents

Etymology
Occult sciences
Occult qualities
Occultism
Etic uses of the term
Modern usage
Occulture
Occultism and technology
See also
References
Notes
Citations
Works cited
Further reading
External links

The term occult sciences was used in 16th-century Europe to refer to astrology, alchemy, and natural magic. The term occultism emerged in 19th-century France, among figures such as Antoine Court de Gébelin. It came to be associated with various French esoteric groups connected to Éliphas Lévi and Papus, and in 1875 was introduced into the English language by the esotericist Helena Blavatsky.