theurgy
/ˈθiːəːdʒi
/noun [mass noun]
1The operation or effect of a supernatural or divine agency in human affairs.While theurgy (almost by definition) lies within the realms of both magic and religion, thaumaturgy does not....
- The practice of theurgy, then, becomes a way for the soul to experience the presence of the divinity, instead of merely thinking or conceptualizing the godhead.
- Most (though not all) Christian denominations today frown on the actual practice of any magic other than theurgy and that only as practised by qualified clergy.
1.1A system of white magic practised by the early Neoplatonists.The Greeks made a distinction between theurgy and thaumaturgy....
- It should be emphasised also that there is no good evidence that theurgy was ever practised in the Latin West, and that theurgists were well aware of how little they had in common even with the vast majority of late antique pagans.
- When he returned to Sardis he entered the circle of local Neoplatonists, learned theurgy and medicine, and mainly taught rhetoric.
Derivatives
theurgic
- As Moshe Idel puts it, the theurgic mystic ‘becomes a cooperator not only in the maintenance of the universe but also in the maintenance or even formation of some aspects of the Deity.’
- I mentioned on this thread the relationship of the Goetia to both the Greco-Roman & Arabic magical traditions and it might be useful to investigate the manner in which conjurations were structured in say, the theurgic tradition.
- The rituals of Leviticus have no theurgic or magical power, but neither are they meaningless: they symbolically teach the Israelite his or her proper place in God's world.
theurgical
- Careful study of the Pseudo-Dionysian writings has uncovered many parallels between the theurgical doctrines of Iamblichus, and the triadic metaphysical schema of Proclus.
- Some theurgical workings will incorporate elements of thaumaturgy, and divination may include necromancy while today's alchemist may bring in elements of all the other forms.
- The room was full of a wizard's theurgical paraphernalia, and Morlock himself was seated at a desk, oblivious to his presence.
theurgist
- Iamblichus went on, however, to weaken this argument by claiming that theurgists controlled good spirits for good ends whereas magicians employed bad spirits for bad purposes (De Mysteriis, III: 3,1).
- Iamblichus also stressed that theurgists usually worked with lesser divinities - heroes, daimons and angels - and only the greatest of all, in exceptional circumstances, would trouble actual deities.
- Furthermore, in some respects Wiccans regularly engage in practices against which theurgists themselves warned, except in very exceptional circumstances.
Origin
Mid 16th century: via late Latin from Greek theourgia 'sorcery', from theos 'god' + -ergos 'working'.