Occultism
*note---Personally I have rather mixed feelings regarding this term. It is very much a fuzzy term. Depending on who you talk to or read. In my experience I find associations with it to be more close minded that I feel comfortable with. While many of it's concepts and research I've found of value, I find an undercurrent of inflexibility that doesn't feel right to me. You know, "We're right everyone else is wrong" I think It's neither here nor there. I just wanted to point out my discomfort. Is this due to perceptions of their perceived arrogance, and pretensions, or just misjudgment, I am not sure. Every so called occultist website I've viewed or occultist I've interacted with gave me that feeling. Many of their beliefs and assertions I flat out disagree with. Each to their own. Who am I after all.
This word originally meant the science of hidden things;
Occultism as theosophists use the term, often means the study of the hidden things, the science of life or universal nature. It is a general term for the entire body of the occult sciences — the sciences of the secrets of the universe; physical and psychic, mental and spiritual; called Hermetic and Esoteric Sciences. It may be considered interchangeable with the phrase esoteric philosophy, with somewhat more emphasis laid on the secret portions of the esoteric philosophy, studies dealing with the structure and operations as well as the origin and destiny of the cosmos.
I like to think of this area of study as a type of intellectual mysticism. Most adherents and writings are extremely intellectual and of an esoteric nature. Highly organized theories and concepts seem to have a certain rigidity that does not allow for variance of thought on the topics presented. I have had limited study of it's texts and precepts. As well, limited contact with people professing to be a scholar of it's school of thought. For me, while I've found much of the writing and dogma useful; especially in the way it was written; I find much of it to be in opposition with my own personal experiences and beliefs. Not that it matters to them or me.....but, what limited interaction I've had on a personal level through the CE blog and site has been fairly negative and fear based.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occultism#Occultism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esotericism