Dr. Justin Sledge of Esoterica YouTube channel joins to discuss Agrippa's Christian Cabala. They explore the origins and development of Christian Kabbalah, its significance in Western occultism, and the influential figures in its evolution. The episode also delves into the works between the Zohar and 13th century, as well as the motivations behind Pico, Royclin, and Agrippa's interest in Kabbalah. Overall, a fascinating discussion on the history, philosophy, and influence of Christian Kabbalah in occult practices.
Christian Kabbalah is a cornerstone of Western occultism, distinguished from Hermetic Kabbalah and Jewish Kabbalah.
Christian Kabbalists like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Johann Reuchlin sought to utilize Jewish wisdom to support their Christian beliefs and challenged exclusive claims of Christianity.
Deep dives
Christian Kabbalah and its Place in Western Occultism
Christian Kabbalah, spelled with a C, is a cornerstone of Western occultism. It is distinguished from Hermetic Kabbalah and Jewish Kabbalah. This episode explores the Christian Kabbalah of occult philosophy and its sources, including the works of Johann Reuchlin and Francesco Giorgi's Deharmonia Mundi. The period of Christian Kabbalah between the Zohar's composition and the 16th century saw an influx of Kabbalistic literature into Christian circles, though the details of this transformation are still not well understood. The focus of Christian Kabbalah was primarily on biblical hermeneutics and divine name speculation, emphasizing the manipulation of letters in scripture to reveal hidden meanings. The Zohar played a minimal role in Christian Kabbalah, with other texts such as the Gates of Light and Reconati's Torah commentary being more influential. Despite its problematic origins and antisemitic roots, Christian Kabbalah's impact on Western esotericism cannot be dismissed.
The Influence of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, an important early Christian Kabbalist, preceded Agrippa and played a significant role in the development of Christian Kabbalah. Pico was well-versed in Kabbalah even before the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, challenging the belief that the expulsion was the main cause of Kabbalah's spread across Europe. Pico's interest in Kabbalah stemmed from its potential to support his unique Christian viewpoint and his desire to utilize Jewish spiritual technologies to transform Christianity. Pico's engagement with Kabbalah prompted him to study texts such as the Shaharei Ora and Reconati's Torah commentary, which held crucial insights for his theological ideas. His exploration of divine names, biblical hermeneutics, and Kabbalistic interpretations contributed to the early formation of Christian Kabbalah and its subsequent influence on Hermetic Kabbalah.
The Need for Contextualizing Christian Kabbalah
Understanding the development and nature of Christian Kabbalah requires considering its historical and intellectual context. The Latin polemical tradition, prevalent at the time, informed the perspectives of Christian Kabbalists like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Johann Reuchlin. However, it is important not to apply modern judgments or arguments of cancellation to their motivations and works. While the Latin political tradition often evoked antisemitism and attempted to convert Jews, Pico and Reuchlin demonstrated an aspiration to restore their own religion by engaging with Jewish wisdom. Their interest in Kabbalah was focused on mining the Jewish sources and using them to support their own Christian beliefs, rather than purely persecuting or converting Jews. This peculiar approach highlights a shift in attitudes towards interfaith dialogue and the recognition of diverse spiritual contributions. It also marks the development of a broader humanist perspective that sought truth from various sources, challenging the exclusive claims of Christianity.
Redeeming Christian Kabbalah and its Influence
While acknowledging the problematic history and roots of Christian Kabbalah, it is essential to recognize the valuable spiritual and intellectual content within this tradition. The teachings and insights of Christian Kabbalists, despite their flaws, still hold value and can enrich modern practitioners. The influence of Christian Kabbalah on Hermetic Kabbalah and Western esotericism cannot be denied. Recognizing the complexity of its origins and the evolution of thought within this tradition allows us to engage critically and thoughtfully while appreciating the contributions it has made to the occult philosophy.
Finally, after a short hiatus, here is part eight of our exploration of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. The previous episodes of this podcast dealt primarily with material from books 1 and 2, but now it's time to dive into book 3, The Divine World. Joining me for this discussion is Dr. Justin Sledge of the Esoterica YouTube channel! We will specifically be discussing the Cabala of Occult Philosophy and Agrippa's place in the birth and propagation of Christian Cabala.
If you would like to do some reading before listening to this episode, I think you can get a pretty good overview of Agrippa's take on this topic by reading book 3, chapters 10 through 25. However, note that references to Cabala, the Hebrew language and alphabet, and Jewish mysticism crop up throughout book 3.
You can't really deny that Kabbalah is one of the cornerstones of Western occultism. It crops up everywhere from Solomonic magic to Tarot to the Golden Dawn. If you've looked into it at all, you've probably come across the concept that Kabbalah is usually split into three main branches, differentiated in the way they are transliterated into English.
Christian Cabala, spelled with a C, is our main topic in this episode.
Hermetic Qabalah, spelled with a Q, is the variety used by modern ceremonial magicians.
Jewish Kabbalah, spelled with a K, is the original strain of Jewish mysticism that the others pull from.
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