Papers by Kirsty L Pattison
eSharp Journal, 2020
The relationship between religion and magic holds a precarious position in history. One common un... more The relationship between religion and magic holds a precarious position in history. One common understanding is that religion petitions while magic coerces. This understanding has seen magic stand diametrically opposed to religion, a viewpoint which appears to develop in the early centuries of the Christian era. The Christian tradition has often regarded narratives of spiritual ascent, particularly accounts of the practice known as theurgy, as controversial, particularly due to concerns that they might clash with Christin doctrine. The term theurgy (Greek θεουργία or theourgia), which appears to have originated in the Chaldaean Oracles, is a compound word which literally translates as 'god work'. It was adopted in late antiquity to differentiate between the ritual acts and practice, in contrast to theology, which can be literally translated as 'god speech' or speech about god. The act of contemplation has been viewed as orthodox by Christian thinkers, while acts of theurgy have generally been rejected as magic. This paper explores how ideas of spiritual ascent and theurgy found in the narratives of the ancient philosophers and Jewish Kabbalists can contribute to a better understanding of the complexities of the relationship between religion and magic and blur the boundaries of magic as defined by Renaissance mages such as Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) and Giovanni della Mirandola (1463-1494). This paper explores the benefits the boundaries between religion and magic of setting a new definition for the practice of theurgy for our understanding by comparing this ancient practice with the ideas of Ficino and Pico.
Unpublished Masters by Research Thesis, 2020
The relationship between religion and magic has held a precarious position in the history of Idea... more The relationship between religion and magic has held a precarious position in the history of Ideas and ecclesiastical history. It is often held that religion petitions while magic coerces. Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) translated many Platonic, Neoplatonic and Hermetic texts into Latin reintroducing Platonic theology to the Italian renaissance humanists. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494), utilising Ficino's translations and incorporating Jewish Kabbalist ideas, gave birth to Christian Cabala through the publication of his nine hundred theses to be delivered in Rome. By exploring the idea of spiritual ascent and its relationship to the Neoplatonic practice of theurgy, it may enable a deeper understanding of the complexities between the Renaissance understanding of religion and magic. At the heart of this discussion for Ficino and Pico is a quest for divine truth, which centres on their understanding of mis-dated texts and the development of the prisca theologia. In understanding the way both men understood the concepts of ancient wisdom and ancient religion through the practice of spiritual ascent I aim to explore the complex history of magic and religion demonstrating that definitions between them are not always appropriate or helpful. Chapter one sets the Renaissance scene in which Ficino and Pico were working. Chapter two explores the ideas of spiritual ascent and theurgy in Late Antiquity. Chapter three focuses on Christianity, in particular the legacy of Augustine's rhetoric and ideas of spiritual ascent in Pseudo-Dionysius. The final two chapters explore the role of theurgy and spiritual ascent in the writings of Ficino and Pico. This thesis explores the development of ideas of spiritual ascent from Classical antiquity into the early modern period, and considers, how, when applied to the thought of Ficino and Pico, these ideas can shed light on the contested relationship between magic and religion. This thesis would not have been possible without the help and support of my supervisors, Prof Charlotte Methuen and Dr Mia Spiro. Thanks also to the TRS department staff and students at Glasgow who have supported me throughout. I would like to give special thanks to Prof. Methuen for her unwavering support and understanding throughout this entire process. I feel blessed to be working with you. My family and friends, who have supported me through the stress with kind words of support and encouragement. Without you all, I would be lost. I thank my husband, for the hundreds of cups of coffee, love, and support that he has shown me at the darkest of times. Finally, I acknowledge my three cats who are always on stand-by for a cuddle just when I need it the most.
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Papers by Kirsty L Pattison