My Review
THE book about one of the most controversial topics in occult history: the relationship between Nazism and occultism.
Little known sides to the Nazi culture
There was, so Goodrick-Clarke amply shows, a subculture to Nazism which had esoteric roots. In this subculture the superiority of the German Race was rationalized with occult theories and ideas borrowed from Social Darwinism.
Unfortunately when one googles one of my personal inspirations - H.P. Blavatsky - one is likely to find her mixed up in this as well. More on that further on in this lens.
The Occult Roots Of Nazism
The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology
Amazon Price: $12.41 (as of 11/10/2009)
This book covers more than just Blavatsky. Which one of course would expect - Blavatsky's work is only one strand in the occult tapestry even of the 19th century (though an important one there).
20th century Europe had many cultural strands, some of which harking back to the late 19th as much as theosophy did. The main scientific basis of Nazism was 'Social Darwinism'. It is clear from the book that Hitler himself based his ideas solely on that philosophy.
But for some of his followers esoteric ideas and practices also played a major part.
Goodrick Clarke follows the many strands of people and ideas with documented sources like fringe newspapers and magazines. This book is essential reading for anybody interested in the cultural background of Nazism or the blacker sides to the history of science and spirituality.
"Well researched and informative."
Blavatsky and Nazism
Careful reading of Goodrick Clarke's book shows that neither the praise nor the blame fits the target. Anyone who knows anything seriously about the Theosophical Movement would have known this in advance, as whatever Blavatsky wrote about Race, she was also a big advocate of interracial and inter cultural brotherhood and dialog. In fact, she could be said to be one of the first to try inter religious dialog. She was an opponent of the Caste system and its abuses as well.
More about Blavatsky a Nazi? About Ariosophy and Theosophy.
What do you think: was Blavatsky to blame for the atrocities in world war 2?
Is the very talk of races and rounds a crime?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byBlavatsky did not suggest Jews should be exterminated. She is not to blame for the Holocaust.
JaguarJulie says:
This is something that is NEW to me -- did not know that the occult played any part in Nazism, Hitler and WWII. As a teenager, I read probably every book I could get my hands on about concentration camps. This sounds like another I might like to read.
Posted July 21, 2009
spirituality says:
Actually the book by Goodrick-Clarke makes it clear that Hitler himself was not all that interested in all this occult stuff. People around him were, so he knew about it, but it wasn't his cup of tea. And he ended up taking over the possessions of groups like the Theosophists and Freemasons.
The Dutch Theosophical Society only recently got their archives back that had ended up in Russia after the second world war.
Posted March 10, 2009
cjsysreform says:
No way. I'm not a big fan of Blavatsky, but she had nothing to do with the Holocaust.
I think the occult influences on the Nazis are certainly interesting and valid, but perhaps overhyped. Seems like every other documentary on the History Channel is about Hitler's bizarre occult fetishes. Anything "occult" (especially Satanism and any other religion involving blood sacrifice) is always incredibly sensationalized, distorted, and given excessive attention in media coverage.
... just my opinion.
Posted March 10, 2009
Ocean Abaddon says:
No. Hitler was. And he was elected in a democratic republic election.
What is important to the contemporary world to remember, especially in the U.S. , is that everything Hitler did WAS LEGAL!
Posted February 22, 2009
spirituality says:
I don't think Blavatsky can be blamed for what people did with her theories. Talking about race as a reality was normal in the 19th century. Politically correct talk had not been invented yet.
Compared to what people wrote about Jews in her time, Blavatsky was moderate and kind. Judging her by todays standards - which have been impacted by World War 2 - is not fair.
Posted January 29, 2009
Talking about differences between races of people is risky, she should have known that people would misinterpret.
What did you think about The Occult Roots of Nazism?
Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke's official site
- Professor Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke at Exeter University
- Professor of Western Esotericism and Director of the Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO), University of Exeter . Current research interests include patterns of globalization of esotericism; Theosophy and esoteric theories of spiritual evolution in the twentieth century; Hermeticism, pietism and alchemy in the Enlightenment era; Theology of Electricity. My current areas of supervision include Hermeticism; Rosicrucianism; Swedenborg; Theosophy and Modern Art; Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy; contemporary Gnostic movements; millenarianism.
Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke on Wikipedia
Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke B.A. (Bristol), D.Phil. (Oxon) is a professor of Western Esotericism at University of Exeter and author of several books on esoteric traditions.
He is the author of several books on modern occultism and esotericism, and the history of its intersection with Nazi politics. His book, The Occult Roots of Nazism, has remained in print since its publication in 1985 and has been translated into eight languages. He has also written on the occultist aspects of neo-Nazism in Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity.
He is Professor of Western Esotericism and Director of the Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO) within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. He lives in Southern England.
More by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke
Helena Blavatsky (Western Esoteric Masters)
Introduction into her life and work.
Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 11/10/2009)
Hitler's Priestess: Savitri Devi, the Hindu-Aryan Myth, and Neo-Nazism
The whole terrible Nazi experience had many oddities, and this relatively unknown woman is one of them. Born in France in 1905 as Maximiani Portas, she became a strong admirer of Hitler in the 1920s, moved to India in 1932 because of its caste system, and took a Hindu name. After the war she traveled through a devastated Europe and was a vocal apologist of the Nazis, their horrific atrocities notwithstanding. Her early writings were republished by far-right-wing publishers, and she gained new fans in the 1970s as neo-Nazism spread. Devi died in 1982, but the author writes that her combination of Hindu religion and Nordic racial ideology became "a bridge between neo-Nazism and the New Age" movements. (For more on this subject, see also Goodrick-Clarke's The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology, New York Univ., 1992). This work will be useful for understanding the ideological background of the neo-Nazis.
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 11/10/2009)
Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity
This book has mixed reviews. As an introduction into Neo-Nazism it is probably unparalleled. Those interested in the specific people and movements discussed should read up on those elsewhere.
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 11/10/2009)
Paracelsus: Essential Readings
The most influential texts of Paracelsus gathered in one book. Called 'essential readings' for a reason.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)
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