Religion without revelation and revelation without religion. The evolutionary esotericism of Julian and Aldous Huxley
https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2025-1-96-114
Abstract
The synthesis of evolutionary theories and esoteric teachings is a significant example of the contact between science and esotericism. The article examines the ideas of British biologist Julian Huxley and his brother Aldous Huxley on the subject of their correspondence to the concepts of evolutionary esotericism (E. Prophet, V. Hanegraaff, J. Kripal). A distinction between the concepts of “evolutionary esotericism” and “evolutionary mysticism” is introduced. The following ideas are proposed to be the key elements of “evolutionary mysticism”: the recognition of the possibility of human transition to a new stage of evolution; the active role of man in evolution and his consideration as an engine of its development; the primacy of mental evolution in relation to physical evolution; the need to develop “supernatural abilities” as a condition of evolution. The correspondence of J. Huxley’s project of “Evolutionary Humanism” and A. Huxley’s views to the concepts of evolutionary esotericism (E. Prophet, J. Kripal) is established. The article demonstrates the similarity of the Huxley brothers’ views on evolution, in particular, their belief in the possibility of group progress through individual self-improvement, and argues that it is possible to study their ideas about evolution as part of evolutionary esoterism.
About the Authors
M. A. Kamynina
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Maria A. Kamynina, master’s student
6, Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, 125047
A. N. Shadieva
Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Anastasia N. Shadieva
51/21, Nakhimovsky Av., Moscow, 117418
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Review
For citations:
Kamynina M.A., Shadieva A.N. Religion without revelation and revelation without religion. The evolutionary esotericism of Julian and Aldous Huxley. Studia Religiosa Rossica: Russian Journal of Religion. 2025;(1):96-114. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2025-1-96-114
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