theurgy
Americannoun
plural
theurgies-
a system of beneficent magic practiced by the Egyptian Platonists and others.
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the working of a divine or supernatural agency in human affairs.
noun
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the intervention of a divine or supernatural agency in the affairs of man
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the working of miracles by such intervention
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beneficent magic as taught and performed by Egyptian Neoplatonists and others
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of theurgy
1560–70; < Late Latin theūrgia < Greek theourgeía magic. See the-, -urgy
Explanation
Theurgy is when gods intervene in the lives of people. If you believe that an actual miracle allowed your favorite football team to win an important game, you can call it an act of theurgy. One kind of theurgy is accepted and seen as true in many Christian churches — it's God getting directly involved in our affairs, through miracles or divine intervention. Other kinds of theurgy involve magic, as in casting spells and doing magical rituals. The word comes from the Greek theourgia, "sorcery," which in turn is rooted in theos, or "god."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the heights of abstraction where it loses itself, it seems very far from popular superstitions; and yet the school of Alexandria unites ecstatic contemplation and theurgy.
From Lectures on the true, the beautiful and the good by Cousin, Victor
Neo-Platonism, which concerned itself to a large extent with demonology, leaned more and more towards theurgy, and was finally completely absorbed by it.
From The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism by Cumont, Franz
After this again, the Neo-Platonists joined theurgy with philosophy, which ultimately degenerated into magic and mere mysticism.
From Specimens of the Table Talk of Samuel Taylor Coleridge by Coleridge, Henry Nelson
The school of Alexandria was a noble school, but, nevertheless, it gave itself up to the practices of an extravagant theurgy.
From The Life of Jesus by Renan, Ernest
Plotinus was still an independent philosopher, inheriting the traditions of Greek thought, though not the traditions of Greek life, building his system avowedly by a rational method, and altogether rejecting theurgy or religious magic.
From History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne (Vol. 1 of 2) by Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
