theurgy
Americannoun
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theurgies
plural
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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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
The impaired reason accepted the coarsest superstitions, the most extreme asceticism and most extravagant theurgy.
From The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism by Franz Cumont
"So you don't believe in theurgy, white magic?"
From Là-bas by Keene Wallace
The celebrated cures by Vespasian are connected with the ordinary theurgy of the Pythagorean School; and Apollonius is found here, as in many other instances, to be the instrument of a political party.
From Historical Sketches, Volume I (of 3) The Turks in Their Relation to Europe; Marcus Tullius Cicero; Apollonius of Tyana; Primitive Christianity by John Henry Newman
Ecstasy for the initiates, theurgy for the crowd.
From Lectures on the true, the beautiful and the good by Victor Cousin
Groups of people endeavoured to combine Christianity with the old thought, with philosophy, theosophy, theurgy, and magic.
From The Jesus of History by T. R. Glover
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