theurgy

American  

[thee-ur-jee] / ˈθi ɜr dʒi /

noun

• theurgies
  plural

1. a system of beneficent magic practiced by the Egyptian Platonists and others.

2. the working of a divine or supernatural agency in human affairs.

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theurgy British  

/ ˈθiːˌɜːdʒɪ /

noun

1. 1. the intervention of a divine or supernatural agency in the affairs of man

   2. the working of miracles by such intervention

2. beneficent magic as taught and performed by Egyptian Neoplatonists and others

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• theurgist
  noun
• theurgic
  adjective
• theurgical
  adjective
• theurgically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• theurgies
  plural

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

See Examples For:

theurgy

"I would not assert that theurgy may not be lawfully undertaken," replied Plotinus, "provided that the adept shall have purified himself by a fast of forty months."

From The Twilight of the Gods, and Other Tales by Richard Garnett

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

Egyptian superstition, theurgy, magic, and charlatanism of every sort, tried to amalgamate with the imported Greek culture.

From The History of Roman Literature From the earliest period to the death of Marcus Aurelius by Charles Thomas Cruttwell

By the crime of magic, the author informs us, he means any improper communication between men and evil spirits, whether it be called theurgy, soothsaying, necromancy, chiromancy, incantation or witchcraft.

From Thaumaturgia by An Oxonian

It is supposed that the Neo-platonists of the second and third Alexandrian Schools were the followers of Indian Yogis, more especially was their theurgy brought from India by Pythagoras, according to the tradition.

From From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan by H. P. (Helena Petrovna) Blavatsky