Richard
Interesting article. Although abundantly provided with footnotes, I felt that a lot of it was uncomfortably speculative, so much so that it became difficult to resist the notion that I was reading about Stoeber's imaginative impression of Underhill than about Underhill herself. I don't disagree with the thrust of the article, but I think there was lopsided emphasis on her interest in magic.
A few random thoughts......
What exactly is the 'Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn' about which Michael Stoeber knows so much that he refers to it repeatedly over and over and over, always the same wording and always capitalized?
If Underhill's main association with the Golden Dawn organization was through Waite's continuation of the Isis-Urania temple, I doubt that she was exposed to very much, if any, ceremonial magic. I don't think Stoeber is aware of Waite's aversion to magic.
I don't think one can deduce much about an author's religious beliefs by appealing to their fictional writings.
Since when is belief of the presence of God in nature evidence of pantheism? Has Stoeber not heard of omnipresence?
ETA. I don't intend to debate the merits of the essay. Life is too short and we're about to have an ice storm and I have a rehearsal to get to this evening.
A few random thoughts......
What exactly is the 'Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn' about which Michael Stoeber knows so much that he refers to it repeatedly over and over and over, always the same wording and always capitalized?
If Underhill's main association with the Golden Dawn organization was through Waite's continuation of the Isis-Urania temple, I doubt that she was exposed to very much, if any, ceremonial magic. I don't think Stoeber is aware of Waite's aversion to magic.
I don't think one can deduce much about an author's religious beliefs by appealing to their fictional writings.
Since when is belief of the presence of God in nature evidence of pantheism? Has Stoeber not heard of omnipresence?
ETA. I don't intend to debate the merits of the essay. Life is too short and we're about to have an ice storm and I have a rehearsal to get to this evening.