Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism

The Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism (2006), edited by Wouter J. Hanegraaff alongside Antoine Faivre, Roelof van den Broek, and Jean-Pierre Brach, is the definitive academic reference work for the field of esoteric studies.

Historiographical Methodology

The Dictionary is famous for its rigorous structural methodology. It explicitly rejects the 'religionism' of earlier occultists, instead adopting an empirical, historical approach. Entries are characterized by terminological self-awareness, acknowledging that labels like 'Hermeticism' or 'Magic' are often retrospective scholarly constructions rather than terms used by the historical actors themselves. It enforces strict periodization (e.g., distinguishing between Late Antique Hermeticism and Renaissance Hermeticism) and concludes each entry with a comprehensive bibliography split between primary sources and secondary literature.