The Way Forward for Perennialism

Perennialism (also known as Traditionalism) may be defined as the certain knowledge that the reality of God, the truth of Humanity as God’s central manifestation in terrestrial existence, and the relationship between God and the cosmos He creates, has always been known and transmitted by the human race, sometimes esoterically, sometimes openly. Intimately related to this knowledge is the understanding that God has sent more than one revealed religion over the course of history to bring Humanity back into union with Him, and that more than one of these revelations may be in force at the same time. This doctrine has its roots in the philosophy of Leibnitz, the writings of Renaissance philosophers like Marcilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola, as well as in St. Augustine, the Holy Qur’an and the Hindu concept of the sanatana dharma. In the 20thand 21stcenturies, however, Perennialism has become perhaps the most interesting and useful attempt to deal with the fact of religious pluralism in a globalizing world without relativizing the traditional religions and emptying them of their sacred content. In earlier ages-apart, perhaps, from the syncretistic religion of Manichaeism-Perennialism was an arcane dimension of religious understanding, of interest only to a handful of sages. In our own time, however, it has unexpectedly appeared as one of the necessarydefenses of faith in God and the metaphysical order against the assaults of an increasingly secularized world. The contemporary Traditionalist/Perennialist School is considered to have been founded by French metaphysician René Guénon (1886-1951), with significant contributions from the Anglo-Indian writer on traditional art and metaphysics, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. After Guénon’s death, the most significant figure in the School was Swiss metaphysician and putative Sufi Shaykh, Frithjof Schuon (1907-1998), who remains the most provocative figure Perennialism has produced in the 20th Century. The Way Forward for Perennialism, which is both appreciative of his insights and critical of his errors, aspires to be a guide to those attempting to walk the Perennialist road through the darkness and uncertainties of the 21st  Century. Charles Upton is the preeminent, living intellectual heir to the great French metaphysician René Guénon. -Zachary Markwith, author ofOne God, Many Prophets: The Universal Wisdom of Islam Charles Upton is a serious thinker from whom I have learned much. His writing merits close attention. -Prof. Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions, etc.