The lasting influence of alchemical thinking on mainstream modern ideology

[The aim of alchemy was] to hasten the ... processes of nature by precipitating matter through stages of decay and decomposition into a new birth whereby it would become "perfect", in the Latin sense of "completed" or "fulfilled", and having once achieved this state, the new born matter could then be used to heal any sickness in the rest of nature. 

From Wizards: a history; by PG Maxwell-Stuart (2004)

This strikes me as a basic way of thinking that survived long beyond the discipline of alchemy. 

As I understand this passage; "alchemy" could be generalized thus:

This actual world is of-it-nature imperfect - only ever partly and intermittently as it should be; continually assailed by unavoidable evil, entropy, death.

The aim of the alchemist is to transform this actual world into a "perfect" state of fulfilled completion. 

And this alchemical transformation works by controlling and shaping the natural process of dying, death and rebirth.

So that the world (individual people, human society, nature itself) is alchemically-"perfected" by accelerating its "decay and decomposition", through dissolution, and into a new birth.

Imperfect matter is alchemically-transformed to perfect matter.  

The imperfect is therefore deliberately deconstructed, reduced to its fundamentals. 

In effect, it is destroyed.

But... this destruction is justified and idealized (for the destroyer) because that which is destroyed is intrinsically flawed; while the destruction is aimed at a re-made "perfection". Belief in the perfection of the re-made justifies the preliminary destruction. 

If perfection is desired, preliminary destruction must be accepted. 

The re-made, new-born, perfected entity produced by alchemy - which might be a person (New Man), society (New World Order), or an artefact like the "philosopher's stone" - will then alchemically work-upon, transform, and progressively perfect the un-transformed whole.

As I read the above passage; it suddenly struck me how often I have come-across this alchemical way of thinking (and justifying) among the ruling class - or more generally (and in a reduced and materialistic form) among managers and other bureaucrats. 

The idea of perfecting via destruction; of transforming by controlled decomposition and re-making.

This includes the real truth that things can (typically) only get better, via getting worse; and makes of it a universal justification for making things worse.

(Including when the real motive is personal benefit, resentment, or spite.)

Alchemical thinking provides a permanent rationalization for all possible harms inflicted by selfish manipulation or people and the world*. 

And, as I have noticed more recently; this idea of "alchemical transformation" can take the reality salvation from Jesus Christ - i.e. resurrection to into eternal and wholly-loving life in Heaven, on the other side of death - and appropriate it to this-worldly human will.  

Alchemy (thus considered, in its ultimate sense) can therefore be a fundamental alternative to Christianity; and one that has a special appeal to the leadership class of this mortal world.  

 

*I am certainly not saying that alchemical thinking is always or necessarily evil. I don't believe that is true. Plenty of good people, and Christians, have studied or practiced alchemy - which does contain significant truths, especially when regarded as a way of achieving limited, specific, partial goals. But I am saying that - as a general principle, alchemy is mistaken; it is ultimately not reality, ultimately untrue. 

And alchemical thinking actually-is used to contradict one of the fundamental assumptions upon which Christianity is based...

Which is that the evil, entropy and death in this world and mortal life are intrinsic, and cannot be transformed-away; and that the only true-and-real escape from entropy and evil is the salvation of Jesus Christ, on the other side of our personal death.  

Note added: The way to consider the value of alchemy is as a science. Science has been useful in many ways; but science is not just harmful but actually destroys itself when regarded as metaphysics - i.e. when scientific assumptions are regarded as necessary and universal.