H. P. Blavatsky was the founder of modern Theosophy and the Theosophical Society:
Theosophy defines itself as one of the major modern expressions of the Ageless Wisdom teachings. The Theosophical Society began in 1875 and is among a hand full of modern schools of thought that gave birth to the “New Age” with its associated ideas of brotherhood, karma and rebirth, and a path of spiritual enlightenment that may be followed independently of religious affiliation. It includes the concept of God and immortality of the soul, and teachings about the state of consciousness following death. Theosophy recognizes a brotherhood of spiritual masters that, mostly behind the scenes, have sought to guide and teach humanity down the ages. For more on this concept, see: Spiritual Hierarchy–Its Nature and Relation to History and the Cultural Evolution of Humanity
Theosophy is also one of the main influences responsible for modern evolution of Eastern thought and its impact on the West. For more background on that, see Theosophy Academic Papers.
Theosophical lodges or study groups for Theosophy can be found in most major cities in the United States and in many other cities around the world. Today, the Theosophical Society is “…an international organization with members in some 70 countries of the world and local groups in about 90 locations in the United States.” Theosophical Society in America
These are its most active areas in the United States.
The foundation of the Theosophical teachings can be found in The Theosophical Quarterly, Volumes 18-19 which states.
“The principal aim and object of this Society is, To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color.
The subsidiary objects are:
- The study of ancient and modern religions, philosophies and sciences demonstration of the importance of such study
- The investigation of the unexplained laws of nature and the psychical powers latent in man.”
Most people who have heard of Theosophy are unaware of the historical impact and its influence on society, see for instance: Famous people in the Theosophical Society
and Theosophy Influence – Wikipedia
See also: The Theosophical Society in America: An Illustrated History:
To get a broader sense of what Theosophy is, read this article: Theosophy – Theosopedia
So, as suggested above, though most are unaware of it, Theosophy is woven into many aspects of modern society including not only the religious and philosophic but the cultural and artistic in many of its dimensions. To gain an impression of this read through this list of famous people who were members of the Theosophical Society and were also noted writers, architects, scientists, inventors, psychologists, painters, musicians, actors, politicians, feminists, and religious figures, etc: Famous people in the Theosophical Society
.
The list is partial, one of many omissions being David Bohm:
“Many theosophists will know of Bohm as a close associate of Krishnamurti, and also as a unique philosopher. However his primary role was as a quantum physicist.” Bohms Quantum Physics…Theosophical Society
A good historical perspective can be found here:
Course on “The Theosophical Society”… Religious Studies, University of Vienna, Summer semester 2019]
Though sometimes dismissed as another religion or amalgam of them, it is far more than that. Theosophy defines itself, not as a religion, but as the underlying principles from which the best aspects of all religions derive. So it is not religion in a formal sense but the essence of them. One Theosophical work delves into this in exploring The Essential Unity of all Religions
.
Broadly speaking, there are two different senses of the word “Theosophy.” On the one hand it is the particular body of teaching that derives from the founder of the Theosophical society, H. P. Blavatsky
and her many students who wrote books on the subject. But in the broader sense, Theosophy means the “wisdom of God,” or spiritual wisdom wherever and in whatever form it is found, which includes the best of religions, philosophies, the sciences and all aspects of life that pertain to the cultural evolution of humanity. These, of course, did not arise with H. P. Blavatsky but are part of the wisdom of the ages. In this sense Theosophy is “New Age” philosophy. These two senses of the word are elaborated here: Theosophy: What is It
?
For some of the specifics of Theosophical teaching, see this summary: Theosophy in the Modern World
and also Theosophy in the World Today, and Enchanted Modernities: Theosophy and the Arts in the Modern World
.
The New Age philosophy I reference above is a modern phrase that is close in meaning to what is called the “Ageless Wisdom” and also not far from the meaning of Perennial philosophy
:
“The Ageless Wisdom is called the “Golden Thread” that connects the inner, hidden teachings at the heart of the world’s religions, East and West. It’s often referred to as the “Perennial Philosophy” because it’s been present on earth in some form since the beginning of recorded history.” Ageless Wisdom
.
There is a Wikipedia article on New Age
that contains a paragraph with the following good summary:
“Despite its highly eclectic nature, a number of beliefs commonly found within the New Age have been identified. Theologically
, the New Age typically adopts a belief in a holistic form of divinity which imbues all of the universe, including human beings themselves. There is thus a strong emphasis on the spiritual authority of the self. This is accompanied by a common belief in a wide variety of semi-divine non-human entities, such as angels and masters, with whom humans can communicate, particularly through the form of channeling. Typically viewing human history as being divided into a series of distinct ages, a common New Age belief is that whereas once humanity lived in an age of great technological advancement and spiritual wisdom, it has entered a period of spiritual degeneracy, which will be remedied through the establishment of a coming Age of Aquarius, from which the milieu gets its name. There is also a strong focus on healing, particularly using forms of alternative medicine
, and an emphasis on a “New Age science” which seeks to unite science and spirituality.”
The newest evolution of this movement toward the union of science and spirituality can be seen here:
Who’s Who in Open Science
Manifesto for a Post-Materialist Science
Theosophy is often attacked from two opposite directions— materialistic science and Christian theology. While advocating an open minded scientific point of view, Theosophy is critical of strictly materialistic science or scientism and its eclectic approach to religion makes it the subject of attack by orthodox Christian writers.
This passage gives a Theosophical view point on Theology
:
“Theology and Theosophy. Helena P. Blavatsky has a strongly negative view of Christian dogmatic theology, calling it “a corpse without a soul” (IU II:264), the “dogmatic, undemonstrated and undemonstrable theology of our Christian ages” (IU I:36). She deemed that the inner teachings of Christ and the Gospels have been lost sight of by modern theologians. Thus, Blavatsky devoted the entire second volume of her Isis Unveiled on “Theology” to explore comparative theology, and to attempt to demonstrate that underneath the exoteric teachings of popular religions lie the principles of an ageless wisdom, of which theosophy is a but a modern expression. In her introduction to the work, she states that “we must show our false theologies in their naked deformity, and distinguish between divine religion and human dogmas. Our voice is raised for spiritual freedom, and our plea made for enfranchisement from all tyranny, whether of SCIENCE or THEOLOGY.”
In her preface to the second volume, she wrote:
An analysis of religious beliefs in general, this volume is in particular directed against theological Christianity, the chief opponent of free thought. It contains not one word against the pure teachings of Jesus, but unsparingly denounces their debasement into pernicious ecclesiastical systems that are ruinous to man’s faith in his immortality and his God, and subversive of all moral restraint.”
Theosophy’s relation to science can be understood in connection with the above mentioned Manifesto for a Post-Materialist Science
with which Theosophy would fully agree.
There is also a more recent incarnation and evolution of Theosophy in the broader sense of the word for which see Alice Bailey (Books online
