Theosophy (redirected from theosophically)

theosophy (thēŏs`əfē) [Gr.,=divine wisdom], philosophical system having affinities with mysticism and claiming insight into the nature of God and the world through direct knowledge, philosophical speculation, or some physical process. This system of thought differs from many other philosophical positions in that it begins with an assumption of the absolute reality of the essence of God, from which it deduces the essentially spiritual nature of the universe. Other assumptions frequently found in theosophical doctrine are that God is the transcendent source of all being and all good; that evil exists in the world because of human desire for finite goods and may be overcome by complete absorption in the infinite; and that sacred writings and doctrines are interpreted through allegory. This is the position of much speculative mysticism. However, mysticism generally confines itself to the soul's relation to God, while the theosophist uses these theories to formulate a complete philosophy of humanity and nature.

History

The Neoplatonists, the Gnostics, and the kabbalists are generally considered types of theosophists. Jakob Boehme, regarded as the father of modern theosophy, developed a complete theosophical system attempting to reconcile the existence of an all-powerful and all-good God with the presence of evil in the world. The philosophy and theology of Asia, especially of India, contain a vast body of theosophical doctrine. Modern theosophy draws much of its vocabulary from Indian sources. The Theosophical Society, with which theosophy is now generally identified, was founded in 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky; associated with her were H. S. Olcott and W. Q. Judge. Blavatsky wrote The Secret Doctrine (1888, repr. 1964) and Key to Theosophy (1931, rev. ed. 1969). An active exponent of theosophy in Europe, America, and the East was Annie Besant, who added many works to the literature on the subject.

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theosophy

Religious philosophy with mystical concerns that can be traced to the ancient world. It holds that God, whose essence pervades the universe as an absolute reality, can be known only through mystical experience (see mysticism). It is characterized by esoteric doctrine and an interest in occult phenomena. Theosophical beliefs are found in Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, and among students of the Kabbala, but Jakob Böhme, who developed a complete theosophical system, is often called the father of modern theosophy. Today theosophy is associated with the Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Blavatsky in 1875. See also Annie Besant.

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theosophy

1. any of various religious or philosophical systems claiming to be based on or to express an intuitive insight into the divine nature

2. the system of beliefs of the Theosophical Society founded in 1875, claiming to be derived from the sacred writings of Brahmanism and Buddhism, but denying the existence of any personal God

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Theosophy 

(1) In the broad sense of the word, the mystical knowledge of god. Among the followers of the Areopagite, the-osophy was a synonym for theology. Later, theosophy, unlike theology, which relies on revelation and dogmas, was defined as the study of divinity that was based on subjective mystical experience and that attempted to expound this experience in the form of a coherent system.

Some scholars associated theosophy with Gnosticism, Neopla-tonism, and the cabala. More widespread, however, is the use of the term to apply to a number of mystical teachings of the 16th through 18th centuries that were outside the Christian tradition; these include works by J. Boehme, Paracelsus, L. C. Saint-Martin, E. Swedenborg, and F. Etinger. F. W. von Schelling used the term “theosophy” to designate the synthesis of mystical knowledge and rational philosophy; V. Solov’ev’s concept of “free theosophy” was similar to this synthesis.

(2) The religious and mystical teachings of the Russian writer H. P. Blavatsky (1831–91), author of The Secret Doctrine (1888), and her followers. Theosophy arose under the influence of the religious and philosophical concepts of Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Hinduism (for example, the study of karma—the soul’s reincarnation—and the study of cosmic evolution as a manifestation of the spiritual absolute); it also drew on occultism and some elements of Gnosticism. Discarding the “established forms of religion,” theosophy strives to unite various creeds through the revelation of the common hidden meaning of all religious symbols and to create on this foundation a universal religion not linked with any fixed dogma. According to theosophy, man’s final goal—the attainment of occult knowledge and supernatural abilities—is fulfilled through the esoteric teachings of a few “devotees,” or “masters,” who inspire man’s spiritual evolution.

The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 in New York City by Blavatsky and the American Colonel H. S. Olcott. Its goal was to promote universal brotherhood, the comparative study of religion and philosophy, and the exploration of unexplained natural laws and of man’s hidden forces. The society soon spread to many countries of Europe and the Americas. Its headquarters was transferred to India in 1879 and since 1882 has been located in Adyar, a suburb of Madras. After Olcott’s death in 1907, A. Besant (1847–1933) became the president of the society. In 1912 she declared J. Krishnamurti the new “savior” of humanity. Later, however, Krishnamurti abandoned theosophy, and after this schism took place R. Steiner formed an offshoot movement called anthroposophy.

As a form of mysticism beyond the realm of creed, theosophy attests to the crisis of the traditional religions that it tries to replace.

REFERENCES

Leadbeater, C. Kratkii ocherk teosofii. Kaluga, 1911. (Translated from English.)
Shakhnovich, M. I. Sovremennaia mistika v svete nauki. Moscow-Leningrad, 1965.
Guenon, R. Le théosophisme: Histoire d’une pseudoreligion. Paris, 1921.
Bichlmair, G. Christentum: Theosophie und Anthroposophie. Vienna, 1950.