I could have just as easily saved this article under new age or witchcraft, because theres not a dimes difference between the two. The difference between theosophy and spiritualism pamphlet 9781428672369. Masterkey to the mysteries of the ancient and modern science and theology, published in 1877, isis unveiled is a book of esoteric philosophy and helena petrovna blavatskys first major work. It has not yet passed the stage of experimental research. Blavatsky preface the purpose of this book is exactly expressed in its title, the key to theosophy, and needs but few words of explanation. Leadbeater, alice bailey, annie besant among others and what h. The difference between a mediumistic and a nonsensitive nature is this. Theosophy and anthroposophy are world conceptions that relate what is spiritual in the human being to what is spiritual in the cosmos. It is the philosophia perennis, the philosophy of human perfectibility, the science of. This paper will also probe the aspects of theosophical philosophy that are. In modern times, theosophical views have been held by rosicrucians and by speculative freemasons.
The key to theosophy, and needs but few words of explanation. Theosophy is a religion established in the united states during the late nineteenth century. The difference between theosophy and spiritualism daily. Jun 17, 2019 the philosophy of spirit, examined from the esoteric and brahmanical standpoint, by t. This strangely formed book, strange at least to the western mind, is one among half a dozen similar textbooks, belonging to half a dozen indian schools of philosophy and psychology, of which the sankhya and, even more, the yoga school, must be known at least by name to many of our readers. There are now over 300 articles on this website, relating to all aspects of theosophy and the theosophical movement. See the texts above not as an attempt at giving a final spiritual philosophy on the nature of reality, but as starting points in your own quest for truth. It is found in an unbroken chain in india but existed in ancient greece and also in the writings of plato 427347 bce, plotinus 204270 and other neoplatonists, as well as jakob boehme 1575. The secret doctrine the synthesis of science, religion and philosophy.
It is written in a way to be accessible to anyone, from firsttime to longtime students of theosophy. The difference between theosophy and spiritualism paperback september 10, 2010 by h. Theosophy presents the idea that the world as humans perceive it is illusory, or maya, an idea that it draws from asian religions. I saved it under new age because the primary agenda of theosophy is to further the new world order, i. Ever since parsons had been a boy, however, the dark side of magic had captivated him. As nouns the difference between theosophy and theology is that theosophy is religion any doctrine of religious philosophy and mysticism claiming that knowledge of god can be attained through mystical insight and spiritual ecstasy, and that direct communication with the transcendent world is possible while theology is the study of god, or a god, or gods, and the truthfulness of religion in. Categorized by scholars of religion as both a new religious movement and as part of the occultist stream of western esotericism, it draws upon both older european. It is not a complete or exhaustive textbook of theosophy, but only a key to unlock the. A few, including leading theosophists of the presentday disregard inarguable defenses involving differences between blavatskys discourse and system of esoteric philosophy from that of charles w. The bhagavad gita is one of the worlds most important booksindeed, one of the great books of human culture, eastern and western alike.
The difference though is that phenomenology aims at the essence of the. Theology is simply a study of a particular religion or all religions. Esoteric philosophy is a phrase frequently used in theosophical literature to refer to a body of knowledge about the cosmos, the divine, and the human being, and does not take into account only their visible aspect but, more predominantly, their invisible, metaphysical, or spiritual dimension. Hence, if there is any spiritual attraction between the two they can communicate, as often occurs in dreams. Metaphysics is the philosophy of that which is beyond thought. The new age movement originated among independent theosophical groups in the 1970s and 80s. A key difference between philosophy and religion is only religion can address before birth and after death questions. Dec 16, 2010 the difference between philosophy and theosophy are. What is the difference between new age spiritualism and. It is not a complete or exhaustive text book of theosophy, but only a key to unlock the door that leads to the deeper study. Still master eckhart is a much more powerful, and more original thinker, and whatever there is of real philosophy in tauler seems borrowed from him. Neither what they provide, nor admittance into their society is a requirement in order to awaken. Theosophy is considered part of western esotericism, which believes that hidden.
Theosophy and the theosophical society exoteric and esoteric theosophy the working system of the t. She traveled and lectured widely and authored numerous books and. The jew is the antiman, the creature of another god. Forms of this doctrine were held in antiquity by the manichaeans, an iranian dualist sect, and in the middle ages by two groups. Two worlds face one anotherthe men of god and the men of satan. Not infrequently these inquiries come buttressed with arguments to the effect that there is truth in other teachings, and that of course theosophy could not reasonably claim it all. As nouns the difference between theosophy and theology is that theosophy is religion any doctrine of religious philosophy and mysticism claiming that knowledge of god can be attained through mystical insight and spiritual ecstasy, and that direct communication with the transcendent world is possible while theology is the study of god, or a. Very often, inquiries are made as to the difference between theosophy and various other teachings. The theosophical society claims that what they provide and admittance into the society itself is a requirement in order to spiritually evolve. Modern philosophy is a system of theoretical speculation, based upon reasoning from that which is believed to be true to the unknown, drawing logical deductions from accepted opinions and establishing new theories. Theosophy, occult movement originating in the 19th century with roots that. There appears to be no difference at all between the two terms religion and theosophy, but strictly speaking there is some difference between the two. Pagan wisdom and christian theology according to the tubingen. The members of the theosophical society at large are free to profess whatever religion or philosophy they like, or none if they so prefer, provided they are in sympathy with, and ready to carry out one or more of the three objects of the association.
The socalled tubingen theosophy is a byzantine epitome of an appendix. Blavatsky author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The key to theosophy book studies 7 and 8 living theosophy. Religion is basically a set of beliefs related to the very existence of life. Written in the form of question and answer, the key to theosophy is an excellent introduction for the inquirer. Theosophy is laden with mysticism whereas philosophy is not characterized by mysticism. In the simplest of terms philosophy encompasses different approaches in viewing the subject life. In this case philosophy stands for thinking, contemplating and intuiting the essence of reality. The below books are nearly all pdf files requiring the use of acrobat reader. I know that witchcraft is mostly nonsense, except where it is a blind, he wrote to crowley in 1943, but i am so nauseated by christian and theosophical guff about the good and the true that i prefer the appearance of evil to that of good. Furthermore, as leadbeater states, there is a physical price to be paid, which can sometimes lead to nervous breakdown, which can be avoided only by excessive use of stimulants spiritualism and theosophy, p. It seems from an immediate reading that definition 1 would lead to the conclusion that a theologian is a.
These are available at more or less the same price as one another, the only real difference between the two being that the theosophy company edition contains both volumes bound together in one big book while the theosophical university press edition publishes them as two separate books but which are sold together. Social groups often employ public signs to affirm their beliefs and differentiate. You might hear a philosopher express an opinion but since you cannot prove the argument, it is a belief. After the publication of isis unveiled and the secret doctrine, the author was deluged with questions about the human constitution, both spiritual and psychological. Difference between religion and theosophy compare the. Not infrequently these inquiries come buttressed with arguments to the effect that there is truth in other teachings, and that of course theosophy could not reasonably claim it all no one has the monopoly on truth, you know. Theosophy is a doctrine of religious philosophy and mysticism. Mar 17, 2017 theosophy and anthroposophy are world conceptions that relate what is spiritual in the human being to what is spiritual in the cosmos.
If any of these articles are of interest or help to you, please consider sharing them with others whether on facebook, by email, twitter, or any other means so that as many people as possible can. Theosophy promotes an emanationist cosmology, promoting the belief that the universe is an outward reflection from the absolute. A comparison with the transactions immediately shows how much hpb edited the. Accordingly, blavatsky taught that a life limited by the perception of this illusory. What are theosophy and anthroposophy about actually. The key to theosophy theosophy library online home. Dec 24, 2010 there appears to be no difference at all between the two terms religion and theosophy, but strictly speaking there is some difference between the two. Also, there is the danger that whatever entities communicate through the medium might begin to take more permanent. Nov 09, 2018 the difference between blavatskys explanations and adolf hitlers racial dualism are further made clear,when herman rausching claims that hitler in conversation said that. The key to theosophy book study 28 living theosophy. Blavatskys first major literary effort, a critical response to the growing materialism in both scientific and religious. In response to requests for recommended books for the newcomer to theosophy, we would recommend the following few books to begin with, possibly to be read in this order. Theosophists trace the origin of theosophy to the universal striving for spiritual knowledge that existed in all cultures. This strangely formed book, strange at least to the western mind, is one among half a dozen similar text books, belonging to half a dozen indian schools of philosophy and psychology, of which the sankhya and, even more, the yoga school, must be known at least by name to many of our readers.
Philosophy vs theosophy philosophy is the science of the soul. Theosophy, occult movement originating in the 19th century with roots that can be traced to ancient gnosticism and neoplatonism. Difference between philosophy and religion difference. It was founded primarily by the russian immigrant helena blavatsky and draws its beliefs predominantly from blavatskys writings. The rational attitude emerging from the mythical 2. Christian theosophy, also known as boehmian theosophy and theosophy, refers to a range of positions within christianity which focus on the attainment of direct, unmediated knowledge of the nature of divinity and the origin and purpose of the universe. Theosophists believe that each religion has a portion of the truth. Theology is simply a study of a particular religion or all religions, really more the practice than the theory, but maybe a mixture. Blavatsky described her ideas in two books, isis unveiled and the secret doctrine.
Blavatsky being a clear exposition, in the form of question and answer, of the ethics, science, and philosophy for the study of which the theosophical society has been founded. The term theosophy, derived from the greek theos god and sophia wisdom, is generally understood to mean divine wisdom. Another eminent difference between theosophy and philosophy is that the latter has over the years developed diversified schools of thought such as the concepts of dualism and monism which the former has not been able to. Rudolf steiner and the theosophical society wikipedia. Philosophy requires certain moods to be accessible 1. In the same way books on theosophy are not considered as sources of. If theosophy has one natural enemy against which it has fought and will always fight it is the materialistic view of life, the view that nothing exists except dead unconscious matter and that the phenomena of life and thought and consciousness spring from it. Pluralism and monism, philosophical theories that answer many and one, respectively, to the distinct questions. Difference between philosophy and theosophy compare the. After the publication of isis unveiled and the secret doctrine, the author was deluged with questions about the human constitution, spiritual and psychological. Philosophical concepts are dogmas whereas theosophical concepts are not dogmas. Nor is it by studying one single branch of the esoteric philosophy that a man becomes an occultist, but by. Thus, esoteric philosophy often presents a synthesis of science, religion, and philosophy.
They have been characterized as mystical philosophies. An introduction notes for class at the theosophical society in america november 1, 2008 a. It traces the broad outlines of the wisdom religion, and explains its fundamental principles. What is the difference between new age spiritualism and that. The key to theosophy outlines the central ideas behind the modern theosophical movement and the theosophical society. The key to theosophy a clear exposition in the form of question and answer of the ethics, science, and philosophy for the study of which the theosophical society has been founded.
To help make clear the difference between theosophy as esoteric philosophy and popular religion, particularly the theology of the christian churches, a comparative table of a few salient points might be helpful. The difference between philosophy and theosophy are. Theology is a rational study of the existence of godgods and the nature of religious ideas. What is the difference between theosophy and theology. Blavatsky, leadbeater, besant, krishnamurti, steiner, heindel, theosophy, anthroposophy online esoteric library note. Notes on the philosophy of spirit universal theosophy. We are told that besides the secret books of kiute from which the stanzas of dzyan were translated, there exist public books of kiute, found in the libraries of tibetan monasteries. Let the difference of degree be as large as ever it can be between those who belong to the same kind, but to look for one or two passages in the new testament which may possibly point to a difference in kind is surely useless against the overwhelming weight of the evidence that appeals to us from the very words of christ. Blavatskys definition of theosophy is quoted in a book by shabanova. The philosophy of spirit, examined from the esoteric and brahmanical standpoint, by t. The relationship between rudolf steiner and the theosophical society, cofounded in 1875 by h. Theosophy holds to no religion, as to no philosophy in particular. Olav hammers book is full of details about these various belief systems and offers much of comparison and contrast between the unique systems ranging from the theosophy of helena petrovna blavatsky carried on by annie bessant, charles webster leadbeater, and alice bailey, the anthroposophy of rudolf steiner, the psychoanalysis and depth. In attempting to wrap my mind around the basic vocabulary, concepts, and methods of philosophy, i find myself wondering what the difference is between a philosopher and a theologian.
Philosophy is the science of soul whereas theosophy is the wisdom religion. The books of kiute, as most theosophists know, are said to be the source from which the stanzas of dzyan in the secret doctrine were translated. The following historical information concerning theosophy. Blavatsky with henry steel olcott and others, was a complex and changing one in 1899, steiner published an article in the magazin fur literatur, titled goethes secret revelation, on the esoteric nature of goethes fairy tale, the green snake and the beautiful lily.