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Underground > Temple >

Theosophy- The Blavatsky Cult

14:20 / 21.11.03

From another thread;
In interpreting Theosophical interpretations of myth, it is necessary for the modern scholar to carefully pick through the Victorian agendas sewn throughout the works in order to find its acedemic merit. cusm

I happen to agree, but many others may not. Some see Theosophy as an enlightening movement encouraging higher consciousness, others as a dualist system devised by a mad old 'Russian' charlatan.
What do you think?

For reference The main teachings of Theosophy (Gk. theosophia, "divine wisdom"), which are at the same time religious, philosophic, and scientific, may be summed up as follows: it postulates one eternal, immutable, all-pervading principle, the root of all manifestation. From that one existence comes forth periodically the whole universe, manifesting the two aspects of spirit and matter, life and form, positive and negative, "the two poles of nature between which the universe is woven.

For those new to Theosophy here's a Useful site and a list of sites.

Tryphena Absent

14:38 / 21.11.03

In the words of MacNeice 'it's no go Blavatsky, all we want is a bank balance and a bit of skirt in a taxi'.

I dislike theories that propagate the idea of one pole vs. another and indeed the idea that we, as a race, have somewhere to go. Bits and pieces seem nice- the idea that there is a small voice within is lovely but I dislike the notion that we find out a long past once we listen to this voice. Every theory has some academic merit but not necessarily anything that an individual would find alluring.

14:56 / 21.11.03

I've found the Theosophical University Press Online to be a great source of diversion during work hours.

My beef is the assertion that there is one fundamental truth behind all things, and the mythology that all sources of wisdom and myth known to man originate from one proto myth shared by primitave man. That basicly, our ancient and all wise Atlantien forfathers had a direct connection with the divine and were all knowing, this All Knowing being encoded into the myths of man in broken form.

Now, through examination of myth one can derive fundamental truths about man's experience of the world, and the study is valid from that perspective. Its the myth to justify it that I don't think is terribly neccessary. If they'd have just stuck to comparative religion rather than trying to form a cult of it I'd have a lot less of a knee jerking reaction when I read their stuff.