Read complete books and articles on: Theosophy

Theosophy - thēŏsˈəfē [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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8 of the Best Books and Articles on: Theosophy

as selected by Questia librarians

1.

Modern Esoteric Spirituality (Chap. 11 "Theosophy and the Theosophical Society") » Read Now
by Antoine Faivre, Jacob Needleman, Karen Voss. 418 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
2.

Odd Gods: New Religions and the Cult Controversy (Chap. 13 "Theosophy and the Theosophical Societies") » Read Now
by James R. Lewis. 435 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

Lewis analyses the characteristics of truly dangerous groups compared to those of the merely unusual but innocuous, and he discusses what people find attractive about membership in minority religions, as well as community suspicions and media hype that lead to misunderstandings. The bulk of the book...
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Lewis analyses the characteristics of truly dangerous groups compared to those of the merely unusual but innocuous, and he discusses what people find attractive about membership in minority religions, as well as community suspicions and media hype that lead to misunderstandings. The bulk of the book is devoted to a broad-based survey of unusual religious groups. Included are minority religious sects stemming from Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh tradition, as well as unrelated groups such as the Moonies, Wiccans, Satanists, Spiritualists, Channellers, Scientologists, the Heaven's Gate cult, a host of New Age and UFO groups, and many others. This is the definitive sourcebook for understanding and researching the crazy-quilt landscape of free religious expression in America.
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3.

America's Communal Utopias ("The Theosophical Communities and Their Ideal of Universal Brotherhood" begins on p. 396) » Read Now
by Donald E. Pitzer. 538 pgs.

Collections: History, Entire Library

"Brings into sharp focus a hitherto ill-mapped stretch of American social-history terrain. "From The Foreword By Paul Boyer
A comprehensive look at the religious and secular movements that produced America's most noted communal utopias
From the Shakers to the Branch Davidians, America's communal...
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"Brings into sharp focus a hitherto ill-mapped stretch of American social-history terrain. "From The Foreword By Paul Boyer
A comprehensive look at the religious and secular movements that produced America's most noted communal utopias
From the Shakers to the Branch Davidians, America's communal utopians have captured the popular imagination. Seventeen original essays here demonstrate the relevance of such groups to the mainstream of American social, religious, and economic life. The contributors examine the beliefs and practices of the most prominent utopian communities founded before 1965, including the long-overlooked Catholic monastic communities and Jewish agricultural colonies. Also featured are the Ephrata Baptists, Moravians, Shakers, Harmonists, Hutterites, Inspirationists of Amana, Mormons, Owenites, Fourierists, Icarians, Janssonists, Theosophists, Cyrus Teed's Koreshans, and Father Divine's Peace Mission.
Based on a new conceptual framework known as developmental communalism, the book examines these utopian movements throughout the course of their development -- before, during, and after their communal period. Each chapter includes a brief chronology, giving basic information about the group discussed. An appendix presents the most complete list of American utopian communities ever published.
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4.

Eastern Spirituality in America: Selected Writings (Chap. V "Theosophy") » Read Now
by Robert S. Ellwood. 245 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

An anthology of the basic writings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Theosophy that have influenced American spirituality.
5.

Modern Religious Cults and Movements (Chap. IX "The Return of the East upon the West: Theosophy and Kindred Cults") » Read Now
by Gaius Glenn Atkins. 359 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
6.

When Prophets Die: The Postcharismatic Fate of New Religious Movements (Chap. 6 "Democracy vs. Hierarchy: The Evolution of Authority in the Theosophical Society") » Read Now
by Timothy Miller. 248 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
7.

Sexology and the Occult: Sexuality and Subjectivity in Theosophy's New Age, in Journal of the History of Sexuality » Read Now
by Joy Dixon. 25 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library
8.

Greek Piety ("Occultism and Theosophy" begins on p. 138) » Read Now
by Martin Persson Nilsson, Herbert Jennings Rose. 202 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library