There is only one presence and one power active as the universe and as my life, god the good. The discipline also involves the elementary studies of. Western buddhists who know theosophy therefore have to take its fancies into account. What is the difference between metaphysics and philosophy. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with existence, identity, space, time, causality, and the like. It seems from an immediate reading that definition 1 would lead to the conclusion that a theologian is a. As professor of philosophy and comparative literary and cultural studies at stony brook university, state university of new york, silvermans work was marked by the between, a concept he developed to think the postmodern in the space between philosophy and non philosophy. A comparison between new thought and theosophy t h e o s. Seven essays on theosophy and architecture 1922, by claude fayette bragdon gutenberg text archaic history of the human race 1939 edition, by gertrude w.
The rational attitude emerging from the mythical 2. It asks fun questions like if you stepped into a star trek style transporter and a copy of you appears elsewhere but the original di. 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. It is written in a way to be accessible to anyone, from firsttime to longtime students of theosophy. In this case philosophy stands for thinking, contemplating and intuiting the essence of reality.
Theology is simply a study of a particular religion or all religions, really more the practice than the theory, but maybe a mixture. This book is an excellent introduction to the views of theosophy, which in. Ravi ravindra is a professor emeritus at dalhousie university, in halifax, nova scotia, where he served as professor in comparative religion, philosophy and physics. What is the difference between philosophy and spirituality. The key to theosophy outlines the central ideas behind the modern theosophical movement and the theosophical society. Difference between philosophy and theosophy compare the. The basic issue of philosophy is to solve the riddle of existence the cycle of birth and. Your western psychologists do not seem to have established any clear distinction between the two.
Theosophy, in its abstract meaning, is divine wisdom, or the aggregate of the knowledge and wisdom that underlie the universe the homogeneity of eternal good. The thcentury work summa philosophiae attributed to robert grosseteste made a distinction between theosophers and theologians. The terms philosophy and theosophy are different in sense. Theosophy occupies a central place in the history of new spiritual movements, for the writings of blavatsky and some of her followers.
The concepts of philosophy and for that matter theosophy are indeed very distinct that in all fairness they deserve no contradictions. The etymologically philosophy is the love of wisdom. The difference between theosophy and spiritualism daily. Philosophy is science, a science that involves the study of existence and its meaning. The ageless philosophy about the cosmos and human life that is at the core of all great religious and mystical traditions. Leadbeater a textbook of theosophy chapter i what theosophy is there is a school of philosophy still in existence of which modern culture has lost sight. Secret doctrine, published in 1885, is her most profound booka bible of theosophy. While the philosophy of religion treats the belief in a first cause of the universe, and in an ego or self, and in the true relation between the two, as matters of psychological development, or of logical consecution, it was my purpose to show, not what the process of each of these discoveries may or must have been, but what it has been in the. 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. The sixth item gives a core idea of theosophical philosophy, that as above, so below.
The key to theosophy 1 the key to theosophy i theosophy and the theosophical society the meaning of the name enquirer. Nor is it by studying one single branch of the esoteric philosophy that a man becomes an occultist, but by. Theosophy magazine web edition june 1995 publications. Philosophy requires certain moods to be accessible 1. 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. Ever since parsons had been a boy, however, the dark side of magic had captivated him. An introduction notes for class at the theosophical society in america november 1, 2008 a. The teaching of theosophy is introduced in a number of books and magazines. Philosophy vs theosophy philosophy is the science of the soul. The intellectual difference between the aryan and other civilized nations and such savages as the south sea islanders, is inexplicable on any. Theology is a rational study of the existence of godgods and the nature of religious ideas. According to theosophy, all people have a higher self that is seeking to become perfect, and does so through.
Including 1 the ethiopian book of enoch, 2 the slavonic secrets and 3 the hebrew book of enoch charles h robert 4. But whereas philosophy is a lot broader than theology, philosophy does not encompass theology, for theology deals with interpretation of the divine rather than pure reason. The tendency of the human ego to use knowledge for self glory instead of service to the creator by way of a true and proper considering of the needs of others before ones own as the bible and jesus teaches correctly indicts knowledge that does not give proper due to to the spiritual source. Judaism and christianity are easier to deal with, because easier dismissed. There is no difference between classical philosophy and modern philosophy. Theology is a subset of philosophy at least in part. Theosophy is considered part of western esotericism, which believes that hidden. Theosophy and its doctrines are often referred to as a new.
An edict of charlemagne, in which he commands the bishops to preach in the language understood by the people, goes back to the year 8. What is the difference between theosophy and theology. What does modern philosophy look like compared to ancient. Not a being of any kind but the absolute, the unknowable is. On an official unity website we find the 5 basic unity principles expressed as follows. Theosophy woven from and into the fabric of sanatana dharma. In this view, there are seven principles constituting both the universe and human beings. Metaphysics is the philosophy of that which is beyond thought. Great theosophical teachings of annie besant and c. This is a question that has been propelling much of my efforts in writing this blog. The term theosophy was used as a synonym for theology as early as the 3rd century ce. Theosophy is an esoteric pursuit of faithbased beliefs considered knowledge dealing with the nature of the universe and the divine. From theosophical encyclopedia, here slightly revised in content and adapted to theosophy forward style.
Yet it is precisely that difference which gives the keynote to the understanding of eastern philosophy, and which lies at the root of the divergence between the theosophical and spiritualistic teachings. One has to see the whole before one looks at the parts. 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. The new age movement originated among independent theosophical groups in the 1970s and 80s. Generally here i have limited my meandering thoughts to those ideas and thinkers that tend to safely fall within the general spectrum of what are known as philosophies and philosophers. Theosophy involves spirituality in a greater percentage than religion. The key to theosophy book studies 7 and 8 living theosophy.
As will be shown, there are indeed a few points of agreement between theosophy and new thought but far more in the way of serious disagreement. The secret doctrine, the synthesis of science, religion and philosophy, a book originally. Theosophy, occult movement originating in the 19th century with roots that can be traced to ancient gnosticism and neoplatonism. Theosophical university press electronic version isbn 1557000468 print version also available. In fact it can be categorically said that while religion is all about beliefs and faiths, theosophy is. Difference between religion and theosophy compare the. In summa, theosophers were described as authors only inspired by the holy books, while theologians like pseudodionysius the areopagite. Principle from the latin principium, meaning beginning, foundation is a technical term used in theosophy, which refers to a fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality. Sinnett began his1881 book, the occult world, the first popular exposition of theosophy, published thirty years ago. Theosophy on the contrary is the doctrine of religious philosophy. In the same way books on theosophy are not considered as sources of. It is a syncretic religious philosophy drawing on both greek mostly platonic ideas about the universe and indian ideas about the soul and reincarnation. Philosophy for the study of which the theosophical society has been founded. Theosophy is, in terms of our cultural heritage, the basis of all western buddhism.
The term philosophia perennis was used by gottfried leibniz 16461716, who adopted it from the writings of italian catholic theologian agostin steuco 14961549. What is the difference between philosophy and theory. A lifetime member of the theosophical society, ravi has taught many courses in the school of the wisdom in. Theory on the other hand can be a scientific view, or an idea that has not been proven to be tangible and or factual. What is the difference between philosophy and theology. Blavatsky, in the glossary of her book the key to theosophy. They have been characterized as mystical philosophies. See the texts above not as an attempt at giving a final spiritual philosophy on the nature of reality. Philosophy is an individuals beliefs and has a great deal with the way they choose to live their life and the way they view others. The earliest trace of sermons in german is found in a list of books of the tenth century from st. What theosophy is page 1 there is a school of philosophy still in existence of which modern culture has lost sight. Blavatskys definition of theosophy is quoted in a book by shabanova. 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. Theosophy and the theosophical society exoteric and esoteric theosophy the working system of the t.
Kessinger publishing reprints over 1,500 similar titles all. The elements or original essences, the basic differentiations upon and of which all things are. Van pelt html at theosophy the astral body and other astral phenomena, by arthur edward powell multiple formats at theosophy. The concept of mahatmas or masters needs to be seen as an integral part of the whole theosophical worldview.