Theos-Talk Archives (April 1998 Message tt00516)

Jerry Schueler <gschueler@netgsi.com> writes
> But the question of "what is theosophy" has never
>been answered very well, and the TSs especially need to be
>able to define themselves. Or do we need a fixed definition at
>all?

We might ask who chose the term for the TS in the first place. The
literal meaning is god-wisdom [theos=god + sophia=wisdom].

But to be a TS theosophist does not appear to *require* a belief in god
in the singular [but see ML No. 10 in the early edition]. Did the
mahatmas believe (or know) "gods" in the plural - a notion consistent
with their supposed locations?

I am informed that the first person to use the term "theosopher" in print
was Jacob Boehme, which is way before HPB, and she herself states
(so far as I recall) that the term already existed when the society was
formed.

So, in short, if we are to accept a "fixed" definition at all, we need to
define the terms "god" and "wisdom" !

HPB wote far more in terms of "the occult" than any other definition,
did she not?

Alan :-\
-------------------
Brought to you from
 West Cornwall, UK