Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00325)

Anand,

Please define what you mean by the words "dogma" and by "fundamentalism." 
Jerry



Anand Gholap wrote:

> "Should an "ideal", non-dogmatic, all-inclusive
> Theosophical Society study and "promote" all
> these books? "
>
> Dogma and fundamentalism happen due to two main reasons. One is when 
> books are not written properly by author. Here in our case HPB did 
> not write properly so it became dogma. 
> Second reason of fundamentalism is promotion of only one or two 
> authors by organizations and individuals like Daniel and Dallas. This 
> is big mistake made by ULT also. ULT officially declares HPB as 
> authority. It is a classic recipe for dogma. 
> Although Adyar TS knows AB, CWL wrote best, they would never declare 
> anybody as authority. See "freedom of thought" declaration. Another 
> things is AB and CWL wrote in such a way that chances of becoming 
> dogma of their writing are very low. They were popular writers but 
> readers of them did not become fundamentalists.
> Adyar TS prints books of fifty authors. So dogma, fundamentalism does 
> not happen in many lodges. But in America there is Point Loma and ULT 
> and independent workers on web like Daniel and Dallas who promote one 
> or two authors and whole theosophical movement in America suffers due 
> to that.
> Anand Gholap
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell" 
> <danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
>
>
> > Should an "ideal", non-dogmatic, all-inclusive
> > Theosophical Society study and "promote" all
> > these books?
> >
> > Books by Blavatsky, Sinnett, Judge, Besant,
> > Leadbeater, Tingley, G. de Purucker, Olcott,
> > Bailey, La Due, Ballard, Roerich,
> > Prophet, Chaney, Steiner, Hodson, King, Crosbie,
> > Wadia, Scott, Heindel, Innocente, Shearer, and
> > other "Theosophical" writers.
> >
> > As well as books by various yogis, lamas,
> > metaphysicans, sufis, spirtualists, psychical reseachers,
> > kabalists, etc. etc. etc. etc.
> >
> > I believe that almost all the above named individuals
> > have claimed contact with the "Masters" and all
> > their books could broadly be called "theosophical".
> >
> > Who is to say what and what is not Theosophy or
> > Theosophical?
> >
> > And who is to say what or what is not to be studied
> > and promoted in a Theosophical Society or group?
> >
> > The three major Theosophical organizations (TS Adyar,
> > TS Pasadena and ULT) all feature, study and promote only
> > certain authors.
> >
> > Therefore are these three groups being "dogmatic" or in fact
> > promoting a "fundamentalistic" version of Theosophy by in
> > fact "limiting" which authors are promoted/studied???
> >
> > Hopefully some food for thought...
> >
> > Daniel
> > http://hpb.cc
>
>
>
>
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