Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl01147)

In the day since I wrote to Alan regarding Root Races
and Theosophy bashing, I've seen a lot of angry words
exchanged on theos-l. Apparently, I've stumbled across
the "hot buttons" in some people, and will have to
take care as I write about the subject in the future.

Alexis has continued to say that racism is sold as a
part of Theosophy, that it makes judgmental and
condemnatory racial comparisons, with the goal of
subjective racism, to put down people of certain races.

Apart from our individual interpretations of Theosophy,
I'd have to protest, and say that Theosophy teaches
nothing of that. Some writers may have misunderstand
and represented the idea of Root Races in that way,
but that is their mistake and not the teachings of Theosophy.

He also seems to find it outrageous to compare occult
teachings to scientific fields like sociology and
economics. I tend to find value in the comparisons, and
don't dismiss offhand the body of occult teachings we
have access to in Theosophy.

I find it impossible to imagine how someone would think
that theosophists would be intentionally, deliberately,
and knowingly promoting racism. Alexis keeps saying that,
but apart from his imagination, I'm not aware of any
such thing being thought or spoken or felt at any
theosophical gathering that I've been to.

He's also continued to charge me with stating that
psychics are mentally ill. This is twisting my words
into saying something that I did not say. And it was not
a single misunderstanding, since I've clarified what I've
said to him more than once.

(I've said that a form of accidental psychic abilities can
arise through mental illness, and that the study of how
we heal those people may provide clues to how we might
tread the Path. I've also made it clear that there are many
ways that the psychic appears and being psychic does not
imply mental illness.)

I'd wonder here what Alexis' motivation is in continuing
to do this? I'll leave it to him to explain, since I
won't take JRC's tactic and tell Alexis what his motivations
are ...

JRC steps in to support Alexis in his latest wave of
criticisms. JRC brings up my mark about "chasing phantoms of
the psychic" and repeats Alexis' former charge that I was
trying to start another argument. That remark was taken out
of context, and I had already clarified it to Alexis. (I was
both discounting paranormal powers and intellectual study as
paling by comparison to the importance of the Path.) Again
I see an intent to continue to misrepresent things that have
been previously clarified.

And JRC also wants to tell the world of my "condescension
and low intent". Presuming low motives of others, and
asserting to the world that they hold such -- this seems
to be a strong personal attack.

As to personalities, I'll generally pass over stray, nasty
comments if they are only directed at me, and if there is
nothing needing defense but my personal ego. But when the
doctrines of Theosophy themselves are being bashed, then I
feel it necessary to speak up. And this is where I've
incurred the wrath of Alexis and JRC!

When someone boldly asserts that Theosophy teaches
racism with the intent of putting down people of inferior
races -- this cannot pass without comment! It may piss
off some people, but that's only because they are unwilling
to give up their dark prejudices against the philosophy
and admit that it may be based upon high-minded spirituality.

-- Eldon