Theos-Talk Archives (February 1997 Message tl00375)

Jerry Hejka-Ekins writes-->
On the other hand, members leaving the TS once they figure out that something
is rotten in Denmark (double entendre intended) is a big reason why the TS
never changes.  There are never enough members left at any one time who know
enough about what is going on who can raise a meaningful opposition.

Richard Ihle writes-->
I agree with this 100%

Furthermore, perhaps even a clear majority would have a difficult time
raising objections to anything, at least in the Americn Section.  For one
thing, there is the "secret membership list" strategy which prevents any
unapproved informational mailings to all members.  For another thing, there
is the "filtered access" to THE AMERICAN THEOSOPHIST (QUEST) which prevents
the discussion of "untoward" subjects and gets the membership only well
acquainted with certain individuals who might run for office.

JHE-->
Theosophy (capital "T") to me is the study of the ideas promulgated by the
Theosophical Society found in 1875; ideas promulgated by the schisms; and
ideas promulgated by organizations inspired by the original Organizations.
 Small "t"
theosophy, on the other hand, is the study of those ideas believed to be
derived from intercourse with God, the gods, or angels.

RI-->
I agree with this 4%.

In my opinion, the future of the TS is very bleak unless it can somehow ween
itself away from this capital-T indulgence.  This will be very difficult, if
not impossible.  The doctrinal association came down to us over time courtesy
of many, many individuals who could not resist the temptation to have
something "solid" in terms of belief or "teachings" to point to.

If it is HPB's Cosmogenesis and Anthropogenesis one subscribes to, perhaps
one should simply say "Cosmogenesis" and "Anthropogenesis" rather than
"Theosophy."  By continuing to insist that there is both a brand-name
Theosophy and a lesser generic theosophy, all the problems of the
organization get perpetuated.  For example, your Theosophy includes "ideas
promulgated by the schisms"; however, it is doubtful that many of the former
or present ES would be willing to go along with such an inclusive view of
what comprises real Theosophy.  Thus, you are out, organizationally speaking,
and there is a good reason to keep you out, organizationally speaking.

Perhaps more important from my standpoint, however, is the way that "small-t"
~theosophy~ often gets defined.  "Those ideas believed to be derived from
intercourse with God, the gods, or angels," is not such a good
representation, in my opinion.  The whole idea of theosophy, it seems to me,
is that each individual has the capacity to unite with his or her own "divine
nature," and as a result of this union, things can be known which cannot be
known in any other way.  Maybe if this ~process~ gradually became known as
capital-T ~Theosophy~, the TS could be saved, after all. . . .

~theosophy~:  "valid knowledge which has its base in, or at least originally
derives from, transcendental, mystical, or intuitive insight or higher
perception."

~Theosophy~:  "The Universal of which ~theosophy~ is the particular."

~Theosophy~:  "The organization or general modern movement."

~Theosophy~:  "The factitious synonymizing of a term by Saducees and
Pharisees so that every Jesus after Jesus is forced to eventually leave the
Temple in dispair that he or she must not have really been Jewish to begin
with."

Godspeed,

Richard Ihle

p.s.  I got URUR--thanks!