Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tl00025)

----------
> From: K. Paul Johnson <pjohnson@leo.vsla.edu>
> Subject: Elitism's source
> Date: Wednesday, October 01, 1997 2:03 PM
> 
> That's half the problem with Theosophical elitism, IMO.  The
> other half is the whole idea of occultism/esotericism.  To the
> extent that some "knowledge" has been kept secret for the
> favored few and concealed from the unworthy masses, elitism is
> part and parcel of the allure of esoterica.  Which means that
> the people attracted to these ideas are predisposed to want to
> be an elite.  That goes back a long way, since Gnosticism for
> example reeks of it.
> 
I cannot speak for others regarding Gnosticism, but the brief 2
years I was involved with it, I was not seeking elitism.  I was
attracted to its intuitive knowledge and writings.  Perhaps that
comes off as elitism to others because it is hard to understand.

A. Safron