One last tangent here, then back to the thread subject
One last tangent here, then back to the thread subject
I've read Isis Unveiled and the Secret Doctrine as well and can attest that they are slow going for the "uninitiated".
Super. I've dipped into a few theosophical pools so to speak, but am certainly ever learning. My affiliation as a 'theosophist' is primarily in philosophical orientation and agreement with many of their principles (however this doesn't mean every aspect of the teaching, as I have my own views/interpreations or claims of 'agnosis' about certain things).
Stated briefly, they are another take on the Gnostic traditions with a few innovations ... the notion of her access to "the masters" being one of them ... said masters most likely being Pike, Mazzini and (Walter) Beasant.
I don't know about that, as I've yet to read more on Blavatsky, the biographies written about her, the historical details behind her life and the Theosophical Society.
It would be doing her efforts a disservice to quickly summate them so briefly but those of us who pay attention to such things can't help but take note of her allegiance to "Lucifer" the light bearer so beloved by her mentor Albert Pike. I mean, when you call your magazine "Lucifer" you're pretty much asking for it.
I chuckle a bit on that one on her part, because she knew full well about possible repercussions of naming her magazine 'Lucifer', to the uninformed and mostly those bound by traditional Christian mythology an dogma. I've read a few of her articles from her magazine, some brilliant stuff
- also her explanation of the naming of the magazine. It has nothing to with anything 'satanic'. Remember, 'God' is LIGHT.
I have no problems with the 'term' or 'name' Lucifer, since it means 'light-bearer', 'luminous one', 'daystar', 'morningstar', etc. (even if we assume Lucifer although a great luminous one, rebelled against God and is now fallen awaiting judgment). We've had a thread on Lucifer, no longer extant where we hash out the 'Lucifer/satan' connection. We ought note as well, that Jesus is also called the 'morning star', and disciples are promised a 'morning star' if they overcome, which we could give various figurative meanings to
Ms. Bailey is indeed derivative and yet an unabashed fan of HPB. I have to admit that, at the risk of sounding conspiratorial, I soon wearied of her continual references to "the New World Order" and came to discount her as yet another shill for those seeking global governance. I mean, when your mailing address is the U.N. plaza it doesn't do much for your credibility with those inclined to take note of such things.
Yes,...her stuff definitely promotes a 'new world order', also note the publishing name was at least on one time 'Lucifer trust', I think changed to 'Lucis Trust'? The 'Great Invocation' is kind of a cool prayer.
It's a pity you don't see such cornerstones of your beliefs as worthy of their own thread but then again it wouldn't be the first time someone has shied away from such scrutiny. Few of us are up to the task for whatever reason.
Oh, I have no problems with creating a thread,...most of
my older threads were deleted in the periodic system purges, and don't have any of my usual note except my 'Return To Oneness' thread, which is on universal unity, where I've shared some theosophical material, especially one of the 3 propositions of the essential unity of all things.
If I did begin a thread on 'Theosophy', it would be an introduction on its main principles, resource links and my own small summary and guidelines for the thread. One of the problems/challenges is though (as I've learned from the past) is the response by those critics and ignorant folk who may seek to hijack, troll and muddy the thread with pre-judgments, aspersions and assumptions, and not take the subject seriously with respect to having a civil, intelligent dialogue.
I know in an 'open forum' you cant control who posts, but it becomes for me a tedious job of constantly correcting misrepresentations and other foolishness, when real discussion wanes, and mostly trolls take over. - I gather you might agree with some of these sentiments, that is if you've experienced such. Also, granted this is a predominantly conservative Christian forum with an open bias, with plenty of 'bible thumpers' ready to blast or report 'blasphemies'
I think the efforts of Mr. White and Ms. Riplinger to be somewhat overstated which is ever the want of the zealous. I would also add that each has their point but, like Walter Martin and Ms. O'Hair before them, I fear their points were lost in the midst of the spectacle they came to be. Textual criticism is work, any way you slice it, and is not work soon embraced by those predisposed to a particular outcome to that affair.
Riplinger's work has been proved riddled with misrepresentations, and from what I've seen from the more extreme KJV Only folks, is bibliolatry and ridiculousness (trying to be kind).
Its pretty practical,...some modern version Bibles offer a better more complete manuscript presentation for their translations, and any Bible student can afford themselves of the best available texts (variant readints) to do comparisons to come up with the best probable rendering of a passage. Do your homework and choose the best bible for yourself. This goes for any religious writing.
To respect this thread, if you'd like to further correspond, PM me,...for ideas about a new thread on Theosophy,...explore some tentative formats, etc.