Christian Cyclopedia

1. Term used rather loosely for philos. systems that claim to enable man to know God and divine things by direct inspiration and direct contact with deity. Buddhism* and Jainism* theosophical religions. Neoplatonism* is theosophical.

2. E. P. Blavatsky* founded The Theosophical Soc. 1875 NYC. Objects: (1) To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or color; (2) To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science; (3) To investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.

3. Theosophy is pantheistic; rejects a personal God; teaches reincarnation (confined to the human race) and fatalism; has no place for prayer, repentance, forgiveness, resurrection, and other Christian teachings.

4. Yoga* plays a large part in theosophy.

See also Besant, Annie; Böhme, Jakob; Steiner, Rudolf; Swedenborg, Emanuel.