Theosophy ( dr. Greek θεοσοφία "divine wisdom") - the theoretical part of occultism [1] and the occult movement [2] ; in the broad sense of the word - mystical knowledge of God, the contemplation of God, in the light of which a mysterious knowledge of all things is revealed [3] . Theosophy as a concept rooted in Gnosticism and Neoplatonism [2] . In a narrower sense, theosophy refers to the teachings of E.P. Blavatsky . In the 1970s and 1980s, the New Age movement emerged among theosophical groups [2] .
Content
From the history of terminology
The term "Theosophy" has been known since the II century BC. e., when the Neoplatonists began to use it: Ammonius Sakkas and his students, who created a philosophical system whose main goal was to reconcile all religions, establishing a single universal principle and a common system of ethics based on eternal truths. [four]
In the Areopagitics , the term Theosophy is used as a synonym for the term Theology .
Later, theosophy began to be opposed to theology (theology), based on the idea of revelation and the dogma of the church. Theosophy became known as Theosophy through mystical experience (direct communication with the deity in a state of ecstasy ). More precisely: theosophy is such a doctrine of the deity, which relies on subjective mystical experience , but, unlike pure mysticism , seeks to expound this experience in the form of a connected system. When theosophy is understood in such a broad sense, it includes Gnosticism , Neoplatonism , Kabbalah , Hermetism , Rosicrucianism .
Often called theosophy mystical teachings of the XVI - XVIII centuries, which appeared mainly in the midst of Protestantism . These are the teachings of Meister Eckhart , Paracelsus , Jacob Boehme , Emanuel Swedenborg , Louis de Saint-Martin , Friedrich Etinger , Saint-Germain . Many Theosophists (for example, Paracelsus ) suggested that Theosophy includes not only the mystical experience of contemplating the Divine, but also the discovery of the mysteries of nature and the performance of miracles (thaumaturgy).
In the philosophy of Friedrich Schelling, the term “Theosophy” denoted a synthesis of mystical knowledge of God and rational philosophy. He contrasted Theosophy with “Theosophism” - a form of mysticism that excludes the possibility of scientific knowledge.
After Schelling, the term “Theosophy” was used as the name of their worldview by F. K. von Baader , A. Rozmini (“Teosofia”), F. B. Trentovsky (“Teosofia wszystkich ludów”).
Under the influence of Schelling, the term “free theosophy” appears in the system of Vladimir Solovyov . It is postulated that free Theosophy is whole knowledge - the highest synthesis of rational and empirical knowledge with mystical knowledge. The “free” characterization emphasizes the difference from traditional Theosophy, stating that free Theosophy is a creative product of critical thought, experience and mystical revelation.
See also
- Gnosticism
- Tightness
- Neoplatonism
- Occultism
Notes
- ↑ "Occultism fell into the theoretical part - Theosophy and the practical - theurgy or magic " / Occultism // Small Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron : in 4 vols. - St. Petersburg. 1907-1909.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Theosophy // Encyclopedia Britannica
- ↑ Philosophy: Encyclopedic Dictionary. - M .: Gardariki. Edited by A. A. Ivin. 2004.
- ↑ Theosophy Brief Philosophical Dictionary / A.P. Alekseev, G. G. Vasiliev et al .; Ed. A.P. Alekseeva - 2nd ed., Rev. and add. - M.: TC Velby, Publishing House Prospect, 2004.S. 34-35. The dictionary was prepared by the team of the Department of Philosophy of the Humanities Faculties of MV Lomonosov Moscow State University.
Literature
- Alexander Men Theosophy
- Guenon R. Le theosophisme. Histoire d'une pseudoreligion. - P., 1921. (fr.) ; Rene Guenon. Theosophy: History of a Pseudo-Religion. ISBN 0-900588-79-9
- Bichimair G. Christentum, Theosophie und Anthroposophie. - W., 1950. (German)
Scientific work
- Bespalenko P.N., Rimsky V.P. Political-ideological and sociocultural foundations of the typology of non-traditional religions // Bulletin of the Tula State University. Humanitarian sciences. - Tula: Tula State University , 2009. - No. 1 . - S. 3-13 .
- Carroll R. T. Theosophy // Encyclopedia of Delusions: a collection of incredible facts, amazing discoveries and dangerous beliefs . - M .: Williams Publishing House, 2005. - 672 p. - ISBN 5-8459-0830-2 , ISBN 0-471-27242-6 .
- Lapshin I.I. , -. Theosophy // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- Theosophy as a worldview position // Bychikhina L.V. , PhD in Philology, doctoral candidate at the Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences / “ Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences ” 1992. Journal No. 6. ( html version )
- Theosophy // Brief Philosophical Dictionary / A.P. Alekseev, G.G. Vasiliev, etc.; Ed. A.P. Alekseeva - 2nd ed., Rev. and add. - M .: TC Velby, Prospect Publishing House, 2004. The dictionary was prepared by the team of the Department of Philosophy of the Humanities Faculties of MV Lomonosov Moscow State University.
- Lobach V.V. Theosophy (inaccessible link from 06/14/2016 [1154 days]) // The latest philosophical dictionary / A. Gritsanov. - Scientific publication. - Minsk: V. M. Skakun, 1999 - 896 p.
- Theosophy is an article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia .
- German Theosophy and Mysticism // History of Philosophy: West - Russia - East. Textbook. - Prince 2. - M .: GLK Yu.A. Shichalina, 1997.
- Fofanov V.P. Worldview synthesis on the verge of millennia: the role of Theosophy // Besant A. Ancient Wisdom / Transl. from English E. Pisareva. Foreword and comments by T. G. Krugovoi. Afterword by V.P. Fofanov. Novosibirsk: VO "Nauka", 1994.
- Theosophy // Fundamentals of Religious Studies. Textbook / Yu. F. Borunkov, I.N. Yablokov, M.P. Novikov, and others; Ed. I.N. Yablokova (Head of the Department of Religious Studies, Moscow State University). - M .: Higher School, 1994. - 368 with ISBN 5-06-002849-6