Theosophy, Religion and Occult Science: With Glossary of Eastern WordsThe renowned lawyer and journalist Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907) published this work in 1885. In this work Olcott carefully lays out his arguments for the basis of theosophy, arguing for the truth of all religions because they share the same ancient roots or 'ur-religion'. As a founding member and the first president of the Theosophical Society, Olcott uses the work to set out the aims and objectives of the Society and attempts to reconcile his spiritual beliefs with science, reason and modernity. The work also includes accounts of his attempted empirical investigations into hypnotism, mesmerism and other spiritualist activities. The final chapters include discussions of India, Buddhism and Zoroastrian religion. The work was deeply influenced by Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891), then Olcott's close friend but later his opponent. It is a key text of the nineteenth-century theosophical movement and is an indispensable source for research into Victorian occult philosophy. |
Contents
FOREWORDS | ix |
THEOSOPHY OR MATERIALISMWHICH? | 15 |
ENGLANDS WELCOME | 35 |
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY AND ITS AIMS | 49 |
THE COMMON FOUNDATION OF ALL RELIGIONS | 81 |
THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF RELIGION | 116 |
ITS FRIENDS AND ENEMIES | 166 |
THE OCCULT SCIENCES | 198 |
SPIRITUALISM AND THEOSOPHY | 216 |
PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE | 258 |
THE CIVILIZATION THAT INDIA NEEDS | 284 |
THE SPIRIT OF THE ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION | 301 |
THE LIFE OF BUDDHA AND ITS LESSONS | 334 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
adept affirm ancient Aryan Aryavarta Asiatic authority Avesta Balfour Stewart body Bombay Brahmin Buddha Buddhist called caste cause century Ceylon Christian civilization consciousness creed divine doctrine Esoteric European evolution existence eyes fact faith fire force Founders friends Gautama Buddha hand Haoma heart highest Hindu human idea ignorant India intelligence knowledge laws of Nature learned lecture light living Madame Blavatsky materialist matter medium mediumship Mesmerism mind modern moral mysteries mystical nation native never noble occult Occult Science Parsi Persian phenomena philosophy physical Prarthana Samaj priests principle Professor proof prove psychic powers Psychology psychometry question race religion religious Rishis sacred Sakya Samaj Sanskrit scientific secret sect seen soul spiritual Spiritualists teachers tell Theosophical Society Theosophists things thought tion true truth University Unseen Universe Vedas Western whole wisdom words worship Yoga Yogi Zaratusht Zoroaster Zoroastrianism