Online Introduction to Theosophy
Versus Neo-Theosophy:
Margaret Thomas' Study of C.W. Leadbeater's and
Annie Besant's Theosophical Teachings
James A. Santucci, professor of religious studies
at California State University (Fullerton) and editor of Theosophical History,
has written the following:
". . . Annie Besant, the President of
the [Adyar Theosophical] Society from 1907 to her death in 1933, and Charles Webster
Leadbeater, arguably the most influential theosophical writer from the early years of the
20th century to his death in 1934, . . . were largely
responsible for the introduction of new teachings that were often in total opposition
to the Theosophy of [Madame H.P.] Blavatsky and her Masters. These teachings were
designated by their opponents as Neo-Theosophy . . . or less often
Pseudo-Theosophy. The differences between Theosophy and Neo-Theosophy are too numerous
to mention in the context of this paper. . . . An extensive overview [of the differences]
is given in . . . Theosophy or Neo-Theosophy by Margaret Thomas. . . .
" Italics added. Quoted from "The Aquarian
Foundation."
Jerry Hejka-Ekins, a long-time student of Madame Blavatsky's teachings, has also
commented:
"The earliest use of the term 'neo-theosophy' was used by F.T. Brooks
around 1912 in a book called Neo Theosophy Exposed. . . . Around 1924, Margaret
Thomas published a book called Theosophy Versus Neo-Theosophy: Part one compares
Blavatsky's teachings to those of Besant and Leadbeater's by juxtaposing quotes from each
party on various subjects, so that the thoughtful reader could easily discern the
differences and contradictions. Part two published documents concerning the
Leadbeater scandal, and part three publishes documents concerning the Judge case. . . .
" Italics added. Quoted from "Discussions
on the Theosophical Philosophy"
In his book Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom
(published 1930), Dr. Alvin Boyd Kuhn wrote in greater detail:
"Certain schools of his critics assert flatly that he [C. W. Leadbeater]
has only succeeded in vitiating her [H.P. Blavatsky's] original presentation [of
Theosophy]. . . . . . . [Starting in the March 15, 1928 issue] The Canadian
Theosophist, a magazine published . . . at Toronto, published a series of articles
[excerpted from Margaret Thomas' Theosophy or NeoTheosophy?] in which parallel
passages from the writings of Madame Blavatsky and the Mahatma Letters on one side, and
from the books of Mrs. Besant, Mr. Leadbeater, Mr. C. Jinarajadasa, on the other, give
specific evidence bearing on the claims of perversion of the original theories by those
whom they call Neo-Theosophists. The articles indicate wide deviations, in some cases
complete reversal, made by the later interpreters [Besant, Leadbeater, Jinarajadasa]
from the fundamental statements of the Russian Messenger [Blavatsky] and her Overlords
[the Mahatmas]."
"The differences concern such matters as the personality of God, the historicity of
Jesus, his identity as an individual or a principle, the desirability of churches,
priestcraft and religious ceremonial, the genuineness of an apostolic succession, and a
vicarious atonement, the authority of Sacraments, the nature and nomenclature of the seven
planes of man's constitution, the planetary chains, the monad, the course of evolution,
and many other important phases of Theosophic doctrine. This exhaustive research has made
it apparent that the later exponents have allowed themselves to depart in many
important points from the teachings of H.P.B." (pp. 330-331) Italics added.
|