The term Theosophy is derived from the Latin
theosophia(meaning “knowledge of things divine” or literally “god-wisdom”) and is generally defined as “any philosophical and religious system based on intuitive knowledge of the divine” (Lacombe 100). As suggested by the definition, it is by no means a homogenous system of belief; the idea of theosophy has been subject to varying and often contradictory interpretations and supported by radically different documents, depending on the particular historical, social and cultural conditions of the time in which the term is in use. From the first extant references to theosophy, however, it has consistently been associated with occultist practices derived from the Western tradition, including Cabbalism and Hermeticism. By contrast, other…
1790 words
Citation: Duchesne, Scott. "Theosophy". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 July 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1117, accessed 23 November 2024.]
