The Key to Theosophy

Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 528K words
Chapters: 53

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Key to Theosophy by H. P. BlavatskyAuthor: Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891,Language: English, Class: BP: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Islam, Bahaism, Theosophy, Other and new beliefs, Release Date: Sep 24, 2017

Editor's review

The Key to Theosophy is an introductory work by Madame Blavatsky written in question-and-answer form. It sets out the basic tenets of Theosophy, using questions and replies to explain its core concepts, the aims of its organization, and its attitude toward other religions and science. Compared with the author's other, more sprawling work, this book's length and structure suit beginners; the Q&A format lets readers jump between topics and makes clear how the author answers outside challenges to Theosophy. Its value lies not only in its religious-philosophical content but in showing how a new late-nineteenth-century Western spiritual movement presented itself and negotiated with Christian and scientific discourse. Read it with a double perspective, as historical document and intellectual history: understand its arguments while noting their period limitations. It suits readers interested in mysticism, new religious movements and nineteenth-century intellectual history as an introduction and reference.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginning readers interested in Theosophy and nineteenth-century mystical currents
Readers studying new religious movements, spiritual movements and intellectual history
Readers who like the Q&A structure and want to consult religious philosophy by topic
Readers who want Blavatsky's basic positions rather than her sprawling system

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking rigorous academic source criticism and annotation in religious history
Readers expecting the book's claims to be validated from a modern scientific perspective
General readers with no interest at all in spiritual or esoteric subjects

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and question headings first, pick three or four topics of most interest for close reading, then return for the rest.
As you read, note how the author answers external challenges from Christianity, science and elsewhere, to map her argumentative strategy.
Read alongside basic material on the relation between religion and science in the nineteenth century, placing the book in its period context.
Read the book's claims descriptively: first establish what the author says, then judge its credibility for yourself.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I understand this book without any background in Theosophy?

Yes. The book itself explains the basic tenets of Theosophy in Q&A form for beginners, and terms unfold gradually through the questions and answers. Start with the Q&As on definitions and aims before moving to more abstract topics; the barrier to entry will be much lower.

How does this book differ from the author's other works?

This book uses a Q&A format, is relatively clearly structured, and has an introductory character, answering challenges and explaining positions. It is easier for beginners to consult by topic than the author's sprawling works, and makes a good starting point for understanding her basic positions.

Can the views in this book be cited directly as facts of religious history?

They should not be cited directly as historical fact. The book is the author's own exposition of her positions and is primary material for intellectual history and the study of a religious movement; when citing it, state its partisan nature and use it alongside other research.

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About the author

Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891 Author

H. P. Blavatsky (1831–1891) was a significant nineteenth-century Theosophical writer, though public information about the details of her life is limited. Seven of her works are held in this collection, spanning theoretical treatises and narrative writings. Her representative work The Secret Doctrine, in several volumes, sets out her cosmology and views on human origins, while The Key to Theosophy explains Theosophical teachings in question-and-answer form. Nightmare Tales and From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan show her work as a writer of fiction and travel sketches, and Studies in Occultism collects essays and reprints from her writings. Her writing blends religion, philosophy and mysticism in an elaborate style, and has had a lasting influence on modern Western esoteric thought and related movements, continuing to attract researchers and readers today.