The Theosophical Path Illustrated Monthly Volume 1, July-December, 1911
Religion
The Theosophical Path Illustrated Monthly Volume 1, July-December, 1911
Theosophy -- Periodicals
There are always some, however, who are more interested in knowing
the truth than in vindicating any personal or orthodox point of view;
people whose vision, thus unblinded, sees further and clearer; and to
these it may occur that the teachings of _The Secret Doctrine_, thus
far vindicated, may be worthy of attention in view of the natural
inference that the rest of them will likewise be vindicated. The
Theosophical teachings, reintroduced to Western civilization by H. P.
Blavatsky, have been neglected by some and grotesquely travestied by
others; but they contain the science and scholarship of the future--if
that future but remain loyal to truth. Loyalty to truth can only
result in its establishment--in the vindication of Theosophy. And the
particular truths to be established in the present case--the antiquity
of civilization, the greatness of past humanity--are important in
no mere academic sense. Medieval theology, much of whose spirit was
inherited by scientific theorists, has belittled man and weakened his
confidence in himself. The recognition of man's past achievements gives
renewed hope for his future possibilities. Closely interwoven with the
Theosophical teachings about the antiquity of civilization are the
teachings about the Divine nature of Man. The Theosophical teachings
are a consistent whole. Hence these wider views in archaeology,
science, and religion, must tend to the widening of views concerning
the nature of man and the destruction of old superstitions about his
being born in sin or descended from the beasts.
While archaeology will naturally endeavor to go as slow as it can and
to keep its discoveries well in hand, so to say, digesting them and
incorporating them with the body of orthodox academic opinion, it is
nevertheless true that it will be obliged to give way and expand its
borders. For one thing, there are many explorers investigating in
different fields; and these, in their theories, do not exhibit such
uniformity and conformity as might be desired. One archaeologist will
make admissions which others are not willing to make, because these
particular admissions do not damage his own particular theory. Thus,
taking all together, many admissions are made; the errors tend to
cancel one another; the truth tends to add itself up. Another factor is
what may be called "newspaper archaeology." The Sunday editions and the
popular illustrated magazines familiarize the public with the latest
discoveries and most advanced theories; and they frequently go a little
too fast for the authorities. But what these popular accounts lack in
accuracy they make up in freedom from prejudice.
[Illustration: Lomaland Photo. and Engraving Dept. MONUMENT OF DE
LESSEPS, PORT SAID]
[Illustration: Lomaland Photo. and Engraving Dept. HIGH RELIEF FROM THE
ALBERT MEMORIAL, LONDON A GROUP OF ARCHITECTS]
[Illustration: Lomaland Photo. and Engraving Dept. PANEL FROM THE
ALBERT MEMORIAL]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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