神智学

神智学（英語：Theosophy），又称证道学，是一种涉及宗教哲学和神秘主义的新兴宗教，混合了一些西方哲学思想如新柏拉图主义和东方的印度教、佛教元素。神智学认为，史上所有宗教都是由久已失传的“神秘信条”演化出来的。神智学的创始人物有海倫娜·布拉瓦茨基，亨利·斯太尔·奥尔科特，以及威廉·關·賈奇。他们于1875年在纽约市创立了神智學協會。 神智学原文为“Theosophy”，这一词来自希腊语“theos”（神）与“sophia”（智慧）的结合，意为“神的智慧”。 海伦娜·布拉瓦茨基坚称它并不是宗教，但她也说过神智学是“曾经普世的宗教”的现代形态。“不是宗教”这一点体现在它对其他信仰以及哲学、科学的包容性上，它并不禁止信徒信仰其他的学说。 但宗教学家认为它就一种宗教，它传播的是一种宗教式的世界观，使用的也是很明显的宗教术语，依赖的是信仰而非事实。奥拉夫·哈默（Olav Hammer）和迈克尔·罗特施泰因（Mikael Rothstein）认为它是现代最重要的宗教传统之一，乔斯林·戈德温（Joscelyn Godwin）说它是一个具有包容性的宗教运动，J·杰弗里·富兰克林（J. Jeffrey Franklin）认为它是一个“杂交的宗教”（hybrid religion）。总而言之，它必定属于新兴宗教。 其源头是西方秘契主义，它对西方秘契主义在20世纪的复兴奠定了基石。虽然它混合了不少印度宗教元素，但社会学家克里斯托弗·帕特里奇仍然认为它本质上仍是西方的，它所表达的东方只是西方人眼中的东方。 神智学会说并不存在官方的信条，只有一些所有成员都同意的“原则”，存在怀疑着神智学但同意其基本的普世理念的教友。 神智学基本是从布拉瓦茨基的作品中诞生的，由后来的神智学家改进。虽然布拉瓦茨基本人不认为神智学是她自己的发明，而是一些神秘的精神体（即所谓的“大师”）传授给她的。 神智学的核心是一类名叫“大师”（Masters）的精神体，它们被视为神智学理论的源头，也可以被称为Mahatmas、 Adepts、 Masters of Wisdom、 Masters of Compassion、Elder Brothers。它们本来是人类，但由于道德、智力的完美而升为“大师”。经过多年的锻炼，它们有远超人类的寿命，拥有超自然的力量，比如千里眼和灵魂投射。布拉瓦茨基说它们主要生活在喜马拉雅的“西藏王国”。 它们拥有古代世界的知识，组成了“大白兄弟会”（Great White Brotherhood），观察、指导人类。神智学者宣称亚伯拉罕、摩西等圣经人物和乔达摩·悉达多、孔子、老子等东方古人以及雅各·波墨、亚历山德罗·卡格里奥斯特罗、弗朗兹·麦斯迈等现代人物都是“大师”。但最重要是布拉瓦茨基宣称曾接触过的「庫特忽米（英语：Koot Hoomi）」和「莫里亞（英语：Morya (Theosophy)）」。在传授知识之前，被选中者要经历一个考核期，需要禁欲多年。 神智学并不禁止偶像崇拜，布拉瓦茨基甚至鼓励信徒制作大师的肖像，有很多“大师”肖像是德国画家赫尔曼·施米兴绘制的，这些肖像得到了神智学者的认可和崇拜。 这种“大师”学说其实不是神智学首创，玫瑰十字会就有类似的理念。 神智学的世界观属于流溢说，认为人类眼中的世界只是幻觉，即摩耶。 布拉瓦茨基认为每个行星系都有一个太阳神（Solar Deity，或Logos）主宰，其下又有七个行星神。每个行星上的进化速度不同，基本顺序矿石-植物-动物-人类-超自然生物。其中人类又有七个“根种族”（Root Race），每个根种族又能划分出七个“亚种族”（Sub-Race）。 她认为现在人类已经进化到第五种族，即取代了第四种族亚特兰蒂斯人的雅利安人。而随着先知弥勒佛的到来，他们也将被第六种族取代。而当人类进化到第七种族时，就会离开地球。 神智学会并没有给出任何可供实践的宗教仪式，但不同的神智学团体可能会有自己的仪式，如自由天主教会和联合神智学舍（United Lodge of Theosophy）。 Lachman 2012，第137頁. Franklin 2018，第193頁. Santucci 2012，第234頁. Campbell 1980，第196頁; Dixon 2001，第4頁. Campbell 1980，第38, 72頁; Godwin 1994b，第xix頁; Hammer & Rothstein 2013，第2頁; Franklin 2018，第192頁. Campbell 1980，第72, 196頁. Hammer & Rothstein 2013，第2頁. Godwin 1994b，第xix頁. Franklin 2018，第xiv, 192頁. Lowry 2019，第70頁. Hanegraaff 2013，第130–31頁. Hanegraaff 2013，第131頁. Partridge 2004，第90–91頁. Campbell 1980，第191頁; Dixon 2001，第4頁. Dixon 2001，第3–4頁. Dixon 2001，第4頁. Santucci 2006，第1114頁. Campbell 1980，第191頁. Johnson 1994，第1頁. Campbell 1980，第61頁. Campbell 1980，第53頁. Campbell 1980，第54頁. Campbell 1980，第55–56頁. Campbell 1980，第55頁. Introvigne 2018，第206頁. Introvigne 2018，第212頁. Introvigne 2018，第214頁. Introvigne 2018，第220頁. Campbell 1980，第56頁. Campbell 1980，第62頁. Campbell 1980，第47頁. Campbell 1980，第63頁. Campbell 1980，第43頁. Campbell 1980，第44頁; Lachman 2012，第256頁. Lachman 2012，第256頁. Goodrick-Clarke 2008，第223頁. Campbell 1980，第45頁. Campbell 1980，第196頁. Campbell 1980，第196–197頁. Campbell, Bruce F. Ancient Wisdom Revived: A History of the Theosophical Movement. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1980. ISBN 978-0520039681.  Carlson, Maria. No Religion Higher than Truth: A History of the Theosophical Movement in Russia, 1875–1922. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 1993. ISBN 978-0691636337.  Chajes, Julie. Reincarnation in H.P. Blavatsky's The Secret Doctrine. Correspondences: An Online Journal for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism. 2017, 5: 65–93.  Dixon, Joy. Divine Feminine: Theosophy and Feminism in England. The Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2001. ISBN 0-8018-6499-2.  Faivre, Antoine. Access to Western Esotericism. SUNY Series in Western Esoteric Traditions. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. 1994.  Franklin, J. Jeffrey. Spirit Matters: Occult Beliefs, Alternative Religions, and the Crisis of Faith in Victorian Britain. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. 2018. ISBN 9781501715440.  Gardell, Matthias. Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism. Durham and London: Duke University Press. 2003. ISBN 978-0-8223-3071-4.  Godwin, Joscelyn. The Theosophical Enlightenment. Albany: State University of New York Press. 1994. ISBN 978-0791421512.  Godwin, Joscelyn. K. Paul Johnson , 编. The Masters Revealed: Madame Blavatsky and the Myth of the Great White Lodge. Albany: State University of New York Press: xv–xix. 1994b. ISBN 978-0791420645.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. Helena Blavatsky. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books. 2004. ISBN 978-1-55643-457-0.  Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. The Western Esoteric Traditions: A Historical Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0195320992.  Hammer, Olav. Claiming Knowledge: Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age. Leiden and Boston: Brill. 2001. ISBN 978-90-04-13638-0.  Hammer, Olav; Rothstein, Mikael. Olav Hammer; Mikael Rothstein , 编. Handbook of the Theosophical Current. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion. Leiden: Brill: 1–12. 2013. ISBN 978-90-04-23596-0.  |chapter=被忽略 (帮助) Hanegraaff, Wouter. Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Bloomsbury Press. 2013. ISBN 978-1441136466.  Introvigne, Massimo. Christine Ferguson; Andrew Radford , 编. The Occult Imagination in Britain: 1875–1947. Abingdon and New York: Routledge: 206–226. 2018. ISBN 978-1-4724-8698-1.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Johnson, K. Paul. The Masters Revealed: Madame Blavatsky and the Myth of the Great White Lodge. Albany: State University of New York Press. 1994. ISBN 978-0791420645.  Johnston, Jay. Theosophical Bodies: Colour, Shape, and Emotion from Modern Aesthetics to Healing Therapies. Cusack, Carol; Norman, Alex (编). Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion 4. Leiden: Brill Publishers. 2012: 153–170. ISBN 978-90-04-22187-1. ISSN 1874-6691. doi:10.1163/9789004226487_008.  Lachman, Gary. Madame Blavatsky: The Mother of Modern Spirituality. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin. 2012. ISBN 978-1-58542-863-2.  Laramie, Moon. Blavatsky Unveiled: The Writings of H.P. Blavatsky in modern English. Volume I.. London: Martin Firrell Company Ltd. 2020. ISBN 978-0993178696.  Lowry, Elizabeth. Darryl Caterine; John W. Morehead , 编. The Paranormal and Popular Culture: A Postmodern Religious Landscape. London and New York: Routledge: 68–77. 2019. ISBN 978-1-138-73857-7.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Meade, Marion. Madame Blavatsky: The Woman Behind the Myth. New York: Putnam. 1980. ISBN 978-0-399-12376-4.  Partridge, Christopher. The Re-Enchantment of the West Volume. 1: Alternative Spiritualities, Sacralization, Popular Culture, and Occulture. London: T&T Clark International. 2004. ISBN 978-0567084088.  Partridge, Christopher. Olav Hammer; Mikael Rothstein , 编. Handbook of the Theosophical Current. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion. Leiden: Brill: 309–333. 2013. ISBN 978-90-04-23596-0.  |chapter=被忽略 (帮助) Poller, Jake. Christine Ferguson; Andrew Radford , 编. The Occult Imagination in Britain: 1875–1947. Abingdon and New York: Routledge: 77–93. 2018. ISBN 978-1-4724-8698-1.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Robertson, David G. UFOs, Conspiracy Theories and the New Age: Millennial Conspiracism. London and New York: Bloomsbury Academic. 2016. ISBN 978-1-350-04498-2.  Santucci, James A. Wouter Hanegraaff , 编. Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism. Leiden: Brill: 1114–1123. 2006. ISBN 978-90-04-15231-1.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Santucci, James A. Olav Hammer; Mikael Rothstein , 编. The Cambridge Companion to New Religious Movements. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 231–246. 2012. ISBN 978-0521145657.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Shaw, Michael. Christine Ferguson; Andrew Radford , 编. The Occult Imagination in Britain: 1875–1947. Abingdon and New York: Routledge: 23–40. 2018. ISBN 978-1-4724-8698-1.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Taves, Brian. Philosophy Into Popular Fiction: Talbot Mundy and The Theosophical Society. Southern California Quarterly. 1985, 67 (2): 153–186. JSTOR 41171147. doi:10.2307/41171147.  Trompf, Garry W.; Bernauer, Lauren. Producing Lost Civilisations: Theosophical Concepts in Literature, Visual Media, and Popular Culture. Cusack, Carol; Norman, Alex (编). Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion 4. Leiden: Brill Publishers. 2012: 99–131. ISBN 978-90-04-22187-1. ISSN 1874-6691. doi:10.1163/9789004226487_006.  Washington, Peter. Madame Blavatsky's Baboon: Theosophy and the Emergence of the Western Guru. London: Secker & Warburg. 1993. ISBN 978-0-436-56418-5.  Bednarowski, Mary Farrell. Outside the Mainstream: Women's Religion and Women Religious Leaders in Nineteenth-Century America. Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 1980, 48 (2): 207–231. JSTOR 1462703. doi:10.1093/jaarel/XLVIII.2.207.  Bergunder, Michael. Experiments with Theosophical Truth: Gandhi, Esotericism, and Global Religious History. Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 2014, 82 (2): 398–426. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lft095.  Bevir, Mark. The West Turns Eastward: Madame Blavatsky and the Transformation of the Occult Tradition. Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 1994, 62 (3): 747–767. JSTOR 1465212. doi:10.1093/jaarel/LXII.3.747.  Bevir, Mark. Theosophy and the Origins of the Indian National Congress. International Journal of Hindu Studies. 2003, 7 (1): 99–115 [2021-12-07]. JSTOR 20106850. S2CID 54542458. doi:10.1007/s11407-003-0005-4. （原始内容存档于2021-12-22）.  Bryson, Mary E. Metaphors for Freedom: Theosophy and the Irish Literary Revival. The Canadian Journal of Irish Studies. 1977, 3 (1): 32–40. JSTOR 25512386. doi:10.2307/25512386.  Charjes, Julie. Metempsychosis and Reincarnation in Isis Unveiled. Theosophical History. 2012, 16: 128–150.  Charjes, Julie. Blavatsky and Monotheism: Towards the Historicisation of a Critical Category. Journal of Religion in Europe. 2016, 9 (2–3): 247–275. doi:10.1163/18748929-00902008.  Dixon, Joy. Sexology and the Occult: Sexuality and Subjectivity in Theosophy's New Age. Journal of the History of Sexuality. 1997, 7 (3): 409–433. JSTOR 4629636.  Hammer, Olav. James R. Lewis , 编. Sacred Schisms: How Religions Divide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 196–217. 2009.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Hanegraaff, Wouter. New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought. Leiden: Brill. 1996. ISBN 978-9004106956.  Hanegraaff, Wouter J. The Theosophical Imagination. Correspondences: An Online Journal for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism. 2017, 5: 3–39.  Kirkley, Evelyn A. "Equality of the Sexes, But…": Women in Point Loma Theosophy, 1899–1942. Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions. 1998, 1 (2): 272–288. JSTOR 10.1525/nr.1998.1.2.272. doi:10.1525/nr.1998.1.2.272.  Kraft, Siv Ellen. "To Mix or Not to Mix": Syncretism/Anti-Syncretism in the History of Theosophy. Numen. 2002, 49 (2): 142–177. JSTOR 3270480. doi:10.1163/156852702760186754.  Lavoie, Jeffrey D. The Theosophical Society: The History of a Spiritualist Movement. 2012 [2021-12-07]. ISBN 9781612335537. （原始内容存档于2021-12-07）.  Neufeldt, Ronald. Ronald W. Neufeldt , 编. Karma and Rebirth: Post Classical Developments. Albany: State University of New York Press. 1986.  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助) Prothero, Stephen. From Spiritualism to Theosophy: "Uplifting" a Democratic Tradition. Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation. 1993, 3 (2): 197–216. JSTOR 1123988.  Prothero, Stephen. Henry Steel Olcott and "Protestant Buddhism". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 1995, 63 (2): 281–302. JSTOR 1465402. doi:10.1093/jaarel/LXIII.2.281.  Prothero, Stephen. The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Steel Olcott. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 1996.  Santucci, James A. The Notion of Race in Theosophy. Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions. 2008, 11 (3): 37–63. JSTOR 10.1525/nr.2008.11.3.37. doi:10.1525/nr.2008.11.3.37.  Scott, J. Barton. Miracle Publics: Theosophy, Christianity, and the Coulomb Affair. History of Religions. 2009, 49 (2): 172–196. JSTOR 10.1086/649525. S2CID 161606445. doi:10.1086/649525.  Van Wormer, Stephen R.; Gross, G. Timothy. Archaeological Identification of an Idiosyncratic Lifestyle: Excavation and Analysis of the Theosophical Society Dump, San Diego, California. Historical Archaeology. 2006, 40 (1): 100–118. JSTOR 25617318. S2CID 141573487. doi:10.1007/BF03376717.  Vinitsky, Ilya. Where Bobok Is Buried: The Theosophical Roots of Dostoevskii's "Fantastic Realism". Slavic Review. 2006, 65 (3): 523–543. JSTOR 4148662. S2CID 163253453. doi:10.2307/4148662.  Theosophical Society - North America （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆） Theosophical Society in Southern Africa （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆） Theosophy Library Online （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）