"Intelligent Design", What HPB thought

Hi Harvey, thanks for the greeting. No, I have not sampled the Theosophical Society as yet. Yes, it is good to meet a fellow-Brit and I am eager to meet fellow theosophists - I am/was interested in joining the Rosicrucian order that meet in Manchester actually.

I agree, 'Intelligent design' is a better way to describe organic evolution than random/chance/undirected mutations plus natural selection (the latter being almost a denial of common sense it seems to me!), but the term does imply a seperate entity specifically designing, and that does not quite fit in with Theosophical thought from my understanding. I am inclined to agree with yourself in that life designs itself in a way. As I said in an earlier post, the agnostic Australian biochemist Michael Denton promoses a cosmic scipt in nature from a scientific perspective and I think he is much much closer to the truth than Darwin...as was Alfred Wallace I think.

Hi Hardwick,

I was an unattached member of the TS, too far from a lodge to attend anywhere on a regular basis. I used to live in Cumbria, and I seem to remember that the North-West region was quite active. Then I moved south, and HQ (Gloucester Place) and Tekels Park were more accessible. After 10 years I didn’t renew my membership this year, so obviously I’m not too enthusiastic about the TS, but if you want to meet other theosophists it is worth looking at.
Harvey

Just testing our memories. Nick posted a sunbaked dog, of you, some time ago; which brought a smile.

Jim

Hardwick,
The Dialogues of G. de Purucker says,

"that there is one underlying, fundamental law, one underlying fundamental, all-permanent life, in the boundless Universe; and consequently every atom of that life, whether in a home universe, or in our solar system, or in a planet, as the case may be, is infilled with the same fundamental law"

"...I tell you a secret: that our very Monads, which to us are homogeneous, and everlasting, actually are groups of monadic lives. I cannot tell you more, except to point out that Universal Consciousness streams through all."

I believe it is said, that " we (Theosophy) are not atheists".
But, I believe, also not theists.

And a Welcome to Theosophy,

Jim B.

Hardwick,

You said,

"...the term does imply a seperate entity specifically designing...."

--> The key point here is the separateness that you are referring to. For example, in Christianity, there is a sense of us being over here and God being over there (perhaps sitting on a cloud and looking down on us). I do not get such a feeling from Theosophy. And -- as I am always quick to point out -- Theosophy teaches of a God but not an Almighty God.

Do you see a difference between Rosicrucians and Theosophy?

Jim,

You said,

"Nick posted a sunbaked dog, of you...."

--> I have been trying to find that picture. We need to determine exactly how devilish Jon is!

A simple answer for me is the ubiquitous seven(7). It is everywhere in religion, philosophy, theosophy AND science if I have heard correctly. And, beyond this, scientiests themselves ALL seem to agree that there is order in the Universe (which in itself suggest divine design.) I should think that literally suggests that life is scripted (I am thinking the universe and above can't be both ordered and unordered, random and fixed. As in Theosphy such things are polarities and our current iteration of existence allows us to see a certain order by virture of the Nature of things (hence, as HPB says, all that is is the Nature of the Universe.)

No, as far as I am aware (correct me if I am wrong please), Rosicrucianism is Theosophy, but the expression and emphasis is 'Christian' in essence. Steiner's work was essentially a modern expression of Rosicrucianism.

Hardwick,

Yes, I agree that a lot of Steiner's work was an attempt to bring more of Jesus into Theosophy. I find it fascinating to hear that Rosicrucianism is the same thing. This also makes sense in light of the fact that Rosicrucianism means the Rosy Cross -- an obvious Christian reference.

Aye, I do think though, that the cross symbol is ancient anyway.

Maybe this should be in a different topic thread, but whilst talking of Christianity and Theosophy; just where does Gnostic Christianity fit it? I mean, it is rather theosophical in essence but not entirely. Most GC's don't even regard Jesus as an historical figure and their scriptures illustrate this in their extreme allegorical and metaphorical nature. Anyone help me with this one?

Harwick,

I have split your question off into a new thread.

http://theosophy-forum.com/index.php?showtopic=977&hl=