The project is financed by the National Science Centre (Etiuda 4)

Project coordinator: mgr Karolina Maria Hess

Project timeline: 01.10.2016-30.09.2017

The project’s objective is an analysis of the specific character of the Theosophical Society in Poland and its activities (and complex institutional structures), as well as the functioning of theosophical ideas in Poland, including an analysis of their religious and philosophical premises. The research will be conducted from a perspective which considers Polish Theosophy against the background of theosophical ideas in Europe and around the world in the last decades of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th.
Theosophy itself is a uniquely interesting topic of academic research. It is a religious syncretism, a cultural tendency of great influence, a trend which inspired artists, scientists and seekers of new spiritualities. In the second half of the 20th century, Theosophy inspired the development of New Age. It is also connected to masonic mixed lodges such as Le Droit Humain and strictly religious organizations such as the Liberal Catholic Church.
The aim of the project is to prepare the first monograph of Theosophy in Poland, covering a theoretical introduction, a characterization of the Polish theosophical institutions and structures, as well as an interpretation of theosophical ideas. Besides the monograph itself (i.e. the doctoral dissertation) the project includes several articles to be published in peer-reviewed journals of international reach and continued presentation of research results at conferences in Poland and abroad.