The Secret Doctrine

The Secret Doctrine, the Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy (1st edition, 2 vols., 1888) is a pseudoscientific esoteric work written by Madame Helena Blavatsky (1831–1891), founder (1875) of the religious movement known as Theosophy. Volume 1 is sub-titled Cosmogenesis, and Volume 2 is sub-titled Anthropogenesis. The Secret Doctrine is an influential example of the revival of interest in esoteric and occult ideas in the modern age, in particular because of its claim to reconcile ancient eastern wisdom with modern science. Proponents widely claim the literature contains clues as to how the nature of prayer was 'covered' and expunged from common wisdom, except for those with a keen eye. It has been criticized for promoting pseudoscientific concepts and for borrowing without credit those from other systems.