Earlier being an esoteric movement, the 'Theosophy' used to be misunderstood as a 'religion,' and the 'Theosophical Society' was doubted as a kind of church or religious body in the initial years of its foundation. However, the theosophical organizations have strongly maintained the belief that 'Theosophy' should not be labeled in the form of religion, which was declared by its founding members in the year 1875. Therefore, its students, practitioners, and followers regard it as a system that embraces what we see as the "truth" in the spiritual context underlying philosophies of various religions and ancient cultures along with a scientific approach. This is the reason that members of the theosophical groups continue with their preferred religion, whatever they want to practice."
Criticism -
In the modern literature review, according to Prof. John Melton - The Theosophy is an "established religious cult" along with Christian Science, Rosicrucianism, Spiritualism, Satanism, Mormonism, and so on.
René Guénon presented Blavatsky's version of Theosophy as "theosophism" and described it in his book as a "pseudo-religion." He said that Blavatsky's "theosophism" is a "confused mixture" of Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, Jewish Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and occultism.
Reference -
Melton, J. G. (1998). Finding Enlightenment: Ramtha's School of Ancient Wisdom. Atria Books/Beyond Words.
ISBN 9781885223616.
Guénon, René (2004) [2003]. Theosophy: history of a pseudo-religion. translated by Alvin Moore, Jr. Hillsdale, NY: Sophia Perennis.
ISBN 0-900588-79-9.
