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The Second Lesson: The Mystery of the Virgin Birth.951
positions, merely that you may understand the problem. But, before we
pass to the consideration of the Occult Teachings, let us ask one question:
How do the Higher Critics account for the undoubted doctrine of the Divine
Fatherhood, as clearly stated all through the New Testament, in view of the
proofs against the Virgin Birth? Why the frequent and repeated mention
of Jesus as “the Son of God?” What was the Secret Doctrine underlying the
Divine Parentage of Jesus, which the pagan legends corrupted into the story
of the Virgin Birth of theology? We fear that the answer is not to be found in
the books and preachments of the Higher Criticism, nor yet in those of the
Conservative Theologians. Let us now see what light the Occult Teachings
can throw on this dark subject! There is an Inner Doctrine which explains
the mystery.
Now, in the first place, there is no reference in the Occult Teaching to
any miraculous features connected with the physical birth of Jesus. It is not
expressly denied, it is true, but the Teachings contain no reference to the
matter, and all the references to the subject of Jesus’ parentage speak of
Joseph as being His father, and Mary His mother. In other words, the family
is treated as being composed of father, mother and child just as is the case
with any family. The Occult Teachings go into great detail concerning the
Spiritual Sonship of Jesus, as we shall see presently, but there is no mention
of any miraculous physical conception and birth.
We can readily understand why the Virgin Birth legend would not appeal
to the Occultists, if we will but consider the doctrines of the latter. The
Occultists pay but little attention to the physical body, except as a Temple
of the Spirit, and a habitation of the soul. The physical body, to the Occultist,
is a mere material shell, constantly changing its constituent cells, serving to
house the soul of the individual, and which when cast off and discarded
is no more than any other bit of disintegrating material. They know of the
existence of the soul separate from the body, both after the death of the
latter and even during its life, in the case of Astral Travel, etc. And in many
other ways it becomes natural for the Occultist to regard his body, and the