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There are benefits and disadvantages in old, established, traditional religions. But if the disadvantages stay too long or become too strong, they obstruct the basic purpose of religion. If their doctrines hamper religious aspiration or tyrannize over men, they are rendering a disservice. If symbols are taken too literally they may bind men to idol-worship and they may become substitutes for reality. Even an effort to propagate non-sectarian views, to cull what is good or essential from various quarters--as theosophy was to a large extent an attempt--even such a movement is likely, in the end, to become itself sectarian.

-- Notebooks Category 17: The Religious Urge > Chapter 4 : Problems of Organized Religion > # 97