Nygnostisk antropologi : menneskesynet i New Age i et teologihistorisk perspektiv

Abstract

During the last 30–40 years, «new» religious movements have invaded secular segments of our northern and western culture. Among these movements, the so-called New Age movement has played rather a dominant role. This article gives a description of the main elements of the anthropology of New Age. A central point in the anthropology of this movement is the doctrine of man’s inner divine self, which is seen as spiritually belonging to and connecting with one, holistic, divine world. The author shows how New Age tries to reshape and incorporate «old» religions into a «new» syncretistic religious anthropology. A historical perspective on New Age, however, makes evident a close relationship between this movement and several esoteric groups in the past, especially Gnosticism as known from Hellenistic-Roman antiquity. From a Christian theological point of view there are both fruitful links and intolerable tensions between New Age and biblical Christianity.