New Age och kristen tro. Om andliga sökares relationer till Svenska kyrkan

Abstract

This article is focused on the relationship between the New Age-movement and Christianity. The basis is how 28 «spiritual seekers» interested in the New Age relate to Christianity in general, and to the Church of Sweden especially. The interviewees were found through advertisements in New Age magazines and in some cases through personal contacts in New Age conventions. Ages varied from 31 to 56 although the majority was between 31 and 45. All of the interviewees can be regarded as New Age believers because of their deep interest in and experience of New Age theories and techniques. — The interviewees were generally negative towards organized religion as well as the Church of Sweden. Their basis for this was a critical view towards religion as a system, which supposedly makes it harder to make individual choices, and to interpret and apply one’s beliefs. Even though some of the interviewees had a somewhat positive attitude towards Christianity, the critical voices are in considerable majority. Some have deliberately chosen not to be a part of the Church of Sweden since the church’s message or its practices have not moved them. They associated Christianity with set rules and a proclamation focused on sin and shame. Many interviewees stated that believe in reincarnation and their view of Jesus diverge from Christina theology in a significant way. They preferred the individual’s possibilities to choose her own beliefs within New Age, as well as the positive view on the human within the movement. — Personal experience seems to be of grate importance for the interviewees attitudes towards the Church of Sweden. Some of them have been disappointed when they have turned to their local congregation in the beginning of their spiritual seeking or in times of crises. Others have more positive feelings for Christianity and several likes to visit churches for individual meditation. — In sum, the interviewees were critical to organized religion and confessions. They do not believe in any general truth and prefer to choose their own believes instead of «buying a whole concept». This reasoning makes the contrast between New Age and Christianity obvious.