Sokaren - 1971 No 01

Magazine Overview

"Sökaren" (The Seeker) is a Swedish magazine published in 1971, focusing on topics related to religion, parapsychology, ufology, and alternative lifestyles. This issue, number 1 of volume 8, features a prominent cover story on the belief in Hell.

Tron på HELVETET (The Belief in HELL)

The main article, "Tron på HELVETET," by an unnamed author, explores the declining belief in Hell in Sweden. Docent Berndt Gustafsson of the Sociological Institute in Stockholm is cited, stating that belief in Hell for non-believers dropped from 28% in 1955 to 6% in 1970. Conversely, the belief that non-believers would *not* go to Hell rose from 25% in 1955 to 57% in 1970, indicating a significant shift in public opinion. The article also touches upon the historical origins of the concept of Hell, with Fil. dr. Alf Ahlberg suggesting that the traditional fire-and-brimstone Hell is not a Christian invention but was adopted from ancient beliefs, citing Virgil's Aeneid. Professor Geo Widengren of Uppsala believes Jesus himself held the belief in Hell as a place of eternal damnation, similar to the Jewish concept of Gehenna.

Docent Lars Hartman, an expert in New Testament exegesis, suggests that Jesus's pronouncements on eternal punishment should be understood within the context of his time's Jewish thought forms, and that the descriptions of Gehenna might have been symbolic, referring to a garbage dump. He notes that Jesus's empathy for the downtrodden might have led to a strict attitude towards some.

The magazine then presents the views of various religious leaders and denominations on the existence and nature of Hell:

• Olof Djurfeldt (Editor, Dagen): Believes Hell exists because the Bible states it, but acknowledges the Bible uses symbolic language.
• Tom G. A. Hardt (Pastor, Evangelical-Lutheran Church): Emphasizes the Bible's strong assertion of eternal punishment for body and soul, viewing it as a central tenet of Christianity and Western ethics.
• Erik Grönlund (Parish Priest, Church of Sweden): Affirms the existence of an eternal Hell, interpreting "eternal" to mean everlasting punishment, not a temporary state.
• Stig Abrahamsson (Mission Superintendent, Helgelseförbundet): Firmly believes in Hell, seeing it as a state of hopelessness and eternal damnation, and stresses the importance of preaching Christ's gospel for salvation.
• Gösta Blomberg (Commander, Salvation Army): While focusing on God's grace, acknowledges the Bible's teaching on eternal punishment, interpreting it as spiritual torment rather than physical fire.
• Arne Imsen (Pastor, Maranata): Believes in Hell but interprets Jesus's descriptions as symbolic. He emphasizes that God is both loving and righteous, and that salvation requires personal engagement.
• Erland Sundström (Lecturer, Missionsförbundet): Suggests that the concept of Hell reflects a deep-seated human experience of guilt and responsibility, and that any interpretation minimizing God's love or human responsibility is flawed.
• Bo G. Wennerlund (Purchasing Manager, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints): Rejects the idea of a lake of fire but believes in a post-death state of regret and conscience for sins. He emphasizes that God's love prevents eternal torment or destruction.
• Erik Claesson (Photojournalist, Jehovah's Witnesses): Believes Hell is not a place of torment but rather the grave (Sheol/Hades), and that the "eternal destruction" Jesus spoke of refers to annihilation, not eternal suffering.
• Odd Palmer Jordal (Pastor, Adventist Church): Does not believe in eternal torment, interpreting eternal punishment as exclusion from God and annihilation. He views the concept of an eternal Hell as making God a tyrant.
• Joel Sörenson (Pastor and Member of Parliament, Swedish Baptist Union): Views Hell as an existential state of lacking the ability to love and have fellowship with God. He believes the spiritual is the core of existence and that the struggle between good and evil continues.
• Rudolf Linderius (Preacher, Fribaptist Church): Considers the traditional doctrine of Hell degrading and argues that the Bible speaks of Christ's salvation for all humanity. He believes punishments are proportionate and corrective, aiming for eventual universal restoration.
• Sigfrid Fjellander (Bishop, Liberal Catholic Church): Finds the medieval concept of Hell's torments to be satanic and irreconcilable with Christian love. He interprets "eternal" as a limited period (an eon) and suggests the possibility of reincarnation and universal restoration.
• Stig Hellsten (Bishop, Church of Sweden): Views Hell not as a physical place but as a state of being separated from God, a consequence of choosing not to have God at the center of one's life. He believes God's love will ultimately prevail.

Tibetan Technique

Ivan Troëng's article, "TIBETANSK TEKNIK," discusses the advanced, almost unknown technical knowledge of Tibetans, as detailed in Henry Kjellson's book "Försvunnen teknik" (Disappeared Technique). It highlights parapsychological phenomena like telepathy and astral projection, and describes "lung-gom-pa" runners who can travel at incredible speeds using a form of trance.

Brev från Helmer V. Nyberg (Letter from Helmer V. Nyberg)

Helmer V. Nyberg writes a personal letter to Sven Magnusson, detailing his experiences with spiritualism and automatic writing following the death of his wife. He describes how a séance led him to write poetry and prose, which he believes may be divinely inspired, but expresses doubt and confusion about the nature of these experiences.

Det spökar! (It's Haunted!)

This article by Claude Thorlin reports on paranormal phenomena occurring at Markdahls gård in Hallstavik, Sweden. The owners, Bror and Götha Nilsson, describe objects moving inexplicably, a silver fork being thrown, a folding knife appearing, and a stone landing on a photograph. The phenomena are investigated by parapsychologists, who suggest they might be poltergeist or apport phenomena, possibly linked to the presence of individuals experiencing psychological stress.

Vägen till hälsa VI (The Path to Health VI)

Fil. dr. Henning Karström's article discusses the benefits of raw food diets. It references research by Dr. M. Bircher-Benner and Professor Werner Kollath, and details Dr. M. Kuratsune's experiments showing that uncooked food is superior to cooked food for human health, as it contains vital nutrients and enzymes destroyed by heat. The article also touches upon new discoveries of substances in plants that are physiologically active.

Book Reviews and Other Sections

• Book Review: "Kulter Sekter Samfund" by Bo R. Ståhl and Bertil Persson is reviewed by SM. The book inventories religious minorities in Sweden.
• Book Review: "Skeptiker och sökare" (Skeptics and Seekers) by Franklin L. Baumer, translated by Alf Ahlberg, is reviewed. It discusses the history of religious skepticism.
• SM: TEOSOFI? This section explores the magazine's alignment with theosophical principles, noting similarities in its interest in parapsychology, UFOs, and Eastern religions, while also expressing reservations about the clarity and depth of some classical theosophical texts.
• Contact: A section for personal ads and seeking connections.
• New Religious Community: Announcement of a new religious community called "Den Enda och Uteslutande Sanningen" (The One and Exclusive Truth).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of science, spirituality, and the unexplained. There's a clear interest in alternative beliefs, parapsychological phenomena, and questioning established doctrines, particularly within Christianity. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded, encouraging investigation into the unknown, and presenting diverse viewpoints, even when they challenge conventional wisdom. The magazine seems to advocate for a holistic approach to life, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.