Sokaren - 1979 No 09

Magazine Overview

Title: SÖKAREN
Issue: NR9
Date: 1979

This issue of Sökaren, a Swedish magazine, focuses on spiritual, philosophical, and alternative lifestyle topics, reflecting the interests of the late 1970s.

Gemenskapen "Omkretsen" – Text- och bildreportage Per Sellmann

The magazine features a report on the formation of the "Omkretsen" (The Circle) group in Stockholm during the summer of 1979. Mark Mawrence, a figure previously featured in Sökaren, played a key role in initiating this activity. The group aims to connect individuals and groups interested in "New Age" ideas, seeking to create a network for sharing information and resources. They have formed a provisional association and are preparing to establish a foundation named "Stiftelsen Nya Tidsåldern i Sverige" (The New Age Foundation in Sweden). The article highlights the desire to avoid duplicating existing organizations and emphasizes a holistic approach to societal issues. The program proposal for Omkretsen outlines its goal to act as a catalyst for information flow, fostering collaboration between diverse groups and individuals. The article lists various planned activities, including registers of groups and individuals, publications, information packages, and a potential center for the New Age in Sweden. Contact information for Omkretsgruppen is provided.

SAI BABA, GUDSINKARNATION – Folke Larsson

Folke Larsson shares his experiences and observations of the Indian spiritual figure Sai Baba, whom millions of Hindus believe to be an avatar (a divine incarnation). Larsson describes Sai Baba's appearance and his interactions with devotees, including alleged miracles such as manifesting vibuthi (holy ash) and gold objects. The article recounts a personal encounter on a flight where Sai Baba reportedly performed a miracle, producing ash from his hand. Larsson also describes visiting Sai Baba's main temple in Hyderabad, witnessing his interactions with the sick and his followers. He reflects on how Sai Baba challenged his materialistic worldview and provided a profound sense of bliss and understanding.

Polemik om 'nyandligheten" (Polemic on 'New Spirituality')

This section presents a letter to the editor of the Christian youth magazine CRUX, responding to an article by Lennart Lundberg that criticized "new spirituality." The author defends the inclusion of "controversial movements" in religious education, arguing that Christianity itself is controversial. The author praises the "Religionsboken" (Religion Book) for its more accurate descriptions of Hinduism and Buddhism compared to previous textbooks and commends interfaith cooperation.

DIDI ASITIIMA BRCIS EFTERLÄMNADE BREV (Didi Asitiima Brci's Farewell Letter)

This section includes a farewell letter from Didi Asitiima Brci, a member of the Ananda Marga movement, who committed self-immolation. The letter explains her motivation as a protest against immorality and corruption, and a desire to awaken international attention and moral support for Ananda Marga. She references the persecution of spiritual leaders throughout history and criticizes the alleged injustices faced by P.R. Sarkar, the founder of Ananda Marga.

Utträdet ur Svenska kyrkan (Leaving the Church of Sweden)

This short piece reports on the increasing number of people leaving the Church of Sweden, citing statistics from the 1970s. It mentions that common reasons include disbelief in church teachings and negative experiences within the church, such as disagreements over female priests.

MARX, NOTOWITCH OCH JESUS I LADAKH – Tomas Löfström

Tomas Löfström explores the controversial theory that Jesus Christ may have spent his formative years in Ladakh, India. The article discusses Nicolas Notowitch, a Russian traveler who published a book in 1896 claiming to have found evidence of Jesus's life in India. Löfström examines Notowitch's account, the skepticism it faced from theologians, and the lack of corroborating evidence. He also touches upon the historical presence of Christian missionaries, including the Jesuit Ippolito Desideri, in the region, suggesting that their work might have been misinterpreted or distorted, potentially influencing Notowitch's claims. The article also briefly mentions the Moravian Church's activities in Ladakh and the historical figure Karl Marx (not the philosopher).

LITTERATURUTSTÄLLNING för icke-troende (Literature Exhibition for Non-believers)

This article profiles José Santana, a Spanish jurist living in Sweden, who organized a literature exhibition for non-believers at Stockholm University. Santana, an agnostic, aims to challenge the prevalence of religion in Spanish-speaking countries and promote the idea that individuals should have the freedom to choose between belief and non-belief. The exhibition showcased books on various topics related to non-belief, including scientific theories of the universe and critiques of religion. Santana discusses his views on the origins of religion, attributing it to fear and ignorance, and cites psychologists like Sigmund Freud who viewed religion as a "nervous illness of the people."

RELIGIÖSA UPPLEVELSER (Religious Experiences)

This section presents two personal accounts of religious experiences submitted by readers. The first is from Olle Wedholm, who recounts a childhood experience of praying for financial help to continue his studies and feeling his prayer was answered, even though the outcome was not as expected. The second account is from Sonja Larsson, who shares her mother's profound religious experience of seeing a luminous figure, which she identified as Christ, during a period of intense spiritual distress.

CSICP

This brief note discusses the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICP) in the US, which aims to debunk paranormal phenomena. It mentions the committee's publication, The Skeptical Inquirer, and the internal disagreements regarding its approach, with some members advocating for a more balanced and scientific investigation.

UR MIN CITATSAMLING (From My Quote Collection) – Rolf Åsare

This section compiles various quotes related to themes such as work, success, perseverance, and overcoming adversity, attributed to historical figures like Epictetus, Baudelaire, Amiel, Marcus Aurelius, Leonardo da Vinci, Platon, Ernest Newman, Lao-Tse, Sofokles, Romain Rolland, Börje Brilioth, and Victor Hugo.

DET PYTAGOREISKA FÖRBUNDET (The Pythagorean Order) – Rolf Ejvegård

Rolf Ejvegård writes about the ancient Pythagorean order, founded by Pythagoras in Kroton, Southern Italy. The order was a philosophical and scientific society that emphasized principles like the immortality of the soul, transmigration, and a blend of mysticism and science. The article details their communal living, dietary rules, and their belief in numbers as the basis of reality. It also touches upon the discovery of incommensurable quantities, which contradicted their numerical worldview, and the order's eventual decline. The text highlights the influence of Pythagorean thought on later philosophers like Plato.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores alternative spiritualities, philosophical inquiries, and critical perspectives on established religious and societal norms. There's a clear interest in movements like the New Age, Eastern philosophies, and figures who challenge conventional beliefs. The editorial stance appears open to exploring diverse viewpoints, including skepticism towards traditional religion and an interest in the potential for spiritual or philosophical truths outside mainstream doctrines. The inclusion of personal testimonies and historical analyses suggests a desire to provide a broad spectrum of thought and experience to its readers.

Title: NYA DIMENSIONER
Issue: November '79
Volume: 16
Publisher: Sökaren
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "Nya Dimensioner" magazine, published by Sökaren in November 1979, delves into the world of Swedish near-radio broadcasting and alternative spiritual and scientific pursuits. The main focus is on the "Nya Dimensioner" radio program, a near-radio initiative broadcast on 88 MHz in Stockholm.

"Nya Dimensioner" Radio Program

The cover story, titled "'NYA DIMENSIONER' närradioprogrammet som gläntar på dörren till en ny verklighet" (Near-radio program that opens the door to a new reality), features an interview with the program's producers: Tony Eckardt, Erik Nissen, and Brita Kinch. They discuss the challenges of informing the public about near-radio's existence and operation, aiming to eliminate the 'piping' sound when no program is airing and replace it with an informational loop. They also plan to offer courses on radio production to ensure high-quality programming, comparable to national radio.

Erik Nissen expresses concern that national radio (SR) might be intimidated by the quality of near-radio productions, noting SR's often condescending tone when discussing near-radio and their lack of information on broadcast times. Tony Eckardt highlights that their programs, produced with affordable equipment, achieve a sound quality comparable to SR's studio recordings, suggesting a critique of SR's high operational costs.

Brita Kinch shares an anecdote about an interview with a sculptor that took an unexpected turn, emphasizing the surprising and often revealing nature of near-radio interviews.

The producers aim to reach a broad audience, including young people and those interested in the topics discussed, with Tony Eckardt believing it could become a youth radio. They also send out tape copies of their programs to newspapers and have received positive feedback, including a favorable review in "Svenska Dagbladet."

Religiöst Forum and "New Religions"

The magazine also features an article titled "Nya religioner i närradion" (New Religions on Near-Radio), highlighting the role of Religiöst Forum in providing a platform for new religious movements in Sweden. Björn Sahlin, chairman of Religiöst Forum, and treasurer Robert Carleson discuss their near-radio program, which airs on Sundays. Due to positive response, they expanded to two weekly slots: 19:00-19:30 for announcements and interviews, and 22:30-23:00 for program presentations, lectures, and meditations. They are seeking funding for equipment and are open to collaborations.

Other Features

Animal Testing: An article titled "DJURFÖRSÖK – EN MÄNSKLIG RÄTTIGHET?" (Animal Experiments – A Human Right?) by Kerstin Petersson discusses the ethical implications of animal testing. It references books by Richard Ryder and Hans Ruesch, arguing against the necessity and reliability of animal testing for human medicine and highlighting the significant number of animals used in experiments annually in Sweden, the UK, and the US.

Reincarnation: A review of Jeffrey Iverson's book "Ett liv – många liv" (One Life – Many Lives) by Rolf Ejvegård examines the evidence presented for reincarnation. While acknowledging the thoroughness of Iverson's research, Ejvegård remains cautious about definitive conclusions, discussing alternative theories like telepathy and collective consciousness.

UFOs: An article discusses J. Allen Hynek's book "UFO-rapporten" (UFO Report), criticizing the U.S. Air Force's handling of UFO investigations. It highlights Hynek's shift from skepticism to a belief that UFO phenomena warrant serious scientific study.

Magnetism as Medicine: An article titled "MAGNETISM – ETT LÄKEMEDEL?" (Magnetism – A Medicine?) explores the claims of Ivan and Birgit Troëng, who promote magnetism for healing various ailments. The article presents both proponents and skeptics, including Professor Stig Radner, who questions the scientific basis of these claims, and Dr. Inga Ohrt, who finds some positive effects from magnet therapy.

Parapsychology: Rolf Ejvegård writes an article titled "Vilka är 'parapsykologer'?" (Who are 'parapsychologists'?), questioning the use of the term by individuals without formal scientific training or recognized credentials. He emphasizes that parapsychology is a scientific discipline requiring rigorous methodology.

History of Witch Hunts: Rolf Ejvegård also contributes an article on the historical persecution of witches, "Förföljelsernas tid" (The Time of Persecution), detailing the methods used in witch trials and the scale of these events in Europe.

Book Reviews and Listings: The magazine includes a section of "Angelägna böcker för sökare!" (Urgent Books for Seekers!), listing various titles on spirituality, parapsychology, health, and social issues. It also features a "Sökarguiden" (Seeker's Guide) listing events and organizations, and a "Kontakt" section for personal ads.

Other Content: The issue also includes a brief piece on "Gudomligheten finns inom dig" (Divinity is within you) by Paul Deussen, a discussion on the nature of God, and information about the "Måndagsgruppen" (Monday Group) and their lectures.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine "Nya Dimensioner" (and its publisher "Sökaren") clearly aligns with an interest in alternative spirituality, parapsychology, UFO phenomena, and unconventional health practices. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, providing a platform for diverse viewpoints, while also critically examining claims and promoting scientific rigor where applicable, particularly in the context of parapsychology. There is a recurring theme of challenging established norms and institutions, whether it be national radio, conventional medicine, or mainstream scientific skepticism.