«Videte canes, videte malos operarios, videte concisionem! Nos
enim sumus circumcisio». Epistula ad Philippenses 3, 2-3
[en]
«Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate
the flesh (katatom)! For it is we who
are the circumcision (peritom)».
[sp]
«Atención a los perros; atención a los obreros malos; atención a la mutilación
(katatomê); pues nosotros somos la
circuncisión (peritomê)».
Key ‘New Age’ places
Esalen: a community founded in Big Sur, California, in 1962 by Michael Murphy
and Richard Price, whose main aim was to arrive at a self-realisation of being
through nudism and visions, as well as “bland medicines”. It has become one of
the most important centres of the Human Potential Movement, and has spread
ideas about holistic medicine in the worlds of education, politics and
economics. This has been done through courses in comparative religion,
mythology, mysticism, meditation, psychotherapy, expansion of consciousness and
so on. Along with Findhorn, it is seen as a key place in the growth of Aquarian
consciousness. The Esalen Soviet-American Institute co-operated with Soviet
officials on the Health Promotion Project.
Findhorn: this holistic farming
community started by Peter and Eileen Caddy achieved the growth of enormous
plants by unorthodox methods. The founding of the Findhorn community in
Scotland in 1965 was an important milestone in the movement which bears the
label of the ‘New Age’. In fact, Findhorn ‘was seen as embodying its principal ideals of transformation’. The quest for a universal
consciousness, the goal of harmony with nature, the vision of a transformed
world, and the practice of ‘channeling’,
all of which have become hallmarks of the ‘New Age’ Movement, were present
at Findhorn from its foundation. The success of this community led to its
becoming a model for, and/or an inspiration to, other groups, such as Alternatives in London, Esalen in Big Sur, California, and the Open Center and Omega Institute in New York” (cf. John Saliba, ‘Christian Responses to the New Age Movement.
A Critical Assessment’, London, [Geoffrey Chapman] 1999, p. 1).
Monte Verità: a utopian community near
Ascona in Switzerland. Since the end of the 19th century it was a meeting point
for European and American exponents of the counter-culture in the fields of
politics, psychology, art and ecology. The ‘Eranos’ conferences have been
held there every year since 1933, gathering some of the great luminaries of the
‘New
Age’. The yearbooks make clear the intention to create an integrated
world religion (cf. M.
Fuss, “New Age and Europe – A Challenge for Theology”, in ‘Mission Studies’ Vol.
VIII-2, 16, 1991, pp. 195-196). It is fascinating to see the list of those who have
gathered over the years at Monte Verità.
***
SOURCE:
PONTIFICAL
COUNCIL FOR CULTURE, Document Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of
Life. A Christian Reflection on the "New Age", 7.3. Key
New Age places
***