RAIŅA NOSTĀJA RELIĢIJAS JAUTĀJUMĀ

Author(s): Alberts Freijs / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2003

"Religious-philosophical writings" continue to acquaint reader with the theologian Alberts Freijs manuscripts. This time it is A.Freijs' study on the religious quest of the famous Latvian poet Rainis (1865-1929). Unfortunately, there is no precise information about the year, when the study was written. Some references in the A. Freijs' text indicate that it was written after the year of 1940. In the present issue we publish the first part of the study. In there the author considers the beginnings of Rainis' religious quest and the further developments, allocating significant role to Rainis' faith in sun and woman. Analyzing Rainis' attitude towards religion, A. Freijs stresses Rainis' very special regard for fate, death and immortality.

JANA LUKSA DZEJA

Author(s): Ilona MIEZITE / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

The names of the most significant Latvian theologians and pastors of the 20th century are lagerly unfamiliar for the wider public, as well as there is no perception of their place within the general culture context, of their contribution to the spiritual life and different spheres of culture - literature, music, painting, mass media. Due to the ideological reasons prevailing in the Soviet times, many of them had no possibilities to publish their works. The same can be said also about the Latvian Lutheran pastor Jānis Luksis (1904-1982), whose poetic legacy up to now is still in the handwritten form. From 1924 to 1929 Jānis Luksis was a student at the faculty of Theology, University of Latvia. After that he served as a pastor in various Lutheran parishes. After World War II he was an assistant professor at the Academic Theological courses of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church and later, an assistant professor of ethics of the theological seminary.

K. KRŪZAS PIEZĪMES PARLUDI BĒRZIŅU

Author(s): Māris Vecvagars / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

Poet Kārlis Krūza's (1884-1960) Notes on Ludis Bērziņš is a handwritten manuscript from the collection of the department of Rare manuscripts and books of the Latvian Academic Library (J. Misiņš' Library) (Krūza K., 142 {1909-1924}, 11 p.) Its is written on the small squared paper sheets in a tiny, quite well readable handwriting in ink that in some places has started to fade in the course of years. K. Krūza has made similar notes onseveral persons of the Latvian cultural milieu, for example, E. Virza, translator and educator F. Adamovics, historian P. Zālītis, translator from ancient Greek F. Zemcevs (Garais), the namesake of L. Bērziņš Ludvigs Ādolfs Bērziņš (1874-1925) and others. For the most part the notes were written in the beginning of the 20th century and they end around the year of 1925. Up to now first-time publishing has seen the Notes on E. Virza (fragments) and K. Kundziņš (entirely), there is an intent to publish Notes on L. Ā. Bērziņš.

MILDAS ZĪVERTES-ZĀLĪTES KIRKEGORISKĀ IMPRESIJA

Author(s): Velga Vevere / Language(s): Latin Issue: 1/2003

The article is devoted to the single year of life (that is, of 1931) of the Latvian theologian and later music historian Milda Zīverte-Zālīte (1903.-1981.), whose 100th birthday we celebrate in June of 2003. After graduating the faculty of Theology of the University of Latvia in 1930 she composed three articles on religious themes. Soon this period of life was to be over as after marriage to the Latvian composer Jānis Zālītis she turned to the history and theory of music. Hence the term used in the title of the present article that plays upon the allusion "impression" (impression as a fleeting, short-lived musical piece). The main questions the author poses in the article are: (1) Can we say that M. Zīverte-Zālītes has had its imprint upon Kierkegaard's research tradition in Latvia?; (2) What is the place of M. Zīverte-Zālīe's essay in the context of Kierkegaardiana in Latvia?; (3) Is it possible to speak of Kierkegaard's research in Latvia at all.

SORENS KIERKEGAARDS

Author(s): Milda Ziverte-Zalite / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

This is the first and for the long time actually only article (originally published in 1931) devoted to 19th century Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. In the brilliant literary manner the author 388 Reliģiski-filozofiski raksti VIII describes the development of Kierkegaard's thought and his great influence upon the philosophical and theological discourse of modern philosophy. According to M. Zīverete-Zālīte, S. Kierkegegaard's life and work is the one of revolt. He rebels against the dogmatism of the official Lutheran church that has lost touch with the existential situation of the man in the world. He rebels against Hegelian totalism - all-inclusive system that has put aside the issues of personal ethical responsibility, freedom of choice. The true religiousness is the one of subjectivity, inwardness. At the same time, M. Zīverte-Zālīte writes, Kierkekaard no sense comes as the reformer of the church, instead he acts as the corrective, he invites the man to self-reflection - he is the reformer of the individual.

ARHAISKĀ CILVĒKA PASAULE M. ELIADES SKATĪJUMĀ

Author(s): Haralds Biezais / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

The manuscript of Latvian professor living in Sweden D. Dr. Haralds Biezais (1909-1995), written in the beginning of 90-s, was kindly passed to us for publishing by Mrs. Liena Neuland. In those time Mircea Eliade was a little known in Latvia, though the Latvian public was quite well acquainted with the names of R. Otto, N. Soderblom, G. Mensching whose influence upon the Lutheran theology and religious studies in 20-s and 30-s was considerable, in the same way the influenced Mircea Eliade's work.

JAUNĀS RELIĢIOZITĀTES APRISES SKAIDROJOT

Author(s): Solveiga Krūmiņa-Koņkova,Nikandrs Gills / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

In August 29-31, 2000, in Riga CESNUR and the Institute of Philosophy and sociology, University of Latvia held the large-scale international conference "New Religiosity in the 21st Century". The special significance to the forum was by the fact that it was the first international conference of new religion scholars that took place in the Eastern Europe. More than 50 scholars - acknowledged experts of the new religions from different European, North and South American, Australian universities and other research centers - presented their papers. Russia and the Ukraine were broadly represented. For the first time the scholars the Baltic countries could work together in the section under the title "New Religiosity in the Baltics".

JAUNĀ RELIĢIOZITĀTE FILOSOFIJAS SKATĪJUMĀ

Author(s): Maija Kūle / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

Maija Kūle, academician, professor, director of the Institute of Philosophy and sociology, University of Latvia publishes the article based on the paper delivered in the CESNUR 14th International Conference "New Religiosity in 21st Century", which took place in Riga in 2000. The author, emphasizing the tradition of phenomenological philosophy in Latvia starting from the pre-Second World War period and 70-s and 80-s of the Soviet era, states that phenomenology as philosophical outlook could be useful in analyzing the phenomenon of New Religiosity in the 21st century's cultural context. To regard something as phenomenon means to evade reductionism, strivings to find explanations on the sole basis of drawing phenomenon into causal relations.

DEFINĒJOT JAUNO GARĪGUMU

Author(s): DZORDZS D. KRISIDUS / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

The article of George D. Chryssides, University of Wolverhampton professor is based on the paper presented at CESNUR 14th International Conference, Riga, Latvia, August, 29-31, 2000. In the article the author substantiates, why it is necessary to return to the seemingly banal question: What is a new religious movement? The author demonstrates already existing definitions of the NRM and explaining the question: What is religion ? points at 4 minimal conditions in order an organization, an ideology or worldview could be regarded as religious: "(1) Answers to life's ultimate and fundamental questions, such as 'Why I am here?', 'What happens after I die?", 'Is there a God or supernatural force that created and sustains the universe?' (2) Rites of passage for making key events in one's life, in context of above answers. (3) Techniques and strategies for coping with life. This must mean life as a whole, and not simply parts of life, such as personal efficiency, or ability to succeed in one's work. (4) Some kind of guide to life in the form of a code of ethics. (This may be formally set out, as in the Jewish-Christian Ten Commandments, or the Buddhist precepts, or it may be implicit.) Analyzing the term religious movements the author comes to conclusion that it is impossible to define univocally, which organizations and which spiritual movements should be or shouldn't be regarded as NRM.

VARDARBĪBAS VlROTĀJI: PIECI KULTU UZRAUDZĪBAS GRUPU TIPI UN TO SALĪDZINOŠĀ ANALĪZE

Author(s): Eilina Barkere / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

With a kind permission of the Cambridge University Press (June,12,2001, a letter from Ms Linda Nicol, Permissions Controller) we publish Ph D, OBE, FBA, Professor Eileen Barker's non-edited version of the article, translated into Latvian. For the first time reserachers of religion, students and other interesents will be able to obtain information in Latvian about the classification of cult-watching groups in 5 categories, about their relationship, and about the indirect influence of the groups to the "cult scene". The author speaks of different forms of violence - direct and indirect. She states, that, while violence certainly occurs in some NRMs, comparisons can show this does not necessarily mean that violence is typical of NRMs and atypical of other religions or, indeed, "ordinary" citizens.Given that few cult-watchers want to see outbreaks of violence, the problem isto understand some of the unintended consequences of cult watching. The author concludes: "We have learned that if we wish to increase our understanding of "the cult scene" sufficiently to reduce the prospect of future violence, cult watching is necessary. We have also learned that watching the cult-watchers is necessary."

SOCIĀLANTROPOLOĢISKA PĒTĪJUMA DISKURSĪVĀ REALITĀTE

Author(s): Agita Lūse / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

The article examines a recent trend in social anthropology in particular and social research in general, namely, the growing reflectivity, or attention to the impact that the researcher's personality and position leaves on the social reality investigated.Some propositions of discourse theory, in particular those advanced by Davis and Harrē (1990) and Shotter (1993) are discussed. In accordance with the dialogical research paradigm, outlined by Shotter, knowledge, Summary 393 being embodied in practices and relationships, exists among individuals rather than in their "heads". The function of language in this paradigm is to ensure communication rather than to represent the world. The author's intention in this paper is to demonstrate in what ways attention to speech acts (as discussed by Austin 1962), that are embodied in social contexts, can deepen our understanding of power relations in three areas - magic, medicine and religion. Examples are given from anthropological research in the respective areas.

DIEVMĀTES CENTRS UN KONTRKULTŪRA

Author(s): BORISS FALIKOVS / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

The Center of Our Lady, or The Church of the Transfigurating Mother of God according to the official title (known also as the Church of the Third Testament, the Church of the Paraclete and so like) is one of the new religious movements, that became known in Russia in the beginning of 90-s. Boris Falikov in his paper, delivered at the international conference in Riga in 2000, tells about the history of emergence of this movement, 394 Reliģiski-filozofiski raksti VIII sketches its essence and its place within the context of the Russian culture. Tracing the development of ideas of the Center of Our Lady, Falikov concludes that this movement is one of the examples of the religiosity created and sustained by the Russian counterculture.

JAUNĀS HARISMĀTISKĀS DRAUDZES LATVIJĀ KĀ POSTMODERNAS RELIĢISKAS SUBKULTŪRAS PIEMĒRS

Author(s): Valdis Tēraudkalns / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

In the field of religious studies Pentecostalism and its modern variations (like new charismatic churches promoting "wealth and health" ideology) have been mentioned as examples of postmodern culture. Latvian speaking church Prieto Vēsts and predominantly Russian speaking church Jaunā Paaudze are the largest charismatic churches of this type in Latvia. Their emergence is linked with two factors: (1) Transformation of classical Pentecostal identity which was stigmatized during the Soviet period and was not appealing to younger generation of religious seekers who found intensive Pentecostal religiosity emotionally satisfying but were longing for its liturgical presentation in more contemporary forms and found code of behaviour practiced in traditional Pentecostal churches too strict; (2) spreading of neo-Pentecostal ideas among Baptists and members of other more institutionalized churches which part of them lead out of their religious traditions. Author of this article has analysed these new churches in relation to the characteristics of postmodernity showing complex relationships these churches, promoting a mixture of premodern and postmodern beliefs have with the postmodern culture.

CEĻŠ UZ ATZĪŠANU. JEHOVAS LIECINIEKI LATVIJĀ 20. GADSIMTĀ

Author(s): Nikandrs Gills / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

In the current publication the author has deepened and specified research of the historical sources of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Latvia: a special attention is paid to the latest history of the movement - 40-s, 50-s Summary 395 and especially to 90-s of the 20th century, when on the grounds of the Constitution of Latvia and Laws of the Republic of Latvia the Jehovah's Witnesses legally tried to reestablish their status of religious organization in Latvia. According to the documents from the Latvian archives, it is possible to conclude that, as early as in 1921 there were a few Jehovah's Witnesses in Latvia. In July of 1926 the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society sent its representatives to Latvia, where the headquarters were opened. The Jehovah's Witnesses were registered in Latvia for the first time on March 14,1933 as the International Bible Students Association. But already on May 15, 1934, after the dissolution of the Parliament, the association was closed. Attempts to reestablish the Jehovah's Witnesses registration as the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society were equally unsuccessful. After the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR in the summer of 1940, the chief of the Latvian department Alfred Percy Dunham was forced to leave Latvia on October 27 in order to serve in Australia.

ROMANO GVARDĪNI "JAUNLAIKU PASAULES AINAS IZIRŠANA UN NĀKAMĪBA"

Author(s): Igors Šuvajevs / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2003

The author takes a look at the work "Dissolution of the Modem World Vision and Future" by Romano Guardini (1885-1968) – religious philosopher, culture criticist and theologian. Guardini pointed out, that traditional views in European history on self-enclosed, not-yet-awake nature, autonomous subject and self-creative (according to its own norms) culture - ideas, fulfillment of which constitutes telos of history, are beginning to dissolve in modern times. Guardini stresses, that the man doesn't know the world as concealedly enveloping whole anymore, the world has become different and as such it gains its religious meaning. In the course of the modern times it has created a new type of man, who can't perceive the world in its immediacy, the world is always mediated by the technology, planning. There is no way back to primal sense of the world.

Liturgia és test

Author(s): Paul de Clerck / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2006

Az újszövetségi „test”-fogalom néhány aspektusa

Author(s): Gábor Vladár / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2006

The essay gives a summary of the anthropological teaching on the body in the New Testament. Since they played a quite influential role in the Early Christian approach to the body, the essay first investigates the ancient Greek and Jewish traditions. Then, it turns to the New Testament nalyzing its message in the light of three major disciplines: Christology, Anthropology, and Ecclesiology.

A testvéri közösség áldása-Zsolt 133: A diakróntól a szinkrón olvasat felé

Author(s): Elemér Sulyok / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2006

The essay aims to re-cover the authentic 'message' of Ps. 133 by means of a complex analysis that progresses from a diachronic approach towards a synchronic one. First it examines the text from rhythmical, linguistic, and stylistic points of view. The changes in its rhythmical pattern as well as the syntactic strueture and the proportional diff erence in terms of the parts of speech indicate the different characters of the text's five sentences. The third sentence turns out to be an excellent 'transition' between the two poles within the psalm: the first sentence illustrated by the second and the fifth sentence prepared by the second. The history of its redaction shows us that the immediate context of the psalm is not the wisdom literature; rather, as its present location suggests, Ps. 133 belongs to the group of the pilgrim-songs (Ps. 120-134), more precisely to Ps. 130-134. This group is centered around the topics of Mount Zion and the blessing. In these psalms, Zion bears primarily the meaning: Temple, the dwelling place of God.

A Szentháromságról

Author(s): György Geréby / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2006

The Trinitarian formula of the Nicean Council represented a minority opinion against three great odds: Firstly, against the all-important monarchic formula of the Old Testament, secondly, the monarchic doctrine of the Greek philosophy, and thirdly, the monarchic requirement of the imperial political theology of Constantine. The unique nature of the victorious Trinitarian theology is clearly f ormulated in the second chapter of the Third Theological Oration of St. Gregory of Nazianzus, a passage which played a crucial role for E. Peterson in his debate against the political theology of Carl Schmitt.

Theological Anti-Semitism

Author(s): Andrei Cornea / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2001

The argument of this article is that anti-Semitism, which has to be carefully distinguished from anti-Judaism, relies on a theological and metaphysical basis that is not to be found in other cases of ethnic hatred, and as such it is intrinsically bound to Christianity. The author pursues the evolution of theological anti-Semitism from St.Paul and the Church Fathers to more recent 19th and 20th century figures such as, among others, Karl Marx and Richard Wagner but also Nae Ionescu and Nechifor Crainic. The emphasis is laid on a careful analysis from this particular perspective of the arguments providing the background of anti-Semitism.