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Book reviews king about the and the city, whi- passing, but works remain for . ch certainly doesn’t need to be related While speaking about Boris Trajkov- only to Osijek, could consider the touching ski, the forward-thinking Macedonian pe- or encounters of and the ideal, the acemaker, and a Protestant president in an material with the spiritual. Observing the Orthodox country – who died in an airpla- interrelation of time and eternity, we could ne crash on route to a conference in Mostar imagine that - if created time, in whi- – Kuzmič cited Tolstoy, “The deeper you ch mankind lives, – eternity is unending become acquainted with life, the less you time because God lives in eternity. Through believe that it can destroy death.” Kuzmič’s texts, we could discern that time And in the end, instead of a classic cannot become eternity because it is a sequ- conclusion, in his book Kuzmič stresses ence of events that immediately becomes the message, a little like a pair of gloves to- the past, and we just anticipate the . ssed into contemporary thought, “Where Still, the arrival of Christ in the God and man meet, there and city made it possible for man to reach touch.” Kuzmič confirms how it is possible eternity in which he will live after time. to dive deeply into time, while at the same Exactly that Way, about which Kuzmič spe- time holding on to eternity. Even though it aks in his book, the – in it will appear to some new children that the man is not just directed to time, but he has time about which Kuzmič writes looks far the real opportunity to receive eternity. Just away and hard to understand, it is impor- as Jesus reminds to read the of the tant that they leave a trail and that they time so that we could interpret events thro- attempt to fathom where to look for an an- ugh the eyes of , so Kuzmič touches on swer – because time is passing, but eternity the need of an awareness of reality – it is is here, it just needs to be grasped. Robert Bogešić

Stanko JAMBREK and Zagreb, Bogoslovni institut, 2005, pp. 256 translated by Roger Massey

Stanko Jambrek completed a study of theologians engaged in the study of and a master’s degree in church and the New Age movement. He is history at the Evangelical Theological Se- currently researching the history and pre- minary in Osijek, and earned his docto- sent day activities of the churches of the rate in theology in the United States and Reformation tradition at the Theological is one of the leading Croatian Protestant Institute in Zagreb.

155 KAIROS - Evangelical Journal of Theology / Vol. 1, No. 1 (2007), pp. 153-162

His book “Christianity and New Age speculative debates with the movement Spirituality: Similarities and Differences” is and neither does he shop for ideas, which a serious attempt to portray the differences characterizes New Age. He simply states and similarities between biblical Christia- the facts and offers solutions for eventual nity and New Age. problems. The book doesn’t represent some This is not the author’s first attempt kind of a smorgasbord so that everyone can to take on a New Age topic, so this book take what he or she likes — instead, he of- represents a deeper journey into this study fers a free choice, but with that shows the and research. The author, in his first book, possibility of the right choice. He doesn’t “New Age and Christianity” (Zaprešić, Ma- and doesn’t emphasize exclusive- tica hrvatska Zaprešić, 1997) took the posi- ness. He gives basic ideas and interpretati- tion of a Protestant theologian in showing ons and theological aspects of New Age, but the problems facing modern Christianity not in such a way that is only understanda- as well as the dangers that can influence a ble to theologians, but to any reader. “stunted spiritual growth” for believers. The book consists of four main parts, The fact is that a trend is continuing while in the fifth part, along with the lite- as the 20th century winds down and hu- rature; the author presents a short over- manity is being dashed by the waves of new view of teaching on biblical Christianity religious movements — just as the words and New Age spirituality with a glossary of an old song say, “na istoku ništa novo, of terms. In the first part of the book, “In na zapadu stare priče” [in the East there’s Search of Fulfilled Needs” the author por- nothing new and in the West its the same trays the human longing for the satisfacti- old story]. Just about everything that can on of their basic needs. Jambrek points out be labeled “alternative” is washing up in how that longing and searching most often this flood of mystic spirituality. The term lead a person either into Christian spiritu- New Age itself refers to a body of spiritual ality or into New Age spirituality. trends in various circles of western civili- In the second part, “New Age Spiritu- zation, especially among the dominating ality,” he lays out the spiritual history and conformistic classes. foundational beliefs of the New Age move- New Age does not represent the coun- ment. Even though the movement is quite ter-culture from the 60’s and 70’s that flo- diffused, the author sorts out several unifi- oded Western Europe and North America, ed remarks: , , , leaving its influence and in some circles of an impersonal god, the of man, the other civilizations. Contrary to the coun- power to create personal and subjective re- ter-culture New Age doesn’t represent a ality, , , universal religi- movement that would deal with political or on and the new world order. ideological radicalism and it tends not to New Age, irregardless of what collec- come into conflict with the existing struc- tion of spiritual tendencies one is talking tures. Paraphrasing who said, about, actually represents the throwing “ is the opium of the masses,” it out of hierarchical constructs of religio- could be said that New Age represents the us teaching and is directed more towards “opium of the middle class.” esoteric and occult from all over Reading this book, one can observe the world, along with a sprinkling of - how Jambrek doesn’t go into laborious and dern scientific and parascientific paradi- 156 Book reviews gms. Precisely in the middle, in the third that Christ’s coming represents a part of the book, “Biblical Christianity in experience in which “every eye” will witne- Contrast to New Age Spirituality,” the aut- ss his coming. hor attempts to show the unbridgeable di- The great worth of this book lies in fferences and contrasts between biblically its fourth part where the author has no based Christianity and the New Age Mo- intention of remaining on the theoretical vement and its spirituality. On one side is level, but crosses over into the practical. God’s revealed Word contrasted to various In this chapter, “Christianity as a Living sources of . The personal Father Relationship With God,” Jambrek presents God is contrasted to the of testimonies of individuals who have, each that, in New Age, possess no personality in their own way, been involved in the New at all. Jesus Christ is presented in New Age Age Movement or had some contact with as a teacher in contrast to the Christian it. Reading about their experiences, it is of him as the Savior of the possible to see where the exit from these world. While Christianity speaks of a Holy experiences in the movement lie, but also as one of the persons of the triune what kind of a life to continue to live. It is God, New Age doesn’t recognize the idea important to realize that these experiences of a Spirit at all. do not concern only people who live “so- Jambrek especially brings to light the mewhere out there,” but that many things various understandings about humanity. happen in our “own backyard.” The author While Christianity upholds that humanity wants to provoke a reaction among Chri- is God’s creation, New Age considers hu- stians regarding their spiritual condition, man kind to be just another part of everyt- because the fact is that New Age does not hing that exists. He points out that there is represent an emerging religion, but is a similar contrast in the view of and sal- symptom of a crisis and fertile vation — in Christianity, the accent is on soil for the blooming of spiritual syncreti- , while in New Age, self-realizati- sm of every kind. on takes the front seat. As Jambrek points out, New Age is The author pays particular attention slowly sinking its roots into the general spi- to the different understandings of the exi- crisis that has been encompassing the stence of . In Christianity, they are West for centuries. The appraisal that Polish God’s creation and in New Age they re- Leszek Kolakowski offered abo- present realization of occult activities. As ut Marxism — that it was about mankind’s far as Satan and spirits are concerned, self- — goes for what New Age the author presents a list of arguments con- represents as well. Will it follow the same firming their existence along with various path as all other collective and individual interpretations of the second coming of attempts at self-worship, like the comical Christ. The problem lies in that New Age side of human suffering? The conclusion devotees expect an impersonal christ — remains for the readers to decide. Jambrek with a small “c” — while believe merely offers the key to opening the door. Robert Bogešić

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