A skeptic against the stream

"Profeter mot strömmen" by Olav Hammer is a Swedish book published in 1999 and long out of print. I found it two weeks ago at the Theosophical bookstore in Stockholm. That's rather strange, considering that Hammer is extremely critical of Theosophy! Indeed, the nice old lady at the bookstore did look rather startled when I showed her my find.

Hammer is a professor of religious studies and a rather hardline skeptic. His most well known book, "På spaning efter helheten" is a highly critical mini-encyclopedia of all things New Age. "Profeter mot strömmen" (Prophets counter current) deals with the historical background: Mesmerism, Spiritualism, Theosophy and New Thought. Hammer also takes us on a wild ride through the burned over district otherwise known as the United States. Mormons, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses and Edgar Cayce are all in for a good whipping. There is also an excursion back in time to Paracelsus and Newton, and one taking us forward to Ariosophy and Anthroposophy. 

I beg to differ on some finer points of interpretation (surely Origen believed in the soul's progress through reincarnation), and also on the author's "materialist" worldview, but overall, I say it's a fine study. The book is presented as a collection of free-standing essays, but I think it does have a fundamental unity. On a more humorous note, Hammer is honest enough to admit that he found Blavatsky's "The Secret Doctrine" almost impossible to read. He is probably not alone in this, although Bailey and Steiner are probably worse still!

The underlying theme of the essays is the strong skepticism to religious and "spiritual" truth-claims. The "scientific" arguments of many new agey writers are mere metaphors. Psychology and cold reading explains many "supernatural" phenomena. And then there are the hoaxes! An important point made in Hammer's critical writings is how strongly even the most exotic new religions are rooted in the Zeitgeist. Real innovators are rare - perhaps Mesmer was one such. Joseph Smith and Madame Blavatsky, each in their own way, were influenced by optimistic 19th century beliefs in progress. American individualism comes to the fore in New Thought. The scientific pretensions are of course connected to the prestige of modern science. Racist "pagan" occultism in prewar Germany looked more like Freemasonry and pseudo-Catholic chivalry (or even Theosophy) than an authentic ancient religion.

Hammer also points out that new religious movements are strangely "tradition-less". They have often created a fake tradition around themselves, but otherwise seem to be creations de novo. What they never mention is their *actual* pedigree. The Mormons avoid discussing Swedenborg, the kabbala or Freemasonry. Anthroposophists hardly know who Blavatsky was, and Mary Baker Eddy denied any connection to Quimby (her real master).

One thing that struck me when reading "Profeter mot strömmen" is how little has truly changed in 200 years. The 19th century, the early 20th century and the late 20th century have remarkable similarities when it comes to alternative spirituality. It's all there: the interest in, and distortion of, Hinduism and Buddhism, the seances (today known as channeling), the alternative medical therapies, the strong women leaders, the bizarre cults and utopian social schemes, the apocalypse-mongering with its great disappointments, the scientific pretensions, the Nature mystics... 

The "prophets" mentioned in this book aren't really swimming against the current, it seems! It's rather the poor skeptic who is somewhat out of joint... 

Makes me wonder how long the show will go on? It feels like the world is long overdue for a *truly* new prophet...or at least a new Zeitgeist!