Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 81 No. 2, 2011.
Preliminary communication
Anthropological Basis of Some Alternative Healing Techniques in an Intercultural Context
Josip Blažević
; The »Croatian Areopagus« - Interreligious Dialogue Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper presents the notions of»person« and »chakras« in their original context, as foundations of specific anthropologies and pillars of two autonomous cultures. A person is a symbol and an axis of Western (Christian) anthropology, whereas chakras are symbolic of Indian (Tantric) anthropology. Both notions are at the same time »holy« and »profane«. They constitute the basis of a proper anthropology, soteriology, theology, philosophy and, among other things, medicine. By moving West, chakras have experienced a significant inversion, and this is what constitutes the primary interest of this paper. Their significance in tantrism, where they originally constitute a means of achieving salvation, has in the West been reinterpreted, profaned and reduced to a means of achieving health. Anthropology based on chakras is the backbone of many alternative healing techniques (from Eastern, gnostic and magical, to New Age techniques) behind which there is a (pseudo)tantric soteriology. Holistic medicine, relying on anthropology based on chakras, has the ambition of healing not only man's psychosomatic dimension, but also his soul, which brings Christianity face to face with certain challenges requiring proper theological response. At the end, the author suggests seven criteria as a guide for choosing between alternative healing techniques.
Keywords
culture; person; Christianity; Tantra; charkas; experience; interpretation
Hrčak ID:
69788
URI
Publication date:
28.6.2011.
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