نشریه مطالعات معنوی
پیاپی 2 (زمستان 1390)

What is the starting point of religion in human life history and which course does it have followed to develop into the current advanced religions? According to the perspective of religious traditions, especially the Abrahamic religions, man is created in today's form and has received the whole monotheistic religion from the heavens from the very beginning. However, in recent centuries in the West some came to say that religion has had earthly origin and evolution, and as a result, simultaneous with the human evolution, has been developed from a primitive, polytheistic form into the advanced monotheistic religions. In present article, we argue that four kinds of origin and evolution of religion can be conceived and discussed, only one of which is atheistic.

Present article studies identity of NRMs and by examining the general characteristics of these movements emphasizes on the fact that despite the many differences which exist among them, all have some characteristics in common which are similar to Eastern religions; characteristics such as non-personal God, the use of magic, reincarnation, and the widespread use of terms common in these Eastern religions.The other focus of the present article, however, is the emphasis on the fact that NRMs mainly historically have Eastern origin as well. The hub of NRMs is Japan and Buddhism, with presence in Japan and hybridization with other religions already present in this country, led to the formation of these movements and in particular social conditions, these movements spread and suddenly filled out the social scene of Japan. Therefore, Buddhism is the main actor in the formation of NRMs and Japan is the country in which these movements have been formed and then, transferred to other parts of the world.

Key WordsHinduism is one of the most influential Eastern religions on the formation of new religious and spiritual movements in the West. Innumerable books, articles, and speeches by Hindu ascetics and yogis in the West, with injecting some kind of religious pluralism, prepared the ground for the opposition of Western younger generation to dogmatic Jewish-Christian traditions and led to the emergence of hundreds of new religions and spirituality over time.Hindu movements in the West have sometimes been loyal to the Hindu original traditions and have sometimes offered the originality of pleasure and transgression with totally eclectic, secular and unfounded ideas. In present article, while introducing some of the key figures of Hinduism in the West, the role of Hinduism, meditation, and yoga in the dissident process in the West and some causes of tendency of the West to this Hinduism are studied.

In present article, we will briefly study a number of orientations and their roots which have started to emerge from the early Christianity in a heretical manner in this religion. In the meanwhile, we will take a look at the ideas of Jung, the famous psychologist, concerning some of these heresies and will review these doctrines from the perspective of psychology.

Proper and systematic knowledge of the branches of Islamic sects and denominations can be a useful background to identify new sects and movements. One may detect and analyze some common patterns which both follow. In addition, some sociologists regard some kinds of Islamic sects, such as Taliban, which can be categorized under the heading of Islamic fundamentalism, as new religious movements. Therefore, by a historical review, one can find causes of the emergence of the early Islamic sects and detect some common points between the initial and current movements. Present article can be an introduction to this approach.

NRMs are complicated phenomena that even the naming of which is difficult. Thus, providing a precise definition of these phenomena seems unattainable. However, providing distinguishing features and stating general, dominant characteristics ‎of NRMs is a necessity, which organizes studies in this area. Major distinguishing features of NRMs are concerned with the humanist, secularist and capitalistic fundamental principles of NRMs, and by defining the distinguishing features, explanation and study of causes of these phenomena would be possible. The causes of NRMs are studied in the three aspects of causes of emergence, tendency and development.

Sant Nirankari is a reform movement within the Sikhism. The most important teachings of this movement are emphasis on the absolute oneness and formlessness of the Divine essence, denying the superiority of religions to each other, stressing the equality of human beings of whatever race and religion, and the absolute adherence to the spiritual leader (Guru) as an enlightened teacher and the medium for Divine grace.This reform movement rejects all apparent formalities and requirements of Khalsa Sikhs and considers them ineffective; it only emphasizes on the perennial attention to the formless unique God and the depth of teachings of religions. Also unlike the Khalsa Sikhs, the movement believes in the living Guru and does not accept the holy book of Sikhs as the Guru. Although the founders of the Sant Nirankari movement regard its formation as based on divine command, they never introduce this movement as an independent faith or one of the Sikhism sects and cults; but they always introduce themselves as a reform movement for inviting all human beings to monotheism and equality of all men, and denying religious and racial prejudice. For this reason, the followers of this movement never call their belief system religion, faith or sect, but they mostly make use of the term mission or spiritual movement as the prefix for the name Sant Nirankari.