New Acropolis

International Organization New Acropolis
Founded July 15, 1957 (1957-07-15)
Founder Jorge Ángel Livraga Rizzi
Type Non-governmental organization
Focus Philosophy, philanthropy
Location
Origins Argentina
Area served
Worldwide
Method Culture, volunteerism
Key people
 Delia Steinberg Guzmán
Website www.acropolis.org

New Acropolis (NA; official name: Organización Internacional Nueva Acrópolis "OINA" - Organisation Internationale Nouvelle Acropole, association internationale sans but lucratif) is a worldwide non-profit organisation founded in 1957 by Jorge Ángel Livraga Rizzi (died 1991)[1] first as a school of philosophy and later on as an international organization devoted to philosophical studies and practice. Registered in Belgium as international organization since 1981, number 3/12-941/S.[2][3][4]

Founding charter

Its founding charter aims :

  1. To promote universal fraternity among people of all creeds, races and backgrounds.[5]
  2. To promote a holistic vision of the world through the comparative study of philosophies, sciences, religions and arts.
  3. To enable human beings to develop their potential and live in harmony with Nature by understanding its laws.

Aside from regular philosophy courses, lectures, and workshops the organization is also involved in social and philanthropic activities,[6] such as food collection campaigns, art workshops, cleaning of monuments and parks,[7] as well as disaster rescues[8] and music competitions, such as the International Competition of Piano Delia Steinberg, and the Peruvian National Music Competition for youth, "Nueva Acropolis", which had more than 6000 participants in 2018.[9]

Teachings

Scholar of Western esotericism Antoine Faivre writes:

Jorge A. Livraga Rizzi wanted to create an 'eclectic and rational approach' - according to his own words - to different currents in order to highlight similarities and commonalities between Eastern and Western thought. He saw his role to define the elements of a philosophy of a universal type, reconnecting with all the spiritual roots, including those rejected by the West; for example, those of Egypt or Asia. Fernand Schwarz (director of New Acropolis France), on his part, has written several books on the Egyptian tradition. In addition to the study of ancient sources, New Acropolis also tries to promote contemporary authors such as CG Jung, Mircea Eliade, Joseph Campbell, Gilbert Durand, Henry Corbin, Paul Ricœur, Dane Rudhyar, Jean Chevalier or Edgar Morin. These, as well as other philosophers, scientists and sociologists, freely expressed themselves in the columns of the association's journal. In the body of reference claimed by the French publications of New Acropolis, we find the philosophy of Pythagoras, Plato, Neoplatonism, Alexandrine Hermeticism and the Renaissance. In addition there are the two great theosophical currents, that of Jacob Boehm and that of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, as well as elements of Eastern philosophy (Hinduism in particular, through the three Purushiac schools, Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism)."[10]

French writer Jean-Pierre Bayard describes New Acropolis as

a school of philosophy focused on esotericism and symbolism, [which] organizes the comparative study of religions through courses and lectures on various subjects: myths, philosophies, sciences, sacred architecture, traditional arts, with often the contribution of speakers from outside the organization. Travels are organized according to the same spiritual concern (Egypt, Greece, Mexico). Fifteen centers in France provide high-level moral education by developing inner investigation, advocating freedom of conscience and respect for the human being.[11]

Reception

The sociologist and researcher of new religions, Massimo Introvigne, defines New Acropolis as a "post-teosophical movement, that combines the ideas of the Theosophical Society with other sources. Compared with the Theosophical Society, it focuses more on Western esotericism than the Eastern one, especially Greek philosophy in the tradition of Pythagoras and Plato."[12]

New Acropolis has been criticized for deception and secrecy.[13][14][15][16]

The French Commission on Cults (1995) as well as a Belgian parliamentary commission, have, in 1997, registered it as a cult in their respective countries, in an annexed blacklist to their report, along with 171 other associations. On May 27, 2005, the cult blacklists were abandoned by the French government.[17]

A study of ex-members of New Acropolis, realized in 1997 by CESNUR, the center of Studies of New Religions, found that 74.79% of ex-members defined New Acropolis as "a philosophy", 22.69% as a cultural association, 3.36% as a religion, and 2.52% as a political movement. Investigating the reasons for leaving the organization, a large majority (69.23%) expressed that "it is an interesting way, but it is not my way", 17.95% expressed that it was "probably my way, I regret having left it". A minority (10.26%) expressed negative views of the association as their reasons for leaving. [18]

References

  1. ↑ New Acropolis UK - About Us
  2. ↑ Moniteur nº 48, march 9th 1990, page 4489
  3. ↑ Nouvelle Acropole en Moniteur, since 2003
  4. ↑ Nouvelle Acropole en Moniteur, since 1981 soon 2002
  5. ↑ New Acropolis UK - Founding Charter
  6. ↑ New Acropolis International volunteering program
  7. ↑ Inside, Costa Rica (English)
  8. ↑ OWIT, Perú (Spanish)
  9. ↑ LR, Redacción (2018-09-05). "Más de 6.000 escolares participan en uno de los eventos musicales más grandes del país" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  10. ↑ "Nouvelle Acropole vue par les specialistes : Antoine Faivre". mapage.noos.fr. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  11. ↑ 1920-2008., Bayard, Jean-Pierre, (2004). Guide des sociétés secrètes et des sectes. Olejnik-Sarkissian, Natacha, 1964- ..., Impr. Laballery) ([Nouv. éd. actualisée] ed.). Paris: Oxus. ISBN 2848980397. OCLC 470330547.
  12. ↑ moreorless. "Ex-membres de Nouvelle Acropole (CESNUR)". www.cesnur.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  13. ↑ "Jorge A Livraga and New Acropolis". www.kelebekler.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  14. ↑ "Nueva Acrópolis Secta Paramilitar". victimasectas.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  15. ↑ "Αποκαλύπτουμε τι είναι η οργάνωση "Νέα Ακρόπολη". Μέρος Α΄". Αποκαλύπτουμε τι είναι η οργάνωση ”Νέα Ακρόπολη”. Μέρος Α΄. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  16. ↑ Carroll, Rory (1999-12-17). "Satanists threaten the Pope's party". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  17. ↑ La fin des listes noires (The end of blacklists), Le Point 23 June 2005 (in French)
  18. ↑ "CESNUR - What you should know about the Center for Studies on New Religions". www.apologeticsindex.org. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
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