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» SALVATION IN GNOSIS”? CRITICISM OF SPIRITISM IN THE HUNGARIAN PERIODICAL Nrucar [West] Keyworps Dezsö Kosztolänyi, Frigyes Karinthy, neo-gnostic movement, modern Hungarian literature, spiritism ABSTRACT In my study I analyze the criticism of spiritualism by the authors of the Nyugat [West], mainly the writings of Frigyes Karinthy. Like others, Karinthy was sceptical not only of spiritualism, but also of the neo-gnostic movement, yet his attitude remained ambivalent: on the one hand, he seems to want to expose mystical superstitions, on the other hand, he is keenly interested in epistemological and psychological problems. In addition to the above-mentioned aspects, Iam talking about Gabor Halasz’s 1937 summary entitled Magyar szdzadvég [Hungarian End of the Century] and Zsolt Harsdnyi’'s text about Jack London. Finally, I examine the articles in the criticism coloumn of the Nyugat, indicating the references made to life reform movements, 29
