A profound transformation during March 1921 prompted Martinus Thomsen to abandon his previous employment as an office clerk in Copenhagen to dedicate his life to the pursuit of cosmic consciousness. This experience served as the foundation for his extensive philosophical writings, which he termed The Third Testament, exploring the fundamental spiritual forces and laws governing existence.
Early Life and Upbringing
Born on 11 August 1890 near Sindal in northern Jutland, Martinus grew up in a house named Moskildvad. An illegitimate child, he was raised by his mother's brother and his wife after his mother proved unable to care for him. His formal education at the local village school remained minimal, centered on hymns, arithmetic, and natural history. He began his working life as a dairyman at sixteen before eventually moving into roles as a watchman and an office clerk at the Enigheden dairy company in 1920.
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At the age of thirty, Martinus reported a series of intense spiritual experiences that fundamentally altered his perception. He described this state as cosmic consciousness, claiming it allowed him to perceive the invisible causes and eternal laws behind the physical world. While he had previously associated with Theosophical circles, he explicitly rejected the idea that his insights originated from Theosophy. Supported by his friend Lars Nibelvang, he began writing his theories in the autumn of 1922, initially utilizing symbols before composing the seven-volume work titled Livets Bog, which reached publication in 1932.
Philosophical Framework and Legacy
Martinus presented himself as a messenger for a new era, asserting that his work constituted a science of life rather than a religion or sect. His cosmology incorporates themes such as reincarnation and energy, proposing that consciousness evolves through an upward spiral movement. He established the Martinus Centre in Klint, Zealand, in 1935 to facilitate the study of his ideas. Throughout his career, he authored twenty-eight shorter works and numerous articles, with his writings eventually translated into twenty languages. Martinus died on 8 March 1981 in Frederiksberg and is buried at the Frederiksberg Old Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 August 1890, Sindal, Denmark
- Died: 8 March 1981, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Buried at: Frederiksberg Old Cemetery
- Primary works: The Third Testament, Livets Bog
- Occupations: Author, philosopher, mystic
- Centre inaugurated: 1935, Klint
Questions readers ask
What is the primary theme of Martinus' philosophy?
He proposed that all living creatures participate in a progressive evolution of consciousness, moving through the universe via divine impulses.
Did Martinus intend to start a new religion?
No, he explicitly desired that his work should not be treated as a sect or global organization, preferring to view it as a school or college.
Achievements
- Fields: cosmology