ANTHROPOS AND EXISTENCE - GNOSTIC PARALLELS IN THE EARLY WRITINGS OF MAY,ROLLO

A case is made for the influence of archetypal structures on May's pre existential orientation. Early theological, anthropological, and depth psychological affiliations are also considered. It is suggested that May's initial attempts at founding a ''science of humanity'' and his f irst conception of the self emerge from these early affiliations and r eveal an affinity for Gnostic speculation on Anthropos. This concept h as been interpreted by Elaine Pagels, Carl Jung, and others to indicat e humanity or self: the archetypal spiritual essence of the human bein g. The above thinkers additionally suggest that the Gnostics were not only passionate religious scholars interested in redemption, via knowl edge of the heart, but also early depth psychologists and humanitarian s. It is argued that many Gnostic concepts are inherently existential and that certain Gnostic conceptualizations of existence illuminate Ma y's foundational theoretical assertions. The archetype of Anthropos is thus formative for May's development as a humanist, psychoanalyst, an d existentially oriented depth psychologist.