I have recently been accused of supporting new age philosophies. At the time, I decided not to react to the specifics, as the discussion was initiated and conducted through quite an amount of mud slinging. As I am at heart a researcher, I decided to rather look into the latest information on new age philosophy and try to see if what I conveyed during a radio interview indeed could be perceived to be supporting new age influences, and more specifically if today's church is really infiltrated with new age thinking.
RESEARCH METHODA simple internet search through Google resulted in 875 million possible sites referring to the words new age. Consequently, to get a grip on the subject seems to be an insurmountably huge effort. It’s made easier by some parameter setting, though. I refrained from reading information presented by fundamentalistic or evangelical Christian sites discussing the subject. These tend to be biased and subjective, presenting their information with the perspective to re-enforce their own belief systems. I also refrained from accessing sites that are kept up by new age practitioners, as these also tend to be subjective and biased – for exactly the same reasons as the fundamentalistically Christian sites. Therefore, I looked into sites who try to present information that allows the reader to gather knowledge without being ambushed by a certain perspective, sites that solely report on the phenomenon, and sites that allow me, for the purposes of this blog post, to get as neutral an opinion about new age philosophy as possible. At the end of the post you’ll find a list of the sites I used to gather the information for this research.
CONFUSIONAccording to Religioustolerance.org, the New Age Movement is a free-flowing spiritual movement; a network of believers and practitioners who share somewhat similar beliefs and practices, which they add on to whichever formal religion that they follow. Their book publishers take the place of a central organization; seminars, conventions, books and informal groups replace of sermons and religious services.
Wikipedia describes the New Age Movement as a is a decentralized Western social and spiritual movement that seeks "Universal Truth" and the attainment of the highest individual human potential. It combines aspects of cosmology, astrology, esotericism, alternative medicine, music, collectivism, sustainability, and nature. New Age Spirituality is characterized by an individual approach to practices and philosophies, while rejecting religious doctrine and dogma.
The New Age Movement includes elements of older spiritual and religious traditions ranging from atheism and monotheism through classical pantheism, naturalistic pantheism, and panentheism to polytheism combined with science and Gaia philosophy: particularly archaeoastronomy, astronomy, ecology, environmentalism, the Gaia hypothesis, psychology, and physics. New Age practices and philosophies sometimes draw inspiration from major world religions: Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Sufism; with particularly strong influences from East Asian religions, Gnosticism, Neopaganism, New Thought, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Universalism, and Western esotericism.
Major confusion about the New Age has been generated by academics, counter-cult groups, Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Christians and traditional Muslim groups. This is primarily due to the diverse origins from which new age philosophy is constructed. Some examples of the confusion are:
- Many of the above groups have dismissed Sufiism as a New Age cult. In reality, Sufiism has historically been an established mystical movement within Islam, which has always existed in a state of tension with the more legalistic divisions within Islam. It has no connection with New Age.
- Some conservative Christians believe that a massive, underground, highly coordinated New Age organization exists that is infiltrating government, media, schools and churches. No such entity exists.
BELIEFSA number of fundamental beliefs are held by many New Age followers; individuals are encouraged to "shop" for the beliefs and practices that they feel most comfortable with:
- Monism: All that exists is derived from a single source of divine energy.
- Pantheism: All that exists is God; God is all that exists. This leads naturally to the concept of the divinity of the individual, that we are all Gods. They do not seek God as revealed in a sacred text or as exists in a remote heaven; they seek God within the self and throughout the entire universe.
- Panentheism: God is all that exists. God is at once the entire universe, and transcends the universe as well.
- Eclectic spirituality - Every person should follow their own individual path to spirituality instead of dogma. Different religions and philosophies from around the world offer different practices that may be adopted.
- Spiritual beings - gods, angels, ascended masters, elementals, ghosts, faeries, spirit guides and extraterrestrials can spiritually guide us, if we open ourselves to their guidance.Karma: The good and bad deeds that we do add and subtract from our accumulated record, our karma. At the end of our life, we are rewarded or punished according to our karma by being reincarnated into either a painful or good new life. This belief is linked to that of reincarnation and is derived from Hinduism.
- An Aura is believed to be an energy field radiated by the body. Invisible to most people, it can be detected by some as a shimmering, multi-colored field surrounding the body. Those skilled in detecting and interpreting auras can diagnose an individual's state of mind, and their spiritual and physical health.
- Forces - It is commonly held that there exist certain forces, which are independent of spiritual beings or agencies and distinct from forces defined by science, such as gravitation and electromagnetism. These forces are elemental in nature and operate in an automatic manner as part of the natural order; they cause seeds to sprout, grow, and bloom, etc.
- Power - The forces, and everything else, are energized by a mystical power that exists in varying degrees in all things. Power is transferable, through physical contact, sensory perception, or mere proximity. Power may be accumulated or depleted in a person or object through a variety of mechanisms, including fate and esoteric practices. This power is held to be physically observable as an aura or subtle body and psi energy; and when encountered in great concentration, may even be dangerous.
- Energy - In some belief systems, forces and power may seem to merge, e.g., in the concept of vital force that exists in many traditional belief systems, and finds its expression in New Age concepts such as the energies in Therapeutic Touch or Reiki and ideas of flowing streams of power in the Earth, like ley lines in Britain and Europe and Earth energies addressed in the Chinese geomantic system of feng shui.
- Spirit - All beings (particularly sentient beings) are accompanied by a specific, intentional energy which corresponds to their consciousness, but is in some way independent of their corporeal existence. This energy typically is more primary than the physical entity, in the sense that it remains in some form after the physical death.
- Teleology - Life has a purpose; this includes a belief in synchronicity—that coincidences have spiritual meaning and lessons to teach those whom are open to them. Everything is universally connected through God and participates in the same energy. There is a cosmic goal and a belief that all entities are (knowingly or unknowingly) cooperating towards this goal.
- Interpersonal relationships - There are opportunities to learn about one's self and relationships are destined to be repeated until they are healthy.
- Intuition - An important aspect of perception, which has been offset by a somewhat strict rationalism, noted specially in the works of proeminent psychologist Jung.
- Optimism - Positive thinking supported by affirmations will achieve success in anything This is based on the concept that Thought Creates. Therefore, as one begins focusing attention and consciousness on the positive, on the "half-filled" glass of water, reality starts shifting and materializing the positive intentions and aspects of life. A certain critical mass of people with a highly spiritual consciousness will bring about a sudden change in the whole population. Humans have a responsibility to take part in positive creative activity and to work to heal ourselves, each other and the planet.
- Personal Transformation A profoundly intense mystical experience will lead to the acceptance and use of New Age beliefs and practices. Guided imagery, hypnosis, meditation, and (sometimes) the use of hallucinogenic drugs are useful to bring about and enhance this transformation. Believers hope to develop new potentials within them: the ability to heal oneself and others, psychic powers, a new understanding of the workings of the universe, etc. Later, when sufficient numbers of people have achieved these powers, a major spiritual, physical, psychological and cultural planet-wide transformation is expected.
- Ecological Responsibility: A belief in the importance of uniting to preserve the health of the earth, which is often looked upon as Gaia, (Mother Earth) a living entity.
- Universal Religion: Since all is God, then only one reality exists, and all religions are simply different paths to that ultimate reality. The universal religion can be visualized as a mountain, with many sadhanas (spiritual paths) to the summit. Some are hard; others easy. There is no one correct path. All paths eventually reach the top. They anticipate that a new universal religion which contains elements of all current faiths will evolve and become generally accepted worldwide. According to Wikipedia Meditation, Yoga, Tantra, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, martial arts, Tai chi chuan, Falun Gong, Qigong, Reflexology, Reiki, and other eastern practices can assist in realizing one’s potential.
- New World Order: As the Age of Aquarius unfolds, a New Age will develop. This will be a utopia in which there is world government, an end to war, disease, hunger, pollution, and poverty. Gender, racial, religious and other forms of discrimination will cease. People's allegiance to their tribe or nation will be replaced by a concern for the entire world and its people.
The Age of Aquarius is a reference to the procession of the zodiac. The earth passes into a new sign of the zodiac approximately every 2,000 years. Some believe that the earth entered the constellation of Aquarius at the end of the 20th century.
PRACTICESMany practices are found among New Agers. A typical practitioner is active in only a few areas:
- Channeling A method similar to that used by Spiritists in which a spirit of a long dead individual is conjured up. However, while Spiritists generally believe that one's soul remains relatively unchanged after death, most channelers believe that the soul evolves to higher planes of existence. Chanelers usually try to make contact with a single, spiritually evolved being. That being's consciousness is channeled through the medium and relays guidance and information to the group, through the use of the medium's voice. Channeling has existed since the 1850's and many groups consider themselves independent of the New Age movement.
- Crystals Crystals are materials which have their molecules arranged in a specific, highly ordered internal pattern. This pattern is reflected in the crystal's external structure which typically has symmetrical planar surfaces. Many common substances, from salt to sugar, from diamonds to quartz form crystals. They can be shaped so that they will vibrate at a specific frequency and are widely used in radio communications and computing devices. New Agers believe that crystals possess healing energy.
- Meditating A process of blanking out the mind and releasing oneself from conscious thinking. This is often aided by repetitive chanting of a mantra, or focusing on an object.
- New Age Music A gentle, melodic, inspirational music form involving the human voice, harp, lute, flute, etc. It is used as an aid in healing, massage therapy and general relaxation.
- Divination The use of various techniques to foretell the future, including I Ching, Pendulum movements, Runes, Scrying, Tarot Cards.
- Astrology The belief that the orientation of the planets at the time of one's birth, and the location of that birth predicts the individual's future and personality. Belief in astrology is common amongst New Agers, but definitely not limited to them.
- Holistic Health This is a collection of healing techniques which have diverged from the traditional medical model. It attempts to cure disorders in mind, body and spirit and to promote wholeness and balance in the individual. Examples are acupuncture, crystal healing, homeopathy, iridology, massage, various meditation methods, polarity therapy, psychic healing, therapeutic touch, reflexology, etc.
- Human Potential Movement (a.k.a. Emotional Growth Movement) This is a collection of therapeutic methods involving both individualized and group working, using both mental and physical techniques. The goal is to help individuals to advance spiritually. Examples are Esalen Growth Center programs, EST, Gestalt Therapy, Primal Scream Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Transcendental Meditation and Yoga.
EVALUATIONWhen attempting an evaluation of new age philosophy, one should remember that a subject as vast as this cannot be done justice by a few thoughts in a blogpost. The purpose, therefore, is to establish one’s personal opinion on the subject at hand. For me the question at hand is whether new age philosophy really has crept into contemporary theological thinking.
Let me establish a few ground rules. According to 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 the principle is established that a Christian has freedom in decisions purporting to lifestyle choices that has its origins in another religion. Where the context in the abovementioned paragraph is the eating of meat that was sold in a butchery connected to ancient idol worship, the ongoing principle is that Christians have freedom of conscience to live life freely. That implies that practices, such as sports previously associated with specific religions – for example karate – can be participated in without fear.
Paul established a second principle in this paragraph. He referred to another Christian for whom participation in such activities can become a stumbling block. In the original context, it meant that new believers from pagan religions can be “seduced” to re-participate in the religious rituals associated with the buying of meat in these butcheries. The ongoing principle is that today one should refrain from practices that can lead other Christians into tempation – for example one should refrain from drinking alcohol when in the company of a rehabilitated alcoholic. For Paul, the underlying principle is the fact that the Christian faith brings freedom in Christ. This freedom also frees the believers from the enslavement of legalism and fear of practices that will lead one unknowingly into sin – or back into another faith system. When discussing new age philosophy, therefore, I am free to investigate the appropriateness of nonreligious practices that could have its origin in cultures where it was associated with particular faith systems. If it comes to my knowledge that this could lead another Christian into temptation to actually participate in the religious practices, according to Paul, I am challenged to voluntarily refrain from this for the sake of my brother's/sister's conscience.
This is why a Christian could, in principle, have the freedom to participate in eastern sport such as tae kwon do, karate or judo, provided the instructor only teaches the sport and not any form of eastern philosophy along with the sport. And since this is a point of contention for more convservative Christians, a Christian could also participate in meditation techniques that enable him/her to relax and get focused on worship or studying Scripture, provided this isn’t part of practices that is closely associated with eastern religions. Obviously, it makes sense to argue that participating in new age practices such as astrology or spiritism falls outside the scope of this principle, as these practices are also closely associated with the occult.
A second ground rule. Some of the beliefs and practices associated with new age philosophy actually isn’t reserved for this belief system alone. Take the following, using the above discussed beliefs as comparison:
- Christians also believe in the existence of spiritual beings, specifically angels and demons – as it is taught about in the Bible. The difference here is that Christians don’t turn to angels for guidance but rather trust on the Lord alone.
- The principle of teleology, or the view that life has a purpose, is also shared by Christians. The difference is that Christians do not believe in the participation of God’s energy, as we beleive our life has purpose because we share in the mission of God to redeem this fallen world.
- The Bible is filled with references to the importance of interpersonal relationships. No less than 96 “one another” texts exist in the New Testament. The culture of the ancient Near East is steeped in relationship, with the household, or family relationship, as the first and primary relationship. The difference is that these relational character is geared towards Christians code of public conduct, and aimed at testifying about God rather than being destined to be repeated until it becomes healthy.
- Christians also share the belief in optimism; we only call it hope, where our hope lies in Christ and His ongoing redemption of this world.
- As it was written by Paul in Romans 12:1-2, Christians adhere to the belief of personal transformation. Where new age philosophy tries to achieve this transformation through mystical experience, Christians typically submit their thought patterns and character formation to become mirror images of the teachings of Jesus, focusing on God’s leading through his Word in stead of getting supernatural power to develop new potentials within them, as is believed by new age philosophy.
- In accordance with the principle established in Genesis 1, that we were made to look after the earth, Christians also share the view that an ecological responsibility exists. The difference is that we do it because we understand ourselves to be caretakers of God’s creation and not because we are in union with mother earth.
- Finally, Christianity believes, as it is said by Jesus Himself, that a new kingdom is breakling through in this world, the kingdom of God. We are threfore harbringers of the new world order of God’s reign on earth – or as Ephesians 1 says, God is busy uniting everything in heaven and on earth under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
A final ground rule: When somebody accuses a fellow Christian of sporting new age thought, my initial reaction is to look into the context: Does the rest of this person’s arguments, or what he/she was busy saying or writing, reflect an intentional effort to promote new age philosophy as part of Christian religious thinking? Does this person’s life testify towards an obsession with new age practices or thinking? Has this person departed from orthodox Christianity?
For example, Ron Martoia wrote in his
blog that he started doing yoga. That can get a few eyebrows rising, as the practice of yoga and eastern religion is closely associated with each other. But ... Martoia continued saying that practicing yoga doesn’t mean you practice Buddhism. When reading through Martoia’s books, you also find he is quite orthodox in his theology, even if he asks alternative theological questions about sin and helping people to meet Christ. Thus, his own testimony shows he isn’t subversively trying to promote new age or Buddhist philosophy and luring other Christians into some sort of occult trap.
I do not practice yoga or forms of centering prayer myself, as my own spirituality more associates with worship music and Scripture study. I am personally also somewhat sceptical about doing stuff that has the baggage of other religions, such as yoga. But I do not think one will be caught in some demonic trap when you do yoga exercises for relaxation or when you practice centering your prayer. And I do not think fellow Christians who do yoga to relax and meditate to focus on God is diluting their Christianity with new age philosophy.
Furthermore, as a final evaluation of new age philosophy, I will definitely not be looking over the shoulder of every Christian writer or leader or group to see whether they are participating in some subversive covert conspiracy to lure innocent believers into something other than what the Bible teaches. The difference between biblical teaching and new age philosophy is,after all, way too pronounced and obvious for that.
To answer my initial question - is contemporary Christianity infiltrated by new age thought - I think the abovementioned principles with which one should look at books, speeches, sermons, interviews radio programmes, etc, as well as the broad outline of what new agers think, believe and do, will sufficiently enable any Christian to discern for themselves if they will believe what is said or written, whether it is new age or whether the criticism brought in against Christian leaders is justified.
REFERENCEShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Agehttp://www.religioustolerance.org/newage.htmhttp://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2001/06/What-New-Agers-Believe.aspxhttp://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/nov_2000/new_age_rel.htm
