NEW AGE

The 'New Age' is not new at all, its principles go back many years. Many believe we are in a 26,000-year cycle and approximately every 2,000 years [it is probably nearer 2,100] a new constellation comes into the ascendancy. Today we are under the influence of the Age of Aquarius.

There is some disagreement about when it actually started (if indeed it has) and how it started. But this should not be a surprise because the New Age is so diverse; with many different strands all working towards the same end. There are different tributaries and some will be affected by one stream and some another. Are any of these streams compatible with Evangelical Christianity and do they lead us to the safety and security of the God of Scripture?

Theosophy

Theosophy, meaning Divine Wisdom, is a mixture of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian ideas. It was founded by a Russian Countess by the name of Madame Helena Ptrovna Blavatsky in 1875. This has deeply affected the modern roots of the New Age Movement with its heavily occultic influence. Theosophy aims to obtain 'knowledge of the nature and attributes of the Supreme Power, and of higher spirits by the aid of physical processes.' It teaches that all roads lead to God and is heavily into reincarnation and spiritualistic in the way it receives messages. Blavatsky's best known work is probably The Secret Doctrine first published in October 1888.

Alice Bailey, a successor to Blavatsky, is for many the high priestess of the New Age Movement. She founded the Lucifer Publishing Co. today as Lucis Publishing or Lucis Press. Through a Tibetan spirit guide Bailey channelled over 20 books. Revealed and developed from 1875 onwards was 'The Plan'. There needed however to be a 100-year silence and so it would be brought into effect in 1975 and have its culmination around 2025.

Secular Humanism. The idea of Secular Humanism can be summed up as follows,

"Man is the expression of cosmic process and needs to understand himself, i.e. cosmic in order to guide events. - Julian Huxley, Religion Without Revelation, 1959."

Human Potential Movement. This is the humanistic influence in the New Age Movement today. Everything is to do with self and the fact that man can do it by himself. There are literally hundreds of groups that are involved in management training and self improvement courses, such as Silva Mind Control and Forum, formally EST. All such courses, to one degree or another will involve New Age thinking and methods.

Paganism. The New Age Movement has been influenced from various aspects of paganism. There would be some dispute about what paganism covers, as this is an umbrella-term used to describe a wide range of practices. These include wicca, celtic paganism and shamanism.

Sixties Culture. 'Hippie' culture with its awareness of drugs and eastern mystical experiences brought new practices into many lives. Maharishi Marhesh Yogi and the Beatles are one clear example. Whereas the generation is not with us in the same way today the philosophies they picked up are. Many now are respected men and women in all fields of commerce, education, industry, etc. They have however taken their ideas and philosophies with them into their field.

Gaia. The Greek goddess of the earth, leads us into the stream of the scientist. Former NASA scientist, Dr James Lovelock, used this name to describe his theory of the earth, leaving God out of the picture. The theory says that the earth is self-regulating. It can keep itself clean, tidy and indeed young looking. This answers the problems of a young earth that many evolutionists have struggled with, in the light of scientific dating.

Basic Philosophy

The following beliefs of the New Age Movement are at odds with the evangelical Christian understanding of Scripture. We would therefore conclude that they do not lead to a relationship with the living God of the Bible but with some lesser, and maybe dangerous, supernatural power.

Monism. This is the belief that all is one. Everything that exists is interrelated and comes from the same essence. All consists of this 'life-force'. This immediately strikes at the heart of the evangelical Christian belief because the Bible shows that there is a clear distinction between the Creator and His creation - all is not of the same essence.

Pantheism or Panentheism. This takes the belief a step further to the conclusion that all is 'God,' or at least that God is in everything. Everything is an expression of God, therefore we are Gods. God is in us and therefore we have no need to invite Him in. We may not always feel 'God' within but that is because of the unreal world we are living in. When I have my 'shift of consciousness' then I will see things as they are really.

Gnosticism. The belief in a special secret knowledge that you need if you want to find 'God'. The right ceremony or the right formula is vital and the particular group has the necessary knowledge. Today there are many books in new age circles that are Gnostic. The most common is The Gospel of Thomas supposed to contain the secret sayings of Jesus.

Syncretism. An attempt to harmonise diverse and opposite beliefs and practices. It would therefore claim that all religions, although teaching diametrically opposed views, would lead to the same God.

Relativism. If you leave God out of the picture then you must leave absolute standards out too. Everything becomes relative and everyone is allowed to do what is right in their own eyes. You can pursue your goals in anyway you want providing you do not affect the 'rights' of others. This of course can easily lead to a situation where I want what I want so much I forget to care about others.

Transformation. If enough individuals change and be for 'the good of the whole' then the planet will change. Every new ager is searching for the way, method, belief etc. to change their life. A hopeless quest as so often they have put to one side the only One who can accomplish such a transformation.

The Cosmic Christ. Jesus becomes a historical person divorced from the 'Christ principle' within. This 'Christ principle' dwelt equally in Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and other religious leaders. Consequently, all roads lead to God. Some believe that it was this sort of belief in the 'Christ principle' that John had to warn about in 1 John 2:18-23.

The Outcome of these Beliefs

Jesus Christ is not unique.

I do not need salvation in a God outside me because I am God or I contain God already.

I need to release the 'god-force' within me.

Whatever way seems good to me to achieve this I must follow. I must not criticise the path other's take nor do I expect criticism about the way I go. Whatever seems good and expedient to me to reach my experience of 'awareness' is permissible.

Needing spiritual answers New Ager's look inside themselves. Many techniques, for example, Yoga and TM are designed to enable them to release the force within. New Agers can be master of your own destiny.

I must be the one to achieve my spirituality and therefore I become selfish in my outlook.

The New Age Movement and evangelical Christianity are poles apart. The New Age Movement says you can do it, think positively and you'll get it. God says you can never do it by yourself give up and let Me do it in you. Consider yourself dead and let Me live within you.

Please take me to the next page in this series