The New Age Movement (NAM) is both a religious and a social movement. In fact, Western culture is currently experiencing a phenomenal, spiritual, ideological, and sociological shift. It is a religious world view that is alien and hostile to Christianity. It's a multi-focused, multi-faceted synthesis, in varying degrees, of the Far Eastern, mystical religions, mainly Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Western Occultism, adapted to and influenced by Western, materialistic culture. It sometimes appears in secularized forms.
Prominent expressions of the NAM were carried on into more modern times in Europe and America by Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), transcendentalists like Thoreau, Emerson, and Wordsworth (early 1800s), and Theosophy introduced by Madame Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) (The New Age Rage, pp. 22-24). The decade of the sixties witnessed a revival of Eastern mysticism as traditional values were being challenged. Zen, Carlos Castañada, the Beatles, Transcendental Meditation, and yoga all became popular.
The New Age Movement consists of an incredibly huge and well organized
network consisting of thousands of groups, trusts, foundations, clubs, lodges,
and religious groups whose goal and purpose is to prepare the world to enter
the coming "Age Of Aquarius." A small sampling of only a few of the
organizations involved would include: Amnesty International, Zero Population
Growth, California New Age Caucus, New World Alliance, World Goodwill, The
Church Universal and Triumphant, The Theosophical Society, the Forum, Planetary
Initiative for the World We Choose, the Club of Rome, Church Universal &
Triumphant, Christian
Science, and the Unity School of
Christianity. This list, by no means all inclusive, demonstrates the
diversity of organizations operating in economic, political, and religious
spheres of influence.
The New Age movement is not a unified, traditional cult system of beliefs and
practices, even though its roots derive from Eastern religions and the occult.
It has no official leader, headquarters, nor membership list, but instead is a
network of groups working toward specific goals. One of its main goals is to
bring to the forefront a one-world leader who is called "The Christ"
or "Maitreya." Nevertheless, it is estimated that there are millions
of worldwide followers of various New Age practices and/or holders of one or more
of the major beliefs of the New Age.
The
The book Networking lists over 1,200 organizations, centers,
cooperatives, groups, communities, and networks in fields ranging from health
care and spiritual growth, through politics, economics, and ecology, to
education, communications, personal growth, and intercultural relations. There
is hardly any area of human interest that does not have some people somewhere
exploring it from a New Age point of view. Due to the lack of a central
organization and the diversity of emphasis adhered to by the various New Age
groups, there are literally hundreds of publications. Some popular publications
and journals are New Age Journal, Body Mind Spirit, Yoga Journal, Gnosis,
East West, Noetic Sciences, and Omega.
The major goal of the New Age Movement is to bring peace to the world upon
entering the Age of Aquarius. This will be accomplished primarily through the
leadership of "the Christ" (also known as "Lord Maitreya"),
who will supposedly come to teach us to live at peace with each other. Some of
the other stated goals of the movement are to establish a World Food Authority,
World Water Authority, World Economic Order, and an entirely New World Order.
It should be noted here that one of the requirements for a person to enter the
New Age is that he or she will have to take what is known as a "Luciferic
Initiation," a kind of pledge of allegiance to the Christ of the New Age
and to the New World Order. The primary goals of the movement then, are to prepare
the world to receive the Christ and to enter the Age of Aquarius, thus
establishing the New World Order.
The New Age Movement professes a broad-minded openness to all religions, but
its basic underlying philosophy represents a carefully calculated undermining of
Judeo-Christian beliefs with various combinations of gnosticism and occultism.
[Gnosticism is an ancient world-view stating that Divine essence is the only
true or highest reality, and that the unconscious Self of man is actually this
essence. It is through intuitional discovery, "visionary experience or
initiation into secret doctrine" (not the plenary revelation of
propositional truth in the Bible), that man becomes conscious of this true Self
(Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 10, 1968, p. 506; New Bible Dictionary,
J.D. Douglas, ed., pp. 473-474).] It bears a remarkable resemblance to the
apostate world religion that H.G. Wells claimed as his own and predicted would
one day take over the world. It also fits the description of "The
Plan" for establishing the new world government that is described in
various psychic communications from alleged E.T.'s and ascended masters. There
is one more connection: the New Age Movement fits the description of the
Antichrist's religion -- a rejection of the Judeo-Christian God and the
declaration that Self is God.
(Source: The Seduction of Christianity.)
Douglas R. Groothuis, author of Unmasking the New Age and Confronting
the New Age, identifies six distinctives of New Age thinking: (1) all is
one; (2) all is God; (3) humanity is God; (4) a change in consciousness; (5)
all religions are one; and (6) cosmic evolutionary optimism. Norman Geisler
details 14 primary "doctrines" of New Age religions: (1) an
impersonal god (force); (2) an eternal universe; (3) an illusory nature of
matter; (4) a cyclical nature of life; (5) the necessity of reincarnations; (6)
the evolution of man into Godhood; (7) continuing revelations from beings beyond
the world; (8) the identity of man with God; (9) the need for meditation (or
other consciousness-changing techniques); (10) occult practices (astrology,
mediums, etc.); (11) vegetarianism and holistic health; (12) pacifism (or
anti-war activities); (13) one world (global) order; and (14) syncretism (unity
of all religions). [HJB]
The New Age also encompasses a wide array of notions: spiritualism, astrology,
bioenergy, Chi energy, chakras, nirvana, Christ-consciousness, Native
American Spirituality, Prajna, out-of-body/near-death experiences,
reincarnation, and the occult disciplines, as well as unorthodox
psychotherapeutic techniques and pseudoscientific applications of the
"healing powers" of crystals and pyramids. Some commonly used New Age
terms are: guided imagery, reincarnation; positive
thinking; human potential; holistic; holographic; synergistic; unity;
oneness; transformation; awakening; networking; communal sharing; one-world/globalism/new
world order (i.e., one language, one government, one currency, one religion);
cosmic consciousness; etc. (See New
Age Dictionary below.)
It is important for Christians to recognize even the most disguised forms of
the New Age Movement. Some New Age practices are: rebirthing; inner healing;
biofeedback;
yoga; I
Ching; reflexology; black and white magic; fire-walking; trance-channeling;
therapeutic touch; transpersonal
psychology; witchcraft; parapsychology; Magick; Tai Chi; Shamanism; hypnotherapy;
acupuncture/acupressure;
TM; martial
arts; Zen; Relaxation; Erhard Seminar Training (est); Silva Method
(formerly Silva Mind Control); visualization; etc. Some prominent New Agers
are: Alice Bailey, Alvin Toffler, Dr. Barbara Ray, Benjamin Creme, Levi
Dowling, George Trevelyan, Fritjof Capra, Abraham Maslow, Barbara Marx Hubbard,
Ruth Montgomery, Shirley MacLaine, J.Z. Knight, Marilyn Ferguson, David
Spangler, Jeremy Rifkin, Norman Cousins, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, John Denver,
George Lucas, and Norman Lear.
Many New Agers attach great importance to artifacts, relics, and sacred
objects, all of which can be profitably offered for sale: Tibetan bells, exotic
herbal teas, Viking runes, solar energizers, colored candles for
"chromotherapy," and a plethora of occult books, pamphlets,
instructions, and tape recordings.
New Age music is a term applied to the works of various composers and musicians
who strive to create soothing audio environments rather than follow song
structures. Born of an interest in spirituality and healing in the late 1970s,
it is often used as an aid in meditation. The defining features of New Age
music are harmonic consonance, contemplative melodies, nonlinear song forms,
and uplifting themes. New Age performers may use traditional ethnic, acoustic,
electric, or electronic instruments, or even sounds from nature. New Age music
is meditative, almost invariably instrumental style with roots in Oriental, jazz,
and classical music; often derivative, New Age compositions can sound like
minimalist music or like lush evocations of the natural environment. Prominent
New Age musicians include electronic-music pioneer Brian Eno,
multi-instrumentalist Kitaro; solo-piano artist George Winston, vocalist Liz
Story; harpist Andreas Vollenweider, and electric violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.
Athletes are using guided imagery. Graduate schools of business are invoking
Zen, yoga, and tarot cards in teaching courses on creativity in business (e.g.,
Stanford Graduate School of Business). Stock market gurus employ Fibonacci numbers and "wave
theory" in their forecasting, both based upon astrology. Even some
churches teach that the best way to get to know God is to visualize Christ,
ignoring that visualization is a powerful occult device. (Visualizing an
entity, even God or Christ, ultimately puts one in touch with a masquerading
demon.)
In summary, the term "New Age" is an informal term derived from astrology, which indicates that this earth, if not the cosmos, is on the verge of an evolutionary transition from the Piscean Age (rationality) to the Aquarian Age of spirituality, bliss, and harmony of all things. Even though it is undergoing a significant revival, the "New Age" is hardly new. In fact, it is very old. A better term would be the "Old Occult."
Keeping in mind that the myriads of New Age groups are quite eclectic, drawing
from several religious traditions mentioned earlier, the following is a general
description of the more prominent unifying themes of the NAM. i.e., the
highlights of what New Agers believe concerning their source of authority, God,
Christ, sin and salvation, good and evil, Satan, and future life:
1. Source of Authority. New Agers claim no external source of
authority -- only an internal one ("the god within"). They believe
the individual is the standard of truth, saying that "truth as an
objective reality simply does not exist" (Shirley MacLaine, It's All
in the Playing) (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Matt. 5:18). [HJB]
2. God. New Agers confuse the Creator with His creation
and think that God is part of creation, not separate from it. They borrow from
Eastern religions the belief in monism -- that "all is One" -- only
one essence in the universe, everyone and everything being a part of that
essence. Everything is a different form of that essence (energy, consciousness,
power, love, force). But the belief in monism is really Hinduistic
pantheism (all is God). New Agers view God as an impersonal life force,
consciousness, or energy (M. Ferguson, Aquarian Conspiracy, p. 382; S.
Gawain, Living In the Light, pp. 7-8) (e.g., the "Star Wars
Force"), rather than a Person. They believe that every person and thing is
"intertwined" with God (evolving spiritually to the state of
"the Christ" being), and use Luke 17:21 ("the kingdom of God is
within you") to support this idea (despite the fact that "within
you" in this passage means "in your midst"). They claim every
human has a divine spark within him because of being part of the divine
essence. The state of God is called by various terms among different New Age
groups, i.e., God-consciousness, Universal Love, Self-Realization, the I AM,
Higher Self, Brahman, Nirvana, etc. New Agers are obviously part of a religion of
idolatry and self-worship. [HJB]
3. Jesus Christ. A major idea in New Age thinking is that
of the "Christ Consciousness." In other words, Christ is an office
rather than an individual, such as Jesus, whom Christians know to be THE
CHRIST. This idea of "Christ Consciousness" asserts that Jesus was
not the only Christ, but that He equipped Himself to receive the "Christ
Consciousness" (i.e., He was a great "spiritual master" who
attained Christ Consciousness), as supposedly also did Buddha, Krishna, and
Mohammed. [This is an old occult Gnostic teaching which stems from the ancient
Babylonian mystery religions. New Agers also reinvent the historical Jesus by
claiming that he spent 18 years in India (during His "silent years")
absorbing Hinduism and the teachings of Buddha.] New Agers believe that Jesus
received the Christ Consciousness at His baptism, and that it left Him at His
crucifixion.
4. Sin and Salvation. There is no place for the concept of sin
in the New Age. There can be no sin because there is no transcendent God to
rebel against. There are no rules or absolute moral imperatives. New Agers have
a "New Thought" view of sin, which knows nothing of a representative
man (Adam) by whose sin all men sinned. Nor does New Thought teach that there
is any original sin, but that man's true essence is divine and perfect. Indeed,
it finds nothing which is of the nature of sin. Instead, it speaks of
"troublesome desires" which appear to be natural human impulses which
direct men from consciousness to their identity with God, and, therefore, are
troublesome but hardly sinful. Since New Agers believe that each person is god,
thereby having endless potential for self-improvement, sin is denied as the
Bible defines it (man being inherently sinful and utterly depraved -- Rom.
5:12). Sin is merely ignorance of one's "inner divinity." Because sin
does no exist, there is no need for repentance or forgiveness, and Jesus did
not die for our sins. They think that any perceived lack that man might have is
merely a lack of enlightenment, thereby eliminating the need of salvation or a
Savior. [In fact, salvation is not even an issue for New Agers. The soul is
part of the universe and never dies. It is reborn or reincarnated in different
physical bodies in a succession of future lives. The good or bad
"karma" earned in the present lifetime determines one's subsequent
incarnation. Humans should seek to progress to higher states of consciousness
and higher planes of existence. There are many different paths to the goal of
spiritual perfection. No one path is the only correct path. The assumed cycle
of reincarnation and karma presupposes a salvation by works, contrary to the
principle of salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph.
2:8-9).]
5. Man's Destiny. The salvation of the world depends upon human
beings. When enough people harmonize their positive energy and turn their
thoughts to peace, the world will be cleansed or negative elements and New Age
ideals will be realized in an era of spiritual enlightenment. Since man is
intrinsically divine and perfect, his only real problem is ignorance of that
fact. Man has a perception of finiteness which is, in reality, an illusion (Ken
Keyes, Jr., Handbook to Higher Consciousness, pp. 125-29). Salvation in
the New Age is for man to become enlightened through experiential knowledge
(gnosis). New Age groups offer various occultic techniques to enable
individuals, and ultimately the world, to evolve into this oneness (unitive)
consciousness (James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy: An Experimental
Guide, pp. 243-60). These techniques may include altered states of
consciousness (often transcendental meditation), yoga, crystals, channeling
(spirit guides), psychics, past-life therapy, acupuncture, etc.
6. Good and Evil. Mimicking the Eastern religions, New
Agers distort the distinction between good and evil. They believe that because
"all is One," ultimately there is neither good nor evil. They think
that a person can transcend his consciousness and go beyond the bounds of moral
distinctions, so that even murder sometimes becomes an acceptable way of
serving one's gods (e.g., Charles Manson). [HJB]
7. Satan. The traditional view of Lucifer as the devil or
Satan is clearly absent in New Age literature. Rather, he is described as a
mighty being of light and the "Ruler of Humanity," as Alice Bailey,
foundational apostle and leading writer of the New Age Movement, puts it. As to
the history and achievements of Lucifer, Benjamin Creme, a leading lecturer and
proponent of the New Age, says, "Lucifer came from the planet Venus 18.5
million years ago; he's the director of our planetary evolution, he is the
sacrificial lamb, and the prodigal son. Lucifer made an incredible sacrifice, a
supreme sacrifice for our planet."
8. Future Life (Reincarnation). New Agers believe in the
ancient [Hindu] Eastern religious concept of reincarnation -- that through a
long process of rebirths, man can eventually reach spiritual perfection (cf. Heb.
9:27). New Agers often place animal
rights above human rights, because many New Agers believe animals are
reincarnated souls. They also teach the Hindu principle of "karma" --
that what a person sows in this life, he will reap in the next life in his
reincarnated state. This belief in reincarnation has led to believing in the
power of "spirit guides" or "channels" -- those who allow
spirits from another dimension to speak through their bodies. [HJB]
These entities always seem to repeat the three-fold error: (1) There is no
death, (2) man is god, (3) knowledge of self is salvation and power (Brooks
Alexander, Spiritual Counterfeits Project). New Agers misrepresent church
history, the doctrines of Christianity, and often twist Scripture to support
the idea that original Christianity taught reincarnation. They wrongly argue
that the early church suppressed the doctrine and censored its teaching
(Kenneth Ring, Heading Toward Omega, p. 158).
Endnotes
"Old Occult" -- The New Age Movement is a modern revival of very ancient, divergent, religious traditions and practices. The actual original root is squarely centered in Genesis 3:1-5, and reverberates throughout the movement's continued historical expressions. In the original lie, Satan questions God's word, His authority and benevolent rule (v. 1), disputes that death results from disobedience (v. 4), and claims that through the acquisition of secret or Gnostic wisdom man can be enlightened and can be "like God" (v. 5).
Many of the occult practices and beliefs revived by the modern NAM were a part of very early pagan cultures. Many practices common to the NAM, such as witchcraft/sorcery, spiritism, divination, (clairvoyance; seeing the future), necromancy (consulting the dead), and astrology, are clearly and strongly condemned in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18: 9-17; Isaiah 47: 9-15). These and other occultic practices were spread through the ancient magic and mystery religions of the Chaldeans, Egyptians, and most notably, the Assyrian-Babylonian culture (Ancient Empires of the New Age, pp. 15-62). Noting the scope of its continuing presence, the Bible informs Christians of Babylon's eschatological implications. The lie of Genesis 3 is significantly developed in Babylon (Isaiah 47) and continues to its ultimate state of development, revealed as Satan's one-world system at the end of the age (Revelation 17-18).
Three major world religions whose beliefs and practices are entwined with the NAM are Hinduism, a product of 5,000 years of development, Buddhism, circa 560 B.C., and Taoism, circa 500 B.C. (Eerdman's Handbook to the World's Religions, pp. 170, 221, 252). Another prominent occultic influence in Europe was Druidism, the religion of the Celts, which extended from 300 B.C. into the middle ages (Ibid., pp. 114-19). [Return to Text]
Reincarnation -- Christians should be able to demonstrate that the Bible does NOT teach reincarnation. When Jesus calls John the Baptist "Elijah," He is clearly speaking metaphorically. Luke 1:17 demonstrates that John was filling the office of Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 4:5-6. In fact, Elijah was seen with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-3. The meaning of the resurrection is the opposite of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27; 1 Cor. 15:12-28). Point out that if God is an impersonal force, then love and forgiveness are not possible. These are personal attributes as opposed to impersonal karmic law. Fundamentally, intercessory prayer is absolutely necessary. The battle for the souls of men is won through God's grace, intervening and drawing them to Himself. [Return to Text]
* Unless otherwise cited, five primary sources were used for this report: (1) Grolier's 1995 Multimedia Encyclopedia, (2) Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia, and (3) What They Believe, Harold J. Berry [HJB], BTTB:1990, pp. 117-138; (4) "The New Age Movement," Craig Branch (Watchman Fellowship Profile, 1996); and (5) Examining & Exposing Cultic & Occultic Movements, Jack Sin, "The New Age Movement," April 2000, pp. 51-62.
(Unless otherwise cited, adapted and/or excerpted from David L. Brown, Th.M. -- Investigative Researcher with Logos Communication; and from "The Vocabulary of the 'New Agers,'" Sept/Oct 2001, The Perilous Times.)
The average Christian has little idea what the concepts and ideals of the New Age really are. Then when they encounter New Age vocabulary, confusion really sets in. New Agers often play semantic word games, using the same words Christians do, yet the definitions used bear no resemblance to the Christian definitions. This brief dictionary is designed to help you understand New Age terminology as they define their terms. -- David L. Brown
Age of Aquarius -- Astrologers believe that evolution goes
through cycles corresponding to the signs of the zodiac, each lasting from
2,000 to 2,400 years. New Age advocates say we are now moving from the cycle
associated with Pisces into the one associated with Aquarius. The Aquarian Age
will supposedly be characterized by a heightened degree of spiritual or cosmic
consciousness.
Agent -- A person sending a telepathic message.
Akashic Record -- Imperishable records of every person's every
word, thought, or act [allegedly from "outer space"] inscribed in the
earth or spirit realms, allegedly from "outer space" (known as
"ether").
Alpha -- The physical body.
Angstrom -- a ten-billionth of a "meter." This is connected
with "wave lengths."
Animism -- The belief that inanimate things (such as plants) possess
a soul or spirit. New Age advocates see animism as a way of rededicating the
earth.
Anthroposophy -- An esoteric cult founded by German mystic
Rudolf Steiner. The term literally means "wisdom of man." It teaches
that we possess the truth within ourselves. The system of thought is occultic
and spiritistic.
Ascended Masters -- Refers to those who have supposedly
reached the highest level of spiritual consciousness and have become guides of
the spiritual evolution of mankind.
Ascension of Christ -- This is reinterpreted in a mystical way
to refer to the rise of the "Christ-consciousness" in mankind. It
describes the awareness that man is divine.
Astral -- The word is from "star" (as in
"ASTROnaut" and "ASTROnomy"). Here, it refers to an
"after-death, out-of-the-body" experience. In Humanism, demonism,
Satanism, and Theosophy, the extended umbilical cord holds the
"astral" and the "physical" together. The experience is an
"astral flight." Literally: "STAR FLIGHT," known on TV as
"Star Trek."
Astral Body -- A spiritual body capable of
projection from the physical body. The astral body survives death.
Astral Flight -- Soul travel occurring
particularly during sleep or deep meditation.
Attunement -- A New Age counterpart to prayer. Also referred to
as at-one-ment, the term relates primarily to the New Age idea that complete
oneness with God can be experienced by human beings. One attains a hypnotic
consciousness of an amoral, neuter "state of being" through
meditation: Krishna consciousness, Nirvana, Prajna, Samadhi, etc. Various
consciousness techniques are used to cause this "oneness":
meditation; guided imagery; yoga; hypnosis; chanting of a mantra; ecstatic
dancing; channeling of spirit guides; New Age music; and positive thinking or
Alpha Mind techniques.
Aura -- Radiated glow or halo surrounding living beings.
Automatic Writing -- Writing produced without conscious
thought of a living person; written message given through a spirit guide with a
pencil or typewriter.
Avatar -- A person who "descends" into human form
from above as a manifestation of divinity and who reveals divine truth to
people. Such a one has supposedly progressed beyond the need to be reincarnated
in another body (i.e., there is no further "bad karma" to work off).
Bhagavad Gita -- Hindu sacred scripture.
Biofeedback -- A technique in which brain waves are monitored to
bring normally unconscious, involuntary bodily functions under conscious,
voluntary control. Biofeedback can lead to altered states of consciousness and
mystical experiences.
Blood of Christ -- This is understood by some New Agers to
refer to the "life-energy" of the Cosmic Christ. This
"blood" supposedly flowed from the cross into the etheric (or
spiritual) realms of the earth. From these realms, the Christ seeks to guide
the spiritual evolution of mankind.
Bodhisattva -- A being who has supposedly earned the right to
enter into Nirvana or into illumination, but instead voluntarily turns back
from that state in order to aid humanity in attaining the same goal. The
"Christ" is said to be a Bodhisattva.
Buddha -- "The Enlightened One." An avatar or
messenger.
Chakras -- The seven "energy points" on the body. Yoga is
practiced through the Chakras; the "crown" Chakra is, naturally, on
top of the skull.
Channeling -- A New Age form of mediumship or spiritism. The
channeled yields control of his/her perceptual and cognitive capacities to a
spiritual entity with the intent of receiving paranormal information.
Chela -- A "Guru's" pupil.
Chinook Learning Community -- A New Age educational community
located in the Pacific Northwest. This group sponsors both long and short-term
educational programs on personal and social transformation, New Age
spirituality, and how to live with an ecological perspective.
Clairaudience -- Ability to hear mentally without using the
ears.
Clairvoyance -- Ability to see mentally without using the
eyes, beyond ordinary time and space limits; also called "Second
Sight."
Consciousness Revolution -- New Age advocates call for a
"consciousness revolution," a new way of looking at and experiencing
life. The primary focus of the new consciousness is oneness with God, all
mankind, the earth, and with the entire universe.
Control -- The Spirit that sends messages through a medium in
trance.
Cosmic Christ -- In esoteric schools of thought, the Christ is
considered to be a universal spirit or a cosmic force. The primary goal of this
impersonal spirit or force is to guide the spiritual evolution of mankind.
Cosmic Consciousness -- A spiritual and mystical perception
that all in the universe is "one." To attain cosmic consciousness is
to see the universe as God and God as the universe.
Cosmic Humanism -- In contrast to normative humanism that sees
man as the measure of all things, cosmic humanism sees man as having virtually
unlimited potential because of his inner divinity.
Crystals -- New Age advocates believe that crystals contain
incredible healing and energizing powers. Crystals are often touted as being
able to restore the "how of energy" in the human body.
Deja Vu -- A French expression, meaning to relive life over
again after another "incarnation." Transmigration of souls is also
connected with this. The feeling of having already experienced an event or
place that is being encountered for the very first time.
Discarnate -- The soul or personality of a living creature who
has died.
Dowser -- A sensitive who uses a forked stick that points to
hidden water, oil, buried money, lost articles, or people.
Earth Logos -- Some New Age advocates believe that the Earth
Logos is a great spiritual being who is the ensouling life of planet earth. The
earth is considered a physical manifestation (or body) of this spiritual
intelligence. This pagan religion is called "Animism."
Ectoplasm -- A white filmy substance pouring from a medium's
bodily openings, supposedly denoting the presence of a disembodied spirit.
Esalen Institute -- A "growth center" that offers a
wide variety of workshops for mind, body, and spirit. It is located in Big Sur,
California.
Esoteric -- A word used to describe knowledge that is
possessed or understood only by a few.
Esoteric Christianity -- A mystical form of professing
Christianity that sees its "core truth" as identical to the
"core truth" of every other religion (i.e., man is divine). This form
of Christianity is at home with Aldous Huxley's "perennial
philosophy." (See: Perennial Philosophy.)
ESP -- Extrasensory perception encompassing paranormal
abilities such as telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance.
ESP Cards -- A pack of twenty-five cards bearing five symbols,
including stars, squares, circles, crosses, and waves.
Exoteric Christianity -- A form of Christianity identified
with historic or orthodox Christianity that New Agers would describe as being
devoid of all spiritual authenticity.
Fall of Man -- Refers to the fall of man's consciousness. A
fallen consciousness is one that recognizes the existence of only the material
realm. The Christ is believed to have "redeemed" man in the sense
that He enabled man to perceive the spiritual world behind the material world.
Findhorn Community -- A legendary New Age community located in
the North of Scotland. This group offers an ongoing educational program in the
principles of New Age spirituality.
Gaia -- A Greek name for the goddess of the earth. It also
refers to a scientific hypothesis formulated by James Lovelock whereby all
living matter on the earth is believed to be a single living organism. In such
a scheme, humanity is considered the nervous system of the living earth.
Globalism -- A modern-day term referring to the need for a
transformation from the present nation-state divisions into a one-world
community.
Gnosticism -- A tradition going back to the second century
which holds that salvation comes through intuitive "gnosis" or
knowledge of one's supposed divinity.
God -- A being who has "many faces." He (it) is
considered a radically immanent being who is often referred to as a
"universal consciousness," "universal life," or
"universal energy." The New Age god is more or less an impersonal
force that pervades the universe.
Graphology -- Character analysis and foretelling based on
handwriting.
Great Invocation -- A New Age prayer that has been translated into
over eighty languages. The purpose of this prayer is to invoke the presence of
the Cosmic Christ on earth, thus leading to the oneness and brotherhood of all
mankind.
Group Guru -- A slang New Age term referring to the idea that
the Cosmic Christ is incarnate in all of humanity. All mankind is seen as a
single "guru."
Guru -- Teacher or master (sometimes "Gura."). The
opposite of "Chela." The Guru is the Buddhist "Master." The
"Chela" is his pupil.
Harmonic Convergence -- The assembly of New Age meditators
gathered at the same propitious astrological time in different locations to
usher in peace on earth and one-world government.
Holism -- The theory that all reality is organically one.
Everything in the universe is viewed as interrelated and interdependent. It is
the basis of Hinduism and Buddhism, now taught in all colleges and universities
in America that followed Einstein's "theory of relativity." It is
called "Yin and Yang" in Chinese and will be found on the national flag
of Korea, as a symbol.
Holistic Health -- Holistic health sees the body as an
inter-related organism. Its goal is to treat the whole person (body, mind, and
spirit) as opposed to merely treating a particular sickness.
Hologram -- A three-dimensional projection resulting from the
interaction of laser beams. Scientists have discovered that the image of an
entire hologram can be reproduced from any one of its many component parts. New
Agers use this to illustrate the oneness of all reality.
Homeopathy -- A system of medicine rooted in occult ideas that
was developed by Samuel Hahnemann. It claims to manipulate the "vital
force" of the human body by transferring the power of homeopathic
medicines that have been potentized by a process of dilutions and succession
(vigorous shaking with impact).
Human Potential Movement -- A movement with roots in
humanistic psychology that stresses man's essential goodness and unlimited
potential.
I Ching -- A Chinese textbook, used in Red China, showing how to
"divine" (a counterfeit way to tell the future) by throwing sticks
into six-sided figures as in "666" (cf. Rev. 13).
Initiation -- This occult term is generally used in reference
to the expansion or transformation of a person's consciousness. An
"initiate" is one whose consciousness has been transformed so that he
now perceives inner realities. There are varying "degrees" of
initiation (i.e., "first degree initiates," "second-degree
initiates," etc.).
Inner Self or Higher Self -- Refers to the inner divine nature
possessed by human beings. All people are said to possess an inner self, though
not all are aware of it.
Interdependence or Interconnectedness -- These words are used
by New Agers to describe the oneness and essential unity of everything in the
universe. All of reality is viewed as interdependent and interconnected.
Jesus -- An avatar who attained a high level of attunement to
the Cosmic Christ. This enabled him to become a bodily vehicle for the Christ
for a period of three years. (See: Avatar)
Kabala (Cabbala, Qaballah) -- Hebrew mystery lore based on
mystical interpretation of the Bible; magical, occult practices stemming
largely from the Middle Ages.
Karma -- Refers to the "debt" accumulated against a
soul as a result of good or bad actions committed during one's life (or lives).
If one accumulates good karma, he will supposedly be reincarnated in a
desirable state. If one accumulates bad karma, he will be reincarnated in a
less desirable state.
Kirlian -- The source of energy in people; it is supposed to be
lying at the base of the spine, slightly lower than the navel; it lies
"coiled" there, as a serpent (cf. Isa. 27:1; Rev. 12:1-6; Gen. 3:1).
Kirlian Photography -- A photographic process that measures
living auras.
Kundalini -- The elemental energy of the human body which,
like a serpent, rests coiled at the base of the spine.
Levitation -- Raising of objects or people off the ground
without using physical energy.
Lucis Trust -- Originally incorporated as the Lucifer
Publishing Company, the Lucis Trust oversees the Lucis Publishing Company,
World Goodwill, and Arcane School. Lucis Trust owns all the copyrights of the
Alice Bailey books.
Magic Circle Ring -- Drawn by occultists to protect them from
the spirits and demons they call up by incantations and rituals.
Maitreya -- The name has its roots in a legendary Buddha
figure. Some New Age advocates believe that the "second coming of
Christ" occurred in 1977 in the person of Maitreya.
Mandala -- A design, usually concentric, that focuses
attention to a single point.
Mantra -- A word or phrase that is to be chanted repetitively
in an effort to empty the mind and attain "cosmic consciousness"
(oneness with God and the universe).
Mass Incarnation -- An incarnation of the Christ in all of
humanity. New Age advocates say that this incarnation is presently taking place
on a planetary scale, and is not unlike the incarnation of the Cosmic Christ in
the body of Jesus 2,000 years ago.
Medium -- A psychic or sensitive living person whose body is
used as a vehicle for communicating with spirits.
Metaphysics -- The science of the supernatural, although the
word used in Philosophy (1600-1900, along with Axiology and Epistemology) never
meant that at all. Metaphysics was the study of Causality, Cosmology, the
nature of the Universe, etc. Literally, it deals with the problem of "What
is real?" In the New Age, where lunacy is the "norm," it deals
with "Om," "Rome," and "Mahabone": three magic
words used in Oriental religions, the Catholic religion, and in Masonry. (OM
symbolizes "Brahma.")
Monism -- A metaphysical theory that sees all of reality as a
unified whole. Everything in the universe is seen as being made of the same
stuff.
Network -- An informal, decentralized organization created by
like-minded individuals who are interested in addressing specific problems and
offering possible solutions. All of this takes place outside of conventional
institutions.
New Age Movement -- A loose organization of people, many of
them "Yuppies," who believe the world has entered the Aquarian Age
when peace on earth and one-world government will rule. They see themselves as
advanced in consciousness, rejecting Judeo-Christian values and the Bible in
favor of Oriental philosophies and religion. Among them may be found environmentalists,
nuclear-freeze proponents, Marxist-socialist utopians, mind-control advocates,
ESP cultists, spiritists, witchcraft practitioners, and others using magical
rites.
Nirvana -- Liberation from earthly things; paradise.
Numerology -- The analysis of hidden or prophetic meanings of
numbers.
Occultism -- Belief in supernatural forces and beings.
Available only to the initiate; secret.
Om -- A word symbolizing Brahma, the Creator God.
One Worlders -- Those who advocate the abolition of nations,
working to hand over power to a single-world government similar in structure to
the present United Nations; off-shoots of the United World Federalists founded
in the 1930s.
Ouiji Board -- Game board containing all the letters of the
alphabet plus numbers from 0 to 9 and "Yes/No." A sliding pointer
(planchette) spells out words in answer to questions asked by players.
Out-of-Body Experience -- Leaving the physical body while at
rest, asleep, near death, or temporarily dead.
Pantheism -- Doctrine that identifies God with the whole
universe, every particle, tree, table, animal, and person being part of Him.
Paradigm Shift -- Refers to a shift in world views. The
so-called "new paradigm" (new model or form) is pantheistic (all is
God) and monistic (all is one). Practically, it means that toleration of sin
becomes progress, while virtue, morality, and purity become defects. In
addition, lunacy becomes normal behavior while common sense becomes a
"hindrance to change."
Paranormal -- Beyond or above normal human powers or senses.
Parapsychology -- Study of psychic phenomena using scientific
methods.
Pendulum -- Heavy object on a string, used for dowsing or
fortune telling.
Pentagram -- Five-pointed star used in magical ceremonies.
While sometimes used by Satanists, it is not strictly a Satanic symbol. (Also,
Satanists use the Pentagram only in its inverted orientation, while other
occultists use it almost exclusively in the upright orientation.)
Percipient -- Person who receives telepathic messages.
Perennial Philosophy -- A term made popular by Aldous Huxley
(coined by Liebniz) that sees all religious truth or experience as one and the
same. This philosophy proposes that even though the externals of the various
religions may differ, the essence or core truth is the same in each.
Plan, The -- A phrase that occurs often in the writings of
Alice Bailey. It refers to specific preparations in the world for a New Age and
a New Age Christ. These preparations are carried out by the "Masters of
the Hierarchy," a group of exalted beings who supposedly guide the
spiritual evolution of people on earth. Though this teaching of the Plan does
actually exist, the term has been sensationalized by some "Christian"
writers. These writers have mistakenly hypothesized that New Agers are
completely unified in a "behind-the-scenes manipulation" of world
events in order to conquer the world for its true god, Lucifer.
Planetary Citizens -- A New Age activist
group committed to engendering a "planetary consciousness" among both
New Agers and the general public.
Planetization -- New Age advocates believe that the various
threats facing the human race require a global solution. This solution is
"planetization." The word refers to the unifying of the world into a
corporate brotherhood.
Poltergeist -- German word for a noisy, mischievous,
destructive spirit (a demon).
Precognition -- Advance knowledge of future events.
PSI -- Term used in place of psychic or paraphysical; ESP.
Psychic Birth -- A quickening of spiritual or cosmic
consciousness and power. This new consciousness is one that recognizes oneness
with God and the universe. Psychic birth is an occult counterpart to the
Christian new birth.
Psychic Energy -- Extrasensory energy that enables people to
do miracles.
Psychic Healer -- A person who cures mental or physical
illness from the cosmic energy emanating through the healer's hands.
Psychoanalysis -- Tracing mental and physical ills back to
hurtful childhood experiences; based on Sigmund Freud's theories.
Psychometry -- Reading information from an object about events
involving the person who owns it, usually by handling it.
Psychotechnologies -- Refers to the various approaches or systems
aimed at deliberately altering one's consciousness.
Reincarnation -- Refers to the cyclical evolution of a
person's soul as it repeatedly passes from one body to another at death. This
process continues until the soul reaches a state of perfection.
Retrocognition -- Knowledge of past events learned
paranormally.
Right
Brain Learning -- The right hemisphere of the brain is believed to
be the center of intuitive and creative thought (as opposed to the rational
nature of the left hemisphere). New Agers have seized on this as a
justification to bring "right brain learning techniques" into the
classroom. These techniques include meditation, yoga, and guided imagery.
Rolfing -- Seeks to relieve energy blockages in the body by applying
deep pressure or massage.
Séance -- A gathering of people seeking communication with
deceased loved ones or famous historical figures through a medium.
Second Coming of Christ -- Understood by some as the coming of
the Cosmic Christ in all of humanity, related to the New Age concept of the
"mass incarnation." The Second Coming is supposedly now occurring in
the hearts and minds of people all over the earth. Others associate it specifically
with the appearance of Maitreya as the avatar of the coming age.
Self-realization -- New Agers use this as a synonym for
God-realization. It refers to a personal recognition of one's divinity.
Sensitive -- A person who frequently demonstrates extrasensory
gifts such as clairvoyance, telepathy, or precognition.
Shaman -- A medicine man/woman or witchdoctor, who uses
hypnotism, charms, drugs, chants (mantras), "Chi" energy, etc., to
open his victims to demon possession and controlled responses.
Solar Logos -- Believed by some to be a mighty spiritual being
who is the ensouling life of the solar system. The material solar system is
simply a physical manifestation (or body) of this living intelligence.
Spirit Control -- A disembodied spirit who relays messages
from dead people to the living through a trance medium.
Spirit Guide -- A spiritual entity who provides information of
"guidance," often through a medium or channeled. The spirit provides
guidance only after the channeled relinquishes his perceptual and cognitive
capacities into its control.
Spiritual Hierarchy of Masters -- New Age advocates believe
these spiritual "masters" are highly evolved men who, having already
perfected themselves, are now guiding the rest of humanity to this same end.
Spiritualist or Spiritist -- Person who believes in the
ability to contact departed souls through a medium.
Subject -- Person used for experiments in ESP studies.
Sufism -- Persian mystical religion based on Islam.
Syncretism -- The attempt to combine or unify differing
religious systems. New Age gurus often claim that all the world religions teach
the same core truth: all people possess an inner divinity.
Synergy -- A principle which states that the whole is greater
than the sum of its parts.
Tantra -- A word invented to describe the Hindu and Buddhist
"scriptures" (which are actually called Sutras and Vedas) which show
people "shortcuts" to getting Prajna ("enlightenment").
Taoism -- A Chinese religion and philosophy that sees the
universe as engaged in ceaseless motion and activity. All is considered to be
in continual flux. The universe is intrinsically dynamic. This continual cosmic
process is called the "Tao" by the Chinese. (The process is described
in terms of Yin and Yang -- see: Yin/Yang). Tao is that which is formless, yet
the mother of all forms, and that which is timeless, yet prior to all
manifestations, and that which does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. The
most outrageous Taoist doctrine for Bible believers would be Lao Tzu's adage "Forget
right and wrong, and it will be better for everyone."
Tarot Cards -- Deck of seventy-eight cards that supposedly
reveal the secrets of man and the universe.
Telekinesis -- The ability to move physical objects by force
of will or mental energy alone; also called psychokinesis.
Telepathy -- Communication between minds by extrasensory
means.
Tetragram -- A magic diagram shaped as a four-pointed star.
Theosophy -- A school of thought founded by Helena P.
Blavatsky. The term literally means "divine wisdom." The goals of
Theosophy are to (1) form a universal brotherhood; (2) do comparative study of
world religions, science, and philosophy; and (3) investigate the psychic and
spiritual powers latent in man. Theosophy is the forerunner of much New Age
thought.
Therapeutic Touch -- A "therapy" in which the practitioner
"channels" the universal life energy for the patient and then helps
the patient to assimilate this energy.
Third Eye -- An imaginary eye in the forehead
believed to be the center of psychic vision.
Trance -- A mental state resembling sleep during which the
conscious mind rests while the spirit entity takes over the medium's body.
Trance Channeler -- The newest term for
"trance medium." (See: Medium.)
Transformation -- New Age advocates promote both personal and
planetary transformation. Personal transformation involves the changes wrought
in one's life by increasing Self-realization. As more and more people are
personally transformed, the planet too will be transformed into a global
brotherhood.
Trumpet Medium -- A psychic or
"sensitive" who brings forth "spirit voices" through a
trumpet at séances.
UFO -- Unidentified flying object; flying saucer.
Unity-in-Diversity Council -- A New Age
"meta-network" of over 100 networks and groups rallying for global
cooperation and interdependence.
Veda -- The most ancient of the Hindu scriptures.
Visualization -- Also known as "guided imagery,"
visualization basically refers to "mind over matter." It involves the
attempt to bring about change in the material realm by the power of the mind.
Warlock -- A wizard or sorcerer; a male witch. (Some male
witches claim that "warlock" does not refer to a male witch at all,
but merely means "oath-breaker.")
World Goodwill -- A New Age political lobby that aims to
unfold "The Plan" as spelled out in the writings of Alice Bailey.
Yin/Yang -- Chinese names referring to the active and passive
principles of the universe. Yin refers to the female or [inactive] negative
force; Yang to the male or active force. These two polar forces continually
interplay with each other. Briefly, it means that "good and evil" and
"right and wrong" are actually the SAME; they simply appear as
opposites. Get rid of all the Opposites (seen and unseen, hot and cold, up and
down, back and forth, day and night, high and low, etc.), and you can attain
perfection (Nirvana, Samadhi, Prajna, etc.).
Yoga
-- A means of becoming united with the supreme being, or with the universal
soul.
Yogi -- Someone who practices yoga.
Zodiac -- The band of twelve constellations along the plane of
the ecliptic through which pass the sun, moon, and planets across the sky. Each
constellation, or sign, is attributed symbolic significance and associations
that affect various aspects of life on Earth.