The New Age can best be described as a network of beliefs. It borrows from and synthesizes many views: Gnostic beliefs, Eastern Spirituality, and New Thought. If the New Age were not appealing and attractive, it would not be successful, but it is. It is even mainstream in society and influential in the church.
Gnostic Based Beliefs
Spirit is superior to matter.
We all come from God and go back to God.
The body is a temporary vehicle for the spirit, which is the true self (the popular New Age slogan states: “We are spiritual beings with bodies,” or similar).
Eastern Spirituality
Nondual Hinduism
All is one; one is all (monism, nonduality).
Material reality is an illusion and is inferior to spiritual reality.
Reincarnation: the soul enters another body at some point after death.
Spiritual growth is the constant process of evolving towards liberation from reincarnation.
The true self is the Atman, a divine self.
Meditation and Yoga are important aspects of spiritual advancement.
Karma is the result of actions in past lives and is used to explain an individual’s present life situation.
Buddhism
Suffering is caused by desire, which attaches one to this world.
Attachment to this reality and the self (which is a construct) causes rebirth.
Cultivating detachment from desire is practiced to end rebirths.
Meditation is done to cultivate detachment.
The self/identity does not exist.
Spiritual insight is gained through meditation techniques such as centering and mindfulness.
Taoism
The only reality is the Tao, which emits the universal force, chi (qi, ki) that permeates all creation.
Yin and yang come from the Tao and are complementary, and are in constant motion becoming each other.
Health and spiritual growth come from balancing the chi and the yin and yang (basis for much alternative healing).
Modalities based on belief in chi: acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, aikido, Tai Chi, Tapping/EFT, Reiki, and more.
New Thought
The New Thought Movement claims to be Christian but denies the essentials of the historic Christian faith. Some major views of New Thought:
Man is innately divine.
God is a principle.
Jesus was a man who realized his true divine nature as man and thus achieved Christ consciousness.
Sin is not realizing the true divine nature.
Illness results from wrong views and beliefs.
Thoughts are things.
Man has the ability to manifest his desires through thought and words.
Occultism and Neopaganisim
This technically is another category from the New Age worldview but is often included under New Age and overlaps with it:
The earth/nature is exalted as the source and sustainer of life.
There is one divine force or life force linking people, nature and the universe.
Access to and manipulation of this force is possible.
Worship of the Goddess and/or many gods is common.
Divination techniques such as astrology, numerology, tarot cards, and psychic techniques are usually practiced as well as spell casting.
Rituals are performed according to seasons and moon phases in the belief that this harmonizes one with nature. There is no belief in Satan.
These beliefs translate into New Age spiritual thinking as:
1. God is part of everything and everyone (pantheism and panentheism)
2. God is an impersonal force or energy; God is ultimate reality
3. The identify of self is an illusion; we are really part of God
4. The mind is a part of self and is a barrier to spiritual truth
5. The material world is an illusion we created or a denser form of energy
6. There is no absolute reality/there are many realities/there is an ultimate reality which is an impersonal God
7. Reincarnation is how we learn lessons and grow in each lifetime until we realize our divine nature and can merge with God (the oneness/universe/life force)
8. Experiences are valued over objective reality or rational conclusions
9. There is no evil, only ignorance
Summary: Major New Age Beliefs
All is energy
Spirit is superior to matter
Man’s nature is innately divine
God is impersonal or both personal and impersonal
There are no absolutes
Jesus was an enlightened teacher
Jesus was a man who reached Christ Consciousness (or God Consciousness)
The “inner Jesus” is the real Jesus vs. the historical Jesus
Logic and rational thinking are barriers to spiritual truth
Truth is subjective and mostly based on experience
You attract that which you project, think, or feel
You need a change in consciousness
Reincarnation
Keep in Mind
The New Age is fluid, flexible, adaptive, blends beliefs, and makes modifications.
The New Age gives other meanings to familiar words or terms.
The New Age always seems positive and helpful.
The New Age disparages logic and reason (usually as “Western”), and has bias against the mind.
The New Age is about “spiritual” vs. material, and about progress toward the spiritual (higher vibrations, levels, realities).
Watch Out For These Hallmarks of New Age Thinking
Being told not to think
Downgrading reason, logic, or words
A false dilemma between “head or mind/heart” or “thinking/feeling”
An emphasis on “being”
Truth based primarily on experiences
Teachings that reason and logic hold you back, and/or will get in the way of your understanding or spiritual progress
The word “Western” (vs. Eastern) being used in a disparaging way
Selected Video Interviews of Marcia Montenegro’s Testimony
Giving Testimony as guest of ex-psychic Jenn Nizza
Giving Testimony as guest of Doreen Virtue
Giving Testimony as guest of Alisa Childers
Giving Testimony with Pastor Brian Tubbs
Giving Testimony on Christ, Culture, & Coffee
Giving Testimony as guest of Dr. Walter Swaim of Truth Unbound
Short link for article: https://tinyurl.com/t5bhjphz