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 NAM has gained
significant influence, affecting almost every area of the culture -- sociology,
psychology, medicine, the government, ecology, science, arts, education, the
business community, the media, entertainment, sports, and even the church. The
movement expresses itself in widely divergent and various mutated forms, from
the blatantly obvious to the subtle. It is expressed in organized religious
forms such as Christian Science, Unity,
and even forms of Witchcraft. Yet, it
shows up in secular forms as well, in various human potential seminars, and much
in between, i.e., transcendental meditation, some alternative holistic
health practices, and certain curriculum in public (and private) schools.
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. Crystals are the favorite New Age
object. These are not only thought to have mysterious healing powers, but are considered
programmable, like a computer, if one just concentrates hard enough. Other New Age objects
would include the rainbow; butterfly; pyramid; triangle; eye in triangle/pyramid; unicorn;
Pegasus (winged-horse); swastika; yin-yang; goathead on pentagram; concentric circles;
rays of light; crescent moon; etc.
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 not
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.
