New Age Spirituality
February 19, 2012

New Age Spirituality Is New Age Spirituality really new? Is it something old that has been creeping in and out as a worldview? The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun. “That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:9). This paper will show that New Age Spirituality is not so new, but is an ancient religion which holds to the belief that there are many gods and is essentially the revival of the substitute faith called occultism (Martin, 1989, pg. 14-15). We will see that this spirituality movement is merely a clever attempt made by depraved mankind in his ongoing quest to be his own God. I will examine the opinions of scholars and come to the conclusion that the New Age Religion is actually the Old Religion repackaged. This paper will show that the New Age Religion leads to an unfulfilled life in contrast to Christianity which leads to eternal life. The New Age Spiritualism worldview is a hodgepodge of beliefs that combines many beliefs together into a sweet, appetizing, appealing sounding religion. But drinking from this “fountain” is detrimental to the soul. A little bit of cyanide in the Kool-Aid will kill (Martin, 1989, pg. 52). Cult leader, Jim Jones, was heavily influenced by New Age spiritualism. As a result of this, 915 people died in Jonestown, Guyana at his indirect hands in a standoff between authorities and his New Age cult group (Martin, 1989, pg. 47) According to Jeremiah, the New Age Spiritualism is growing faster than most religions of today (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 18). It is the oldest form of religious cultism today and is equally as dangerous (Martin, 1977, pg. 199). Involvement in spiritualism will certainly bring the judgment of God upon those who delve into it (Martin, 1977, pg. 199). This brand of spiritualism mixes spirituality, superstition, trend and absurdity. The New Age Religion holds to the false belief that man can atone for his own sins or simply do away with sin altogether (Martin, 1989, pg. 15). The concept of right and wrong cannot be done away with as everyone in the world has the inherent knowledge that there is a certain way they should behave (Lewis, 1952, pg. 7). Martin explains that the New Age Movement is rooted in the occult reaching back towards the ancient occultism found in the Old Testament (Martin, 1989, pg 14). This type of spirituality has been found in many religions throughout the ages (Martin, 1989, pg. 15). The religion of the Sumerians, Indians, Egyptians, Babylonians and the Persians are steeped in the occult (Martin, 1989, pg. 15). The Egyptian magicians/sorcerers, Janness and Jambres used occultic practices in opposition to Moses (2 Timothy 3:8, NASB). When Aaron, at Moses’ direction, threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh, it became a serpent. Janness and Jambres were called forward to do the same. Through the use of the secret arts (occult) their staffs became serpent, also (Exodus 7:8-13, NASB). God’s chosen people, the Israelites, have not been exempt from participating in occult activities (Martin, 1898, pg. 15). During Ezekiel’s time the people were worshipping statues of false gods (Ezekiel, 8:16). Men today are involved in the worship of material goods, such as cars and money. There was the offering of incense to false gods as there is today (Jeremiah, 1995 pg. 6). A major comparison can be made between the worship of the Babylonian nature god, Tammuz and what is now the veneration of Mother Earth (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 6). The New Age emphasizes reincarnation and karma. This concept has it roots in Theosophy. Theosophy is a school of thought founded by Helena P. Blavatsky (Martin, pg. 1989, pg. 135). Its goal is to create a universal brotherhood, to mesh world religions, science and philosophy, and stir up the psychic and spiritual powers lying dormant in man (Martin, 1989, pg. 135). The law of Karma is the built up weight of one’s bad actions that must be atoned for through personal good actions during a series of lives lived by the individual (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997, pg. 304). An individual, no matter how many lives he lives and how many good actions he commits during those lives, cannot pay the acceptable price for sin which is evil (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997, pg. 28). The atonement for sins is through divine grace and the exercise of faith in Christ for the forgiveness of evil (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997, pg. 28). Salvation in Christ takes away the sting of death. In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul repeats Hosea 13:14, “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, NASB).
Why People Become Involved with Spiritualism The people of today are involving themselves in occultism just as those of ancient times did (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 6). Many have become interested in the gods of the occult because they have found no fulfillment in the materialism of the day (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 4). Materialism is the perversion of the process of consumerism (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009, pg. 44). God created man as a consumer as man utilizes or consumes things that come from nature to live daily lives (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009, pg. 44). When consumerism attempts to replace God in trying to bring fulfillment in life, it becomes a secular religion (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009, pg. 45). An attempt is being made today to make material goods the source of fulfillment and this has failed (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009, pg. 60). The New Age is here to attempt to provide the fulfillment people are seeking. Others become involved in spiritualism because of the devastating loss of a loved one. They seek desperately to make some connection with their departed loved ones. Instead they find demonic forces that are more than willing to give false hope that leads to disappointment and further despair (Martin, 1977, pg 199). These demonic forces ultimately provide anti-God revelations to those that make a connection (Hunt, 1998, pg. 154). To protect His children from this deception, God has prohibited man from attempting to connect with the dead or the spirit world. This prohibition is made clear in 1 Samuel 28:7-29 when God has decreed that all mediums and spiritists be driven from the land and no contact with them be made. However, King Saul attempts to contact a deceased Samuel through the Witch of Endor and brings judgment upon himself (Hunt, 1998, pg. 154). The New Age says we are evolving towards Godhood. The New Age has the world waiting for great leaders and revealers of truths. These truths are beyond the truths God has already revealed to us through the prophets and Jesus Christ (Martin, 1989, pg. 18). Depending on whom you talk to, these avatars or revealers of truth have different names. Some are looking for Buddha, Mohammed, or Confucius. Still others are looking for Moses, Krishna, or the ultimate one, Lord Maitreya (Martin, 1989, pg. 19). The Lord Maitreya is considered “The Enlightened One” by New Age adherents (Martin, 1989, pg. 17).
Coming to America Though New Age Spirituality is running rampant today, it first appeared in the United States during the 19th century (Fox sisters, 2011). American spiritualism began in 1848, Arcadia, New York when sisters Margaret and Catherine Fox claim to hear mysterious rappings in their home (Fox sisters, 2011). This catapulted the New Age religion into the mains stream which lauded more than 1 million followers by 1855.
Why is it so appealing? New Age spirituality does away with a personal god and removes sin from the equation. If there is no God, then everything is permissible and man cannot make a difference between what is good and what is bad (Martin, 1989, pg. 22). However, sin can only be done away with in the lives of men through the work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of God (Lewis, 1952, pg. 40). Martin considers the New Age dangerous (Martin, 1989, pg. 74). The danger lies in the fact that it ignores the largest problem mankind has, which is sin, and the replacement atonement of Jesus Christ provided to everyone who will accept it (Martin, 1989, pg. 74). The New Age instead leaves man to work out his own salvation through reincarnation where he must work off the bad karma generated during the many lifetimes he has lived (Martin, 1989, pg. 74). The process of reincarnation has man asking the question, “Who was I?” instead of “Who am I?” (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 42). Christianity offers an alternative to the yoke of reincarnation. Christianity can remove the bondage of sin because of these facts: * Reincarnation cannot cleanse of wrong doings. Only Jesus can * Reincarnation offers no hope, but there is hope in the promises of God. * Reincarnation opposes the resurrection * Reincarnation cancels future judgment (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 48) The New Age religion’s belief in reincarnation provides an excuse for sin. It allows one to continue living the way he wants with no accountability to God (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 54). It gives carte blanche in our behavior (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 23). Because the New Age Movement is both pantheistic and polytheistic it appears to include everyone (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 21 & Martin, 1989, pg 23). Pan means all. Pantheists hold to the belief that all is god (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 21). Since everything is god, this means the family cat is god; the tree in the yard is god and most importantly, “You Are God” (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 21). The problem is you have forgotten that you are god. The New Age is here to help you realize your divinity (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 21). In contrast, the God of Christianity is one. The view is that of monotheism where God is revealed as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, yet He is one (Palmer, 1998, pg. 115). “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4, NASB). The New Ages expresses the belief that “Your truth is your truth” (Jeremiah, 1995, pg. 22). Right is what is right for you and may not necessarily be what is right for me (Hunt, 1998, pg. 262). Truth, under this system, becomes whatever one chooses to believe it to be because the source of that truth is within each individual (Hunt, 1998, pg. 262). In reality mankind is bound by the Moral Law of God and there is only one truth (Lewis, 1952, pg. 9). In Christianity the “truth” is God created us, we are made in His image, and we are separated from God because of sin. We can only be reconciled back to Him through Jesus Christ (Palmer, 222, pg. 453). The New Age Religion deceives people into believing they are allowed to be spiritual and not religious (Hunt, 1998, pg 256-57). New Age believes it is not a religion, but simply spiritual. According to Hunt, when a New Age representative was asked what religion it represents, the response was “No, we are not a religion. We are spiritual.” (Hunt, 1998, pg. 257). This spirituality has lead to delusion and participation in the very old art of occultism (Hunt, 1998, pg 257). Many have resorted to connection with spirit guides or channeling (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997, pg. 349). Channeling is the age old practice of attempting to communicate with the spirit of the dead or with spirits (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997, pg. 349). It is more clearly defined as a phenomenon where a spirit speaks through a human being (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997, pg. 349). In other words, it is voluntary demon possession. All of these channeled beings provide the same message: * God is all * Man is God * Man creates the reality he lives in * Death is not real * Truth can be found within oneself (Martin & Hanegraaff, 1997. pg. 349). God’s word is sufficient and the Holy Spirit is the infallible spiritual guide that is to be followed (Hunt, 1998, pg. 264). The New Age Spirituality also allows for rebellion, through drug use (Hunt, 1998, pg 243). New Age Spirituality gives a false sense of unity in religion and government. It says that the unification of all religions is necessary if man is to realize the oneness of mankind (Martin, 1989, pg. 70). Because of the false confidence in human potential and none in the divine guidance available from God, the New Age pushes for a global government. This global government is based upon the Babel of old (Martin, 1989, pg. 72). This belief will lead to bondage as it makes man Lord of this world. Christ is Lord of the universe and through His reign men will be truly free on the correct path (Martin, 1989, pg. 73). The Television Mongol, Oprah Winfrey embraces New Age Spiritualism. Therefore, to millions, this spiritualism must be alright. After all Oprah was born and raised a Baptist, but came to the knowledge of New Age through divine revelation (Cotten & Springer, 2010, pg. 34). Oprah calls Christianity the “old spirituality” and has now embraced the “new spirituality” in the New Age format (Cotten & Springer, 2010, pg. 34). Oprah and friends consider themselves to be free from the stiff hierarchy of the Church that has God at the top (Cotten & Springer, 2010, pg. 34). They no longer want anyone to tell them how to behave either inside or outside the church building (Cotten & Springer, 2010, pg. 34). The New Age fits perfectly into Oprah’s worldview. It denies the existence of a transcendent God and there is no Master of the Universe (Sire, 2009, pg. 179).
Conclusion
We know the New Age Spiritualism is real, but it is not beneficial for the fulfillment of life or salvation (1 Corinthians 10:23, NASB). We now know that New Age Spirituality is not new at all. It is indeed founded on one of the oldest statements in the Bible, “You will be God” (Genesis 3:5, NASB). It also uses the age old practice of the occult to evangelize the world. Though the New Age Religion makes a strong attempt to lead man to the fulfillment he desires it is still a counterfeit religion. Only God through Jesus Christ can bring the fulfillment each one of us seeks. But 1 Timothy 4 says, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”

References

* Cotten, T. T., & Springer, K. (2010). Stories of Oprah: The Oprahfication of American Culture. University Press of Mississippi. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. * Fox Sisters. (2011). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. * Hunt, Dave. (1998). Occult Invasion. Eugene: Harvest House Publishers. * Jeremiah, David. (1995). Invasion of Other Gods: The Seduction of New Age Spirituality. Dallas: World Publishing. * Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere Christianity. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. * Martin, Walter. (1977). The Kingdom of the Cults. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers. * Martin, Walter. (1989). The New Age Cult. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers. * Martin, Walter & Hanegraaff, Hank (General Editor). (1997). The Kingdom of the Cults. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers. * Palmer, Michael D., (1998). Elements of a Christian Worldview. Springfield: Logian Press. * Sire, James W. (2009). The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 5th ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. * Wilkens, Steve & Sanford, Mark L. (2009). Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press.
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