Spirituality is hot in American culture today, whereas “religion” is held with suspicion — if not, derision. To be spiritual is to be in tune with yourself and with nature. To be religious is to be rigid and narrow-minded. At least that’s what most Americans today seem to think, especially those who have been swept in what’s often called the “New Age.”
The “New Age” is an umbrella term used to describe a rather eclectic array of spiritual beliefs, practices, and organizations that extol a new era or “new age” of harmony and enlightenment. Defining this movement — which some scholars consider to be more of a milieu than a movement — is quite challenging. Nevertheless, there are common themes which tend to unite most New Age adherents. Marcia Montenegro, an ex-New Ager and former astrologer, says that these common themes or tenets include:
- All is energy
- Spirit is superior to matter
- God is impersonal or both personal and impersonal
- There are no absolutes
- Jesus was an enlightened teacher who reached Christ Consciousness (or God Consciousness)
- Man’s nature is innately divine
- 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
Common beliefs held by New Age adherents include astrology, reincarnation, psychics and mediums, and variations of pantheism or panentheism. One of the more popular beliefs is the Law of Attraction which holds that we can manifest reality by our thoughts. Recent surveys suggest that six in ten Americans hold to at least one, in some cases more, of these beliefs.
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Marcia Montenegro and listening to her story. And I’ve provided that interview below.
I encourage you to watch the above interview (which is over at my YouTube channel) and share the video with your family and friends — especially those who may have an interest in New Age beliefs.
It’s not my desire to insult anyone who holds to sincere beliefs apart from my own. I believe in religious freedom and that we should be kind and respectful toward anyone regardless of his or her religious or spiritual beliefs. Moreover, I acknowledge that some of what you may hear from New Age practitioners is true and helpful. For example, there are some aspects of the “Law of Attraction” which are correct, namely that your attitude will affect your life (including how others view you and relate with you). But what the Holy Spirit offers us through the word of God is vastly superior to anything that the New Age movement has to offer.
We as Christians need to be wary of the New Age movement. May we instead rely on God and his word for guidance and direction.
