Typical beliefs of New Age groups
1. Monism (all of reality is a
unified whole)
a. prefix "mon-" means one, single, alone. God is both
the creator and creation.
He/she/it is
impersonal; a universal consciousness, universal life, universal
energy force,
eternal reality, etc. To recognize that you are one with all of
creation is
to become one with God, to recognize that you are part of God
("enlightenment").
b. Bible:
i. Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth."
(1) God is separate from and greater than creation.
ii. Isa 48:12-13 "Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have
called: I am
he; I am the first and I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations
of
the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon
them, they all stand up together."
(1) God is a personal being, a unique personality.
iii. Col 1:16-17 "For by him all things were created: things
in heaven and
on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before
all
things, and in him all things hold together."
(1) God is superior to every aspect of creation — physical bodies,
authorities, powers, rulers, everything.
(2) He existed prior to creation, created everything that exists,
and is
crucial to its continued existence.
2. Spark of divinity
a. Each human being is endowed with a spark of divinity.
An illumined or
enlightened
person is beyond such moral distinctions as "good" or "bad."
b. Bible:
i. This has always appealed to sinful nature, is part of the
original
deception; Gen 3:5 Isa 14:13-14.
ii. Mk 10:18 "No one is good — except God alone."
iii. Rom 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God."
(1) God alone is good; every human other than Jesus has sinned.
3. Man is god
a. Man is part of and one with the creation (monism); the creation
is "god," so
man is also
"god." He is co-creator of the universe. Through an evolutionary
process, man
is "awakening" and returning to godhood.
b. Bible:
i. Gen 3:5 "you will be like God" -- appeals to sinful
nature, which
considers self as God; "My thoughts and desires are most important."
ii. Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth."
(1) God created the heavens and earth, and so is both separate from
them and superior to them.
iii. Php 2:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(1) Man is not returning to godhood; instead he will eventually be
forced to recognize Jesus as Lord.
iv. Rom 14:11 "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Every
knee will bow
before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"
4. Jesus' death was irrelevant
a. Man must take responsibility for his problems. Jesus
did not die for the sins of
the world.
His shedding of blood, though tragic, is irrelevant to man's spiritual
needs today.
b. Bible:
i. Heb 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything
be cleansed
with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
ii. 2 Cor 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God."
iii. Jn 3:14-15 "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert,
so the Son of
Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have
eternal life."
iv. Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
5. Reincarnation
a. Man must endure many life cycles (reincarnation) until his
karma is cleansed.
Through good
works in each life or through enlightenment, he purifies his spirit
and attains
unity with "god," which is everything that exists. This is the
universal law.
b. The ultimate in recycling.
c. Bible:
i. Heb 9:27-28 "Just as man is destined to die once,
and after that to face
judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many
people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring
salvation to those who are waiting for him."
(1) Man dies only once, not repeatedly through reincarnation; he
is
judged on the basis of that one life.
(2) Christ was sacrificed to take away sin because man unable to
overcome sin.
ii. Rom 3:23-24 "For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God,
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came
by
Christ Jesus."
(1) Right standing with God is received freely by God's grace
through the redemption provided by Jesus.
iii. Jn 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
to save the world through him."
(1) Your eternal salvation dependent on your accepting death of
God's Son as payment for your sin.
iv. Your salvation is not a result of your good works.
(1) Eph 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith
— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by
works, so that no one can boast."
(2) Gal 2:16 "... a man is not justified by observing the law,
but by
faith in Jesus Christ."
(3) Tit 3:5 "He saved us, not because of righteous things we
had
done, but because of his mercy."
6. Pantheism
a. Belief that God and whole universe are one and the same
thing (pan - involving
all; theism
- concept of God). Because it equates God with the forces & laws
of
universe, embraces
all gods. Jesus is only one of many; is a god, a Christ, a
perfect Master,
a messenger or prophet of God.
b. Pantheism is distinct from polytheism, which is the belief in many gods.
c. Bible:
i. Jn 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth
and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.'"
(1) Jesus is the only Christ, not one of many.
(2) New Agers strongly dislike this concept, "exclusivity"; insist
there are many ways to "god" or are many "gods."
(3) People have always disliked some parts of the Bible, but that
doesn't change the Bible's authority.
ii. Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only
Son."
(1) Jesus is God's only Son, not one among many.
iii. Jn 14:9 "Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even
after I
have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has
seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?'"
(1) Jesus is one with the Father; an accurate image of God.
iv. Col 2:9-10 "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity
lives in bodily
form."
(1) Jesus is entirely God.
v. 1 Jn 2:22 "Who is the lair? It is the man who
denies that Jesus is the
Christ. Such a man is the antichrist — he denies the Father and the
Son."
7. Vegetarianism
a. Because all life is one, eating meat produces negative karma
in a person. Meat
is forbidden
and the enlightened spiritual being does not eat meat.
b. Karma: the force generated by a person's actions that
promotes reincarnation
and determines
their destiny in the next existence. Great emphasis on forces
within you;
utilize forces to achieve success, fulfillment of your desires, etc.
c. Bible:
i. Gen 9:3-4 "Everything that lives and moves will be
food for you. Just
as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you
must
not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it."
ii. Col 2:16 "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what
you eat or
drink."
iii. 1 Ti 4:3-4 "They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain
from
certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by
those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created
is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."
8. Spirit guides
a. Spirit beings, or entities, are able to provide spiritual
insight and guidance, often
through mediums
(channelers, spiritists). They are helpers who can show man
how to become
fully conscious and realize self (become divine by recognizing
divinity within).
b. Some spirit guides become Ascended Masters, those who reached
the highest
level of spiritual
consciousness and have become guides of the spiritual
evolution of
mankind. Christians recognize spirit guides and ascended masters
as demons.
c. Bible:
i. 1 Ti 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator between
God and men,
the man Christ Jesus."
(1) You do not need other spirit beings to bring you to God.
ii. Deut 18:10-12 "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices
his son
or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets
omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or
spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things
is
detestable to the Lord."
iii. Isa 8:19 "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists,
who
whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why
consult the dead on behalf of the living?"
iv. Jn 16:13 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will
guide you
into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only
what he
hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
9. Bible is inadequate
a. The Holy Bible is insufficient as a guide for man.
Ancient religious texts and
writings from
other religions, and fresh new revelations either from people
living today
or spirit entities are equally as valuable and reliable.
b. Bible:
i. Rev 22:18-19 "I warn everyone who hears the words
of the prophecy of
this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the
plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from
this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree
of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."
(1) pertains to prophecies contained in Revelation; shows God's
position on those who would supplement or modify his Word.
ii. 2 Ti 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
(1) notice: "all scripture is God-breathed"; cannot reject
parts of it
because it contradicts your doctrine, or whatever your reason.
iii. 2 Pet 1:20-21 "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy
of
Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy
never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
Conclusion
1. Important: These are
typical beliefs of New Age cults; not every cult teaches all of
these and will often have additional beliefs.
2. Important: Not every New
Age adherent believes all of these, either, any more than all
Christians believe the same things.
Types of New Age Cults
1. Eastern Mystical.
a. Include Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism.
b. Emphasize such techniques as meditation, chanting, use of
rosaries and
mandalas.
2. Mystery Teachings
a. Esoteric beliefs; its higher teachings are reserved for
its advanced adherents.
b. Usually based on ancient mystery teaching; great emphasis
on the gods and
goddesses, mythological
fables, stories of ancient cultures.
3. Deceptive "Christian"
a. Great emphasis placed on minor passages of Bible; basic
biblical doctrines often
twisted to support
cult's teachings.
b. Avoids term, "New Age."
c. Often encourage political and social activism, motivating
believers to reform the
world system.
i. Note: not every Christian who advocates political and social
activism is
cultic
4. Occultic
a. Wide range of groups: advocate use of magic (some
contend theirs is "white
magic" and that
only "black magic" is evil), astrology, esoteric (hidden) occult
rituals, Satanism.
b. Most New Age groups are occultic to a small degree, but
some are overtly.
c. Stated goal: illumination of humanity, based on study
of ancient philosophies
and rituals.
5. Earth and Nature
a. Honor Mother Earth and all types of nature.
b. Includes various witchcraft, goddess and pagan groups.
c. Essential doctrine: pantheism; man is simply part
of nature and that nature is
itself (herself)
divine.
6. Human Potential
a. Offer self-improvement, increased creativity, success, and
so on.
b. Emphasize positive thinking, positive affirmation techniques,
mind dynamics,
changing one's
inner attitudes and thoughts.
c. New recruits drawn by promises of happiness and riches.
7. Astral or Galactic
a. Often perceived as bizarre; includes UFO societies, and
so on.
b. Stories include mysterious abductions, strange beings from
planetary system or
beyond, galactic
and interplanetary travel, extraterrestrial influences, UFO
sightings.
c. Includes a spiritual or religious doctrine that is essential
to future well-being of
earth; often
cloaked in stories.
d. Many people involved are well-educated, rational, intelligent.
e. Includes groups that promise their followers astral or soul
travel.
8. Political, Economic
a. Usually focuses on one political, economic or social goal,
such as world peace,
environmentalism,
one world government, one world religion, eliminating
hunger, radical
feminism, homosexual rights, animal rights, and so on.
b. Often try to conceal their spiritual doctrine.