New Age

[JimR-OCDS]

The big problem with what is called, “New Age,” is that not only do they misinterpret Christianity, the also misinterpret Eastern Religions. So, if you want to learn about Eastern Religion, don’t get it from people who belong to New Age groups.

Jim

 

[Morning_Star15]

These sound like worthy goals, for the most part.

Worthy goals, but as they say, the end doesn’t justify the means. Having a mother who practices New Age stuff , the danger I’ve seen with it is the mindset that humans can control the divine (or the “universe” as they often call it) to make it do for us what we want it to, since the world, us and God are all energy (I know I’m generalizing here, so please forgive me). It’s not about loving God or obeying His Will, or accepting suffering from Him as He suffered. It’s basically: if I’m close to God, I’m going to be rich and happy. It’s very self-serving, at least the type I’ve been exposed to. Then there’s the contact they establish with “good spiritis” who want to “help” them. It’s dangerous stuff to mess with, since none of us with our tiny brains can understand God or the supernatural in general. Best to stick with relying on God’s Mercy to get us into Heaven. That’s the most worthy goal.

 

[cheese_sdc]

That’s an interesting distinction. God dwells in us, but we are not God, yet God created us, we are born of God. So, in a sense, we are part of God. I can see why people blur the line, because in some ways we are a part of God, or he is a part of us. So, these New Agers are trying to ignite an inner spark?

If you meet a true pantheist, he or she might say that. A Wiccan might say that as well. And a Theosophist would definitely say that. A Christian who also reads the Tao Te Ching might not say that (I speak from personal experience ).

 

[cheese_sdc]

The big problem with what is called, “New Age,” is that not only do they misinterpret Christianity, the also misinterpret Eastern Religions. So, if you want to learn about Eastern Religion, don’t get it from people who belong to New Age groups.

Jim

Yep.

 

[cheese_sdc]

And they don’t equate divinity as with the creator.

Now that’s interesting. Most of the people I have spoken with do. Or maybe it’s my own prejudice. Coming from a Catholic background Creator=Divine.

I’ll have to ask them that question.

 

[Shoshana]

The big problem with what is called, “New Age,” is that not only do they misinterpret Christianity, the also misinterpret Eastern Religions. So, if you want to learn about Eastern Religion, don’t get it from people who belong to New Age groups.

Jim

We are directed not to entertain these philosophies in 'Jesus, The Bearer of The Living Water' document by John Paul 2.

 

[Gertabelle]

In all fairness, Fr Groeschel seemed to indicate that there may be more tolerance for the labyrinth, but if a Catholic Christian needed to walk something, it should be the stations of the Cross.

I haven’t read all the posts, so forgive me if this comment seems out of place.

I have been considering putting a labyrinth in my backyard, yet I wanted to avoid the new age thing. I love your suggestion of the Stations of the Cross. That is what’s needed – a path of prayer and reflection. Stations of the Cross, Mysteries of the Rosary, just something peaceful and meditative, something to draw us to God. Thank you.

 

[JLSacred]

What is wrong with the labyrinth? I thought this was a Christian meditative tool? How do people use it anyways, and why would it be considered dangerous?

 

[KarenNC]

For most people “New Age” is an adjective that describes a religious practice that incorporates any portion of Eastern Philosophy/Religion (Taoism and Feng Shui for example), Gnosticism, Arianism, Theosophy, Buddhism, Pantheism, or Neo-Pagan (a wide umbrella which encompasses: Wicca, Earth Based Religion, Druidic Religion, and any number of other types of worship) practices.
…I consider these to be only labels, and not very effective ones at that. If you are fortunate enough to meet one of these people, then I would recommend engaging in a discussion to find out exactly what this person believes and why. It is usually a very interesting discussion.

Just to clarify, in case there is any misunderstanding, there is a very large portion of the Neopagan community (I am among them) who do not consider their religions to be part of the New Age movement. The two communities have some overlap (folks who would fall into both camps), but they are not synonymous. Nor is New Age synonymous with any of the groups listed above.

You left out Native American , which is a favorite one for New Age groups to pull from, though the end result has next to nothing to do with any historical or existing Native American tribal religion (and that is the usual end result of what is pulled from any religion).

 

[cheese_sdc]

Just to clarify, in case there is any misunderstanding, there is a very large portion of the Neopagan community (I am among them) who do not consider their religions to be part of the New Age movement. The two communities have some overlap (folks who would fall into both camps), but they are not synonymous. Nor is New Age synonymous with any of the groups listed above.

You left out Native American , which is a favorite one for New Age groups to pull from, though the end result has next to nothing to do with any historical or existing Native American tribal religion (and that is the usual end result of what is pulled from any religion).

Thanks for the clarification.

And dang it! I did forget Shamanism (at one point I thought of it, but forget to add it to the list).

 

[KarenNC]

And dang it! I did forget Shamanism (at one point I thought of it, but forget to add it to the list).

Most usually, in my experience, the hallmark of what is chosen by many New Age groups is based on what seems the most foreign or most exotic (and therefore, least known and most able to be cast in a romantic, mysterious, forbidden-fruit, secret-knowledge-only-given-to-the-initiated light) rather than that which one encounters in one’s everyday experience. The known is far too mundane and familiar to possibly have any “real” spiritual value and enable one to see oneself as sufficiently unique or enlightened.

I will not claim that all those who identify as New Agers do this (and would be glad to talk to some who do not), but the shoe seems to fit a large proportion. Unfortunately, the same tendency exists in the Neopagan community (and other faith communities), and that is where there is, from what I can see, overlap between the two groups.

Often folks in the above category will be very disillusioned upon learning that there is much more of the mundane and everyday in almost all religions than there is of the mystical and secret. Religion is, at base, about life, and the vast majority of life is simply mundane, contrary to media portrayals. Kind of like the relationship between the world of a romance novel and the actual day to day reality of being in a committed loving lifetime relationship with another actual human being.

One wonders if cultures that are not predominantly Christian have this sort of phenomenon with folks seeking out Christianity (or some romanticized, utopian form of what they imagine Christianity to be from limited reading/contact/media) for similar reasons?

 

[cheese_sdc]

Most usually, in my experience, the hallmark of what is chosen by many New Age groups is based on what seems the most foreign or most exotic (and therefore, least known and most able to be cast in a romantic, mysterious, forbidden-fruit, secret-knowledge-only-given-to-the-initiated light) rather than that which one encounters in one’s everyday experience. The known is far too mundane and familiar to possibly have any “real” spiritual value and enable one to see oneself as sufficiently unique or enlightened.

I would tend to agree with you, for the most part. I would also submit, though, that there are those who are considered “New Agers” that have adopted a practice because it works.

For example, a person (Christian) hears about smudging and is told that it is a Native American practice to bless a space. Feeling adventurous, they find some sage and try it out - and they notice a difference in their house immediately. So they keep just that practice, only because it worked for them.

And I have to chuckle about people who are looking for things unmundane. I’m reminded of a poem written by a Zen master the day he became enlightened.

“Oh wonderous marvel:
I chop wood.
I draw water from the well.”

 

[KarenNC]

**I would tend to agree with you, for the most part. I would also submit, though, that there are those who are considered “New Agers” that have adopted a practice because it works.

For example, a person (Christian) hears about smudging and is told that it is a Native American practice to bless a space. Feeling adventurous, they find some sage and try it out - and they notice a difference in their house immediately. So they keep just that practice, only because it worked for them.**

I would point out that the Christian doing the above may still be seeking the exotic to some extent by going to a specifically Native American smudging practice rather than looking for or acknowledging the same thing in his own tradition. There are perfectly traditional Christian practices that are for the same purpose and done in pretty much the same way–it’s basically what a thurifer does with a thurible, though one is probably less likely to hit someone in the head with a smudge stick .

Now if the person is unaware that such a practice already exists within the framework of his own religion, then that is a different matter, and I would not say that the person is necessarily looking for the exotic. I don’t think that it is incumbent upon the person to switch to a Christian practice upon learning that such exists if the other is working for them, but that’s just me.

To me, it would depend upon whether the person was able to see that the two practices are essentially the same and that it is largely a matter of preference whether one uses incense or sage (or a matter of allergies–I can’t breathe around burning sage or many kinds of incense, which really cuts down on the public Neopagan events that I can attend–we tend to use salt water for ritual cleansing purposes). If the person were to claim that the one worked because it was a Native American or non-Christian practice while the Christian one does not, then I think we may be treading into New Age territory.

At root, it seems to be a case of not realizing that there really is nothing new under the sun.

That said, there is a long history of syncretism and innovation in religion. I am certainly not one to reject doing what works . There may also be a difference between those labeled “New Agers” by others and those who personally embrace the label.

And I have to chuckle about people who are looking for things unmundane. I’m reminded of a poem written by a Zen master the day he became enlightened.

My husband likes the traditional Zen teaching: “the mountain is a mountain before practice, it is not a mountain after practice, and it is again a mountain after practice.”

My favorite Zen teaching is from a book called Zen Comics. The student rushes into the master, “Master, Master! I’ve done it! I’ve achieved detachment!” The master whacks the student upside the head with a stick. “Why did you do that?” asks the student.

“To detach you from your detachment.”