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Londa_Adams
Guest
Need to give a 15 minute talk on New Age for our Catholic discussion group? What would be the most important things to cover that would be simple and easy to understand?
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geometer
Guest
You should go to:
www.ewtn.com
Click on the link to the Library,
then click on Audio library.
Then search on new age.
Fr. Mitch Pacwa has done a lot of talks on it and has also written a book.
You might also read the info at this link:
Vatican
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linuxgeek71
Guest
The Church has produced a document that may be of help.
scribd.com/doc/236811/The-Bearer-of-the-Water-of-Life
scribd.com/doc/236811/The-Bearer-of-the-Water-of-Life
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Eucharisted
Guest
Speak about the beliefs of New Age and how they differ from Christian beliefs.
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lostandconfused
Guest
New Age practices focus on a whole bunch of different things. Everything from pyschic stuff to spirits to occult to nature based religions to “the old religions” of paganism and whatnot. Its a huge huge huge genre that cant really be summarized to easily. Its a whole wave of thought that is only mildly popular. Some people will threaten that its taking over, I really do not think you have to worry about that.
I dunno, look up some resources. The really pretty solid aspects of New Age are the nature based religions, one of the biggest being Wicca, which worships the Earth Goddess and the Sun God and whatnot. Its pretty crazy complicated stuff.
Theyre not Satan worshippers or black magic evil doers though. Theyre not commiting sacrifices at night and cursing people. Theyre just people who worship what they think are the old Gods “before Christianity screwed everything up”. Yeah we think its wrong, but theyre not horrible people either.
I dunno, look up some resources. The really pretty solid aspects of New Age are the nature based religions, one of the biggest being Wicca, which worships the Earth Goddess and the Sun God and whatnot. Its pretty crazy complicated stuff.
Theyre not Satan worshippers or black magic evil doers though. Theyre not commiting sacrifices at night and cursing people. Theyre just people who worship what they think are the old Gods “before Christianity screwed everything up”. Yeah we think its wrong, but theyre not horrible people either.
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Miserissima
Guest
Keep away from the book, “The Unicorn in the Sanctuary.” The author doesn’t cite references, but gives more anecdotal hearsay. I wasn’t pleased with it.
lostandconfused is perfectly correct: “The really pretty solid aspects of New Age are the nature based religions, one of the biggest being Wicca, which worships the Earth Goddess and the Sun God and whatnot. Its pretty crazy complicated stuff. Theyre not Satan worshippers or black magic evil doers though.”
Let’s take one small facet of New Age beliefs: using nature and natural plants to heal.
Look at it this way: many new agers believe in herbalism, the holistic healing using herbs and plants. Practitioners in this area range from those who are knowledgable in this area and use ginger for its carminative properties, to quacks who read Internet forums and drink colloidal silver as an antibiotic. It runs the gamut.
So, is the use of plants in healing arts inherently evil? Certainly not! After all, salcylic acid (from willow bark) is the main ingredient in asprin. God put the plants here for us to use. However, we aren’t supposed to worship the plant. We only worship its creator.
The Earth is His. He created it. We do not worship the creation, but the creator. And with time, comes more revelation on how to use and care for God’s Earth. Even today, if we look at Mrs. Grieve’s Herbal online, we have to keep it in context:
That’s why I think it’s important to note that since the term “New Age” is so difficult to pin down, perhaps you should address Church guidance on it, and stress the importance of common sense.
The two-pronged attack on New-Agesim consists of the following:
People who have faith learn to accept when God says “no.” People of faith do not attempt to manipulate the circumstances around us to get what we want, through calling on pagan entities or other means – that is against natural law.
I hope I helped a little. Remember, stress the tenets of the faith and common sense.
lostandconfused is perfectly correct: “The really pretty solid aspects of New Age are the nature based religions, one of the biggest being Wicca, which worships the Earth Goddess and the Sun God and whatnot. Its pretty crazy complicated stuff. Theyre not Satan worshippers or black magic evil doers though.”
Let’s take one small facet of New Age beliefs: using nature and natural plants to heal.
Look at it this way: many new agers believe in herbalism, the holistic healing using herbs and plants. Practitioners in this area range from those who are knowledgable in this area and use ginger for its carminative properties, to quacks who read Internet forums and drink colloidal silver as an antibiotic. It runs the gamut.
So, is the use of plants in healing arts inherently evil? Certainly not! After all, salcylic acid (from willow bark) is the main ingredient in asprin. God put the plants here for us to use. However, we aren’t supposed to worship the plant. We only worship its creator.
The Earth is His. He created it. We do not worship the creation, but the creator. And with time, comes more revelation on how to use and care for God’s Earth. Even today, if we look at Mrs. Grieve’s Herbal online, we have to keep it in context:
But New Age believes are much more far-reaching than herbalism, where you have to use your God-given faculties to know what is helpful from downright quackery.
That’s why I think it’s important to note that since the term “New Age” is so difficult to pin down, perhaps you should address Church guidance on it, and stress the importance of common sense.
The two-pronged attack on New-Agesim consists of the following:
- The physical: Has God actually imbued inanimate objects (crystals, plants, charms, talismans, etc) with magic powers? Certainly not. We are people of faith, not of signs and wonders of the physical world. Magic is a way to seduce those who don’t have faith, or are weak in their faith. Do we, as humans, have the power to make imbue something with power? Again, certainly not! We don’t “tune in” our “vibrations.” We aren’t homing pigeons.
- The mental: focus on visualization and centering prayer versus guided meditation and contemplative prayer: compare and contrast. Teresa of Avila, one of the greatest mystics and doctos of the Church, never left her mind open “to receive what the universe had to say.” She also did not actively seek communications, though she did seek union with Christ. There’s plenty on the 'net about this.
People who have faith learn to accept when God says “no.” People of faith do not attempt to manipulate the circumstances around us to get what we want, through calling on pagan entities or other means – that is against natural law.
I hope I helped a little. Remember, stress the tenets of the faith and common sense.
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Mickey
Guest
You may want to place a special emphasis on the Hinduistic rooted practice of reiki. It is very popular. Catholic nuns seem particularly drawn to reiki and this makes the laity think that it is okay.
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LynnGM
Guest
The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know!? are fairly recent trends in the New Age. You should highlight them and warn others why they are dangerous.
You can’t hit on everything in the “New Age”. The articles that other post-ers mentioned will help you see the various categories of New Age theory and practice.
Many New Age-ers think that their thoughts create reality. So, if you really want a million dollars, just say “affirmations” like
“New money is being printed for me each day”
“Money comes to me in many ways”
The most devastating of this “thoughts create reality” nonsense is thoughts creating illness. It is especially devastating when all the positive thoughts in the world cannot cure cancer. Or, that a parent’s negative thoughts contributed to the creation of illness in their child. Google “Louise Hay” and “Abraham-Hicks” for more on thoughts creating reality.
You can’t hit on everything in the “New Age”. The articles that other post-ers mentioned will help you see the various categories of New Age theory and practice.
Many New Age-ers think that their thoughts create reality. So, if you really want a million dollars, just say “affirmations” like
“New money is being printed for me each day”
“Money comes to me in many ways”
The most devastating of this “thoughts create reality” nonsense is thoughts creating illness. It is especially devastating when all the positive thoughts in the world cannot cure cancer. Or, that a parent’s negative thoughts contributed to the creation of illness in their child. Google “Louise Hay” and “Abraham-Hicks” for more on thoughts creating reality.
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Muckdog
Guest
I agree with lostandconfused. The world is not under attack and about to be taken over by the ‘New Agers’. I hope we’re not repeating the earth is flat and the sun revolving around the earth situations. Reading the link posted by linuxgeek71, I was surprised to find the recent discoveries by Physisist bunched in with ‘New Age’ spirituality, (I question if it is an offical Church document). Would the Church better exercise it’s responisibility by actively participating in the popular spiritual discussions?
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Muckdog
Guest
Mickey, Where do you get your information on Reiki? It is my understanding it was introduced to Japan by a Catholic priest/monk.
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cheese_sdc
Guest
I would suggest also reading “The Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”. There is some interesting thoughts in there.
The key thing is to be able to separate out the wheat from the chaff in any non-christian religion. There will be some good things, however there will be also be some things that won’t fit with Catholicism.
The following isn’t directed at anyone in this thread, just some musings sparked by years of thinking about this issue
Instead of berating a wiccan for worshipping nature, it might spark an interesting conversation about sacramental nature and the way Catholics see that nature illuminates God without being God.
Instead of berating another person for “believing that they are God”, it might spark an interesting conversation about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and to what extent we share in God’s Divinity.
The key thing is to be able to separate out the wheat from the chaff in any non-christian religion. There will be some good things, however there will be also be some things that won’t fit with Catholicism.
The following isn’t directed at anyone in this thread, just some musings sparked by years of thinking about this issue
Instead of berating a wiccan for worshipping nature, it might spark an interesting conversation about sacramental nature and the way Catholics see that nature illuminates God without being God.
Instead of berating another person for “believing that they are God”, it might spark an interesting conversation about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and to what extent we share in God’s Divinity.
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Blade_and_Blood
Guest
Yeah, Eucharisted has the right idea. :yup: Just avoid as much bias as possible; stick to the general facts. It’s a definite time-killer.Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood
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JW55
Guest
My response may be belated as to when your presentation is. But here goes anyway:
In a nutshell:
-New Age typically centers on “self-centered” or “self-fullfillment” rather that “God-
centered”
-New Age centers on claims to center on “spirituality”.
-New Age feels God is within you and stresses enlightenment , “Pantheism” or God is in
everything
-New Age basically denies a personal God, different than Christianity
-New Age is based in Gnostic and Eastern religions much more than Christianity.
-Defintely goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church, but has unwittingly been incorporated into not only some parishes unfortunately.
In a nutshell:
-New Age typically centers on “self-centered” or “self-fullfillment” rather that “God-
centered”
-New Age centers on claims to center on “spirituality”.
-New Age feels God is within you and stresses enlightenment , “Pantheism” or God is in
everything
-New Age basically denies a personal God, different than Christianity
-New Age is based in Gnostic and Eastern religions much more than Christianity.
-Defintely goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church, but has unwittingly been incorporated into not only some parishes unfortunately.
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Lisa44
Guest
I’ve noticed that new age people are always saying: “the Universe…”
The universe will do this or do that…
(they say this a lot in ‘the secret’ too…the universe will give you…bla bla bla)
And I’m thinking, how do inanimate objects reward you?
It makes no sense. its the most intellectually lazy religion out there I think.
The universe will do this or do that…
(they say this a lot in ‘the secret’ too…the universe will give you…bla bla bla)
And I’m thinking, how do inanimate objects reward you?
It makes no sense. its the most intellectually lazy religion out there I think.
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LynnGM
Guest
Well, at Confession in Halifax, NS, I talked with the priest about my involvement in the New Age. He guided me into “wheat and chaff” with the New Age. I mentioned that what I liked about the New Age movement was the focus on being positive and having gratitude. He said I should work on incorporating those two aspects into my Catholicism.
Also, when confessing involvement in Wicca, priests have told me it is fine to appreciate nature.
BUT, let’s not worship other people, the “universe”, or nature! Or, false gods like “universe” or ancient deities.
Sooo, how did the talk go?
Also, when confessing involvement in Wicca, priests have told me it is fine to appreciate nature.
BUT, let’s not worship other people, the “universe”, or nature! Or, false gods like “universe” or ancient deities.
Sooo, how did the talk go?
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Nino
Guest
New age…‘new’ always a catch phrase…Nature worship…thats worship…consciousness raising…(being concerned about the agenda set forth by the establishment…ie being PC…Yoga…Glovalism,good vibrations,natural foods,the group over the individual,astrology as a science…holloween as a spiritual holiday,symbols: Crystals,magic,ankh…God " " is energy…'the force be with you"Star wars by George Lucas was their oscar winner…no judgement.choose your own path…certain numbers are to be chosen over others,…all of the above leads to 'our own reality drive to achieve conscious union with the ‘God’ of nature…the current flury over so called earth warming…saving animals over developing babies,dont cut down a tree without a permit,even on your property even tho it will soon fall on your house…try not to be home thats all!!! Verdict on Jesus…He was just a good teacher on ‘love’.no more nor less…a nice guy with limitations…new age…re: paganism!!!
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Le_Cracquere
Guest
Must agree. I’ve know a lot of New Agers in their many permutations and Wiccans too, and there’s a certain part of me that has more respect for out-and-out Satanism. Aleister Crowley would’ve had an absolute FIELD DAY with these cupcakes…I’ve noticed that new age people are always saying: “the Universe…”
The universe will do this or do that…
(they say this a lot in ‘the secret’ too…the universe will give you…bla bla bla)
And I’m thinking, how do inanimate objects reward you?
It makes no sense. its the most intellectually lazy religion out there I think.
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