Why are the New Age movement and other exotic ideas so attractive?

[spiritualwrrior]

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but here we go. The question I’m posing has really struck me for some time. I’ve wondered why all of these crazy ideas proposed by New Age “leaders” (for lack of a better word) and their followers are so attractive to people. I guess it’s true that in a way this reveals a great hunger in people for Truth and their purpose in life.

The last item that I emphasized here is truly affecting my sister. She’s been driving herself further and further away from the teachings of the Catholic faith and immersing herself into these New Age ideas. I guess I’m not even sure how deeply she is into this but I know that she’s always wondering about what her purpose is, that she is trying to find her “inner self”, and other stuff like that. She claims of having premonitions, visions, hauntings by demonic beings in her dreams, having a past life, belief in reincarnation, etc. etc.

I’ve been praying for her, but this is quite frustrating as she no longer has the desire to attend Mass. I don’t know what happened to cause her and her husband to no longer attend. Long story, but I thought I could start this discussion by asking the question I posed in this thread’s title.

 

[YankeeRC]

. I guess it’s true that in a way this reveals a great hunger in people for Truth and their purpose in life.
.

Yes indeed.
Many years ago I saw this quote by Blaise Pascal

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”

The key to the answer lies within that quote. We human beings find so many ways of trying to fill that hole, including created things such as new age religions. Sometimes, and prayefully soon for your sister, we finally ask God to fill it

 

[david75]

I feel that alot of the draw toward the “New Age” movement comes from curiosity. There is also the lure of super human powers such as seeing the future, talking with spirits, etc that “New Age” ideas revolve around. The Bible is very straight forward about these activities beeing avoided, as these “powers” are not of God.

I must make note, the reason I put “New Age” in quotes is because it is not new and has been around before Moses.

I must admit that the ideas are very tempting. There was a time where I was very close to being sucked in from just researching the subject. I spent 3yrs researching both Christian and Non Christian sources on the suject. The basis for my research was, to fight the enemy you have to understand the enemy. After those three years the world became a very dark and dangerous place for me, up to the point that I was actually thinking I was either posessed or under very strong demonic influence. I thank God for my wife, who at the time i was dating, for she was the one who was able to pray with me for God to open my eyes to the beauty of the world he created. Since then I still read up on mysticism and demonology from time to time but only form Christian authors and I never dwell on them.

Sorry for my long post, but I feel this might be helpful to you. Your Sister and Brother In Law are on a dangerous journey. I thank God I had a strong Christian foundation at the time of mine, who knows what would of happend without it. Only thing I can advice you to do is to talk to her and pray for her.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I feel that alot of the draw toward the “New Age” movement comes from curiosity. There is also the lure of super human powers such as seeing the future, talking with spirits, etc that “New Age” ideas revolve around. The Bible is very straight forward about these activities beeing avoided, as these “powers” are not of God.

Personally, I can’t say how any of that is attractive seeing as how that’s it’s all fantasy.

 

[valentino]

In my view there attractive because they cause people to come together.They feel they are part of something.Most people enjoy being with other people (groups and crowds).Often times they feel a crowd has more influence on other people than just one or two.Exotic ideas seem novel or strange.Something no one knows about or tried here.Maybe people from far off places have something we don’t know about.

 

[david75]

Personally, I can’t say how any of that is attractive seeing as how that’s it’s all fantasy.

If it is all fantasy then why would it be mentioned in the Bible at all? Many Catholic Priests have written books on the subject as well. Which is besides the point. The op asked why so many people were being drawn to these activities. I just gave a couple of reasons as why.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

If it is all fantasy then why would it be mentioned in the Bible at all? Many Catholic Priests have written books on the subject as well. Which is besides the point. The op asked why so many people were being drawn to these activities. I just gave a couple of reasons as why.

The Bible also mentions raining fire and brimstone on whole towns, conjuring bugs from ash, and that Egyptians priests managed to mimic the latter using their magic. I’m not seriously going to believe that the things I saw on The Mummy are actually possible am I?

I believe it is simply a sense of insecurity on the part of most people to fall so easily to such frauds. I know because my parents buy quite a bit into the New Age fad. All I’ve seen is commercialized philosophy.

 

[spiritualwrrior]

Yes indeed.
Many years ago I saw this quote by Blaise Pascal

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”

The key to the answer lies within that quote. We human beings find so many ways of trying to fill that hole, including created things such as new age religions. Sometimes, and prayefully soon for your sister, we finally ask God to fill it

YankeeRC, as St. Augustine said in his Confessions, “our hearts are restless until they rest in [God]”. Pascal was echoing him Thanks for pointing out the root of the problem.

 

[Samuel63]

People are drawn out of curiosity usually because they are unaware of the value of their own faith, if they have one, and that the devil is luring them in.

 

[spiritualwrrior]

I feel that alot of the draw toward the “New Age” movement comes from curiosity. There is also the lure of super human powers such as seeing the future, talking with spirits, etc that “New Age” ideas revolve around. The Bible is very straight forward about these activities beeing avoided, as these “powers” are not of God.

I must make note, the reason I put “New Age” in quotes is because it is not new and has been around before Moses.

I must admit that the ideas are very tempting. There was a time where I was very close to being sucked in from just researching the subject. I spent 3yrs researching both Christian and Non Christian sources on the suject. The basis for my research was, to fight the enemy you have to understand the enemy. After those three years the world became a very dark and dangerous place for me, up to the point that I was actually thinking I was either posessed or under very strong demonic influence. I thank God for my wife, who at the time i was dating, for she was the one who was able to pray with me for God to open my eyes to the beauty of the world he created. Since then I still read up on mysticism and demonology from time to time but only form Christian authors and I never dwell on them.

Sorry for my long post, but I feel this might be helpful to you. Your Sister and Brother In Law are on a dangerous journey. I thank God I had a strong Christian foundation at the time of mine, who knows what would of happend without it. Only thing I can advice you to do is to talk to her and pray for her.

David75,

Yes, I agree. The scary part is the influence and/or attacks by demons as it only opens doors to the devil. I say this from what I’ve heard on EWTN. I think I need to make a correction about my post. My brother-in-law isn’t into these things but he’s also been a bit lukewarm in practicing his faith. I’ve been talking to him about getting back into practice, especially because of my sister’s situation.

I’m very happy for you that you were able to be freed from that trap!

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

There is no accountability in ‘new age’… its all you are one with God… there is no hell… no satan … ect…

You are just energy and blah blah blah.

I got into to it… when I saw how empty and ridiculous it actually was, I became a Catholic.
So… it was good for something.

Here is a video of the typical new age nonsense…pay this guy money and he will stare at you, giving you his positive energy.

[youtube.com/watch?v=eT-M4f(name removed by moderator)Lo&feature=player_embedded](

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[Lost_Wanderer]

Here is a video of the typical new age nonsense…pay this guy money and he will stare at you, giving you his positive energy.

I’m not even going to watch that video. I got enough of that mumbo-jumbo from my parents. Apparently they would sometimes attribute all the bad things that happen to me as a manifestation of my “negative energy”. People shouldn’t let me touch their cars then cuz they might explode from overexposure to my “negativity”. I wonder why I don’t cause street lights and batteries to pop if I have such an “evil” superpower?

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

I’m not even going to watch that video. I got enough of that mumbo-jumbo from my parents. Apparently they would sometimes attribute all the bad things that happen to me as a manifestation of my “negative energy”. People shouldn’t let me touch their cars then cuz they might explode from overexposure to my “negativity”.

Seriously… watch it. A good laugh is good for the soul.

He stands there… says nothing and stares at people.

I dont know which is worse… the guy staring or the people paying to be stared at.

 

[GEddie]

Because folks want to avoid facing the prospect of being accountable for their life and possibly going to hell.

Reincarnation, although equally hideous if you think about it much, at least is less physically uncomfortable

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Reincarnation, although equally hideous if you think about it much, at least is less physically uncomfortable

Meh, I would consider being reborn as a roach to be just as horrible as burning inside the infamous tombs of the 6th circle.

On the other hand, I’ll take our Christian heaven over being reborn as another human being in the upper hierarchy since no matter how richer I might be, I would not risk the possibility of being inside a girl’s body. (I may sound sexist right now but seriously, the idea just grosses me out.)

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

Meh, I would consider being reborn as a roach to be just as horrible as burning inside the infamous tombs of the 6th circle.

On the other hand, I’ll take our Christian heaven over being reborn as another human being in the upper hierarchy since no matter how richer I might be, I would not risk the possibility of being inside a girl’s body. (I may sound sexist right now but seriously, the idea just grosses me out.)

You obviously arent trying hard enough to become enlightened. Then you wont have to keep reincarnating. Once you learn the lessons you are suppose to learn, you become one with the source of all life. Pure energy of love.

Maybe you should pay some guy to stare at you.

 

[TEPO]

New Age becomes so attractive to so many because of its health aspects, such as yoga and nutrition. These are natural desires -given to us by God, yet left mostly out in both the New Testament, and in Catholic teaching as a whole.

Seems like good health is more often than not linked with astrology and Eastern tradition for some reason. It’s a shame.

 

[Inquiringperson]

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but here we go. The question I’m posing has really struck me for some time. I’ve wondered why all of these crazy ideas proposed by New Age “leaders” (for lack of a better word) and their followers are so attractive to people. I guess it’s true that in a way this reveals a great hunger in people for Truth and their purpose in life.

The last item that I emphasized here is truly affecting my sister. She’s been driving herself further and further away from the teachings of the Catholic faith and immersing herself into these New Age ideas. I guess I’m not even sure how deeply she is into this but I know that she’s always wondering about what her purpose is, that she is trying to find her “inner self”, and other stuff like that. She claims of having premonitions, visions, hauntings by demonic beings in her dreams, having a past life, belief in reincarnation, etc. etc.

I’ve been praying for her, but this is quite frustrating as she no longer has the desire to attend Mass. I don’t know what happened to cause her and her husband to no longer attend. Long story, but I thought I could start this discussion by asking the question I posed in this thread’s title.

I think New Age Ideas are attractive because sin always looks glamorous. The real truth is when you get past the lie, it’s ugly.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Seems like good health is more often than not linked with astrology and Eastern tradition for some reason. It’s a shame.

Oh please, that’s exactly what makes the whole movement bogus. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to separate the two.

People think martial arts are tied to the New Age but in fact, I’ve watched enough documentaries on such arts to say that the explanations of the moves based on physics and anatomy make way more sense than any amount of obscure Eastern mysticism. (No offense to Jackie Chan.)

 

[GEddie]

New Age becomes so attractive to so many because of its health aspects, such as yoga and nutrition. These are natural desires -given to us by God, yet left mostly out in both the New Testament, and in Catholic teaching as a whole.

Seems like good health is more often than not linked with astrology and Eastern tradition for some reason. It’s a shame.

Well, part of it is the craze for veganism, which is done for health purposes in the Western lands but for “Religious” reasons elsewhere. Because these practices are older in Eastern tradition, they have been picked up by our side. (There has also been a packaging of Oriental faith practice as health-related in order to sell it to Westerners).

Because our naturalbodies are indubitably part of nature, it also makes sense to some to associate the care of the body with “nature spirituality”, particularly if one doesn’t think too hard about it.

God Bless and ICXC NIKA.