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

[PJM]

=spiritualwrrior;7758842]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.

This is SHOCKINGLY easy to respond to:

All of humanity have to make ONE decession:

Either I am personally in charge; or “I AM” is in charge.

Wether I am in charge or God is in charge. The responsibility cannot be divided or split. It’s either OR

Guess which one is EASIER And that my friend is WHY!

Let us pray! Don’t give up. Know your faith and live it publically. God has to be in charge!

God Bless,
Pat

 

[TEPO]

For the same reason that all human beings are attracted to supernatural ideas, religions (and especially Catholicism) included: it makes them feel “special,” it makes life more “exciting,” and it gives them a sense of “purpose.”

Not me…!

In fact, my life as a Catholic makes me feel like an outcast, it makes life more restrictive, and often gives me a sense of hopelessness.

Why do I stay…? Because of my love for what is good. After learning that there really IS a source of pure goodness, and a whole gathering of thousands of years worth of followers -where else could I possible go and still be able to live with myself and my decision …?

 

[Edward_H]

Not me…!

In fact, my life as a Catholic makes me feel like an outcast, it makes life more restrictive, and often gives me a sense of hopelessness.

Why do I stay…? Because of my love for what is good. After learning that there really IS a source of pure goodness, and a whole gathering of thousands of years worth of followers -where else could I possible go and still be able to live with myself and my decision …?

I don’t feel restricted at all. I feel liberated knowing that God is my Father, knowing what REAL love is, knowing how to love (not that it’s easy, not that I don’t fail), knowing that God has a purpose for me, and that purpose definitely involves lots and lots and lots of giving until I die. Knowing that God gives us dignity by allowing us to cooperate with Him in the salvation of the whole world also gives me great joy.

 

[SteveVH]

I don’t feel restricted at all. I feel liberated knowing that God is my Father, knowing what REAL love is, knowing how to love (not that it’s easy, not that I don’t fail), knowing that God has a purpose for me, and that purpose definitely involves lots and lots and lots of giving until I die. Knowing that God gives us dignity by allowing us to cooperate with Him in the salvation of the whole world also gives me great joy.

Awesome!

 

[cyberwolf001]

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.

I will give a fuller response later. But even your catachism and your Saints believed in this.

Also if you believe in wine and cakes becoming flesh and blood literally why not?

To an atheist all of Catholicism is as much a fantasy as my religion (If a less interesting one).

 

[Beth_Cecilia]

Not all New Age religions are the same, and I am not entirely sure what, specifically, is being referred to here. When I read the post, I was thinking along the lines of Wicca. By the end, there is more discussion of Eastern thought and influence- which to my knowledge is not actually a religion. (Obviously there are Eastern religions, but that would be a separate question.)

Anyway, I can only respond to what I know, which is Wicca. I am a cradle Catholic. I dabbled in all kinds of religions in foolish youth. The one which I can say was emphatically the most frightening and the most appealing was Wicca.

A lot of people have mentioned feelings as a reason, and I think that is precisely correct but I would take it a step further. It is feelings placed over rationality. There is a certain internal rationality, but it generally entails accepting that what you feel is the most true. If something makes sense but feels wrong, it is wrong. And worse, for rationality anyway, something which is “true for me” need not be “true for you.” That may not sound appealing, but it can be very gratifying to subject your rationality to your feelings.

It is not so much about ease, as some have said. It can be difficult. In many circles, these people are shunned and usually made the laughing stock. It is about feelings- good and bad- dictating.

Another appealing aspect is balance. They talk about a balance between the male and the female; good and evil; light and dark. That list is not intended to be parallel. They see the world as controlled by these, and other, balances. It makes a sort of sense, I guess. We see male and female as complimentary as well. But good and evil- not so much. Good is stronger than evil. Light is stronger than darkness. Darkness is an absence, light is a presence. It is easy to think of God and the Devil as counterparts who battle over the world and each soul. Many think this way. (Like Donald Duck!) That is essentially the idea. Christians reject that. The Devil is created and he will never equal our Lord. I am kind of rambling, sorry.

It is a religion which clings to balance, not to good. It clings to feelings, not truth. It appeals to many for many reasons. They do not have to say you are wrong for being a Catholic, and that certainly has appeal. To stop worrying about who is wrong and who is right- to just get out of the argument and take ownership of your beliefs alone. They do not have to wonder why a good God allows bad things to happen. Bad things happen, as they must and good things will too. That holds appeal for people who have suffered and cannot “forgive God.”

For some, there is a community aspect. I watched a cousin fall for that reason.

For some it is about power. That is where it can be the scariest. I ultimately left because I saw things which I could not explain. Power has to come from somewhere and if if doesn’t come from God…

There are real links with Satanism, and I would be very worried about anyone falling prey to these potent lies.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I will give a fuller response later. But even your catachism and your Saints believed in this.

Also if you believe in wine and cakes becoming flesh and blood literally why not?

I don’t necessarily disbelieve all supernatural phenomenon. It’s just that the more grandeur ones and certain things often attributed to the New Age movement that I find much to suspect. Such phenomenon is too rare and unpredictable for any possible, controlled scientific inquiry.

However, it is that extreme rarity that leads me to be a skeptic. From personal experience, I’ve had only one haunting occult one out of the many fake ones I’ve seen exposed. That tells me a lot about how much I should go chasing signs of wonder.

I believe in all the miracles and supernatural events demanded by my faith (such as the Resurrection, Virgin birth, Transubstiation etc). That doesn’t mean I’m going to believe you can curse me with a dragon form for all eternity when you tell me.

 

[seeker57]

There are real links with Satanism, and I would be very worried about anyone falling prey to these potent lies.

I would argue that point. All of the Wiccans I know are steadfast in their denial that any devil exists and that such a being has no place in their religion.

There is a Church if Satan out there, but it has Christian roots, not Wiccan.

As for why people are drawn to various different religions, I think it boils down to what feels right for the individual, just as you mentioned.

That applies to Catholics as well. I have friends tell me they feel fed, or they feel better, or life is better, etc., because they went to mass.

So, for them, it is a “feel good” religion.

But, if you were to examine many Catholic beliefs and practices from a non-Catholic point of view, you might see how some of it seems like pure fantasy.

Can a priest really bless water? Is the bread and wine really transformed? The list can go on, but you probably get my drift.

For those who believe, I am sure these things are accepted on faith.

Why are people drawn to “New Age” beliefs, although what those are have not been defined?

Perhaps they don’t view them as fantasy or unbelievable, but rather as the foundations of their faith.

Seeker

 

[Richard_Kastner]

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.

Most “New Age” religions are what I call feel good religions. You will rarely if ever hear them preaching on two things 1) Sin and 2) Judgement. For the most part they will talk about Jesus comming to show us how to live good lives, which is true, but they leave out the part where He came to die for our sins. The reason for this I believe is if they admit that He came to die for our sins, they must also admit that we are sinners and are worthy of nothing but death. Rom.6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And if we are sinners and worthy of death we will one day be judged and destroyed, if we do not accept Christ’s saving sacrifice. So they have made up this idea of the “inner self”, “the authentic self”, or the “god within” This nullifies the cross and makes them their own savior, The trouble with this is it contradicts what the word of God says. Jer.17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? And by ignoring the cross they will reap God’s judgement, because Jesus is the ONLY way. Jn.14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

[Edward_H]

As for why people are drawn to various different religions, I think it boils down to what feels right for the individual, just as you mentioned.

That applies to Catholics as well. I have friends tell me they feel fed, or they feel better, or life is better, etc., because they went to mass.

So, for them, it is a “feel good” religion.

But, if you were to examine many Catholic beliefs and practices from a non-Catholic point of view, you might see how some of it seems like pure fantasy.

Can a priest really bless water? Is the bread and wine really transformed? The list can go on, but you probably get my drift.

Seeker

Well, you’re entitled to your opinion based on the sampling you’ve done of people and the limited knowledge you have of beliefs, including the Catholic faith.

To get a better understanding of the role and power of the priest and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, see this very short video.

opusdei.us/art.php?p=38802

What seems like fantasy to some, seem so, because their outlook is just natural, not supernatural. Faith is trusting God beyond your material senses.

 

[AnAtheist]

Well, in the 1st century Christianity was an exotic and a new age idea. Obviously it was very attractive.

 

[AnAtheist]

I guess the Jews have a different opinion on that.

and built on pre-existing traditions.

So are modern exotic religions.

 

[StTommyMore]

New Age beliefs are attractive because they give people a sense of feeling “spiritual,” but with no defined beliefs, no dogmas, no responsibilities.

 

[Edward_H]

I guess the Jews have a different opinion on that.

So are modern exotic religions.

I like what Chesterton said in The Everlasting Man, which bears on your point and the parallels being drawn here:

In truth the Church is too unique to prove herself unique. For most popular and easy proof is by parallel and here there is no parallel. It is not easy, therefore, to expose the fallacy by which a false classification is created to swamp a unique thing when it really is a unique thing.

 

[Brywan]

There has been and always will be an attraction to the esoteric–

But we need to remind ourselves that Christianity took off and flourished in ancient Greece which had its “mystery” religions–and 2000 years later, Christianity is still here, but the cult of Dionysius–where are its adherants? What was it about Christianity that made it so seductive?

The Apostle Paul capitalized on the Greek’s attraction to “mystery” by using the term and applying it to Christianity… (see I Cor 2:7, 15:51, Ephesian 3:3,4,9, Col 1:26,27 for starters)

Christianity has mystery a-plenty–where else in the world today can you find bread and wine becoming the body and blood of God?

“Let us proclaim the mystery of faith…”

 

[Vico]

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.

Merriam Webster dictionary states that “New Age” term was first used in 1949 and means contemporary or modern. So New Age in context of religion or spirituality means modern religion or spirituality. The spread of traditional pagan religions has been a continual occurrance since ancient times, so it is not properly limited to modern times. Examples of modern religions are:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830
Baha’i 1844
Salvation Army 1865
Theosophy * (Theosophical Society 1875)
Christian Science 1879
Reiki 1922
Jehovah’s Witnesses 1931
Unification Church 1954
Eckankar 1965

• Theosophists believe in certain teachings from various religions.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Are you saying that we no longer have to keep the commandments Jharek?

 

[GEddie]

Are you saying that we no longer have to keep the commandments Jharek?

I’m not him but “the commandments” are not “the law.”

“The Law” that our LORD and HIS people knew involved such things as circumcision, kosher dieting, and Sabbath keeping, which we are not responsible for, although we have “piggybacked” onto the Jewish Messiah; and such things as ritual sacrifice, which are now impossible for everybody, given the Temple is no more.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Richard_Kastner]

I’m not him but “the commandments” are not “the law.”

“The Law” that our LORD and HIS people knew involved such things as circumcision, kosher dieting, and Sabbath keeping, which we are not responsible for,

Circumcision was taken care of at the council in Acts, The bible never mentions kosher, but does mention clean and unclean, which I don’t see being done away with anywhere in the bible. The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments and James says that if we offend in one we offend in them all. So you are saying that the ten commandments have been done away with? Is that right?

although we have “piggybacked” onto the Jewish Messiah; and such things as ritual sacrifice, which are now impossible for everybody, given the Temple is no more.

I’m not quite sure what you mean here.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

What delema’s would you be talking about and do you not consider the ten commandments laws?