The Christian Arsenal
Christianity, Cults & World Religions
New Age Movement
New Age Movement
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Religion: New Age Movement
Category: Cult
Founder/Leader:
Based on Eastern mysticism, Hinduism, and paganism. Popularized in part by actress Shirley MacLaine, 1980's - present day . Beliefs vary according to the individual and what it is they want to believe.
Foundational Documents:
There is no one specific holy book. Certain select passages of the Bible are used. The I Ching; Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist writings are used along with Native American beliefs. Writings on astrology, mysticism, and magic also make up the body of literature used by New Agers.
God is...
God is an impersonal force or principle, not a person. Everything and everyone is God. People have unlimited inner power, they simply need to discover it.
Jesus is...
Jesus is not the one true God. He is not a savior, but a spiritual model, and guru, and is now an "ascended master." He was a New Ager who tapped into divine power in the same way that anyone can. Many believe he went east to India or Tibet and learned mystical truths. He did not rise physically, but "rose" into a higher spiritual realm.
The Holy Spirit is...
Humans are divine and can experience psychic phenomena such as contacting unearthly beings. The Holy Spirit to them is more of a psychic force.
Method of Salvation:
To be saved a person needs to counter bad karma with good karma. Followers can tap into supernatural powers through meditation, self-awareness, TM, and "spirit guides." Use terms such as "reborn" or a "spiritual birth" are used for this new self-awareness.
Death and Beyond...
A cycle of human reincarnations occurs until the person reaches oneness with God. There is no eternal life as a resurrected person. There is no literal heaven or hell.
Other Beliefs:
Included in the New Age family are yoga, meditation, visualization, astrology, channeling, hypnosis, trances, tarot card readings, and contact with spirits. Use of crystals to get in harmony with God (Energy), for psychic healing, for contact with spirits, and for developing higher consciousness, or other psychic powers. Other endeavors of New Agers are striving for world unity and peace, and holistic health.
Points of New Age Beliefs to Remember:
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1.Everything is God.
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2.Everything is one.
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3.You are a god.
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4.You will be reincarnated
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5.All morality and truth are relative. There is no fixed standard for either.
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6.All religions are the same.
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7.The world and humanity is evolving into a perfect world with perfect beings.
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8.Everything to do with spirits and spirituality is good and can't be bad.