Interfaith Evangelism

BELIEF
New Age B U L L ET I N
Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements
Name: The New Age Movement can be described as a Westernized form of Eastern religions’ beliefs combined
with occultic practices, self-help, holistic medicines, and forms of astrology. The New Age Movement is
not a single organization. The term “New Age Movement” refers to a large number of autonomous groups
and individuals. There are hundreds of groups and religious leaders in North America that could be
described as New Age.

Nature: The New Age Movement desires a change in society’s collective consciousness. The term “new” does not
refer to time but to its differences from traditional Western beliefs. New Age beliefs have been held by
Eastern religions for thousands of years. The New Age Movement does not approach spirituality from a
Christian perspective. Not every New Age group admits that its beliefs and practices are religious. Many
depict their tenets as secular, scientific, or self-help philosophies.

Date
of Beginning: The New Thought Movement, Spiritualism, and the Theosophical Society first introduced New
Age beliefs and practices to America in the 1800s. These ideologies gained popularity during the
counterculture of the mid-sixties and early seventies.

Headquarters: The New Age Movement has no central headquarters or leadership. The movement is an informal alliance
of individuals, groups, and businesses.

Adherents: It is impossible to determine the number of people involved in the New Age Movement. There are
hundreds of New Age groups and spokespersons. However, most of these organizations do not have
formal memberships. Many who espouse New Age beliefs do not identify with a specific group. Religious
suvveys indicate that 20 percent of Americans accept at least some New Age beliefs but most do not
consider themselves New Agers.

Assumptions: The New Age Movement contains great diversity. However, the following ideas characterize most New
Agers. (1) Pantheism—God (god/goddess) is All and All is God (god/goddess). (2) Monism—All is One.
(3) Reincarnation—After you die you will be reborn as a baby and live another life. (4) You are God, and
must discover your divinity. (5) Good and evil do not exist, therefore, there are no absolutes in morality.
(6) Separate the historical person of Jesus from the Christ Spirit. (7) A New Age of enlightenment and
transformation is coming.

New Age groups and practices rarely identify them- ism. Since everything is God you also are God. While
selves as New Age. Their beliefs and occult practices New Agers sometimes talk about God in personal terms,
identify them. This Belief Bulletin examines these New most understand God as ultimately impersonal. God is
Age beliefs and offers a Biblical response. often referred to as a force or energy. When (the imper-
sonal) All is God, the personal God of the Bible cannot
New Age Beliefs exist.
Biblical Response: New Age pantheism denies the
biblical view of creation: “In the beginning God created
Pantheism—God is All and All is God
the heavens and the earth”(Gen. 1:1, NIV). New Agers
Everything is God and God is everything. Everything
deny that God created something that was not God.
that exists is God. As one New Ager has written, “For
Instead of creation, most New Agers believe that God
God is the All, and the Goddess is everything, and there
emanated itself into what we now know as the universe.
is nothing else that is.”1 This belief is known as panthe-
This means that everything in the universe is god.

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 New Agers treasure the teachings of pantheism life as if “all is one.” They treat their mates differently
because it means that they also are gods/goddesses. This than they do someone else’s spouse.
teaching, however, loses much of its appeal when it is The teachings of the Bible agree with our experience
pointed out that the rat rummaging through the garbage of reality. The Bible indicates that the reason we do not
is also God according to pantheism. If pantheism is true experience life as being one is because all is not one.
then it means that even garbage is God. It means that a God has created a universe that contains objects that are
slug is God. It means that a worm in an apple is God. It both unique and precious. We experience ourselves as
means that maggots are God. different from others because God has created us as
Another problem with pantheism is that God unique beings distinct from other things and people. “For
ultimately must be understood as impersonal and not as a by him all things were created: things in heaven and on
personal being. If this is true, it means that the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or
impersonal must be greater than (or at least the same rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and
value as) the personal. But even New Agers find it very for him” (Col. 1:16, NIV).
difficult to live as if this is true. They tend to value
animals as having more value than an impersonal rock. Reincarnation—After we die we will be reborn as a
They tend to value their families as having more value baby and live another life
than a plant. When New Agers live as if the personal is of Then we will die and be reborn again starting the
more value than the impersonal, they act as if the process all over. These cycles of birth, life, and death are
teachings of the Bible, and not pantheism, are true. The necessary in order to lose the illusion of separateness
God of the Bible is a personal God distinct from His from the All. We progress toward this Oneness by acquir-
creation. ing positive karma. Karma is the fruit of our life and
The Bible issues strong warnings to those who con- actions that are carried by the soul to its next life.
fuse God with His creation. “Although they claimed to be Positive karma advances us toward realizing unity with
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the the All. Negative karma prolongs the time needed to real-
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man ize this unity. In traditional Hinduism, negative karma
and birds and animals and reptiles” (Rom. 1:22-23, NIV). can cause us to come back as a lower life from.
Both our experiences of reality and the teachings of Biblical Response: The Bible denies the possibility of
the Bible contradict the New Age belief that we are God. reincarnation. “Just as man is destined to die once, and
We encounter problems. Things do not always go our after that to face judgment . . .” (Heb. 9:27, NIV). Since
way. People do not always treat us fairly and honestly. people will experience only one physical death, reincar-
Sorrow and trouble sometimes come our way. nation cannot be true.
The Bible teaches that while humanity was created in Reincarnation is a form of works salvation. The Bible
the image of God, mankind is not and never will be God rejects salvation through works (of any kind) as impossi-
(see Gen. 1:26-27). Isaiah 43:10 (NIV) says, “‘You are ble. Romans 11:6 (NIV) says, “And if by grace, then it is
my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be
I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and grace.” Likewise Ephesians 2:8-9 stresses that salvation
understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, from sin and its external consequences is a gift that God
nor will there be one after Me.’” gives freely. Sin does not result in reincarnation but in
death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
Monism—All is One is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23,
Everything that exists is One. All distinctions (includ- NIV).
ing your sense of being distinct from everyone and every- The Bible teaches resurrection not reincarnation. Jesus
thing else) are really illusions. The belief that All is One declared, “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has
is closely related to the New Age tenet that everything is now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son
God. According to his book Conversations with God, of God and those who hear will live” (John 5:25, NIV).
Neale Donald Walsch states, “The first step in finding
that we are not apart from God is finding that we are not People Are Divine
apart from each other, and until we know and realize that Many New Agers teach that our sensation of existing
all of us are One, we cannot know and realize that we as finite creatures is an illusion. Humanity has forgotten
and God are One.”2 that it is divine. As a result, people need to become
Biblical Response: Both our experience of reality and enlightened about their true divinity in order to experien-
the teachings of the Bible contradict the belief that “all is tially become one with the All.
one.” Exercises intended to transform consciousness can
We experience ourselves as different from others. We help one attain enlightenment. Techniques such as yoga,
perceive and treat our children differently from the off- meditation, past-life regression, soul travel, and channel-
spring of others. Even New Agers find it difficult to live ing spiritual guides may help one achieve enlightenment.

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 The New Age gospel calls not for faith in Jesus Christ, it, “Many have achieved such consciousness. Many have
but rather for a shift in consciousness. This change of been Christed (sic), not just Jesus of Nazareth.”7
consciousness will only be achieved when you “stop see- Some New Agers also claim that the church has cor-
ing God as separate from you, and you as separate from rupted the teachings of Jesus. They believe that Jesus
each other.”3 traveled to India and studied Hinduism before beginning
Biblical Response: The reason even New Agers expe- His public ministry. He was rejected and crucified
rience life as if they were finite creatures is because they because of His Hindu teachings.
are limited and not divine beings. The real illusion is the Biblical Response: When New Agers use the term
New Age teaching they are divine, not the sense of finite- Christ to refer to a divine consciousness or spirit they
ness that everyone experiences. give it a meaning not found in the Bible. Christ is a
Humanity’s problem is sin, not ignorance of divinity. Greek term that means “anointed one.” The New
While human beings have been created in the image of Testament uses the term to designate Jesus as the prom-
God, they are not divine (see Gen. 1:26-27). The Bible ised Messiah of the Old Testament. Jesus warned His fol-
teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of lowers to be on guard against false teachers who would
God” (Rom. 3:23, NIV). The only solution to the human proclaim false Christs (see Matt. 24:24-25). The New
predicament is faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Age view of the Christ Consciousness is one of these
Many of the consciousness-altering techniques used false Christs. The Jesus of the Bible is unique. He is
by New Agers are occultic and forbidden by the Bible. God’s one and only Son (see John 3:16).
God condemns the use of divination, sorcery, witchcraft,
magical spells, mediums, and spiritualists (see Deut. A New Age of Enlightenment and Transformation Is
18:9-12). Coming
New Agers believe the universe is evolving. Our world
Morality Is Relative is about to undergo a transformation to a higher level.
Since all is One there is no difference between good This change will be brought about by a shift in human
and evil, right or wrong. For the New Ager there is no consciousness toward New Age paradigms.
such thing as evil.4 Some New Agers even deny that Biblical Response: A new world is coming, not a leap
Hitler’s actions were evil. “The real issue is whether to a higher level, but the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Hitler’s actions were ‘wrong.’ Yet I have said over and “God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the
over again that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ in the uni- world to its appropriate end. According to His promise,
verse. A thing is not intrinsically right or wrong. A thing Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to
simply is.”5 Some New Agers would even assert that evil the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge
comes from God. As writer Benjamin Creme states, “Of all men in righteousness”8 (see 1 Thess. 4:14-18). The
course, yes, the forces of evil are part of God. They are unrighteous will be consigned to hell and the righteous
not separate from God. Everything is God. There is noth- will dwell forever in heaven with the Lord (Phil. 3:20-21;
ing else in fact but God. The forces of evil on this planet 2 Pet. 3:7).
receive their energy from the cosmic astral plane.”6
Biblical Response: The sense that there is a distinc- Sharing Jesus with New Agers
tion between right and wrong is universal. New Agers try 1. Share about the personal relationship you have with
to explain evil by denying its reality. But in order to deny God through faith in Jesus Christ. Tell about the
the existence of evil they must also deny the validity of difference that God makes in your life.
goodness. They not only deny the Bible, which condemns 2. Ask the New Ager what he or she believes about
certain actions as wrong, but also their own consciences. God and Jesus Christ. Listen to their answers.
The belief that there is no difference between right There is a lot of diversity in the New Age
and wrong is illogical because it contradicts itself. Its Movement. Not all New Agers believe the same
adherents claim it is right to believe there is no right or things. Start your witness from where they are.
wrong. But if there is no right or wrong, then how can it 3. Lovingly share with New Agers some of the impli-
be right to believe that there is no right or wrong? Both cations of their belief system. For example, many
the Bible and our life experiences support the Christian New Agers do not realize that one implication of
teaching that there is a distinction between good and evil, pantheism is that God is impersonal. Also, one of
right and wrong. Also, the Bible clearly indicates that the implications of their belief in karma and rein-
God is not the source of evil (see Jas. 1:13). carnation is that there are no innocent sufferers.
4. Since the New Age belief system denies our experi-
Separate the Man Jesus from the Christ Spirit ence of reality, it is hard for New Agers to live as if
New Agers claim Jesus is not the only Christ. Jesus what they believe is true. Gently point out the
was one of several great teachers who obtained the Christ inconsistencies between what they claim to believe
Spirit (self-actualization of one’s deity). As Walsch puts and how they actually live. For example, many New

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 Agers take offense with the gospel message that
faith in Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
They claim that there is no right or wrong way to
God and that we are wrong to claim that there is.
Ask: “If there is no right or wrong way to God,
then how can you claim that our gospel is wrong?”
Lovingly point out that their position is illogical
because it contradicts itself.
5. Be loving and kind toward those in the New Age
Movement. Remember that God loves them and
wants them to place their faith in Jesus Christ.
6. Trust in the Holy Spirit to convict New Agers of
their need for Jesus.
7. Do not get frustrated if you do not see immediate
results. Most New Agers have to hear the gospel
more than once before they trust in Jesus.
8. Encourage them to read the Bible, particularly the
Gospels, and to make a study of the life of Christ.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of
God (see Rom. 10:17).

Notes
1. Walsch, Neale Donald, Conversations With God: An
Uncommon Dialogue, Book 2 (Charlottesville, Va.:
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, 1997), p. 92.
2. Ibid., p. 3.
3. Ibid., p. 173. Bill Gordon, Associate, Interfaith Evangelism
4. Ibid., p. 31.
5. Ibid., p. 36. © 2001, North American Mission Board of the Southern
6. Creme, Benjamin, The Reappearance of the Christ and Baptist Convention, Alpharetta, Georgia
Masters of Wisdom (Los Angeles: Tara Center, 1980), p.
103. All rights reserved. The North American Mission Board grants
7. Walsch, Neale Donald, p. 22. permission for reproduction of this publication for educational
8. The Baptist Faith and Message: “Section X. Last purposes. Alteration of this publication is strictly prohibited.
Things.” (Nashville, The Sunday School Board of the May not be sold for profit.
Southern Baptist Convention, 2000), p. 15.
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