The New Age Movement

[Penumbra]

I rather like the way New Agers seem to be more inclusive than exclusive of people. Overall, ,the movement or religion seems to inspire few or no hatreds for people. New Agers appear to have no doctrines or teachings that target for discrimination folks of any class, such as racial, gender, religious, or political class.

Having said that, I think the beliefs reflect the usual terrifying sloppiness of humans when it comes to thinking, and that New Ageism does little or nothing to encourage or promote intellectual honesty, rigor, or courage -- just like most other religions.

Perhaps you misunderstood me. I was offering my impression of New Agers and not trying to fob my impression off as necessarily true.

My personal experience is quite limited, of course, but I've never met a New Ager with outstanding or even reasonably high intellectual standards when it comes to their beliefs. I am not trying to say that judgmentally or insultingly though. I like and enjoy the company of lots of people whose intellectual standards, for one reason or another, are pretty low -- although not fraudulent or dishonest. I can accept low standards sometimes, but not intellectual fraud and dishonesty.

Of course, it's conceivable that the world is full of New Agers with high standards, and I just haven't been fortunate to meet one myself.

^This is essentially what I have seen as well.

My mother could be classified as New Age, and New Agey beliefs made up about half of the religious beliefs I was raised with, along with the other half being liberal Catholicism from my father, until I mostly left all religion and spirituality aside.

As far as religions go, I consider some of the more popular New Age varieties to be fairly benign. As in, many of them teach love, inclusivity, often a form of universalism, etc. Not the most destructive set of beliefs around. However depending on the variety, I think ideas like belief in a literal law of attraction, or spending money on tarots, crystals, psychics, mediums, and that sort of thing, can have negative affects to some degree, and I don't tend to see a lot of intellectual rigor among that belief system.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Maybe it's the blending of different faiths and ideas is what makes a new age person new age.

Yes, I would say it's the blending which is the defining characteristic. Often it's based on a refusal or inability to commit to one thing.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

But on the other hand, it is true they are open-minded and inclusive.

Inclusive yes, I'm not sure about open-minded though. New-agers can get very attached to their way of looking at the world.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Yes, I would say it's the blending which is the defining characteristic. Often it's based on a refusal or inability to commit to one thing.

Well, the last part, maybe because many new agers believe the truth in all faiths; so, it's hard to stick to one that is supposed to be right. Another reason, this is for me, not only is there an overlap in the "truth" of all faiths, there's a discriminate voice behind them (some paganism included) that the community in that faith upholds.

I can't pin it down to that type of thinking as part of the definition of religion itself (the your wrong and I'm right) or what. Plus, all faiths have terrible history that to be a part of it is contradicting some of the morals I do have.

Religion is all about practice. If we don't put our beliefs into constant and disciplined then it makes it sound new age.

Though, it would be nice to commit to a specific religion/religious community with like believers. It's hard to find that since there's so many people interested in and/or practice "astrology; mythological; quote on quote witchcraft"

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Well, the last part, maybe because many new agers believe the truth in all faiths; so, it's hard to stick to one that is supposed to be right.

Sure, but what I often see is a failure to grasp what that truth really is, there's a sort of superficiality.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Sure, but what I often see is a failure to grasp what that truth really is, there's a sort of superficiality.

/nods/ I can see that. I try to ask about specific things they believe in without universlism jargon like Oneness, Inner consciousness, cosmos, chaos magic, and the list goes on. It's the same with Christianity, I try to get them to share their point without scripture and Christian jargon. I know in each case there's got to be a basic foundation of their faith. New age is so broad it's hard to find that. In Christianity, however, I don't know if many Christians think of how to explain something to someone else who does not know Christian terminology.

To tell you honestly, I don't see too many pros to new age. I see a lot of mixing up beliefs and spiritualistic concepts like "making your own path up" takes the authenticity of adapting your life to a path (not always religion) that exists--so yeah, that really takes out the discipline right there. Make it up as you go.

Also, I hate "religion shopping." Normally, for me, I change religions because I find the former religions interests me but the latter religion changes my life. Can't always go with what you feel is right but what you know is right; I don't see that in the new age community much.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

What are they replacing the term with, do you know?

'New Age' seemed to be a catch-all term most used in the 70's for all spiritual and metaphysical ideas that were not part of mainstream western spirituality. Thankfully, I see the term being less used. I believe in some of the things but not all.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I remember being a new ager. I believed that crystals hold energy to it. I believed that people can be mediums and communicate with spirits. I thought I was an empath (or so I was told by a psychic). Doing rituals to give gratitude to the sun and so forth.

Then I realized after all the playing around, it becomes more personal when you know what is true. If you can stake your life on your belief then that's were the line is crossed between new agism to disciplined faith.

Also, the line is drawn when you start respect other people's belief systems as you would want them to respect yours. You don't adopt other people's beliefs into yours because you must know the practices and culture that make the belief true or fact.

Also, I noticed people who believe in mythological Gods can just pick a God and believe in it. Like fast-food. People who practice religions do not just pick a God. The belief (for some faiths) come through the practice and in some it can only be experienced in a community of like believers not a community of people who have different practices but somewhat share the same morals (like a witch saying she doesn't believe in the Wiccan creed while the Wiccan in the same congregation believes otherwise.)

Many Islams believe in Chakras and rocks with energies. Catholics believe the bread/wine is Jesus Christ. Is this new age?

Maybe the line is drawn is how important it is to their life, how they apply it, who or what they are getting it from, and can they stake their life by it.

Without that, it sounds more like seeking for the truth that is like a moving target. Have to settle down sometime.

To be honest the name conjures some negative stuff first into my mind.

Pseudo-science, fraud, "leaders", inappropriate use of religious elements, fluffy, etc.

But on the other hand, it is true they are open-minded and inclusive.

What I'd love to know though, is when does one start to be considered new-age? It's easy to recognise if someone is really into it (for example, people who are associated with spiritscience are into "empaths", chakras, crystals, aliens, etc.) but where's the line? I've never been able to say exactly, maybe it just starts with not being appropriate with elements from other religions and then adding metaphysical and pseudo-science to it.

*Shrugs*

 

[George-ananda]

What are they replacing the term with, do you know?

I don't think there is a new catch-all term. People are seeing that so many different things can't be lumped in any one term. The different things have to be looked at individually. That's an improvement in my view.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

True. True. Hopefully, it will change for the better sometime in our day.

I don't think there is a new catch-all term. People are seeing that so many different things can't be lumped in any one term. The different things have to be looked at individually. That's an improvement in my view.

 

[nazz]

Okay. The purpose of this thread is for different people regardless of faith or lack there of to discuss the pros and cons about the new age movement. What do you feel is the new age movement? Do you agree with it, if not why? If you are using religious text to prove your point please back it up by your own words as well.

Definition of new age:
New Age Spirituality

It's hard to define new age but here is a collection of what people in the new age belief believe as compared to organized religions.

I assume it's a category of beliefs that are outside of organized religion. Some common characteristics is that it's flexible. Many new agers feel they can choose what they want to believe and/or the beliefs they follow allow them to be who they are as people. Many "new agers" may use broad words that try to define the spiritual without concrete words organized religions use to define how they see God or so have you. Here is what the website says that new agers have in common:

• 8% believe in astrology as a method of foretelling the future.
• 7% believe that crystals are a source of healing or energizing power
• 9% believe that Tarot Cards are a reliable base for life decisions
• About 1 in 4 believe in a non-traditional concept of the nature of God which are often associated with New Age thinking:
• 11% believe that God is "a state of higher consciousness that a person may reach"
• 8% define God as "the total realization of personal, human potential"
• 3% believe that each person is God.

As a whole, it is not based on traditions. In some aspects it is not concrete in its language. It is also broad in who believes, what they believe, and how they practice their beliefs.

Are their benefits to the new age movement? Are they right compared to what you believe? If you believe in some of these things and don't consider yourself a new age person, why not? What sets you a part?

In general I think it's a bunch of hooey.

 

[wizanda]

Thought the New age was about the coming age of Aquarius, where people would become more enlightened and question everything for themselves.
Seeing from the start of the thread though, that people are defining it as encompassing sorcery, witchcraft, fortune telling and everything else. It has become just another label, religious people can call anything alternative to their belief.....Many used to just called everyone who isn't Abrahamic, Pagan, now they're all being called New Agers.

 

[Vinayaka]

I've always found it hard to classify, as there are so many individuals doing so many different things. There does seem to be an over-riding sense of non-commitment, and moving on the the next thing rather quickly, almost a disdain for tradition.

Course everyone's experiences are different. Mine are mostly at one store.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

There does seem to be an over-riding sense of non-commitment, and moving on the the next thing rather quickly, almost a disdain for tradition.

Yes, the digging of many shallow wells.

 

[Deidre]

I hang a crystal from the mirror in my car...does that sound new age? ^_^

It came with a "story" behind its "powers."

 

[Rick O'Shez]

It came with a "story" behind its "powers."

Do tell!

 

[ShivaFan]

I am not sure how to define the New Age movement. From my observation, it started as an expression (viz NEW Age) with the "emergent Age of Aquarius", based on some prophetic vision or hope associated with an astrological event, then really took off in pop culture with the 1969 hit song "Age of Aquarius" (Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In) by the Fifth Dimension. Popular music has a lot of impact on society, the year previous Donovan released the hit "Atlantis".

Of course, ideas such as Atlantis look to the past while the Aquarian idea looks to the future - but over all the real "grounding" for the New Age movement was a sense that "something is about to happen".

I know that sounds strange, but really that was what it was about. Anticipation. The Atlantis idea was this, that "secrets from the past" would be opened paving the way to a New Age (something is about to happen, anticipation) or with Aquarius stars or planets or some alignment will trigger a New Age (again, the sense that something is about to happen, anticipation).

All this was just after the "Death of a Hippie" funeral procession in Haight Ashbury that was supposed to mark the end of the flower power innocence and hippies in general. The hippies failed, time for a new age. Charles Manson and the Manson Family were starting to make headlines. Bad things, but soon "something is going to happen".

But nothing did "happen"... remember, the entire sense of the "happening" was WE were not going to "do it" but it will come by way of some higher "intervention". But nothing happened.

As folks were waiting for something to happen, some started looking at Tarot cards to try and figure out what will happen. Nothing wrong with Tarot cards, I bought my first deck about then even though I am not a new ager, but "the cards" are more about the individual trend and not some world trend. Apparently the Tarot cards, which became very popular at that time, never really gave the answer regarding "what is going to happen"... Which didn't happen.

So by the mid-1970s, many felt like something is wrong. Nothing was happening. That's when the outer space "arrival of (something)" took off. There were events such as the Harmonic Convergence in 1987 which was at the tail-end of this "look up, something is coming" ideation. There was all sorts of folks talking about Mayan this or that, or to organize millions of people to envision world peace at the same time via collective consciousness, but I will tell you that all that was media hype and folks trying to make some money but the REAL Harmonic Convergence event was a bunch of people driving up to the top of some peaks or mountains on a certain date, waiting at night with the idea that "something from outer space" was going to come.

I recall this happening on Mission Peak, California, because many including myself just had to drive up to the peak and "watch the show" and the collection people there... sort of a big news event... of course, nothing happened.

That was probably the "last gasp" of the New Age movement, in 1987. Sure, there are still remnants of it today.

But all the "Metaphysical" bookstores in Berkeley CA and elsewhere with the (rather fantastic, actually) posters of "Coming Teachers" and such closed shop. Not all, but most.

Which is sort of sad, because they had some incredible posters back in the 70s and early 80s of prophetic type "spirit people" that were very artistic and highly collectible today. I didn't buy any, but I wish I did because they cost an arm and a leg today and would look pretty cool on the garage wall.

As far as something happening, there is going to be something that is going to happen in the next 2 months in my prediction. The something is the obvious. The Islamic terrorists are already here in the US, and they will do a Paris job on us only worse. You don't need ESP to see that one coming, nor will it be the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

 

[1137]

Okay. The purpose of this thread is for different people regardless of faith or lack there of to discuss the pros and cons about the new age movement. What do you feel is the new age movement? Do you agree with it, if not why? If you are using religious text to prove your point please back it up by your own words as well.

I don't really like the term "new age", for starters. I would define "new age" one of two way. First off, in general, I think new age represents the simple idea that some sort of mental change in coming to humanity, or some sort of divine change. Likely the idea comes from the rotation of the stars, especially considering that in a few hundred years the north star itself will be changing. The second way is probably the proper way, which is that it is this modern day, pseudo-hippy, dumbed down occult nonsense. A joke and a slap in the face to all spirituality.

I assume it's a category of beliefs that are outside of organized religion. Some common characteristics is that it's flexible. Many new agers feel they can choose what they want to believe and/or the beliefs they follow allow them to be who they are as people.

I don't think this is an idea that really categorizes "new age".

• 8% believe in astrology as a method of foretelling the future.
• 7% believe that crystals are a source of healing or energizing power
• 9% believe that Tarot Cards are a reliable base for life decisions
• About 1 in 4 believe in a non-traditional concept of the nature of God which are often associated with New Age thinking:
• 11% believe that God is "a state of higher consciousness that a person may reach"
• 8% define God as "the total realization of personal, human potential"
• 3% believe that each person is God.

This is meaningless data as presented.

A\s a whole

, it is not based on traditions. In some aspects it is not concrete in its language. It is also broad in who believes, what they believe, and how they practice their beliefs.

Are their benefits to the new age movement? Are they right compared to what you believe? If you believe in some of these things and don't consider yourself a new age person, why not? What sets you a part?

There are possible benefits to the majority of systems out there. They resemble what I believe in an extremely vague, uneducated, dumbed down, and socially correct way.

 

[Sha'irullah]

The New Age movement is just a final attempt at the theistically and religious minded to maintain a strong sense of woo without the baggage of religion. Instead they opt to carry an even bigger burden on their backs. I am not sure if this can be blamed on ignorance, sorrow or just plain stupidity but it is definitely an unneeded burden.

The New Agers as a whole seem to be more into fallacious thinking and superstition. If you ask me I say it is a very destructive body of loose beliefs.

 

[shawn001]

I don't belong to the New Age movement, but here is some info that is worth reading. When will they call it old age movement?.


New Age Spirituality

New Age Spirituality