1. Session 3 – The New Age Movement In this session, we will look at the core teachings of the New Age movement that has become so popular here in America. We will look at some practices of those following the New Age, and what the Bible says about its teachings and practices.

2. What is the New Age movement? The New Age movement has many subdivisions. It is attributed to Eastern religions (such as Hinduism and Buddhism) and combines many theologies, hopes, thought systems, etc., and teaches many paths to salvation.

3. It is a theology of "feel-goodism”, "universal tolerance“, and "moral relativism”. It will look like Wicca with much of its theology (though there are some obvious differences at times). In the New Age movement, man is the center and is seen as divine; he is viewed as the hope for future peace and harmony on planet earth.

4. A representative quote might be: "I am affected only by my thoughts. It needs but this to let salvation come to all the world. For in this single thought is everyone released at last from fear." (A course in Miracles, The Foundation for Inner Peace, Huntington Station, N.Y. Lesson 228, p. 461.) Unfortunately for the NAM, the fear from which they want to be released might very well be the fear of damnation, of conviction of sin, and, sometimes, even a fear of Christianity and Christians.

5. While the New Age Movement is tolerant of other belief systems, they tend not to be tolerant of the belief system that says there is only one correct belief system. That is sadly the case for those who promote tolerance… they are tolerant of everyone except those who say they’re wrong.

6. Christianity is Narrow John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ’I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” Don’t get caught up in the idea that we are to tolerate all other belief systems… Don’t sit around and keep quiet when someone believes something that can’t save them in the end (it’s not loving).

7. The NAM is difficult to define because there is no hierarchy, dogma, doctrine, collection plate, or membership. (similar to Wicca) It is a collection, an assortment of different theologies with the common threads of toleration and divergence. If you are talking to someone who identifies with the NAM, you need to ask what they believe and not just assume they fit into a box of New Age beliefs.

8. The term "New Age" refers to the "Aquarian Age" which, according to New Age followers, is dawning. It is supposed to bring in peace and enlightenment and reunite man with God. Man is presently considered separated from God, not because of sin, but because of lack of understanding and knowledge concerning the true nature of God and reality.

9. The New Age Movement is a religious system with two basic beliefs: Evolutionary Godhood and Global Unity. Evolutionary Godhood is the next step in our evolutionary development. It’s not physical (like in the past) but spiritual. The goal of the New Age Movement is to push us forward in our spiritual evolutionary development (and there are several ways this is accomplished).

10. One tool that people may use is astral projection, which is training your soul to leave your body and travel around. Another method is contacting spirits so they may speak through you or guide you (this is the idea of Spirit Guides, which is very popular today).

11. Some use crystals to purify the energy systems of the body and mind. Visualization is where you use mental imagery to imagine yourself as an animal, in the presence of a divine being, being healed of sickness, etc. These are all occultic practices.

12. Evolutionary Godhood also means that mankind will soon see itself as god, as the "Christ principle”. The New Age Movement teaches that Man is inherently good (by nature). "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Rom. 5:12).

13. It teaches that since man is divine by nature, he then has divine qualities. This is an important part of NAM thinking. Because the average New Ager believes himself to be divine, he can then create his own reality. If a person believes that reincarnation is true, that's fine because that is his reality. If someone doesn’t, that’s also fine, because that is his own reality.

14. In contrast to this, the Bible says that God alone is the Creator: "This is what the LORD says -- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself" (Isa. 44:24). The New Ager who believes in his own divinity and ability to create, usurps the authority and position of God.

15. The Bible does speak of man becoming like God, so you can bring that up with them: Genesis 3:4-5: ” But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’.” So many religions and philosophies today have fallen for the very first lie of Satan.

16. New Age Movement and Reincarnation Though not all New Agers adhere to reincarnation, most believe in it in some form or another. Many believe that the Bible at one point taught reincarnation, but those verses were removed or changed at some point.

17. What does the Bible say? Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” It’s almost as if God knew all these different views were going to arise, and he put verses in the Bible to address each one of them (sometimes dozens of verses for certain topics).

18. The second major element of the New Age Movement is Global Unity which consists of three major divisions: Man with Man; Man with Nature; and Man with God. First, Man with Man The NAM teaches that we will all learn our proper divine relationship with one another and achieve harmony and mutual love and acceptance through the realization and acceptance of this divine proper knowledge.

19. Within this hoped-for harmony is economic unity. The average New Ager is looking for a single world leader who, with New Age principles, will guide the world into a single harmonious economic whole. It is also hoped that this leader will unite the world into a spiritual unity; that is, a one-world religion.

20. Secondly, Man with nature Since the NAM says that God is all, and all is God, then nature is also part of God. Man must then get in tune with nature and learn to nurture it and be nurtured by it. In this, all people can unite.

21. American Indian philosophies are popular among New Agers because they focus on the earth, on nature, and man's relationship to them. New Age philosophy generally seeks to merge with those philosophies that put man and nature on an equal level.

22. We are no more or less important or different than our cousin the animal, bird, or fish. We must live in harmony with them, understand them, and learn from them. This is the general philosophy of the New Age. This is opposed to the Scriptural teaching of man's superiority over animals (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:19). This doesn’t mean animal cruelty is okay.

23. Man is given the responsibility of caring for and being stewards of God's creation (Gen. 2:15). God will hold Christians responsible for the stewardship that has been entrusted to them. The New Agers have a name for the earth, which is the same as Wicca: Gaia. Gaia is to be revered and respected. Some New Agers even worship the earth and nature. (This is where there is much cross over with Wicca.)

24. Third, Man with God Since the NAM teaches that man is divine by nature, all people, once they see themselves as such, will be helped in their unity of purpose, love, and development. The goal is to fully realize our own goodness. This is polar opposite of what the Bible says (yet again).

25. Some additional beliefs in the New Age Movement The god of the New Age is impersonal. An impersonal god will not and does not reveal himself nor will he have specific requirements as to morality, belief, and behavior. This is why reincarnation appeals so much to them. With it, there is no judgment, and there is a second chance, a third chance, and fourth, etc.

26. The New Age Interpretation of Christianity God is not a personal heavenly Father but an impersonal force. Matthew 6:9-13: “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ”

27. If God were impersonal, then the following qualities could not be His: God speaks and has a self given name: "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). God is long suffering, (Psalm 86:15; 2 Peter 3:15). God is forgiving (Daniel 9:9; Ephesians 1:7; Psalm 86:5). God hates sin (Psalm 5:5-6; Habakkuk 1:13).

28. God is all and all is God. God is not the "wholly other" creator of all, but part of all that exists. (Known as pantheism.) There is no sin, only incorrect understanding of truth. Knowledge is what saves, not Jesus. Hell is not a place but an experience here on Earth; it is a state of mind. Not very tolerant of our view, huh?

29. Man is not divine, but a sinner, according to the Bible. He is deceitful and desperately wicked. He loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” He is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23).

30. He is unrighteous, does not understand, does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12). He is helpless and ungodly (Rom. 5:6). He is dead in his trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). He is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14).

31. Jesus was just one of many who shows the way of divine truth. He exemplified the Christ consciousness probably better than anyone else. Christ is a consciousness, a form of the higher self. It is possessed by all because everyone is divine.

32. Be careful here, they will use many terms that sound Christian, but they mean a completely (and contradictory) thing Salvation is not correct thought, but deliverance from the consequence of our sin (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). What does the Bible say? Salvation is God's deliverance from damnation (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 1:18; 2:5; 5:9).

33. This salvation is found in no one but Jesus alone (Acts 4:12). Christ means "anointed”. Jesus was the Christ, the anointed one. It doesn’t mean consciousness or quality of people. Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Deliverer from sin. Jesus is the Christ (Matt. 16:16,20; Luke 9:20).

34. The Bible opposes almost all the tenets of the New Age Movement As Christians, we should be watchful to recognize what is false and teach what is true. We need to be ready to give answers to those who are lost in the philosophy of the New Age Movement, those who have fallen for the same lie as Adam and Eve did (you can become as gods).

35. Memory Verse Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”