The Mystical Smorgasbord [Exploring New Age Thought]
Steve Curtis
A broad palette of Eastern religions – Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism – have been homogenized into Western thought through what is known as the New Age movement. This name is derived from the belief that the world is passing out of the zodiacal house of Pisces and into the new age of Aquarius. This fascination with the Age of Aquarius exploded onto the cultural landscape of America in the psychedelic haze known as the counter-culture revolution. While a diverse movement with many permutations, Elliot Miller suggests that there are four common denominators:
…all New Agers believe that “all is one” – everything that exists consists of one and the same essence or reality. A second assumption is that this Ultimate Reality is neither dead matter nor unconscious energy. It is Being, Awareness, and Bliss (which is to say, a Hindu conception of God as an impersonal, infinite consciousness and force). The first two assumptions imply two more: all that is, is God (which is pantheism), and man, as a part of “all that is,” is likewise divine.[1]
The “philosophers” among that movement plastered every available surface with the well-known peace symbol, and chanted such urbane mantras as “make love, not war!” Many enjoyed the environment created by free love and drug-induced escapism against the backdrop of folk singers who embraced the simplicity of their care-free lifestyle.[2] Notmany would have recognized their lifestyle as exemplifying a homogeny of Eastern pantheism and other assorted religious models. The motto was, simply: If it feels good, do it. Today, all that has substantially changed is the trappings – the dress, the mantra, and the music; the message is the same: Peace and harmony through the pursuit of pleasure.
When explored even cursorily, such a worldview clearly defies the biblical imperative of holiness and the accountability of each individual for personal sinfulness. All cannot be harmonious, for there exists within the created order a cosmic clash between good and evil: not the yin and yang of Eastern thought, but an omnipotent, holy God and the enemies (human and demonic) arrayed against Him. Likewise, all that feels good is not good, but rather that which pleases and glorifies God is to be the primary focus of human life and that alone will result in a truly peaceful existence. We are, in fact, commanded to deny the very fleshly lusts that were (and are) at the center of the New Age movement.[3]
The “New Agers” seek to reach an “enlightened” state wherein the creed is: You are God. In the effort to accomplish this, they utilize a cornucopia of ideologies – Eastern, as well as occultic (as seen in the proliferation of witchcraft, psychics, ESP, astrology, and subliminal messaging). As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias has said, “The New Age movement is a valiant attempt at mitigating the bankruptcy of secularism with the spurious glitter of Eastern mysticism.” Such modern interpretations of New Age philosophy can be seen in the immensely popular works of authors and teachers such as Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle. Tolle, whose books The Power of Now and A New Earth held the top two spots on the New York Times Bestseller List for paperback advice, describes the impetus for his philosophy this way: “I heard the words resist nothing as if spoken inside my chest. Suddenly, there was no more fear.”[4] This is, of course, consistent with all other expressions of New Age ideology; namely, that we should resist none of the “natural” impulses that lead us to fulfill whatever we desire. Tolle confuses his audience by utilizing the typical New Age approach of blending the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, and a number of others into a philosophical homogeny.
This movement runs contrary to biblical truth as attested above in the considerations of its several components. The teachings of Christ are simply not compatible with the teachings of Buddha or anyone else; for He is not like anyone else. He is not in a tomb. He is not merely a “good teacher.” He is God. And the New Age attempts to trivialize Him (for that is what any dilution of His Word amounts to) are a blatant disregard for the Creator of the universe and are tantamount to the highest imaginable treason. It is sufficient here to say that New Age philosophy is anything but new. In fact, its earliest expression can be found in the book of Genesis, when the deceiver first dangled the tempting fruit ofenlightenment and promised: “...in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God...” (Genesis 3:5).
Since then, countless men and women have bitten the fruit, believed the lie, and perished apart from God.
[1] Elliot Miller, A Crash Course on the New Age (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989), p. 19.
[2] Regarding the notion of free love, G. K. Chesterson said: “They have invented a new phrase that is a black-and-white contradiction in two words – ‘free love.’ As if a lover had been, or ever could be free. It is the nature of love to bind itself” (As I was Saying, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985), p. 267.
[3] Cf. 1 Peter 2:11.
[4] Jesse McKinley, New York Times (March 25, 2008)
…all New Agers believe that “all is one” – everything that exists consists of one and the same essence or reality. A second assumption is that this Ultimate Reality is neither dead matter nor unconscious energy. It is Being, Awareness, and Bliss (which is to say, a Hindu conception of God as an impersonal, infinite consciousness and force). The first two assumptions imply two more: all that is, is God (which is pantheism), and man, as a part of “all that is,” is likewise divine.[1]
The “philosophers” among that movement plastered every available surface with the well-known peace symbol, and chanted such urbane mantras as “make love, not war!” Many enjoyed the environment created by free love and drug-induced escapism against the backdrop of folk singers who embraced the simplicity of their care-free lifestyle.[2] Notmany would have recognized their lifestyle as exemplifying a homogeny of Eastern pantheism and other assorted religious models. The motto was, simply: If it feels good, do it. Today, all that has substantially changed is the trappings – the dress, the mantra, and the music; the message is the same: Peace and harmony through the pursuit of pleasure.
When explored even cursorily, such a worldview clearly defies the biblical imperative of holiness and the accountability of each individual for personal sinfulness. All cannot be harmonious, for there exists within the created order a cosmic clash between good and evil: not the yin and yang of Eastern thought, but an omnipotent, holy God and the enemies (human and demonic) arrayed against Him. Likewise, all that feels good is not good, but rather that which pleases and glorifies God is to be the primary focus of human life and that alone will result in a truly peaceful existence. We are, in fact, commanded to deny the very fleshly lusts that were (and are) at the center of the New Age movement.[3]
The “New Agers” seek to reach an “enlightened” state wherein the creed is: You are God. In the effort to accomplish this, they utilize a cornucopia of ideologies – Eastern, as well as occultic (as seen in the proliferation of witchcraft, psychics, ESP, astrology, and subliminal messaging). As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias has said, “The New Age movement is a valiant attempt at mitigating the bankruptcy of secularism with the spurious glitter of Eastern mysticism.” Such modern interpretations of New Age philosophy can be seen in the immensely popular works of authors and teachers such as Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle. Tolle, whose books The Power of Now and A New Earth held the top two spots on the New York Times Bestseller List for paperback advice, describes the impetus for his philosophy this way: “I heard the words resist nothing as if spoken inside my chest. Suddenly, there was no more fear.”[4] This is, of course, consistent with all other expressions of New Age ideology; namely, that we should resist none of the “natural” impulses that lead us to fulfill whatever we desire. Tolle confuses his audience by utilizing the typical New Age approach of blending the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, and a number of others into a philosophical homogeny.
This movement runs contrary to biblical truth as attested above in the considerations of its several components. The teachings of Christ are simply not compatible with the teachings of Buddha or anyone else; for He is not like anyone else. He is not in a tomb. He is not merely a “good teacher.” He is God. And the New Age attempts to trivialize Him (for that is what any dilution of His Word amounts to) are a blatant disregard for the Creator of the universe and are tantamount to the highest imaginable treason. It is sufficient here to say that New Age philosophy is anything but new. In fact, its earliest expression can be found in the book of Genesis, when the deceiver first dangled the tempting fruit ofenlightenment and promised: “...in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God...” (Genesis 3:5).
Since then, countless men and women have bitten the fruit, believed the lie, and perished apart from God.
[1] Elliot Miller, A Crash Course on the New Age (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989), p. 19.
[2] Regarding the notion of free love, G. K. Chesterson said: “They have invented a new phrase that is a black-and-white contradiction in two words – ‘free love.’ As if a lover had been, or ever could be free. It is the nature of love to bind itself” (As I was Saying, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985), p. 267.
[3] Cf. 1 Peter 2:11.
[4] Jesse McKinley, New York Times (March 25, 2008)
