Understanding the New Age Movement

Definition: The New Age is a loose collection of diverse groups which share the vision of a utopian society which will be brought about when human beings learn to operate on a new plane of consciousness.

Assumptions:

1. That God is not personal but an all-pervasive force or energy

2. Human beings are simply expressions of this “life force” - congealed energy.

3. There is no reality outside of the reality you make for yourself.

4.The task of humanity is to achieve oneness with this life force.

Roots:

1. Eastern mysticism: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism

- pantheism - god is all; all is god; we are god

- concept of karma - yin/yang - energy

- reincarnation

- mind over body - yoga, meditation, drug culture, Zen

2. Spiritism:

- channeling

- psychics

- witchcraft

3. Humanism:

- the perfectability of man; Maslow - self actualization

- relativism; no moral absolutes

- therapy, counseling - Carl Rogers: the answer lies within the patient

- holistic health

- acupuncture

- bioenergy, biorhythms, biofeedback

- organic diets

4. Science and technology:

- interest in extra-terrestrial life; UFO’s

- ecological problems becoming acute

- discoveries in quantum physics

- energy sources: pyramids, crystals, harmonic convergence

Prevalence:

42% Americans believe that they have contacted someone who has died.

67% believe in ESP

25% believe in reincarnation

59% of American schoolchildren believe in astrology

Popular cultural expressions of New Age belief:

- Star Wars, ET, Alf, Cocoon

- Shirley Maclaine, Linda Evans, Joyce DeWitt, Helen Reddy, Tina Turner, Lisa Bonet, Ted Turner, Oprah Winfrey

- rainbow symbol, crystals

- music - Windham Hill Artists

- health and fitness movement

- environmental concern - Mother Earth

- holistic medicine

- corporate training seminars

- neo-paganism