Excerpt from chapter three in: A Catholic Response to the New Age Phenomenon by the Irish Theological Commission in 1994. To see the contents of the whole chapter, click here.
"New Age Movement" is abbreviated as NAM.
The New Age has divergent roots. It is a modern revival of pagan religions with a mixture of influences from both eastern religions and also from modern psychology, philosophy, science, 2 and the counterculture that developed in the 1950s and 1960s. 3 Zen Buddhism has had great influence, with its emphasis on the higher consciousness, or the true self, and seeking enlightenment. 4 Hinduism is another major influence, and a combination of them is seen in the emphasis on reincarnation, the stress on Karma, and the need for meditation to find one's Higher Self.5
The NAM claims that we have moved into a new astrological age, the Age of Aquarius, and that the human race has made a paradigm shift in its thinking. It says that we have moved from 'left brain' rational thinking to 'right brain' intuitive thinking. Therefore we are the age of 'the spirit', the age of the 'new mysticism'. 6 Marilyn Ferguson says 'that after a dark, violent age, the Piscean, we are entering a millenium of love and light ... the time of "the mind's true liberation".' 7
Although called 'New Age', this movement is not new. Its roots go back to the very first major attack on Christianity in the first century. At that time it was called Gnosticism, and the early Church Fathers fought it vigorously. 'Gnostic influence on New Age thought is unmistakable, as new Age leaders freely acknowledge'. 8 Like its modern counterpart Gnosticism was an eclectic, hybrid movement, 9 which borrowed elements from eastern religions, Judaism, Christianity, and the philosophies of the time. Only the initiated few who have the secret knowledge or wisdom (the gnosis), know that humans are 'divine', and must struggle to regain their divinity by a journey into forbidden territory, as far as the Church is concerned.
Another major root of the NAM is the Transcendental Movement. These teachers borrowed from the holy books of the eastern religions, and adapted the material to suit the western mind which was materialistic, and this-world centred. So, transcendental meditation was presented, not as a religious exercise involving initiation into Hinduism, but as an exercise for relaxation! Yoga travelled a similar path. It was presented as a merely physical exercises to relax the body, and enhance health. Because of the western presentation of these eastern spiritual exercises, vast numbers of Christians have involved themselves in them, some claiming to have 'christianised' them.
Marilyn Ferguson admits that the transcendentalists and Masonry were important antecedents to the NAM. 11 William Thompson discusses the occult background of the NAM in the paper entitled 'Sixteen Years into the New Age', published in Reimagination of the World by David Spangler/ William Thompson. He admits that Freemasonary is an important vehicle for the transmission of these ideas.12 Benjamin Creme says that the new religion that will emerge from the NAM 'will manifest through organisations like the Masonry. In Freemasonry is embedded the core or the secret heart of the occult mysteries ...' He goes on to say that it is 'through the Orders of Masonry that the Initiatory Path will be trodden ... and also through the purified churches' (purified by the NAM teachings, that is). 13
A deeply successful root of the New Age is the Spiritualist Movement, which became popular in the nineteenth century. This was the origin of Theosophy, the creation of Helena Blavatsky (1831-91), whose writings have deeply influenced NAM thinking. 14 Two of her successors, Annie Besant and Guy Ballard, continued her work, and are influential in their writings. 15 William Thompson admits that the New Age is not new but he calls it 'the planetisation of the esoteric'. 16 Elliot Miller adds that 'occultism, as represented by the NAM, is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the western world. 17
NOTES
(Full details of the publications referred to in these notes can be found in the Select Bibliography.
1. Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship, by Paul Vitz.
2. The Aquarian Conspiracy, Marilyn Ferguson, chapters 1,3, 7, 10, 11. This book is a compendium of the New Age agenda & philosophical vision, and is considered the unofficial 'scripture' of NAM.
3. The Aquarian Conspiracy, Marilyn Ferguson, p. 19.
4. 'New Age Science and the Challenge of Discernment', William Thompson, pp. 82-88 in Reimagination of the World, David Spangler & William Thompson. Science is spiritualised & glorified on p. 23.
5. Understanding the New Age, Russell Chandler, p. 43.
6. Ibid., pp. 44-45.
7. Understanding the New Age, Russell Chandler, ch.5.
8. Understanding the New Age, Russell Chandler, p. 44.
9. Even William Thompson speaks about the 'sloppy syncretism of the NAM in the 70s'; p. 13 of Reimagination of the World. This book is a critique of the NAM by two prominent NAM leaders. It covers the papers given at two seminars on various topics.
10. Quote from Carl A. Raschke in 'Interruption of Eternity; modern Gnosticism in the origins of the new religious Consciousness' in Understanding the New Age, Russell Chandler, p. 45.
11. The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal ~ Social Transformation in the 1980s, Marilyn Ferguson, pp. 128-134.
12. Reimagination of the World, David Spangler/William Thompson, p. 19.
13. Be Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom, B. Creme, p. 86-87.
14. Understanding the New Age, Russell Chandler, p. 47. Helena Blavatsky's major work is called The Secret Doctrine. It has two volumes: 1. Cosmogenesis, and 2. Antbropogenesis. They were published in 1888. The teachings of the major NAM writers are found in these books. B. Creme says on p. 107 of The Reappearance of Christ and The Masters of Wisdom that the material was dictated to Blavatsky by the entity known as the Master D.K., the same one responsible for the works of Alice Bailey later. He also says that the Agni Yoga Teachings were given to Helena Roerich by the same spirit entity. Therefore the source of all this material is from the spirit world!
15. For a 'Who's Who' of writers and thinkers of the NAM see Straight Answers on the New Age, Bob Larson, ch. 12. It also lists some of the most important NAM Foundations.
16. Reimagination of the World, David Spangler/William Thompson, p.10.
17. A Crash Course in the New Age Movement, Elliot Miller, p. 89.
