GIMME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION
Mark White 1-03-02
Scripture Focus – 2Thessalonians 1-3
Time Magazine calls The New Age is "a combination of spirituality and superstition, fad and farce, about which only one thing is certain, it is not new". Actually its philosophies are rooted in ancient occult traditions of various contexts.
New Age experts have called the New Age movement “an extremely large, loosely structured network of organizations and individuals bound together by the common values of mysticism and monism or the philosophy that "all is one". Most also have the belief that mankind is on the verge of an evolutionary leap in spiritual enlightenment.
The New Age movement is without one single founder or leader and is literally a movement of spirituality, health, politics, education and business that wields it’s far reaching power through a collection of cults to direct the path of society.
Primitive societies have always had women or men claiming to possess special knowledge and power. Known as medicine men or shamans they are thought to maintain spiritual contact with the dead members of the clan or group.
With the societal changes brought about by the truth of the Old Testament Bible and later the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, these loners were, for the most part, given less and less credence due to their inability to refute the truth of Christianity.
The traditions of these groups were passed along down the ages in groups such as the Gnostics, freemasons, and in very organized "religions" such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and became instrumental in the Greek culture.
Gnosticism
During the first century, many variations of the true gospel of Jesus Christ sprang up. Some of these variations absorbed the mythical speculations of other "religions" that were common to the area in the course of time. Gnosticism remained in the background in these times and its traditions were passed on secretly by word of mouth. Gnostics believe that the seen and unseen world is the manifestation of the "One Divine Being" and that man fell from the divine to the material world. The divine light is imprisoned in man and can be set free so that it may return to the Kingdom of God.
Gnosticism reached Europe in the eighth and ninth centuries AD
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Jewish Mysticism and the Kaballah
This Jewish mystic philosophy was written between the third and sixth centuries. The doctrine of the Kaballa did not appear in Jewish mystic circles until the twelfth century in Spain and Southern France.
According to this belief, God gave Moses a second revelation, given along with the Law, explained the secret meanings of the Law. Passed down trough the ages by the initiates, Cabalic studies in the Hebrew scriptures developed a theosophical mystique and religious magic.
Alchemy
Alchemy was practiced before the Christian era in Egypt. In the fourth century, alchemy evolved into it’s historical form and reached Europe through Muslim alchemists in Spain in the twelfth century. Mediaeval alchemy the mutation of metals but also considered all matter as alive with the ability to grow. In addition, if the right rituals were performed matter could be influenced to transmute into higher forms.
Alchemy came from all segments of society, which included some "Christians". Travelling throughout Europe this closely related group banded together in secret societies using secret signs and passwords to identify themselves to one another. Being an oral tradition principally the traditions were passed along verbally. What was written down was disguised as chemical experiments. Practicing their art secretly, this group had a direct influence on the scientific community and therefore society at large.
The Renaissance
During the 15th and 16th centuries a revolt against the mediaeval philosophy and theological beliefs took hold. A return to the ancient beliefs was advocated.
Although the renaissance period is known for it’s influence on art and literature it was also accompanied by a renewed interest in the study of the old occult The practice of magic was paramount in that it was a holy quest for knowledge by revelation to the pure in mind.
Freemasonry
The fresh interest in the "wisdom" traditions during the Renaissance period gave rise to Freemasonry around the 1600’s in Scotland. Medieval stonemasons, trying to protect the secrets of their craft, set up guilds that required secret passwords. Their devotion and philosophy was laid out in the "Old Charges" which was first written in the 1400’s and revised in the 16th century.
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The "Old Charges" embody the philosophy of striving for the lost wisdom of the ancients. The ability of the ancient architects was attributed to supernatural forces. The ancient structures, such as the pyramids and the lost Temple of King Solomon, were held in the highest regard. The pursuit of occult and spiritual "Sciences" along with their desire to become agents in political and religious reform required the Freemasons to conduct their activities in the utmost secrecy.
The Age of Enlightenment
Exploration of the New World was at its height with resultant influences of other cultures on popular thought.
The Age of Enlightenment can be said to have started in 1687 with the publication of Isaac Newton’s "Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy". It is the basis of exploring the natural world in a scientific and therefore "objective" manner. Newton displayed a great interest in the occult and alchemy.
The Oriental Renaissance of the 18th Century
The 18th century philosophers became disenchanted with civilization as they saw it. They looked to other cultures for spiritual fulfillment. The scholars considered China as one of the "spiritually enlightened" civilizations. Some even considered the "wisdom" of Confucius as superior to Christianity.
Due to this seeking of other cultures spiritualism, the study of Islam and the Far East was well underway. Oriental philosophy was generally accessible for the first time and led to an Oriental Renaissance. This renaissance influenced many philosophers and noted writers of the time.
The spiritual approach of the "re-discovered" eastern religions was regarded by the philosophical elite as a relief from the Christian dogmatism and led to the idea of the unity behind all world religions.
Spiritualism
In the early 1800’s, Mesmerism, had paved the way for Spiritualism. Healing through "animal magnetism" and hypnotism was proof to those seeking that matter could in fact be influenced by the mind. Spirits were thought to be involved in the healings.
During the age of the invention of the telegraph and telephone, it was felt that communication with the dead was imminent. Channeling became popular as seances became commonplace in homes throughout Europe and the United States. President Lincoln, although a professed devout Christian, took part in seances.
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Rediscovering the New Age
Through the election of many Freemasons into the highest positions in the United States government, the nation was forever influenced by this doctrine. The legal exclusion of Christianity in the public schools, influenced the youth to rediscover the tenets of theosophy made so popular in the late nineteenth century by some of these same men. No clear concept of Christ was being taught by their parents in the home or in the schools due to an absolute legal prohibition. This gave rise to a void that was filled by state sanctioned New Agers. Creationism was absolutely banned as a valid concept while the myth of evolution gained wide acceptance, even among some "Christians" who blended evolution into their own form of New Age Christianity.
The New Age movement got a kick-start in the 1960’s as the young generation started experimenting with psychedelic drugs. They tried to explain what they experienced during their drug induced delirium and found that some of the teachings of Theosophy, Buddhism, Hinduism, Transcendence, as well as Satanic rituals and worship fit into this drug altered state of mind. Several "new" practices sprang up in this fertile field, self-realization, yoga, transcendental meditation, and astrology were becoming very fashionable. This "Age of Aquarius" with it’s evolutionary new enlightenment was reported to be foretold in astrology.
New Agers believe that people do not require salvation but need to be rescued from their ignorance of their godhood, thereby nullifying the completed work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
While Jesus’ life is not questioned, His claim to be one with the Father is.
SUMMARY
The New Age movement blends well with today’s materialistic, self-involved, responsibility-free society. According to the New Age philosophy, there is no evil, just mis-directed thought, glitches in perspective, differing and deceptive perceptions, and moral relativism. With no moral absolutes every sin is possible. This is in fact being played out across our TV screens, books, theaters, lecture circuits and especially in the institutions of higher learning. Minority groups of abominable sinners are obtaining legal protections for their particular types of perversion even to the point of be able to indoctrinate our children into their “alternative lifestyle”.
Animals lives are given more value than the life of unborn humans. These unborn children of God can be murdered all for the convenience of irresponsible, immoral, amoral, and spiritually ignorant people fearing for their future earnings potential or the possibility that they may actually have to take responsibility for their own irresponsible acts.
May God save them from their ignorance of Him. For it is told in HEBREWS 6:4-6
