The New Age Discussion Thread

[InterestedParticipant]

As the topic of New Age belief systems appear to continually crop-up in various other discussions, sometimes overtaking the discussions themselves, I am starting this thread as a placeholder for these discussions. This way, forum members who wish to make a point in another thread, regarding New Age, can simply post a link back to this thread.

 

[zach]

Like any other religious movement, the purpose of the New Age movement is to ultimately help people realize their potential and carry out the realized purpose. Whereas a "top-down" approach comes in a few religions, this movement comes from the opposite direction - we all have the potential to be the best if we choose to do so, and "God" can be the ultimate realization that once you're fully aware of yourself, then you can help yourself and the reality around you.

However, like any other movement, it has the potential to be hijacked in order to further an agenda that makes it into a double-edged sword, and once it is hijacked, any former idea of what the movement was is now the current idea - propaganda and all.

 

[PaulaGem]

Like any other religious movement, the purpose of the New Age movement is to ultimately help people realize their potential and carry out the realized purpose. Whereas a "top-down" approach comes in a few religions, this movement comes from the opposite direction - we all have the potential to be the best if we choose to do so, and "God" can be the ultimate realization that once you're fully aware of yourself, then you can help yourself and the reality around you.

However, like any other movement, it has the potential to be hijacked in order to further an agenda that makes it into a double-edged sword, and once it is hijacked, any former idea of what the movement was is now the current idea - propaganda and all.

So? Any religion has the same potential. Look what they did to the teachings of a Jewish rabbi named Yeshua about 2000 years ago.

 

[zach]

So? Any religion has the same potential. Look what they did to the teachings of a Jewish rabbi named Yeshua about 2000 years ago.

I know.

He had a great message.

 

[PaulaGem]

Actually the New Agers I work with are so fragmented and individualistic that it would be a hard movement to exploit.

Most pagans are "sole practitioners" or belong to small non-affiliated covens.

Some of them also believe in the teachings of Yeshua and believe they are both pagan and Christian.

Kindof odd, yes. But at least THEY are honest about combining the two. *grin*

 

[jmag]

It is a huge distinction to be made between spiritual/philosophical teachings and the perversion of such.

Take a wonderful statement such as, "Be of one mind", quoted as the words of Christ. This as said in the conclusion in the Matrix documentary is a basic message of the trilogy as well - do not be alienated from your spiritual self. Re-unite with yourself. On the individual, personal, internal level, this is a great message.

But when a statist politician says, "Be of one mind", we arm ourselves and run for the hills. This is perversion of a good thing.

These two aspects do not belong in the same conversation. They are so different they cannot be addressed at the same time. Chaos comes from confusing the two.

 

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

people hating each other over what magical creatures in the sky they believe in is just stupid.