by Prof. J.S. Malan, University of the North, South Africa
Abstract:
A new world view is emerging in the world today. It affects all aspects of life, from religion to society and politics.
Early in the 1980’s the New Age Movement emerged from its secluded circles and vigorously started propagating its ideology in the world. It is closely associated with the concept of a new world order, and forms part of it. The movement and its doctrine is by now well known, and the media often refers to it. Newspaper and magazine headings such as the following no longer sound strange to the man on the street:
Welcome to the Global Village
The World Teacher is now here
The Age of Aquarius has dawned
Americans get religion in the New Age
Anything is permissible if everything is God
Tutu decries break up of New Age prayer meetings
Soul of a New Age
The movement endeavours to raise the consciousness level of humanity, to unlock mystical powers in people, to unite the world religiously, politically, economically, and socially, and to pave the way for the appearing of a single world leader. He will be the common messiah of all faiths. Not only in the field of religion, but in all other areas, will he establish the concept of planetary citizenship. In the process, all boundaries and divisions will be removed for the sake of greater unity.
Origin of the movement
According to Revelation 17, the origin of the false world religion of the end-time can be traced back to Babylon. The ancient Babylonian Empire that was founded by Nimrod, was governed in close association with the heathen religion of that time. The marriage between religion and politics was so intimate that this empire was controlled by a priest-king who made use of occult powers and astrology to take decisions and to rule. The king was the personification of the sun-god, who was regarded as the giver of light and life. This superstition gave rise to the cult of the sun-pillars, from which the later obelisks and peace-poles of modern times evolved. In Revelation 17 and 18 it is described how a neo-Babylonian government, religion and economy will be established before the second coming of Christ. The roots of the New Age Movement, therefore, go very far back in time. It is nothing new.
The end-time emergence of the New Age Movement is linked to the Russian born madame Helena Blavatsky who founded the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875. She received her revelations and commands directly from a spiritual master with whom she had telepathic contact. She offered herself as a medium to higher (demonic) powers that worked through her.
As a result of these revelations, she published the book Isis Unveiled in 1877, and the six volume The Secret Doctrine in 1888. In these volumes she expounds the secret doctrine that, according to her master, forms the foundation of all religious, philosophical and knowledge systems. In the introduction to Volume 1 of The Secret Doctrine she says:
“The teaching in these volumes belong neither to the Hindu, the Zoroastrian, the Chaldean, nor the Egyptian religion, nor to Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, nor Christianity exclusively. The Secret Doctrine is the essence of all these. Sprung from it in their origins, the various religious schemes are now made to merge back into their original element, out of which every mystery and dogma has grown, developed, and become materialised.”
The New Age objective is, quite clearly, to unite all religions, including an adulterated version of Christianity, in an alliance of world religions. In association with demonic doctrines such as evolution, reincarnation, metaphysics, parapsychology, astrology, pantheism and socialism, all faiths and philosophies must revert to their common Luciferian origin. In this way, unity can be achieved in the world and all people’s lives be ordered according to the same principles.
It was not opportune in 1875 to promote these ideas in public. Consequently, Blavatsky’s master instructed her that the Theosophical ideal of a united world under the final control of a spiritual hierarchy, should be kept secret for a hundred years. During this time it was only to be revealed to initiated members of the Society.
The last quarter of the 20th century was earmarked as the revelation phase of the movement. By then, it was planned, the general climate would be conducive to New Age teachings due to the supporting influence of humanism, liberalism, socialism, and the consequent eroding of nationalism and Christian fundamentalism.
Shortly after 1975, the New Age Movement started to go public with their teachings in an effort to establish a broad support base. In 1977, the Tara organisation was founded in London under the leadership of Benjamin Creme. He announced that the common messiah of all faiths has come and was ready to reveal himself as World Teacher. As the Maitreya Buddha, he originated from a Buddhist tradition, but at the same time he is claimed to be the personification of the messianic expectation of the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Christians. He is the Cosmic Christ of all faiths. Creme published a book about the world messiah, titled The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom.
During the period after 1975, various Eastern cults with their esoteric teachings came to the West and seriously challenged traditional Western thought. Among them are Hinduist Transcendental Meditation (TM), Zen Buddhism, the Bahai faith and gurus from various other sects. They all pose a threat to Christianity by popularising mysticism and the New Age dogma of monism. All of them promote the false expectation of a Utopia that will follow on the world-wide achieving of their ideal of cosmic unity based on a universal mystical brotherhood.
New Age organisations
The network of organisations and groups that promote the New Age ideology is expanding by the day. The movement is at present still without a central authority because its expected world leader has not yet made his appearance. However, there are many organisations that are paving the way for the new dispensation. They function on various levels and can be classified as follows:
Core organisations
The inner circle of the movement is Luciferic. Its final objective is to worship Lucifer and to subject the entire world to his direct authority. Organisations on this level include the top three grades of Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and other secret societies. Furthermore, there is Planetary Citizens and Lucis Trust (formerly called Lucifer Publishing Co.), which give open recognition to Lucifer. One of the leading organisations at this stage is Planetary Initiative for the World we Choose, under the leadership of David Spangler. He is also the head of Planetary Citizens.
Middle order organisations
A world-wide network of organisations has already been established, of which many are deeply mystical. Most of them hide their occult nature by using terms such as the universal God of all faiths, masters of wisdom, spirit guides, the coming world teacher, the higher self, a cosmic consciousness, and psychic powers. Their primary aim is to promote practises and a way of thinking that are favourable for the transition to a new world order.
The most well known of these organisations are the Freemasons (also the lower grades), Tara, New Group of World Servers, World Future Society, the Theosophical Society, the Association for Humanistic Psychology, the World Council of Wise Persons, the Club of Rome, the Humanistic Movement, Global 2000, various Eastern meditation cults, the Astrological Society, as well as a number of peace movements and ecological groups that use New Age symbols such as reincarnation signs and the broken cross. Other symbols that are commonly used include the rainbow, the pyramid, the third or all-seeing eye, the number 666, the yin and yang, the pentagram, pegasus, and images of people, religious leaders or gods in a lotus position portraying yoga or meditation.
Front organisations
The New Age Movement also enjoys the spontaneous collaboration of a large number of front organisations. They advance its ideologies of globalism, religious unity, and the use of cosmic powers to attain a higher level of consciousness. Some of them may not even be aware of the agenda of the New Age Movement, but they are all under the power of the same spirit of delusion, and therefore natural allies in advancing the cause of the new world order. There are clear signs that many of them are moving closer together, and that they will join forces to achieve their common goal.
Among these front organisations are the Eastern religions, the Roman Catholic Church, ecumenical bodies such as the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches, the World Parliament for Religions, and the World Conference on Religion and Peace, the United Nations with its agencies, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, several large bankers and multinational companies, the CFR, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, as well as governments, political movements, educational institutions, and influential media groups that can strongly influence public opinion.
The modern way of thinking in the world is largely supportive of the New Age Movement, the new world order, the humanistic movement, the interfaith movement, the realisation of the human potential by exploiting psychic powers, and the granting of unrestricted human freedom of speech, expression, sexual orientation, and religious conviction to people everywhere.
The age of Aquarius
The coming dispensation for which the New Age Movement prepares the world, is called the age of Aquarius. This is an astrological concept derived from the movement of the sun through the twelve signs of the zodiac, as seen from the earth. Apart from the annual movement through the twelve constellations, there is also a larger orbit in which the sun slowly passes through the constellations in an inverted order. On this basis, dispensations of 2000 years each are identified.
In their book, Entering Aquarius, Michal Eastcott and Nancy Magor allege that every constellation through which the sun moves, exposes the earth to a particular kind of cosmic influence. The period between 4000 and 2000 before Christ was the dispensation of the Bull (Taurus). The bull was a holy symbol in the mythology of that time. The 2000 years before Christ was the dispensation of the Ram (Aries). During this time, the sacrificial lamb (a ram) was a strong symbol in Israel, and also the scapegoat. Israel was severely reprimanded for worshipping a golden calf, which was an obsolete symbol of the previous dispensation.
With the coming of Christ, the dispensation of the Fishes (Pisces) has dawned. The fish was often used as a symbol of Christianity, also in some of the parables. The disciples themselves were fishermen who became fishers of men.
During the time of the Fishes the emphasis was, according to astrologers, on authority, idealism, and the fanatical dedication to a cause. These characteristics gave rise to a great deal of militancy in people’s religious and national life, leading to wars and religious persecution.
However, the spirit of fanatical dedication to causes also had positive results in the form of many discoveries and scientific advancement. In this dispensation, humanity developed from the level of barbarism to the civilisation of the nuclear age. Two big religions were founded in this time, viz. Christianity and Islam.
Now, after 2000 years, we are approaching the end of the dispensation of the Fishes; consequently humanity must be prepared to enter the dispensation of the Water-bearer (Aquarius). In this regard, justification for astrology is also sought in the Bible. Before the last Passover, Jesus said to His disciples: “Behold, when ye have entered the city, a man shall meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in” (Lk. 22:10). It is alleged that the Water-bearer has all along been walking before us, leading the way, and that the door to the next dispensation will now swing open.
The time has come for us to evolve to a higher level of consciousness and become the ‘universal man’ (homo universalis). It entails the development of a changed cosmic consciousness which will enable us to realise the inherent unity of all things in the universe. Once this ‘enlightenment’ has occurred, it will no longer be necessary to take a stand for one’s national or religious interests, or to fight to protect it. Everything is one. This principle necessitates the harmonising and uniting of all things, to be like a calmly flowing river. The dark and stormy night of Pisces is over and the light of a new dispensation of unity and reconciliation is now dawning. The big challenge of our time is to convince those people who still cling to the old order.
New Age supporters make a strong appeal on people to learn how to draw on the great treasure house of cosmic wisdom. The statement is made that in all civilisations the star-gazers, or astrologers, were the wise men, prophets and seers whose advice was sought on almost all matters.
What does the Bible say about this cosmic source of wisdom and of its associated magical power?
“Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thy hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it is no coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before it!” (Is. 47:12-14).
These people, who don’t hesitate to quote from the Bible to give credibility to their deception about false unity, cosmic powers and wisdom, are practising idolatry and only hasten their own downfall.
Philosophical principles
The three fundamental principles upon which the New Age philosophy is based, are the following:
1. Everything is one (monism)
All things that exist are parts of a larger whole. The same cosmic life force permeates the material and spirit worlds, but this unity has become fragmented and must now be restored. On the vertical level, the ill-imposed boundary between the natural and supernatural worlds must be transcended in order to re-integrate the material and cosmic spheres. On the horizontal level, people must refrain from establishing rigid boundaries among races, cultures, religions, and political ideologies, as it leads to divisions and the pursuing of conflicting group interests. These divisions further disturb the inherent cosmic unity.
Monism must be promoted in all areas of life through a process of synthesis, convergence, and the building of bridges of reconciliation. There is no antithesis in the universe and therefore nothing that is inherently evil, that should remain outside the encompassing unity. According to this philosophy there is no devil, no Antichrist, no evil spirits, and no hell. The only evil elements are the dispositions of unattuned people towards divisions, intolerance, and the condemning of other people due to cultural, political or religious differences. These hard-liners need to be re-orientated and reprogrammed, or either removed from society.
2. Everything is God (pantheism)
God is in everything – in all people and in nature. He may be described as the Cosmic Intelligence, but he is mostly referred to as an impersonal cosmic power (cosmic life force or vital force). Because the cosmic life force permeates the entire nature, there is also a mystical element in mother earth. Within nature, among animals and human beings, there is a slow evolutionary process to higher forms of life. Death is only an illusion, as one life cycle is followed by another one. By way of reincarnation, deceased people return to earth and continue their development to higher forms of consciousness, or divinity.
3. We are God (self-deification)
Because man is leading in the evolutionary process, he has attained the highest level of consciousness development. He is conscious of the mystical, cosmic world, and can make further progress to higher levels of wisdom and divinity. Through techniques such as meditation, he can become one with the cosmic world around him, and in this way ultimately become a master of wisdom. Such a person is a god in his own right because, through his devotion, he has acquired the Christ or Buddha consciousness. That is the wisdom and power of the cosmic Christ of all faiths.
There is also a corporate sense in which humanity is regarded as God. All human beings together constitute the global brain. If the thoughts and cosmic energy of a large group of people are concentrated on the same subject or area, power can be released that can produce big changes. For this reason, large meditation sessions are organised to concentrate on problem areas, and to generate positive thoughts of unity and harmony. In this way, according to the New Age Movement, man can determine his own destiny. Hate and divisions can be countered, and in that way the ominous possibility of a third world war can be averted. The ‘god of this world’ must, therefore, not be divided and ineffective, but united and conquering the evil of disunity.
Cosmic consciousness
The most important objective of the New Age Movement is to establish contact and eventual unity among people and the cosmic powers of the universe. Implicit in this process is an altered state of consciousness, the psychic ability to practise extrasensory perception, and a completely changed world-view. The following steps are followed in the awakening and development of a person’s consciousness:
A new self-image
A person must first discover his inherent divinity. This discovery will lead to the mental and spiritual realisation that everything is one because god is in everything. These perceptions are derived from the deeper, creative levels of his right brain, where his cosmic consciousness and dormant psychic powers are allegedly vested.
A decision for deeper involvement
At this stage of the awakening of a person’s consciousness he is confronted with the need for intensive instruction in the practising of extrasensory perception and the application of cosmic powers for a number of different purposes. A choice for deeper involvement must now be made. He/she can then become a cult member and learn TM meditation, astrology, fortune-telling, astral travel, self-healing, etc.
Meditation
A psycho-technique must now be learned to effect attunement with the cosmic sphere. The most important one is meditation. The initiate must disengage mentally from the present reality by emptying his mind. To effect the change-over to an altered state of consciousness, a mantra must be used, which is an invocation. In Transcendental Meditation, the mantras are the names of Hindu gods (i.e. demons). The word or phrase is repeated until illumination occurs and a new state of consciousness sets in. The person now sees a different, integrated, cosmic reality. His intuition is activated and he may even become aware of spirit guides.
Psychic gifts
Entrance to the world of cosmic powers offers a variety of psychic gifts to the person who meditates effectively. It includes paranormal abilities such as clairvoyance, extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, prophesying, intuitive contact with spirit guides, and self-healing. One can also get a super memory to help you to learn better. This New Age technique is known as suggestopedia. Children are taught to do relaxing exercises while listening to rhythmic baroque music until they lapse into a meditative trance and switch over to their right brain. Information can then be read into their super memories by the teacher, and they will remember everything.
Channelling
There are thousands of highly skilled New Age members who offer their services as channellers, or psychic consultants, to the public. Most of them have a spirit guide with whom they communicate telepathically. The spirit provides answers to the questions and solutions to various kinds of problems that people may have. In this way the consultant channels the cosmic power or wisdom to the client. He is, therefore, a spiritualistic medium. Other methods of healing are also used, e.g. acupuncture, which is aimed at removing blockages in the cosmic energy flow in the body.
Utilisation of cosmic focal points
Mass actions are organised in which large groups of people congregate on fixed times and at particular places for co-ordinated meditation sessions. The aim with these meetings is to focus cosmic energy on a country or society that badly needs peace, unity and harmony. This practice is regarded to be most effective if it is performed at one of the strong focal points for cosmic energy. Among these places are Table Mountain in Cape Town, Stonehenge in England, the Egyptian pyramids, the Olympus Mountain in Greece, the Ganges River in India, Mount Fuji in Japan, and Central Park in New York.
Masters of wisdom
A person who penetrated the deepest mysteries of the cosmic world and achieved a high level of consciousness development, is regarded as a master of wisdom. After their death, such people become avatars (ascended masters) who are worshipped by people. Among the most well known of them are Krishna and Buddha. Their esoteric wisdom is proclaimed by special disciples known as gurus.
To people in the West who may still be sceptical about the philosophy and mystical techniques of the Eastern religions, the New Age Movement offers the same occult powers in another form. Under the cloak of humanistic psychology and suggestopedia, programs are compiled for right brain development, paranormal abilities, psychic powers and a new self-image which is based on the same mystical foundation. Higher work efficiency, revolutionary new study methods, and psychic power for self-healing, are offered as the advantages of an altered state of consciousness in which you discover your higher self. To the Christian church, a misleading form of Christian meditation is offered which is based on the same principles as TM. Those who practise it, also discover the cosmic Christ (the god-within) and are consequently drawn into deception.
Prayer
The following standard prayer was distributed world-wide among New Agers to be prayed at fixed times daily:
From the point of Light within the Mind of God,
Let Light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God,
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.
From the centre where the Will of God is known,
Let purpose guide the little wills of men –
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the centre which we call the race of men,
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out.
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.
The motivation behind this prayer is explained as follows by the New Age publisher, Sundial House:
“In 1945 this prayer or Mantram was introduced to the West. It had long been used by the Wisdom Teachers… Down the ages humanity has, in times of crisis, ever invoked a power beyond its own. Each era has, in response to its particular conflicts and stresses, brought forth its own form of appeal, and today, as we face the challenge and problems of transition into a new era, this great Prayer, or Mantram, comes at a time to meet the new needs and empower our entry into the New Age.”
The superficial Christian observer may find this prayer quite in order. However, the Eastern concept of God, and the fact that they exchange the name Christ freely with other names, renders it a very subtle and deceptive effort to try and involve Christians in their false world religion.
A study of the New Age objectives with this prayer, reveals the following principles on which it is based:
Pantheism
Because God is, according to pantheistic ideas, present in all people, this prayer is an effort to fix the collective attention of as many as possible people on thoughts, attitudes, and deeds of love. The New Age Movement described this prayer to God as follows:
“It expresses certain central truths which most people innately and normally accept – the truth of the existence of a basic Intelligence to Whom we vaguely give the name of God; the truth that, behind all our seeming, the motivating power of the universe is Love; the truth that both love and intelligence are effects of what is called the Will of God, and finally, the self-evident truth that only through humanity itself can the divine Plan work out. No one can, in fact, use this invocation thoughtfully and with intention without profound changes coming about in his own life, in his attitudes, nature and life intention; for it is a basic law that ‘as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he’. The constant turning of the mind towards Light, Love and Divine Purpose cannot but have effect, and when the Great Invocation is rightly used on a wide scale and it becomes a world prayer it will invoke into mankind as a whole the Light and Love and Spiritual Power that will eventually seal the door where evil dwells.”
As a philosophy, pantheism is a natural ally of humanism. Because man is also god, he must change himself through his own efforts, and ensure his development to higher levels of existence.
Psychic powers
Man must activate his inherent psychic powers to achieve his objective: “Let Light descend on Earth, is at once a demand upon the Sources of Light and a stimulus to those making the appeal… The energy of the mind should be used particularly in this stanza, invoking illumination and enlightenment into the minds of men.”
The universal Christ
About the inclusive identity of the cosmic Christ they are very clear and explicit. It is not at all the Christ worshipped by the Christians:
“May Christ return to Earth is a joyous and triumphant framing of the expectation of men all over the world that the World Teacher, the Avatar who will bring the next unfoldment of Divinity, will make His appearance in our crucial times. The word Christ embodies much more than the leader of the Christian Church. He is the World Teacher of the present cycle and is also known throughout the East as the Lord Maitreya, as the Bodhisattva and as the Imam Mahdi.”
Meditation and cosmic powers
Through meditation people become channellers of cosmic energy, and thus creative reformers of the world:
“The combining of these energies of mind, heart and will is invocation. It is the highest type of prayer there is, and a new form of spiritual appeal which our mental growth has made possible, and which our understanding of the power of thought and the science of meditation will make increasingly effective. By invocation, prayer, and meditation spiritual energies are contacted and brought into activity. By clear mental perception and directed thought they can become objects of desire and be brought factually into the world of daily living.”
The power of positive thinking, meditation, and visualisation, affords man the creative ability to change things. Certain Christian groups have already been penetrated by these Eastern psycho-techniques.
The Plan of Love and Light
The New Age Movement’s Plan for a take-over is based on the implementation of their universal antichristian concepts of love, light, and a mystical brotherhood of all men: “The urgent needs of the New Age is a cry for light upon our way, for more love and brotherhood.”
Love and brotherhood
A strong theme of the New Age message to the world is love and brotherhood. The universal propagation of this message was so successful that it has been accepted as the most important theme for preaching by most religions. This humanistic love is of such great importance for the future existence of mankind that it cannot be confined to one dogma alone, but must be preached by all faiths. All people must concentrate on this broad, encompassing love to enable them to completely accept and love the members of all other cultures and religions without reservation.
In the light of this broadly defined love, Christianity must relinquish its prejudices towards other religions, and associate with them brotherly. Where estrangement and separation has occurred due to ignorance or dogmatic fundamentalism, bridges of love, mutual acceptance and unity must now be built. Every effort must be made to realise this ideal.
The New Age author, Michal Eastcott, says in his book, The Spiritual Hierarchy of the World, the following about Jesus’ ministry of love:
“Through His work in Palestine we know He anchored the fullness of the nature of love. But is not so widely known that in this He was completing the work begun by the Buddha some five centuries before. The Enlightened One, as the Buddha is frequently called, made known the Lighted way… Through His life and teaching He anchored Wisdom as one part of the great dual Second Aspect of God: Love-Wisdom. Christ then brought about the manifestation of the other, Love.”
The New Age Movement have no objections if the love of Christ is proclaimed, as long as it is not defined in terms of His death on the cross. The blood and the cross must be completely detached form this message as it does not fit into the New Age ideology. Emphasis must rather be placed on subjects such as the kingdom of God that is in the hearts of men, and that they must discover it there and develop their hidden divinity to become gods. The thought of dying and crucifying yourself is completely contrary to their teaching. That is why the death of Jesus on the cross is foolishness to them. In his book, The Path of the Masters, Santon Ki Shiksha says the following about the Christian gospel:
“When the new religion was formulated and given out, it was but little more than an allegorical metamorphosis of Judaism. Jesus was now made the sacrificial offering, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It was his blood that was to take away the sins of the world… Thus the real mission of Jesus, which was to lead his disciples to realize the kingdom of heaven within themselves, was turned into a bloody tragedy… This was a gross insult to the sublime idealism of the Masters.”
Why do the masters of the new world order scare people away from the cross? They know that if people become true Christians, they will reject other religions. If they remain nominal Christians they can easily be seduced by deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1). Such people may think that all religions worship the same ‘God’.
The love of God is fully revealed by the death of Jesus on the cross. Without the cross, no salvation is possible. Paul clearly says that in Jesus Christ “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).
Are you exposed to humanistic love preaching without the blood and the cross of Jesus? From such turn away and go where only to the true gospel is preached, which alone is able to save your soul.
Another Jesus
The Eastern religions, Roman Catholicism and apostate Protestantism are natural allies of the New Age Movement’s emerging world religion. It is the fundamental, evangelical Christians who are the movement’s primary target. In their propaganda campaign they do everything in their power to adulterate the Bible by offering another Jesus, another spirit and another gospel to Christians. We are earnestly warned against deceptions of this nature:
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent [deceived] Eve through his [craftiness], so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Cor. 11:3-4).
In Galatians 1:6-8 Paul says that if anybody perverts the gospel of Christ, let him be accursed. This remark obviously applies to the New Age Movement. They promote a Jesus without the cross, an unbiblical cosmic Christ who is associated with Buddhism and other false religions.
Of all the attempts that this movement has made to pervert the gospel message, the most dangerous one is probably that which is contained in The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ. It is an effort to identify Jesus Christ outside the context of traditional Christianity. Various Eastern religious titles are assigned to Him, thus rendering Him the universal (cosmic) Christ of the coming New Age.
The account of this ‘Gospel’ is based on the so-called ‘lost years’ of Jesus between the ages of 12 and 30, which are not recorded in the Bible. It is alleged that during this time He visited India, Nepal, Tibet, Egypt, and Greece before returning to Israel to commence His public ministry there. A review is given on how He made an intensive study of the Vedas (the holy books of the Hindus), while in the Himalayas in Nepal He devoted himself to a study of Buddhism. He was regarded as an reincarnation of Buddha and the title Issa (Son of God) was conferred on Him. In an Egyptian temple in Heliopolis (the City of the Sun) He acquired the title of the Christ, at which time He was suitably prepared to start His ministry in Israel.
A Russian historian, Nikolai Notovitch, made the ‘discovery’ of the journey of the Son of God through the East in 1897 in Tibet where he investigated the history of Issa. In association with this account, but completely independent of it, the Scottish mystic, Levi Dowling, published the perverted Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ in 1908. In writing it he relied solely on a mystical source of revelation, called the Akasha records. Akasha is a Sanskrit word that may be translated as the Universal Brain, the Cosmic Computer, or the Book of Life. A human brain that is in deep meditation, and fully attuned to the universal brain, can extract any information from it – even about events that happened thousands of years ago. The author had to meditate forty years before he could unravel the mysteries of the Akasha records. In the Aquarian Gospel ‘Jesus’ is quoted as follows where he explains the pantheistic concept of an impersonal God, a belief strongly entertained in the New Age Movement:
“The universal God is one, and yet he is more than one; all things are God and all things are one… People, birds, animals, and crawling things are all gods in a bodily form, and how could one dare to kill anything?
“The God I am talking about is everywhere; he cannot be confined by walls, or limited in any other way. All people serve God, the One, but not all of them see him in the same way. The universal God is wisdom, power, and love. Not all see him as the triune God. One sees him as the God of power; another as the God of wisdom, and yet another as the God of love. The nations of the world see God from different points of view; that is why he does not look the same to all of them. Man gives a name to that part of God that he can see, and what appears to him as the fullness of God. But every nation only sees a certain part of God, that is why they all have different names for God…
“When man sees God as one with himself, he needs no mediator or priest to approach God on his behalf… Only dedicate yourselves to the service of this All in life” (Ch. 28).
A new social order
The dominant unity syndrome of the New Age Movement is the motivating power behind various actions by a whole network of organisations that all endeavour to create a new, integrated social order on earth. Boundaries must be obliterated in order to bring about the end of clashing and conflicting group interests. Races and cultures must merge into a global society, abandon their traditional values and accept universal norms of living. The new order of planetary citizens must lead to such a close association of its members that they will function as one big family in the global village. The New Age psychologist, Marilyn Ferguson, says in her book, The Aquarian Conspiracy, the following about this new orientation of mankind:
“The discovery of our connection to all men, women and children joins us to another family. Indeed seeing ourselves as a planetary family struggling to solve its problems, rather than an assorted people and nations assessing blame or exporting solutions, could be the ultimate shift in perspective.”
In order to create such a social order, all national and other boundaries must be removed. According to Ferguson, that is already happening:
“Today there are millions of residents of that great country, the whole earth. In their hearts and minds, war and boundaries and dogma have indeed already died. The whole Earth is a borderless country…”
A new economic system
The redistribution of wealth and the establishing of a new economic order in the world, is also a high priority of the New Age Movement. All natural resources, as well as monetary and industrial resources, must be controlled by a world government, ensuring equal access to it by all people. In this way, universal economic equality must be effected.
The entire world must have only one monetary system with centralised control. That will enable a world government to enforce its policies and monetary control on all countries and individuals. Uniformity in the new world order can be ensured in this way.
It is conspicuous that the money-magnates of the world have for centuries been controlling governments through selective and secret societies, thereby influencing them in the direction of the new world order. Slowly but certainly they are moving closer to their final objective.
A master-plan for a take-over
The New Age Movement has worked out a thirteen-point Plan to institute the new world order:
1. The principal aim of the Plan is to establish a one world religion and a one world political and social order. Their key concept is that everything is one. This unity must be established in all spheres of life.
2. The New Age world religion must constitute a revival of the religion of ancient Babylon in which mystery cults, sorcery, occultism and immorality flourished.
4. The Plan will be fully implemented when the New Age Messiah (the Antichrist) with his number 666, reveals himself as head of the world religion and the coming world government of the new world order.
4. Spirit guides (demons) will prepare people for the coming of the cosmic Messiah, by acclaiming him as the world teacher.
5. Peace, love and unity are to be used as buzz-words for the new world order and the new world religion.
6. New Age teachings must obtain scientific credibility and be vigorously propagated in every sphere of life in the public and private sectors around the globe.
7. Jesus must be portrayed as a prophet and a master of wisdom who is one of the disciples of the cosmic Christ. It must be denied that he is unique and that he should be worshipped as a God who is above humanity.
8. Christianity and all other religions must be integrated into the inclusive world religion of the New Age.
9. Fundamental Christian principles that stand in the way of this reform movement (e.g. the atonement for sins on the cross), must be discredited and abandoned.
10. Children must be spiritually seduced and indoctrinated in schools in order to promote the New Age dogma.
11. Flattery will be employed to entice people into believing that man is inherently divine. They should be told that we are all gods.
12. Science and the New Age world religion must become one. The mystic (cosmic) dimension of man and nature must be researched.
13. Christians who resist the Plan must be reoriented or dealt with in other ways. If necessary, they will be exterminated and the world purified of their influence.
Consciousness programs
The movement has extensive consciousness programs. They don’t only try to influence religious groups and governments with their ideology, but also the media-, educational-, and recreational worlds.
The educational system must undergo the most radical transformation process. Changes must be introduced on the level of the pre-school child, and be implemented across the entire spectrum to the most advanced tertiary institutions, including theological seminaries. The identity consciousness of pupils and students must be countered. They must be prepared to take their place as planetary citizens in a multi-cultural, multi-religious, non-racial and non-sexist society. Narrow-mindedness must be replaced by the largest possible degree of open-mindedness on all matters, thereby superseding any narrow ideological orientation. Theological faculties must be declared open faculties where Eastern and African religions can be included in the curricula of disciplines such as comparative religion, science of religion, or religious studies. In this way the gap between different religions and ideologies can be narrowed.
In many institutions psycho-techniques are taught to children from a young age to obtain higher levels of consciousness, and to discover and use the latent powers of the mind. In certain educational programs, strong emphasis is placed on cosmic powers.
Due to a new interest in astrology, cosmic influences on the lives of people are studied. Paranormal phenomena are also increasingly investigated. Several universities recognise holistic health practices, including the role of traditional healers in the treatment of diseases. Their mystical psycho-techniques and alternative medicine is often recommended to patients.
The New Era’s view on cosmic consciousness ties up with many of the self-image development theories with which humanistic psychology is experimenting at present. Management seminars are also conducted for the business sector in which a new self-image, Silva Mind Control, telepathy, the psychical influencing of people, future projections, meditation, and yoga relaxation exercises are taught.
A theme that is strongly emphasised in the entertainment world, is the existence of beings of a higher order in the universe. They are often referred to as masters of wisdom or masters of the universe, and their leader is somebody like He-man or Superman who has unlimited powers.
These themes are dramatised and expressed in TV and video stories. They promote a completely different way of thinking among youngsters, making them discontent with the limitations of their present existence. They see themselves as captives in a world full of oppressing structures. To escape this harsh reality, the modern youth are looking for heroes who openly reject the present order, despise the authority of God, and offer a liberation movement for the spirit, soul and body. In flights of their imagination, people already learn to escape to another world. Techniques for mystical experiences inevitably strengthen this inclination.
The rock stars are also regarded as heroes. They don’t in any way inhibit the perverted lusts of the flesh, but rather promote the temptations to indulge in liquor and drugs in order to escape the harsh realities of life. Mystical experiences, drunkenness, free sex, witchcraft, and satanism are regarded as adventurous challenges in the search for freedom. Despite the destructive results of this false utopia, the victims of deceit carry on regardless of the consequences.
Many of the adults of our time are products of the godless cults of the sixties, seventies, and eighties. As a result of the ideological corruption in their education, the immorality of a permissive humanistic society, and the religious disorientation of dead and backslidden churches, they now look for sensational and mystical ways to escape the dullness of life. These popular interests have given rise to film productions such as the following: Star wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, ET, Close Encounters, and The Dark Crystal.
The world is now ready to be delivered to the big Superman and practitioner of dark, occult powers, the lawless one and false prince of peace, the Antichrist. The Bible calls him “the man of sin… whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thes. 2:3, 9). Are you and your children among the victims of his intellectual, moral, and spiritual corruption, or do you have enlightened eyes of the mind to be able to discern the snares of the Wicked One? The kingdom of darkness now makes a final bid to subject all people to the power of delusion in order that they may believe the lies of its false peace and cosmic unity.
Luciferic doctrines
The New Age Movement’s spirit beings of a higher order are clearly demons, and their leader is identified as Lucifer. In his book Reflections on the Christ the head of Planetary Citizens, David Spangler, writes as follows about Lucifer’s role of ‘enlightening’ the minds of people:
“The true light of Lucifer cannot be seen through sorrow, through darkness, through rejection. The true light of this great being can only be recognised when one’s own eyes can see with the light of the Christ, the light of the inner sun. Lucifer works within each of us to bring us to wholeness. As we move into a new age, which is the age of man’s true wholeness and unity, each one of us gets to the point in our lives where we must receive a Luciferic initiation. Through this experience we enter the phase of light and wholeness in our lives.”
Through the spirit of the cosmic Christ of the kingdom of darkness (the Antichrist), people are introduced to the false light and peace of Lucifer, who is the father of lies. Full Luciferic revelations are at present still confined to the inner circles of the New Age Movement, as members must pass through various stages of spiritual illumination before the real identity of the movement’s leader is revealed to them.
A good example of progressive revelation is the system followed by the Freemasons. They are a New Age organisation, and the title of their monthly magazine is also The New Age. Although they are subjected to strange rituals, members enjoy freedom of religion in the first 14 grades of the organisation. From this point upwards to the 29th grade, they worship the universal God of all religions, Jahbulon (it is a composition of Jahwe the God of the Bible, Bel or Baal the god of the Babylonians and Assyrians, and On the Egyptian sun-god). From the 30th degree upwards the God of Masonry is called by his true name, Lucifer. Albert Pike, a 33rd degree leader of Masonry in the previous century, sent the following directive to the 23 supreme councils in the world on 14th July 1889:
“That which we say to the crowd is: ‘We worship a God, but it is the God one adores without superstition’. To you, Sovereign Grand Instructors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st, and 30th degrees: The Masonic religion should be, by all of us initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the Luciferian doctrine. If Lucifer was not the true God, then why would Jesus, the God of the Christians, calumniate him?”
A strong Luciferian influence is also evident in the works of Alice Bailey. She supplemented madame Blavatsky’s writings by continuing the preparatory work for the dawning of the New Age. In 1922 she founded the Lucifer Publishing Company in New York. In 1923 the name of it was changed to Lucis Publishing Company, which is just another (less well known) name of Lucifer. Branches of this publishing house were established in Britain and South Africa. Alice Bailey’s New Age ideas were almost identical to those of her husband, Foster Bailey. He was a 32nd degree Mason. In his book, The Spirit of Masonry, he strongly emphasises the universalistic religious nature of Masonry:
“The Master Masons are called by many names and are known at different times by various appellations. They can be referred to as Christ and His Church, the Masters of Wisdom, the Illuminati (the Enlightened Ones), the Rishis of the Oriental Philosophy, the Builders of the occult tradition, and those individualities of outstanding wisdom.”
From this occult, Luciferic tradition comes the leaders of the new world order. Bailey claims that since the Freemasons are so universalistic in their thinking and objectives, they will play a major role in the institution of the coming New Age dispensation:
“It should be remembered that Masonry is not specifically Christian. Membership should be open to all. It is interesting to remember also that Jews were admitted 150 years ago, Hindus in 1865, and Muslims in 1836. Let us, therefore take our stand on this broad and generous platform and refuse to limit the original ideal by the pettiness of our views and the smallness of our vision… There will be seen in the world an organisation based on a foundation so broad and tolerant, that it provides not only a universal platform for thinkers of all schools of thought, but a universal religion and a form of government which may serve as an example to the restless peoples of the world.”
Constance Cumbey, an American attorney who did extensive research on the New Age Movement, said the following about the New Age connection to Masonry:
“The Masonic teachings are absolutely identical to the New Age teachings… I have a book by a prominent Mason called The Meaning of Freemasonry, which says: ‘Now that we are going into the Age of Aquarius, and so many groups are working for the restoration of the mysteries, we Masons are the proper people to bring these teachings to the world because, after all, this is the same thing we’ve been teaching all along’.”
Active program
The network of organisations in the New Age Movement is still expanding. Everywhere in the world they follow active programs to recruit members, and to establish the right climate for the coming of the world messiah. Meditation sessions are often organised in conflict areas. As a result of these actions they claim credit for all breakthroughs in negotiations for peace and reconciliation. The movement regards the dismantling of the iron curtain between Eastern and Western Europe as a very significant occurrence for greater unity in Europe, in a wider context for the merging of the First and Second World, and ultimately for the realisation of a world without boundaries.
New Age groups were jubilant when the new South Africa elected a government that is positively inclined towards the new world order. This transition coincided with the abandoning of the former Christian constitution, the acceptance of the interfaith principle, the institution of a unitary state for the various national groups, and the equalisation and integration of people from different races and cultures.
From the New Age point of view, they made important preparations for the settlement in South Africa. A world focus was arranged in Cape Town for the weekend of 11-13 November 1989. Meditaters came from far and wide (including various overseas countries) to meditate for peace and unity on Table Mountain. To them it is an important planetary energy centre from where cosmic energy can be channelled to the surrounding community.
Since 1987, co-ordinated meditation sessions are organised in many different countries on the 31st of December at 12 o’clock Greenwich time for the sake of peace, unity and reconciliation in the world. This day is referred to as world-wide healing day because the main purpose with it is to heal the international community of its divisions and lack of love. Among certain groups, the day is called a Luciferic baptism for the world, in order that the Christ consciousness may take possession of people.
Apart from all the public programs to promote the cause of the New Age by meditation and in various other ways, books are also published to assist people to discover and develop their latent psychic abilities. Examples of such books are the following:
How to make ESP work for you, by Harold Sherman. The author teaches his readers to get to know their psychic and spiritual gifts, and to use them. These attributes will help them to see into the future, to interpret their dreams, and to use their cosmic healing powers. Hypnosis is discussed, as well as experiences outside the body (astral journeys).
Develop your psychic abilities, by Litany Burns. The principles of psychokinesis are discussed, as well as psychic healing, clairvoyance, telepathy, the use of spirit guides, and how to act as a spiritualistic medium. Psychic aids such as ouija boards, and restoration of human auras, are also discussed.
Finding your answers within, by Dick Sutphen. The book is introduced as: A complete New Age manual for healing and enlightenment from America’s foremost psychic researcher. Emphasis is placed on psychic regression to previous lives, and also on spirit guides that accompany a person on the journey to his previous life. This form of psycho-therapy is based on the idea of reincarnation. The statement is made that many of the emotional and health problems that a person may experience, may be attributed to wounds, shocks, and traumatic experiences in his previous life cycle. A spirit guide then assists him to return to this life during a mystical, meditative experience. The problem is faced and put right in the mind of the person, after which the symptoms will vanish. The case is related of an American woman who had a tense relationship with her mother. During hypnotic regression the woman discovered that she was an Indian housewife during her previous life, with a son who is her mother in the present life. The boy felt rejected and unwanted because he thought his mother didn’t love him. After this misunderstanding in the previous life was put right, the present relationship between the wife and her mother was immediately restored.
The assault on the old order and on traditional Christian values is extensive and well-planned. It is supported by a host of seducing spirits from the kingdom of darkness. Anyone who is overtaken by his curiosity, or who opens himself to these spirits in ignorance, will receive the power of delusion to believe the lie. Stay clear from idolatry and spiritual deception of this nature!
“Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what accord hath Christ with Belial?… Therefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Cor. 6:14-17).
The Christian answer
Christians must be able to take a clear Biblical stand when they are confronted with antichristian teachings. Because the New Age Movement is founded on a totally different world-view, it is necessary to contrast some of its principles with the relevant Christian principles. From this comparison, the deception of the New Age ideology will be evident.
Christian world-view
An antithetic way of analytical thinking in which discernment is needed to be able to categorise things and to think in opposites.
Continued divergence to a point of eternal separation between light and darkness. No unity can occur between the two poles.
The cosmic domain of demons is prohibited for Christians. No experimentation with the occult powers is allowed.
Monotheism. The triune God is a transcendent God whose abode is in heavenly places. He must be worshipped independent from His creation. God works within man through His Holy Spirit, but remains a distinct Being who should be reverently approached in prayer.
Man is a unique creation of God. He is distinct from the natural world and was commanded by God to subdue it and rule over all the living creatures.
Man only has one life cycle in a human body. It is appointed for him to die once, after which the judgement follows and eternity dawns.
Man is morally corrupt and spiritually dead because of the Fall. If he is not born again, he will end up in the lake of fire.
Through prayer, the remission of sins can be obtained from Jesus Christ, and the love and peace of God will flow into your heart by the work of the Holy Spirit. Christian meditation is a counterfeit form of worship derived from Transcendental Meditation.
When Christians join together in corporate prayer, the Holy Spirit works in a powerful way to convict people of sin and to save their souls.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God who has all power in heaven and on earth. The cosmic Christ is Satan’s counterfeit Christ who endeavours to be worshipped in the place of the true Christ. After the seven year reign of the Antichrist, Jesus will come back in power and majesty to destroy the Antichrist and to reign in His kingdom on earth. All people will do well to worship only the true Christ, to prepare for His coming and to reject the antichristian New Age Movement.
New Age worldview
A synthetic way of thinking which ignores differences and integrate all things into a larger whole. This philosophy is called holism.
Sustained convergence until all things in the cosmos become integrated and unified. Separation should not occur.
The developing of a cosmic consciousness by transcending the boundary to the supernatural, mystical world is recommended.
Pantheism. God is mystical and impersonal. There is an element of divinity in the entire creation, which means that everything is god. Since all people are regarded as inherently divine, they must deepen the level of their consciousness and discover the god within themselves.
Man is part of the natural creation and emerged from a unilinear line of biological evolution. He must be at one with nature and maintain a mystical bond with it.
Man has various life cycles in which he evolves to higher forms of life. By way of reincarnation he often returns to a new life cycle on earth.
Man is inherently good and only acts badly as a result of adverse external influences. There is no devil or hell in the universe.
Through a process of quiet meditation and the opening of the receptive faculties of your right-brain you can develop a deeper state of consciousness. You will then become one with the Christ within you and experience a mystical peace and tranquillity.
When large numbers of people meditate at the same time, cosmic energy will be released to promote peace and to save mankind from its divisions.
The Cosmic Christ is the expected World Teacher who will arise from the highly evolved ranks of homo universalis. The members of all the religions will recognise and worship him as their Saviour and common Messiah. He will introduce the next unfolding of human history to the Age of Aquarius, which is the widely propagated Utopia of cosmic unity on earth. The ultimate form of human freedom will then be achieved in which nothing will be regarded as wrong or sinful. All will be one.
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