A New Competitor: New-age teachings present a shallow solution
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
21 Dec 2003
All the great religious traditions are different and teach different doctrines. For example, Christianity, Judaism and Islam differ substantially from Buddhism because Buddha himself did not teach about God. However one ancient way of looking at life has re-emerged, which asserts that the Christian era (“the Age of Pisces”) is ending and the Age of Aquarius is beginning.
It claims particular religions, especially the great religions are “out”; to be quarried for bits and pieces to fit the “New Age” spirituality.
The “New Age” claims to offer freedom, authenticity and self-reliance. It celebrates femininity rather than masculine domination, “right brain” intuitive thinking rather than the exaltation of reason, the “left brain”. It encourages the revival of ancient pagan religions, especially from the East, and also uses counter-cultural elements from modern psychology, philosophy and science.
The “New Age” is not a single, uniform religion or movement, not a sect. In fact it is a re-emergence of the Gnostic movements (from the Greek word for knowledge) of the second and third centuries, which is very different from New Testament Christianity.
The “New Age” does not accept the existence of a transcendent, personal God and denies the existence of any spiritual authority higher than inner personal experience. The “New Age” “god” is not the creator and sustainer of the universe, but the “life principle”, the soul of the world, an immanent impersonal energy; which forms a cosmic unity.
There is no God capable of hearing our prayers, much less capable of answering them in the “New Age” system.
Often Christian language is retained but given a different set of meanings. So there are many historical figures in whom the “Christic” nature is revealed, such as Buddha and Jesus.
The “New Age” universe is a single whole, an ocean of energy and each person is a hologram, an image of all creation. Dualism is rejected, so there is no distinction between good and evil. Nobody needs forgiveness or condemnation, because human actions are the fruit either of illumination or ignorance. Believing in evil creates negativity and fear, to be answered by love, which is energy, a high frequency vibration, tuned into the great chain of being.
The “New Age” has seen a surge in cosmic religiosity, the resacralisation of the earth. The warmth of Mother Earth removes the threat of judgement by the Father-God of Judaism and Christianity. But it also removes all possibility of justice and redress in the next life for those who have suffered, are victims of history.
Any worthwhile achievement requires us to work hard. The “New Age” purification through self awareness costs very little. Conversion from evil is not required and consequently their search for the “god within” often leaves selfishness unaddressed and the social problems of society untouched.
Jesus Christ is not a pattern in nature, but a human-divine figure who reveals God’s love for us.
