What is meant by the term, "The New Age Movement?"

What is meant by the term, "The New Age Movement?"

http://www.thetruelight.net/booksections/articles/newage.htm

By Mike Shreve

The New Age Movement is a term that covers a lot of territory spiritually. It can reach all the way to the left and embrace the dark side of the occult like Wicca, witchcraft and even Satanism. It can reach all the way to the right and embrace things like success seminars and positive thinking teachings that do not even deal with a basic concept of God, yet incorporate certain 'New Age' principles. It is generally a movement within our society and world based on a man-centered (humanistic) approach to the revelation of who we are and what our destiny is.

Basically, the term "New Age" originally stemmed from a belief in an astrological age called "The Aquarian Age." According to certain astrological teachings, we are presently moving from the Piscean Age (an age of knowledge and scientific advance) into the Aquarian Age (an age of spiritual enlightenment and harmony on the planet). Most 'New Agers' subscribe in some way to the idea that we are in transition spiritually into a new era during which drastic spiritual changes will take place on our planet. This will culminate in a higher spiritual atmosphere for the inhabitants of this world.

Within this context, it could be said that Christians believe in a 'New Age' -- for most Christians believe in the coming 'Kingdom Age' in which Christ will reign on this planet for a thousand years of peace, harmony and heaven-on-earth conditions. However, this coming new era within a biblical interpretation is much different than the one described by 'New Agers', so the biblical phrase "Kingdom Age" and the modern term "New Age" actually refer to two different concepts that are actually opposed to one another in many essential areas of interpretation.
Twelve Basic Beliefs That Normally Unify All "New Agers"

Though there is great diversity among 'New Agers' on various issues, they tend to agree on the following twelve things: 

Fascination with the Supernatural — This is always associated with "the New Age Movement" and often with no defining boundaries as to which experiences are correct or incorrect. Supernatural experiences provided through various worldviews are all embraced syncretistically and fused together into one belief system. Many practices are aimed at exploring the supernatural realm and experiencing various superhuman powers or states of consciousness.
Pluralism — the belief that all religions are different and equally valid paths to ultimate reality and no one worldview can fully unveil the truth. All religions are one.
An Impersonal God — Most New Agers agree that Ultimate Reality in an impersonal cosmic energy: a non-thinking, non-hearing, non-seeing, non-speaking, non-emotional, non-volitional, non-responsive life-force from which all personal beings originate and into which all personal beings will ultimately be absorbed.
Pantheism — the belief that the universe is an emanation of God and that, therefore, all things have a divine essence. In absolute pantheism God does not exist apart from the natural cosmos. All is God.
Monism — the belief that all things are of one essential substance, giving rise to statements like, "I am the universe. I am one with all things." There is no room for a dualistic view of God transcending creation, and being apart from creation, in this mindset. All is One.
The Divinity of Man — those who subscribe to this philosophy deify man, teaching that all men have a divine essence, giving rise to affirmations like, "I am God. You are God. We are all God." The problem with this point of view is simple: in ascribing divinity to man, the next step is necessarily ascribing evil, darkness and sinfulness to God. All things, including the evil rampant in this world, are an emanation of God.
The Power To Personally And Subjectively Create Reality — Most New Agers tend to believe that reality is subjective not objective, that any person can create his or her own reality by the embracing of certain beliefs, or by making certain affirmations, declarations or confessions. This gives rise to statements such as, "You can have your truth. I can have my truth. And we can both be right simultaneously" (even if the viewpoints appear to contradict each other).
A Weak View Of Satan And Sin — Usually New Agers either have no belief in Satan or a weak view of the Devil. Some negate the existence of this being, equating Satan with merely the negative attitudes that dominate the world system. 'Demons' are merely unbeneficial or negative attitudes that tend to dominate the hearts of men and carry them away from the truth. Some groups differentiate between Satan and Lucifer, lifting the latter to the level of a divine being, even a 'god' (the 'Light bearer'). Lucifer is the one who brings wisdom and enlightenment. Man's problem is not sin; it is ignorance--ignorance of his own divine essence. Man does not need to repent, as one accountable TO God; he needs to be enlightened, as one who IS God.]
Enlightenment — Most New Agers avidly seek after an 'enlightened' state of mind and have many terms for it (Samadhi, Nirvana, Christ-consciousness, God-consciousness, etc.). Many means are used to accomplish this: chanting, meditation, yoga disciplines, etc. There is a difference between the Christian experience of being 'born again' and the experience of enlightenment. The born again believer comes into a relationship with God (through the washing away of sin by the blood of Jesus). The 'enlightened' person comes to a realization that he IS God.
Evolutionary Optimism — Most New Agers accept the coming of a 'New Age': a time of greater spirituality and harmony on this planet, a time when many of the problems facing the human race will be resolved.
The Coming Of A Messiah — Though great differences of opinion exist concerning the exact nature of this person, most New Agers await a Messiah-like figure who will be the pivot heralding and fully bringing into manifestation this 'New Age' in all of its facets. New Agers tend to assert that the Messiah of Judaism, the Christ of Christianity, the Fifth Buddha of Buddhism, the Imam Mahdi of Islam, Saoshyant of Zoroastrianism and Kalkin of Hinduism are all to be fulfilled in one individual. However, the legends and traditions concerning these hoped-for individuals are so diverse (except for Judaism and Christianity), they cannot logically be merged into agreement.
A Global Family Outlook — Because of their monistic, pantheistic and syncretistic doctrinal basis, most New Agers are all-inclusive in their belief system, not exclusive. All-inclusive means 'including all people, all cultures, and all religions into one unified whole.' Though love for others is usually the motivation for choosing such a perspective, it makes 'choosing' a correct worldview unnecessary.

Those who do have an exclusive view of truth are labeled unenlightened and uncooperative with this next scheduled 'paradigm shift' in society (the Aquarian Age). Though some aspects of this 'one world' mindset are good (genuine compassion for underprivileged members of the human race), in many ways it will pave the road toward things that are not good — a one world religion, a one world banking system, a one world police system and a one world political system that will eventually become tools in the hands of the Anti-Christ to impose his deceptive control of the planet.

Though the above twelve points are very simplistic, basically, the embracing of these beliefs signifies someone who can be labeled an adherent to "the New Age Movement".
Was Jesus just one of many avatars or was he the only incarnation of God?

http://www.thetruelight.net/booksections/articles/bookarticle09.htm

By Mike Shreve

The definition of an Avatar is an incarnation of God, or a god, into a fleshly form, usually human. In Hinduism it normally refers to an incarnation of Vishnu. However, it has also come to include the reincarnation of any enlightened soul who has achieved final and absolute oneness with the Oversoul. Though delivered from all negative karma and released from the cycle of rebirths, the Avatar instead chooses to return to earth again for the duration of a human life. His purpose is to counteract evil and bring about change for good. We will inspect what the Bahá’í faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism and others have to say about this subject.
Bahá’í — This faith does not accept the idea of Avatars, but they do believe in "Manifestations of God." This concept differs from the Hindu belief in Avatars in one main respect. Bahá’ís believe that these advanced and exalted individuals are infallible and "protected from sin." They are "theophanies: mirrors who reflect God’s glory and reveal his attributes"… they are the "means of approach to God," being his "messengers": "bringers of divine revelation." However, they "are not incarnations of God; they do not embody the divine essence."¹

There is no definitive list of recognized "Manifestations of God" available. However, Bahá’í authoritative texts do appear to verify fourteen: Adam, Noah, Salih, Hud, the Sabaean Manifestation (whose name is lost), Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, Mohammed, the Bab and Bahá’u’lláh. The Bab, whose name means "the gate," was, in essence, the 'initiator' of the Bahá’í religion, for he announced that he was the forerunner of the 'Promised One' (the Messiah). After he was killed, one of the Bab’s followers, Mírzá Husayn-Alí, claimed to be this Messiah (or Mahdi) who was to come. He assumed the name Bahá’u’lláh, meaning "the glory of God."

Buddhism—Buddha originally denied being a god. However, some of his followers eventually deified him. Though he preached a non-theistic worldview (it has been described as 'atheistic monism') different branches of Buddhism include in their belief system worshipful devotion to numerous Buddhas (enlightened ones who have attained Nirvana) and bodhisattvas (saints or semi-divine beings who have renounced Nirvana and Buddhahood in order to help others achieve salvation). Both of these are considered worthy of worship and are somewhat similar to the Hindu concept of avatars.
Hinduism — There are four main sects within Hinduism. Surprisingly, each sect has a different opinion concerning this important issue:

(1) Vaishnavism (devotees of Vishnu) insists that only Vishnu can incarnate.

(2) Saivism (worshippers of Shiva) asserts that God does not incarnate on earth.

(3) Saktism (followers of the goddess Sakti, or a wide variety of goddesses) maintains that Sakti, the Divine Mother, can manifest as an Avatar.

(4) Smartism teaches that all gods can have Avataric incarnations.

Hinduism has conflicting references in its sacred writings concerning the number of Avatars who have descended into this world. The Mahabharata gives three lists of Vishnu’s Avatars: First there are four mentioned, then six, and finally, a list of ten. The Garuda Purana lists nineteen Avatars of Vishnu, while the Bhagavata Purana lists twenty-two in one place and twenty-three in another. Since the time of the Bhagavata Purana the number of Avatars has been uniformly recognized as ten. They are: (1) The fish Matsya; (2) The tortoise Kurma; (3) The boar Varaha; (4) The man-lion Narasinha; (5) The dwarf Vamana; (6) Parasurama, also called Rama with the ax; (7) Ramachandra, called Rama; (8) Krishna; (9) Buddha, and; (10) Kalki (also called Kalkin) the last Avatar, who allegedly is still to come.

The stories associated with these various incarnations of deity stretch the imagination. For instance, the related stories of the first and second Avatars (the fish Matsya, and the tortoise Kurma) go like this. A demon stole the Vedas from Brahma. Consequently a deluge was sent on the earth by the gods in order to drown the demon and recover the holy writ.

Vishnu assumed the form of a fish, prophesied of the coming flood to Manu (the progenitor of the human race) and rescued him and his family by guiding his ship to safety. During this watery destruction of the earth, the cream of the milk-ocean (amrita) was lost. This was the 'elixir' that enabled the gods to reclaim their youthfulness and escape death. Working together, the gods and the demons succeeded in producing amrita by churning the ocean of milk. They utilized a mountain as a churning stick and Kurma (the tortoise Avatar) as a pivot on which the stick rested. Like these two examples, most of the stories of Hindu Avatars contain no historical proof of the Avatar’s existence. The animal-like incarnations are evidently mythological, which some Hindu teachers readily admit. Some proponents of Hinduism feel Rama and Krishna may have had an actual earthly existence. In later Hindu Scripture Buddha is included as an Avatar, and he was most certainly a historical figure. However, in what could have been an attempt to invalidate his teachings, sacred writings explain that when Vishnu incarnated as Buddha he "deluded the asuras [demons] and flouted the Vedas." (Garuda Purana 3.15.26) To "flout" is to disregard, to defy, to disobey or to ignore. How curious it is that God would visit the earth only to disregard and disobey his own declaration of truth! Would it not seem much more logical that an incarnation of God would uphold and defend the truth in the sight of men!

One of the most peculiar aspects of Hindu teaching on this subject is one Avatar, Parasu-Rama (Rama with an axe) being in conflict with the next Avatar, Rama-chandra, because he broke Shiva’s bow. Parasu-Rama was defeated in the clash and was therefore denied a place in heaven. If both Avatars are expressions of the Godhead, why would they strive against one another? God does not oppose himself. It seems unthinkable as well that a manifestation of God would actually be excluded from heaven. Christian apologist Ernest Valea challenges this myth, also asking, "Why didn’t the first Rama leave in time? Or why couldn’t he solve the problem for which the next Avatar came?"²

With regard to this doctrine, there are definitely projections for the future. Rabi Maharaj, author of The Death of a Guru explains, "Many orthodox Hindus believe that Kalki, the next Avatar after Christ, is due to appear on earth in about 425,000 years."³ Kalki will put an end to corruption in this world. He will accomplish the final destruction of the wicked and usher in the renewal of creation and the resurgence of virtue in the next mahayuga. (See "Hinduism" under Cycles, Ages and the Ultimate State of the Universe) Considering many Hindus embrace this belief (that the next Avatar will not arrive for many millennia) it is paradoxical that many Indian gurus and swamis in this era have themselves claimed to be Avatars.

One explanation of this paradox is the Hindu belief that there are both 'partial Avatars' and 'full Avatars'. Those labeled 'full Avatars' are the greatest spiritual teachers who have influenced the human race in profound ways. 'Partial Avatars' do not have this kind of impact. Of course, some of those who have claimed Avatarship might be quite unwilling to accept only a 'partial' status. And some of those who have appointed their leaders to such a position might readily reject such a demeaning proposition.
ISKCON — Lord Caitanya (1485–1533 A.D.) is considered one of the greatest leaders and promoters of devotion to Krishna. Adherents claim that he was a dual incarnation of both Krishna and his lover, Radha. This movement insists that there are two broad, primary categories of Avatars:

(1) Direct forms of God (Vishnu-tattva). Krishna and Rama would be included under this heading.

(2) Individual souls (jiva-tattva) who are empowered by God to manifest one or more of the following: knowledge, devotion, creative ability, personal service of God, authority over the material world, ability to support planets, or power to destroy evildoers and troublemakers. Jesus and Mohammed would be placed in this category.
Islam — To associate God with any human being or any material thing is an extremely serious sin, according to the tenets of this religion, and is called shirk. According to their traditional, doctrinal foundation, this concept of Avatars is absolutely unacceptable.
Jainism — Though its founder, Mahavira, denied the existence of any God or gods, he was eventually deified by his followers. They profess that he descended from heaven, that he was supernaturally placed in the womb of his mother, that he was sinless, that he possessed unlimited knowledge and that he was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara (meaning "Ford-maker — a great teacher who guides his followers across the river of transmigration"). Mahavira is believed to be the final and greatest of all savior beings to make an appearance during this age. This notion seems to preclude the possibility of any other person occupying such an Avatar-like role since the death of the founder of this religion in 527 B.C. He and the other Tirthankaras are offered worship by Jainists.
Shinto — According to Shinto Scripture, all the Mikado (emperors) are considered divine descendants, tracing their ancestry back to the Sun-goddess, Ama-terasu. Therefore, all are considered to be "God incarnate." (Nihon-gi, 2: 198, 210) This is not a generally accepted doctrine now.
Sikhism — Guru Nanak preached passionately against worshipping any human being as God. He implored, "Why worship any one who is born and dieth? Remember the one God, who pervadeth sea and land."⁴ Because of this, many Sikhs reject the concept of Avatars. They feel God does not take birth. One writer qualifies that interpretation explaining that some souls "do not need to take birth anymore. They have been liberated in some prior lifetime. They take birth only for our sake. When a person comes with the spiritual force accumulated through restraint in many such lifetimes, we say it is God manifest in a human body."⁵ However, this is not the same as the Hindu idea of a god assuming human form.

There are several passages in the Sikh’s holy book that declare Guru Nanak and the other gurus that led Sikhism (ten total) were manifestations of God. For instance, one verse explains, "To save the world the Lord incarnated himself." (Adi Granth 1409:8) Verse 12 of the same passage asserts, "There is no difference between God and Guru; Guru Arjun [the fifth guru] is the Personification of the Lord Himself." However, the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, insisted that no one should worship him as God, or for that matter, any of the nine gurus before him. He even stated that those who called him God would have to endure hellfire. (See Bachitra Natak 218–247.) Many interpret statements such as this to be sufficient evidence that the Avatar concept should be rejected.

There is some disagreement among Sikhs as to how all of this information should be processed. Many would reduce the explanation to mean that the Spirit of God was beautifully, gloriously and perfectly expressed through Guru Nanak (and the other gurus) but not one of them was literally God in a body. They were all manifestations of God, but not God born in human form (though some might disagree). Sikhs believe and teach that Guru Nanak and the other nine guru-leaders of their religion lived sinless lives. So they were certainly not considered ordinary human beings, but expressions of divine perfection. Sikhs definitely do not believe in the doctrine of Avatars exactly as it is found in Hinduism.
Taoism — teaches the existence of Avatars, advanced "beings who choose to mingle among humanity and take on the appearance of mortals to inspire, instruct, and advise… Immortal Lu Tung-pin is such a teacher."⁶
Theosophy — Helena Blavatsky taught that the present world population is the third physical "rootrace" to inhabit this planet. Within each "rootrace" are seven subraces. At the beginning of each subrace, the incarnation of the Supreme World Teacher takes place. Supposedly, at the onset of the fifth subrace, Jesus became the human vessel for the Christ to manifest through. Prior to Jesus being used in this way, there were four other incarnations of the Supreme World Teacher (Buddha in India, Hermes in Egypt, Zoroaster in Persia, and Orpheus in Greece). The world now awaits the sixth manifestation of the Christ as we pass into the next subrace. Annie Besant, president of the Theosophical Society from 1907 until 1933, promoted a Hindu named Jiddu Krishnamurti as this new Messiah. He later refuted this claim and refused the title.
Zoroastrianism — In certain sacred texts, Zoroaster, the founder of this religion, is described as a pre-existent, heavenly being who incarnated a unique way. The celestial material that would become his body descended with the rain and was absorbed by his virgin mother as she drank the milk of cows.
Modern Gurus and Teachers

In the past century, a number of gurus, swamis and religious leaders have claimed 'Avatarship' (or they have been exalted to that position by their followers). Consider the following few examples:

Meher Baba (1894-1969) voiced the unequivocal declaration, "I am God personified."⁷ He claimed to be the Avatar of this age, the incarnation of God revealed at the close of this cycle. He insisted that he was the Highest of the High, far above all the sadhus, mahatmas, saints and yogis that can be found in this world. He also explained that he had incarnated as an Avatar "innumerable times...in the last cycle, 5,329 times" (evidently, a reference to the extremely lengthy Cycle-of-cycles) and that he would come back "once more after 450 years."⁸ In another reference, his final declaration, he promised to return in 700 years.⁹ (Note: Baba taught both Minor and Major Incarnations of the Avatar. For instances, Jesus would be considered a Major Incarnation; Shankara, a noted Hindu philosopher, would be considered a Minor Incarnation. This justifies what seems to be a contradiction. The incarnation after 450 years could be a minor one, while the incarnation after 700 years could be major.)

He maintained silence for nearly forty-four years, communicating only with an alphabet board and hand gestures. He foretold that he would finally break silence and when he did, the entire world would feel the impact of his love, effecting "a worldwide transformation of consciousness."¹⁰ He also asserted, "The whole world will know and recognize me as Jesus returned once I speak."¹¹ "The breaking of my Silence will reveal to man the universal Oneness of God, which will bring about the universal brotherhood of man."¹² Though conflicting opinions exist, some of his followers claim he did speak just prior to his death. However, they explain that the resulting 'world impact' has been, and will yet be a gradual process. (In one book, "Meher Baba, The Awakener," it states that he did not break his silence.)¹³

Meher Baba also taught that in each cycle of time (which ranges from 700 to 1400 years) there are eleven ages of 65 to 125 years each. From the beginning to the end of each cycle, there are altogether 55 Perfect Masters. That means each age has only five Perfect Masters. In the last, the eleventh age of each cycle, the Avatar (Saheb-e-Zaman) is also present. Evidently, this means that every 700 to 1,400 years a new Avatar, or bodily manifestation of God, should make an appearance in this world. Of course, if Meher Baba was the rightful, sole ‘heir’ of this honorific title, all other claims to Avatarship during his lifespan were perpetrated (according to Meher Baba’s own words) by imposters, hypocrites, or persons suffering from spiritual delusion.