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

NOTES

1 Meher Baba, The Everything and the Nothing, ed. Francis Brabazon, p. 22.

2 Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (New York: Harper’s Magazine Press, 1974) p. 270.

Are all human beings “children of God,” or is this status only granted to those who fulfill certain conditions?

http://www.thetruelight.net/booksections/articles/bookarticle25.htm

By Mike Shreve

All human beings are children of this world, the offspring of natural parents, begotten and born after the natural process of human reproduction. However, because God exists independent of the physical world, and because we inherit a status of separation from him at conception, we come into this world devoid of his presence. Fundamentally, we can only claim being part of the same human family. In that sense we are all brothers and sisters, regardless of race, color, culture or creed. The Bible tears down the walls of prejudice with the statement "God has made from one blood every nation." (Acts 17:26, See Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 1:5, 2:12.)

It is also to be noted that Jesus made general statements to his followers expressing God’s fatherly care to ALL of those present. (See Matthew 7:11, John 4:23.) Of course, those listening were not yet 'converted' in the strictest biblical sense of the word. They had not yet experienced the regeneration of the human spirit that would be available after Jesus’ ascension. They were ordinary people, sometimes both Jews and Gentiles, who were concerned about the necessities of life: food, clothing and shelter. Jesus encouraged them with statements like:

"Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (Matthew 6:32, See Luke 11:13.)

So evidently, God considers all human beings his children—after the creation. However, 'absolute sonship' (actual 'spiritual sonship') does not occur manifestly and experientially until a supernatural regeneration takes place, restoring a person to a vital and real relationship with the Father. Only when a person is 'born again' does God adopt that person into his eternal family. (See Romans 8:15, 23, Galatians 4:5)

For this reason Jesus informed Nicodemus, "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Clearly Jesus was not talking about reincarnation, for he continued, "Unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God… Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again!'" (John 3:3, 5, 7)

Being "born of the water" is a reference to what has also been called the 'breaking of the water' during the natural birth process. The amniotic sac tears open and the amniotic fluid spills out as the child exits the womb. This is, of course, our first birth, which is a necessary step in our spiritual evolution. Jesus clearly revealed that a second birth must follow if we are to become heirs of eternal life. This "born again" experience is totally different than anything provided through the Far Eastern approach. It is not another name for the experience of Nirvana, Samadhi, Astral Projection, or Shakti-pat (the awakening of the kundalini through a guru). It is totally unique, best described as the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ in a heart that is consciously yielded to him.

So becoming a son or daughter of God is a spiritual event, an acquired status, an inherited position. It does not happen simultaneous with entrance into this world, though all men have potential access to this privilege. In reference to the Lord Jesus, John 1:12 promises, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Notice the word become. This wonderful experience is a definable moment in a person’s life. When it happens, it allows fallen human beings the glorious opportunity of regaining a harmonious relationship with God. ("Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1)

Salvation automatically involves the grand discovery that God is much more than an energy force or a distant, aloof Creator. He is immediately recognized as a loving Father to those who have the privilege of drawing near to him. Listen to the solemn pledge he presents to all: "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17–18) No person should dare overlook such a glorious opportunity!

Yogananda suggested "man reincarnates on the earth until he has consciously regained his status as a son of God."¹ He also taught that the secret to experiencing and developing a relationship with God is to 'look' upon ourselves as his children. However, true divine sonship is not something acquired through developing a more proper self-image. Neither is sonship a latent potential that can be awakened in every individual regardless of his or her religious persuasion. Rather, it is a gift from God and a supernatural impartation. This divine sonship is received when the external, transcendent God enters the heart of a repentant person who has confessed his faith in Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross.
NOTES

1 Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi (Los Angeles, California: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1998) p. 199.

NOTE: CATHOLIC TEACHING IS THAT A PERSON IS BORN AGAIN WITH BAPTISM- MICHAEL


Is there one God with one name (the view of Christianity, Islam and Judaism), or one God with many names (the view of Sikhism), or many gods with many names, all springing from one eternal essence called God (the view of Hinduism)?

http://www.thetruelight.net/booksections/articles/bookarticle01.htm

By Mike Shreve

Dealing with this question is first an issue of semantics. Three people can say, "There is only one God!" yet mean three different things by the same statement. The first two concepts are inclusive; the third is exclusive.

One religionist might be suggesting, "There is only one God that people of all religions worship. However, they use different names for him and they possess different interpretations of his character and being" (the view of Sikhism).

Another might mean, "There is one underlying, impersonal essence behind all personal gods that are worshipped. These gods are not actually the same, but they spring from the same source" (the view of philosophic Hinduism).

The final concept would be, "There is only one God to the exclusion of all others, identified by the correct name or names which are associated with the correct interpretation of his character and being" (the view of Christianity, as well as other monotheistic traditions). The first two viewpoints could be described as inclusive (including all religions and all gods). The third view is exclusive (excluding all other religions and all other gods).

Though I am deeply moved by the compassion and tolerance that normally motivates those who choose an all-inclusive view, may I offer the following observation? If God were to accept, and respond to, all of the names assigned to him in various worldviews, he would be making a confusing and contradictory statement about his own character.

For instance, if the name Zeus, he would automatically be indicating divine approval of the pantheon of gods promoted in Greek mythology. If the name Brahman (Hinduism) or SUGMAD (ECKANKAR) brought a response, it would be an immediate disclosure that the Ultimate Source of all things is actually an impersonal cosmic energy. If the name Krishna connected a worshipper with God, he would simultaneously be acknowledging that he had 16,108 literal wives while on earth.

If God responded to the name Ein Sof, he would be verifying the Kabbalist claim that the Godhead has ten emanations. If he responded to the entitlement Sat Nam (the Sikh designation for God, meaning "True Name") he would be verifying Guru Nanak’s claim that the God of the Muslims and Hindus is actually the same God. If he responded to the name Allah, God would automatically be characterizing himself as an omnipresent, omnipotent Spirit who has no Son (a basic doctrine of Islam) and that "there is no God but Allah" (a primary confession of faith in Islam).

However, if God responds to the name Jesus, he is showing approval of Christianity’s claims: that he is a triune being, comprised of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that he is a personal God, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, transcendent, perfect in all his ways and accessible only through the redemptive work of the cross.

Just suppose that the Bible is right: that Jesus really is the only "image of the invisible God" and that there really is "no unrighteousness in him": no error in his judgments and no flaw in his character. (Colossians 1:15, Psalm 92:15) If he responded in prayer to the name Indra (an ancient Hindu god) he would automatically be characterizing himself as a seducer of a sage’s wife, who was cursed with a thousand yonis (symbols of the female sex organ) on his body as a result of his evil deed. I personally would not take on another man’s name, especially if the true possessor of that name was a person of criminal or immoral behavior. Why should I expect God to be pleased with an arrangement just as undesirable?

The problem is this—through the millennia, certain persons, in an attempt to define the unseen spiritual realms, have attributed to numerous deities a great number of humanly-created titles, names, myths and legends. Most likely, many have possessed a genuine love for God — yet, there is a vast difference between loving God and knowing God. I can personally testify that I loved God intensely long before I actually knew him. It was only after I met the Lord in a personal relationship that I came to understand his true nature.

I admit that some names or titles given to God in various religions do correctly define his character and attributes, such as the ninety-nine names Muslims attribute to God (e.g., the Living, the Eternal, the Supreme, the Tremendous, the Merciful, and the Compassionate). Undeniably, these are all actual personality traits of the true God, but not one is a personal name for him. Correct character titles for God can be discovered in many religions, but names that identify his actual person are another matter. So the essential thing is correctly distinguishing this personal name of God.

With the exception of the one true God, I propose that all other 'gods' are humanly manufactured. They are the product of man’s often sincere, yet erring attempt to interpret the realm of the supernatural. Again, because the various characters assigned to these deities are in many ways a misrepresentation of the true character of God, he does not accept these names, nor does he respond to them. Furthermore, if seeking persons use these wrongly assigned divine names, they automatically associate them with the rest of the doctrinal base of the religion being referenced. In so many cases, if God allowed this, it would be counterproductive to the promotion of truth.¹

Hindu Scripture strongly declares "nothing is more purifying than the holy name of God." (Srimad Bhagavatam 6:1) If this is true — and it is — then one of the chief pursuits of life should be a holy quest to know the true name of God. The legendary founder of Taoism, Lao-Tzu, taught that 'Ultimate Reality' is an impersonal, cosmic energy force. He admitted, "I do not know its name; I call it Tao." (Tao-te Ching 25, emphasis by author) How heartbreaking it is that a person, longing to know 'Ultimate Reality', is unaware of the correct name to use, and so invents one! Yet how often this happens! ²

Another very fitting example is Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism. He was evidently a very sincere and pure-hearted man. I have great respect for his heart-warming prayers, his genuine love for God and his passionate devotion to righteous principles. His life story is intriguing, especially the supreme effort he made to unite Hindus and Muslims. Guru Nanak insisted that repeating the wonder of the Creator’s Name "is a stairway which leads to the Maker, an ascent to the bliss of mystical union." Another version of this same passage says, "The way to perfection, the stairs leading to honor." (Japji 32) There is great truth in this statement. Guru Nanak taught that the right designation for God is "Sat Nam" meaning "True Name." Yet those words are only descriptive of the very thing we all long to know. Yes, I agree with Guru Nanak. God does have a "True Name" and worshipfully uttering that name will usher us into his bliss-filled presence. But what actually is that "True Name"? Certainly this is something Guru Nanak longed to know, just as any seeker after "True Light," and something I believe he would have readily received had he been exposed to the correct revelation.

I believe with all my heart that I now have the answer. At certain pivotal, historic moments, God revealed different facets of his "True Name" to certain key biblical figures who then recorded this insight for others. Just as a human name is usually made up of several names, and sometimes a title, so God’s true name is a combination of all the names and titles that he has assigned to himself. God responds to those names and titles revealed in the Bible, because the character and doctrine attached to those names and titles correctly represent who he is, how he acts toward men and the doctrinal base that is truly inspired.
In the Old Testament God assigned to himself various names that were then transferred to us in the Hebrew language, such as: Elohim ("God"), El Shaddai ("the Almighty God"), Yahweh-Rapha ("the Lord our Healer"), Yahweh-M’Kaddesh ("the God who Sanctifies"), and so on. Later on, when the incarnation took place, God sent an angel to Mary announcing what the name of the Son of God should be. Gabriel rejoiced to proclaim, "You shall call His name JESUS [Heb. YESHUA, meaning "the salvation of Jehovah"] for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) This heaven-conferred name perfectly describes what Jesus was born in this world to accomplish (for he was 'God manifested in a human body, sent from heaven to bring salvation to the world'). The promise given later in the New Testament is very plain—"Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21, See Luke 1:31, Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Kings 18:24.) Notice this passage of Scripture does not say to call upon 'a name for the Lord,' but "the name of the Lord." (Of course, this includes the pronunciation and spelling of the name JESUS in other languages as well.)

I personally used a number of humanly assigned names for God unsuccessfully before I used the name of Jesus. I was sincerely worshipping God from my heart of hearts, but I was not 'connecting' with God. Only when I called on the "True Name" of the true Savior did I experience true salvation and the true Spirit of God. I understand the logic of those who claim we are all worshipping the same God, because sometimes, in a very broad sense, this may be the case. Of course, some religions are atheistic and not even concerned with adoring the Almighty. Still others promote devotion to lesser deities who occupy subordinate roles in some huge pantheon of gods. However, some worshippers actually are expressing heart-felt devotion to the Supreme Creator of heaven and earth, whoever they conceive him to be. In such cases, there is definitely a similarity of intent—a desire to love the Everlasting Father and contact Him in prayer—but not necessarily the fulfillment of this desire.

There are many ways this 'connection' between God and man has been conceptualized; but there is only one way it can be actualized. The Bible states clearly that Jesus’ name is "above every name" and that there is "no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Philippians 2:9, Acts 4:12) It is the highest and most recent revelation of the divine name — a name that God honors, because it identifies his true character and the revelation of his present mode of working in this world. This is an essentially important point.

NOTES

1 Admittedly there are some unique cultural groups in which a belief exists in a personal, perfect, omnipresent Supreme Deity who transcends the physical creation. When this Supreme Being (Lord of heaven) is not represented by false idols or images and when his character is not marred by false doctrine, fabricated legends or wrongly applied personality traits, there are rare situations in which the names applied to him may be regarded as legitimate. Sometimes, these names are not only suitable ways of describing the Creator. They are even adaptable in explaining the full revelation of God to those particular people groups. However, such names are not sufficient to bring the users into real salvation experience and/or personal fellowship with God. (See Eternity in their Hearts by Don Richardson.)

2 The word Tao means "the Way." Actually, this is a correct title of the true God, who in his incarnate state declared, "I am THE WAY, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) However, "the Way" in Taoism differs significantly from "the Way" as outlined in Christianity.
Are adherents of all world religions actually worshipping the same God?

http://www.thetruelight.net/booksections/articles/bookarticle02.htm

By Mike Shreve

First of all, not all world religions acknowledge a "Supreme Being" and some misconstrue Ultimate Reality to be an impersonal force, which does not interact with worshippers, instead of a personal Creator who does. Concerning those who believe in a personal Creator, the answer to the posed question would have to be, "Maybe at times, but not often and not really." Admittedly, that sounds vague, but let me explain. All non-Christians who venerate the "Creator", all who express adoration toward the "Maker of all things" may, at times, in a very general sense, be attempting to worship the one and only God of heaven. The American  Indian who praises the Great Spirit, the Hindu who acknowledges Brahman, the Muslim who worships Allah, the Sikh who sings songs of devotion to Akal Purakh (Timeless Being) and the Zoroastrian who honors Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord) are all generating devotion toward the One they consider to be the Supreme Power of the universe. They may even "generically" cry out, "O God, help me!" or "O God I adore you," inclining their hearts toward the Almighty without using a wrongly applied name. However, in cases like this, in their minds, they are probably still associating their prayerful cry with erroneous interpretations of God’s character and/or name. This in itself would block them from a real connection with the true and living God.
It is very important to note that all of these supposed 'Supreme Beings' are not literally and specifically the same God, since the personality, attributes and names of each "God" are quite different than the others. However, in a very broad sense, when men cry out to the Creator, their "gaze" may be in the same general direction. Christians are worshipping God with understanding; others are worshipping without understanding, but in many cases, all are worshipping. I believe that even when a person is ignorant of the true nature of Ultimate Reality, genuine love toward God does not go unnoticed in heaven.
The essentially important difference is this: even though the devotees and believers of these various religions are all generating worship toward God, except for the Christian believer, they cannot be in actual communion with God. In Acts 10, we find Cornelius, a centurion, who worshipped God in sincerity, but he was unaware of how to be in true communion with God—so God sent an angel to him instructing him to call for Peter. The apostle came and preached, and the Holy Spirit fell from heaven on those who gathered. God did not affirm that Cornelius’ previous approach was sufficient, but because he had true love for God, the Lord revealed to him the correct means of salvation.

In a similar way, I was a sincere lover of God before I knew him and experienced union with him. I was a "worshipper" of God long before I became a "true worshipper". Jesus explained this mystery to a Samaritan woman many years ago in words that are still profound. He bluntly pointed out, "You worship what you do not know," but then he added: 

“…the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:22–23)

Worshipping in spirit — In this era, to be a true worshipper of God, a person must first have a regenerated spirit. The biblical view is that man is a triune being: body, soul and spirit. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:23.) The body and soul are the primary functioning parts in ordinary human beings who have not been 'saved'. Human beings are "dead in trespasses and sins" — rendering the spirit nearly non-functional. (Ephesians 2:1) (See “Christianity” under The Origin and Nature of Man.) 

The human spirit is 'saved' or regenerated only through the experience of being washed in the blood of Jesus and born again. Only after this 'rebirth' of the inner man can a worshipper truly contact the true and living God, for only then does the Spirit of God dwell within. The Holy Spirit that flows into born-again believers, then flows out of them, back to the Father, in the form of worship. Devotees of other religions may be very religious, saintly, loving, humble and even powerful in supernatural ways, but this necessary facet of true salvation is still missing.

Worshipping in truth — There are five aspects to fulfilling this requirement. Worshipping God "in truth" involves worshipping the Most High: (1) In sincerity; (2) In honesty; (3) With correct methods; (4) By embracing the true revelation of his name and nature; (5) By walking in the truth of the Bible and applying the truth to our day-to-day lives.

As a yoga teacher I passed on the first two points, but missed the last three. I was sincere. I was honest with God. But I used non-Biblical methods in trying to reach God. I loved God intensely. But I never experienced true communion with the Father — until I approached him using those methods endorsed in the Bible and until I came to him with the true revelation of his name and nature. When I fulfilled these requirements, I was granted access into his presence. It is not enough to be "worshippers"; we must be “true worshippers" — if we are to know the true God and enjoy a true relationship with him.

Is Ultimate Reality an impersonal ‘Life Force’ or a personal Creator?

http://www.thetruelight.net/booksections/articles/bookarticle03.htm

By Mike Shreve

Pantheism — Many Far Eastern religions embrace some kind of pantheistic worldview: the belief that creation is an emanation of God.

Pantheism identifies the Creator with the creation: all substances, forces and laws in this universe are essentially God in manifestation. "God is All and All is God." Ultimate Reality is an impersonal 'Presence' permeating all things — from the smallest atom to the largest, swirling galaxy. This is not a personal Creator who delights to interact with his creation, but a mere 'cosmic energy' expressing 'Itself' as minerals, plants, animals and human beings.

In Absolute Pantheism, God does not exist apart from these things.

Modified Pantheism, also called Panentheism, declares God to be the principle behind nature, the essence of life within all of creation. "God is in All and All is in God." He is both immanent and transcendent; he is in the world, yet beyond it.