The New Age Movement
by: Skye Thomas
What is
the New Age Movement? It is similar to New Age Spirituality, but different
enough to warrant its own definition. The New Age Movement is a belief that the
human race is all one. It is not about equality nor diversity.
It is the idea that your gender, age, religion, race, nor sexual orientation
makes you better or worse then anyone else. The New Age Movement is moving away
from the
At our
deepest level, there are only two motivators - love and fear. Fear breeds hate, anger, vengeance, greed, violence, selfishness,
and alienates us from truly connecting with spirit and with each other.
Love breeds compassion, understanding, forgiveness, charity, gentleness,
partnership, and a sense of connectedness with spirit and with each other. One
can focus on either motivator and see the logic behind it. Should you choose to
see lack, poverty, and attacks towards your fellow man, it's easy to become
fearful. It is part of the survival of the fittest. Fight or flight saved many
a caveman to live another day and to breed more like himself. One can also
argue that to see the beauty and tenderness that humanity is known to share
with each other that it is logical to love thy neighbor and to turn the other
cheek. There will always be intelligent arguments for both sides. We as a
species have evolved enough to make our own decisions as to which will govern
us as individuals.
The New
Age Movement proposes that as a collective people we are also able to make an
educated enlightened decision as to whether we will be controlled by our fears
or by our loves. Will we be a society of angry divided hateful individuals? Or
will we be a global community of loving supportive people who honor each
other's right to choose their own path? Like all political, religious, and
social movements there are zealots and extremists among the New Age Movement.
In the same way that all Christians are not white supremacists and all Pagans
are not Satan worshippers, all New Agers are not
aging hippies sitting around getting stoned and playing with crystals. Those
who endorse the New Age Movement are as diverse as any other group. Their one common
belief is that love and true spirituality should lead us as a people, not fear
and hatred of anything we deem as different from ourselves.
The New
Age Movement embraces the teachings of Christ, the teachings of Buddha, the
Native American teachings, the ancient Celtic Pagan teachings, and modern
science's latest findings and teachings. We are explorers trying to understand
spirituality on a deeper nuts and bolts level. It is not enough to be told by
our parents that one religion is right and all others are wrong. We have a
desire to understand and to choose for ourselves what is or is not spiritual.
The result is that many New Agers have found
themselves holding an eclectic view of religion. Many Native Americans have
blended the teaching of Christ within their own beliefs. Many Pagans can see
how much they have in common with the Native American beliefs. It is not
unusual for Catholics to feel a deep connection to the Buddhist teachings.
Forgive me for omitting so many other religions and beliefs but I am simply
giving broad examples for the sake of making a point. The New Age Movement was
birthed from this exploration of each other's beliefs. How can we hate someone
so much like ourselves?
Christ
did not teach blind hatred nor did he teach his followers to give their
personal power away to the churches and governments. Only when the churches and
governments took over his teachings did that all become part of being a 'good
Christian.' He did not tell us to hate nor to judge. Bigotry and war is not Christ-like,
nor Buddha-like, nor in keeping with the core teachings of any religion. All
spiritual teachers taught the same message - love one another and do not harm
each other nor the planet and the animals given to you. Take the politics out
of religion and they all come down to the same wonderful teachings that have
been trampled on by dogma, greed, and bigotry.
Most of
Do not
weep and worry about the next four years. Love has taken hold of this country
and all will be well. We have covered so much ground towards our goals of
tolerance, acceptance, and true spiritual brotherhood. During our great grandparents time, the Gays and Lesbians, the Pagans and
Native Americans, the Women and Blacks never would have been allowed to even
speak out. We are no longer a minority, those of us who believe that good still
exists and that the country can be ruled by humanitarian principles instead of
fear and egos ruling our governments. Fear is still strong, but love is finally
voted as equal. Balance has been restored. All is well.
Copyright
2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge
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About
The Author Skye
Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow's Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps
of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality,
metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, soulmates,
and parenting. Her books, articles, and astrological forecasts have inspired
people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of
happiness. To read more of her articles and to sign up to receive her free
weekly newsletter, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net. To
download free previews of her books, go to www.SkyeThomas.com.
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