New Age in the Workplace

John Whaley

What does biofeedback, yoga, deep relaxation, and visualization have in common with AT&T, General Motors and IBM?

If someone had asked that question 20 years ago, most people would have replied that the connection between these New Age techniques and these powerhouses of American business was virtually non-existent.

However, as America enters the 1990's, that is no longer the case.

With the New Age movement gaining more and more popularity among the masses through the influence of individuals like Shirley MacLaine, Linda Evans, and a host of other celebrities, businesses across America have embraced motivational seminars, stress management workshops, and other New Age training programs designed to increase the productivity and strengthen the interpersonal skills of employees.

For example, the New York Times reported, in an article dated 26 September 1986, that the "Ford Motor Company, Westinghouse, and the Calvin Klein fashion house are among scores of major companies that have sent employees for training, according to `human potential' organizations such as Transformation Technologies, Lifespring, and Actualization...."

The article also points out that all of these organizations include "techniques modeled... after the techniques started by Werner Erhard, the founder of EST," (p. B12).

For those unaware of EST (Erhard Seminar Training), known to the business world as "The Forum," it is one of many New Age organizations based on hard-core pantheism.

It is most famous for its intensive weekend seminars in which the participants are told, "You're part of every atom in the world and every atom is part of you. We are all gods who created our own worlds," (Unmasking the New Age, Douglas Groothuis, p. 24).

To many, these programs are nothing more than a company's attempt to align their employees with the purpose of the company and thus create a better working environment.

However, is that all that is behind these programs? According to a number of critics, the answer is a resounding no. Some have even risked or lost their jobs in taking a stand against the programs.

The reason behind the strong stand is clear: the programs are based on New Age concepts which are founded upon the Eastern philosophical view that mankind is divine and thus the master of his fate.

The problem, according to the New Age Movement, is that mankind is ignorant of this "truth" and needs to undergo a philosophical transformation concerning his view of God and the world.

In order for this transformation to take place, a number of techniques are employed, such as self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, transcendental meditation, guided imagery, visualization, affirmation, and yoga - many of which are used quite regularly in New Age business seminars.

The clear connection between New Age thought and the programs many businesses are using is seen when one begins examining the content of some of the programs.

One of the most popular is called New Age Thinking, a motivational seminar distribu¬ted by the Pacific Institute of Seattle, Washington, founded by Lou Tice.

In 1983, this seminar was conducted at Northwestern Bell in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following the course, one of the employees wrote a personal evaluation in which he recorded a number of statements made by Lou Tice in the videotapes.

The following are a sample of statements recorded by the employee "word for word to the best" he was able to record them:

• Truth is what we perceive reality to be in our mind.
• As I think, I am.
• Self-hypnosis is helpful for adopting New Age Thinking techniques.
• Universal knowledge exists and can be accessed through ESP (known as intuition).
• You are in control of your life, your destiny.

The employee also stated that during the seminar, guided imagery was used and follow-up cassette tapes were given to the employees which included lessons on deep relaxation and affirmations.

Thus, there is more to these seminars than building team spirit and rallying everyone around the goals of the company.

In reality, they are a form of indoctrination which promotes the New Age view which is in direct contrast to the basic beliefs of orthodox Christianity.

It is in light of this conclusion that Richard Watring, the personnel director for Budget Rent-a-Car Systems, Inc., Chicago, Illinois stated that, "Private corporations that are not church affiliated should neither attempt to change the basic belief systems of their employees nor should they promote the use of techniques... that accelerate such change," (Eternity, February, 1988).

As the years continue, the probability of more and more of these programs entering the workplace is rather high.

Therefore, it is imperative that all Christians become informed about the New Age Movement so they can identify its presence in the workplace as well as in the schools and in the media.