Vol. 7, No. 7, 1990

Articles on the New Age

Rick Branch

It is a hot day. A man sits at a picnic table, feeling the hot sun warming his back.

In front of him sits a bowl filled with three scoops of ice cream - one vanilla, one chocolate and one strawberry, covered with pineapple, marshmallow and chocolate syrup. A generous amount of whipped cream, garnished with nuts and bright red cherries, tops off the awaiting delicacy.

For the readers whose mouths are watering, they have just experienced visualization, a mental process of creating a picture in their imagination.

Visualization is not intrinsically wrong or evil. Rather, it is the teaching which ascribes inherent power to it that becomes dangerous to Man's physical, mental and spiritual safety.

Mind Over Matter

In his book, The Healing Mind, Dr. Irving Oyle discusses different concepts of reality and illusion. Concerning one of these ideas, which is an excellent example of the New Age, Oyle states, "Consciousness and matter are two faces of a single metaprocess.

"Inherent in the nature of this metaprocess is the tendency to evolve, by simultaneously amp¬lifying its conscious aspect and `complexifying' its matter aspect," (p. 170; emphasis mine).

What Dr. Oyle is saying is, though both thought and matter have their place in the same reality, man needs to see the material world as less important and conscious thoughts as more important.

This idea of thought being superior to material reality is developed further in U.S. Andersen's book, The Magic In Your Mind.

She explains, "It seems most probable that matter and intelligence are one and the same thing, that intelligence is only a higher manifestation of matter, becoming apparent only in that substance that takes on complexity.

"Once we have agreed that intelligence is a manifestation of form, it is but a step further to gain a glimmer of the truth, that intelligence is evolutionary in the growth of matter, which leads us inescapably to the conclusion that intelligence, while a manifestation of matter, is superior to and has basic control of that matter.

"In short, intelligence, or consciousness, or awareness, has inherent in itself control over all physical circumstances, all events," (pp. 110-111; emphasis mine).

Shifted Point Of Authority

This transition from external, objective material reality to the inner and subjective, alters the ultimate point of authority.

Rather than relying on the material world as it appears to be, the individual now has the potential, according to New Age teachings, to manipulate that reality.

At this dangerous juncture several possible sources of truth can be accepted.

First, since reality has the potential to be perceived differently by each individual, then who can be trusted?

Answer: "Imagery is one of the best methods for strengthening our faith and trust in ourselves," (Healing Visualizations: Creating Health Through Imagery, Gerald Epstein, p. 39; emphasis mine).

Second, if no one but the individual can be trusted, then what about spiritual matters (i.e. salvation)?

Answer, simply visualize a religion that accomplishes the present needs. "At this point ask the guardian figure that you have chosen for yourself - your super-ego, oversoul, spirit guides, or religious entity - to watch over and protect you as you journey into your psyche," (Your Past Lives: A Reincarnation Handbook, Michael Talbot, p. 101; emphasis mine).

Finally, the New Age philosophy concerning truth is summarized, "...simply remember that the ultimate source of the information you are receiving doesn't matter," (Ibid, p. 133).

Hence, regardless of its point of origin or its basis in established fact, if one believes something to be true, then for that person, it is truth.

Creating New Realities

One of the primary ways to affirm this new found truth is through the practice of visualization.

The following example is taken from a New Age newspaper: "Then begin to see in your mind's eye exactly what you want to manifest. See or feel or affirm everything you desire. If it's a lovely new home, a summer cottage, a new car, a large bank account, by all means visualize this occurring.

"Above all visualize what will bring you joy. Not what another wants you to do, or what you thing you should want," (Arizona Networking News, Spring 1989, p. 15).

The New Age explains that by visualization, new realities are being created. That which is not yet real, is becoming real because of the mental images.

The New Age philosophy explains, think only of one's self. If it serves the individual, regardless of its effects on society as a whole, then it is good.

This idea is reiterated in the New Age periodical, Body Mind Spirit. "Even if you can see no way yet to create the life you want, continue to imagine your ideal life. Your visions are creating the future, and you will draw to yourself the circumstances to bring about your visions," (March/April, 1989 p. 34).

Healing Man And World

One of the most amazing feats of the New Age, at least according to themselves, is in relation to the Berlin Wall.

According to The Holy Encounter, a paper promoting New Age ideas, the Berlin Wall fell because of the New Agers' "consciousness coup," (Jan./ Feb. 1990, p. 1)

"For it shows us that the seeming reality of this illusory world cannot prevail against minds joined for healing.... Whether you know it or not, you were part of the healing of the Berlin Wall," (Ibid).

The New Age is quick to take credit, after the fact, for the good events in today's society.

This idea of the "consciousness coup" is popularized in the automobile bumper sticker "Visualize World Peace."

It is further promoted in books such as Healing Visualization, which explains, "I believe that the techniques of imagery and the use of imagination have come along at this point in history as reflections of the needs of contemporary people in contemporary life.

"Particularly debilitating are what we can call `mass consciousness beliefs.'...the use of imagination is one among a group of processes that can bring about the self-awareness and self-remembrance that will empower and restore people to their natural state of self-autonomy. It is the basis for a new form of education. The means for healing ourselves and our planet are here. Controlled use of the imagination is one of the most powerful and readily accessible of these means," (pp. 217-219).

According to many New Agers, World Peace, World Hunger, and all other problems can be healed by a unified consciousness, a mass conscious coup! The mass coup, however, begins with the individual.

Be and Create

As was mentioned above, the creation of a new life is brought about by the individual's own thoughts. This can include a new car, more money or anything else desired.

"Be the `you' you truly are: a magical, creative unlimited being. Visualization, or what I like to call `conscious daydreaming,' is a wonderful tool available to all. You can literally dream your dreams into reality and create your life exactly as you want it to be. The most amazing thing is... it works!" (Whole Life Network, Summer 1989, p. 9).

For most, World Peace and the Berlin Wall are on a scale too large to conceive. One thing easily comprehended is the need for more money.

As Louise Hay, internationally known leader in the New Age, says, just visualize. "Your prosperity consciousness is not dependent on money; your flow of money is dependent upon your prosperity consciousness. As you can conceive of more, more will come into your life," (You Can Heal Your Life, p. 122).

New Age Salvation: Achieve God-Consciousness

So pervasive, visualization has entered all aspects of society.

"Guided imagery is being used in a wide variety of fields including, medicine, psychology, alternative health related professions, sports, business and the arts," (The Arizona Light, May 1989).

Seminars which specialize in everything from "relaxation through death imagery," and promise not to be "far-out theorization" to increasing "skills in spiritual journeying" for women, are being offered from one end of America to the other (American Imagery Institute, and Womyn Healing: Ourself & Our Planet).

The one over-riding message of the New Age in general and visualization specifically, however, is not in the "physical" realm; rather, it is the achievement of God-Consciousness, or New Age Salvation.

It is this key doctrine that becomes the focal point from which all other New Age teachings emerge.

Shakti Gawain, in ?Creative Visualizationo, has emphatically proclaimed, "Creative visualization is not just a technique, but ultimately it is a state of consciousness. It is a consciousness in which we deeply realize that we are the continuous creators of the universe and we take responsibility for that at all moments.

"There is no separation between us and God; we are divine expressions of the creative principle on this level of existence. ...we contain the potential for everything within us.

"Manifestation through creative visualization is the process of realizing and making visible on the physical plane our divine potential," (p. 120).

Aside from seminars, there are organizations committed to helping devotees manifest, through visuali¬zation, their divine potential.

One such company is Gateways Institute.

Their material promises, "A visualization which may be used to scan your entire life for fear, guilt..., sins, and other negative aspects of life, followed by a powerful technique to release and permanently dissolve them," (Inner Quest, Fall 1988, p. 12; emphasis mine).

It also explains "What Self-Realization or the Christ Consciousness is" as the "the highest path to God realization," and how to use visualization with children "ages 3 to 10," (Ibid, pp. 5 & 16).

In summary, whether it be concerning World Peace, a new car, more money or the ultimate goal of achieving God-Consciousness, the New Age recommends visualization.

The New Age Journal has this piece of advice. "Seeing your goal as already accomplished is perhaps the most dynamic tool of mental imagery. This is a big step toward your goal's actual fulfillment because it bridges the gap between your inner-world reality and your outer-world reality," (Jan./Feb. 1989, p. 30).

Biblical Response

Contrary to New Age teachings, matter does have reality apart from the mind of Man.

Long before Man was created, "God created the heaven and the earth," (Gen. 1:1). Hence, if Man did not yet exist, the material world could not have been an extension of his mind.

Regardless of how sincere the person visualizing may be, God says, "I am the Lord that maketh all things..." (Isaiah 44:24).

This verse is re-emphasized by John when he states, in speaking of Jesus, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made," (John 1:3).

Also, contrary to New Age teaching, sin is not simply dismissed as "negative influences," or something which can be denied as non-existent.

John very clearly explains, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.... If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us," (1 John 1:8 & 10).

Rather, sin was of such a serious nature it sent Jesus to Calvary.

This idea is one of Paul's central themes in his letters.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," (Rom. 5:8).

He continued with, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," (2 Cor. 5:21).

A third tenet of the New Age that is contrary to the Bible is the doctrine that man can achieve salvation or his own divinity, by his own ability. The Bible blatantly condemns this idea as heresy.

Peter boldly stated, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus!

Finally, Christians should not be surprised by the teaching of the New Age teachers. Though they were not present in their current form in Peter's day, he prophetically described them.

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of," (2 Peter 2:1-2).

As the British author Roy Livesey has observed, "Whilst visualisation is known and practiced by pagan tribes, false religions, cults and people in the occult, the practice finds no warrant in Scripture. Our walk with the Lord is a walk in faith not one where we visualise Him," (Understanding Deception: New Age Teaching In The Church, pp. 100-101).