A disorganized loose coalition of people, referred to as the New Age "movement," may challenge widely accepted norms and beliefs, by offering reinterpretations of the general body of knowledge found in Western thought: science, written history, and Judeo-Christian conventional religion. See Judaism, Christianity) New Age practices are often associated with the occult, magic, demonology?, and witchcraft, yet the wide variance of beliefs in this grouping preclude most New Agers from being adept in any one area. Generally, New Age adherents know a little bit about a lot of esoteric subjects, hence they are more often harmless seekers, learning and experimenting.
( the following excerpt used with special permission by the author Michael Rogge ) [[The Roots of the New Age Movement]]
"What became known as the New Age movement injected new life into almost forgotten traditions at a time that Christian faith had lost its meaning for the younger generation. New Age's greatest growth has been in the United States. This is not surprising, as it was based on already existent, but dormant, religious/philosophical movements which had come to a head in the nineteenth century. As we have seen Oriental religion and the European occult traditions had made a great impact on the intellectual elite of America in the nineteenth century . The second president John Adams(1767-1848) is known for his fascination with Oriental thought. He was a voracious reader of the translations of Eastern religious works.
The leaders who stood at the cradle of the birth of the nation were influenced by Masonic, Spiritualistic, and Rosicrucian? thought. "[A] New Order of the World" proclaims the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. Eight signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons, amongst whom Benjamin Franklin (see image) and George Washington, as were sixteen subsequent presidents."
The belief, however, that the New Age movement has roots in, or is an extension of, Freemasonry, is faulty. All Freemasons are directed to respect the principles of logic and reason, to work toward truth through the use of science, and to respect knowledge so understood.
There is also a fine, but important, distinction between alchemical modes of thought, such as those supposedly used by the (fictional) Rosicrucians, which value received knowledge as illuminated by the light of reason, and New Age thought, which values received knowledge as evaluated by intuition.
(excerpt continued) "Prominent American writers, who became known as the Transcendentalists?, were deeply influenced by Eastern thought. Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882) was one of the great admirers of Oriental religious classics, notably the Bhagavad Gita. His secretary, [Henry David Thoreau]? wrote Walden, a source of inspiration for hippies a century later.
New Age was primarily a movement amongst the younger generation in the late sixties that demanded to play a greater part in all aspects of society, and therefore in a very real sense was separated from the historical events listed above. Through the use of mind-expanding drugs a greater reality was being unfolded to them that called for other explanations than traditional religion could give. Its concepts of God and Love were too narrow to accommodate the overwhelming experiences they had on their trips. Transcendence, self-realisation, yoga, meditation, all part of existing traditions, were being rediscovered and practised.
Originally it had been given the name: the Age of Aquarius to signify the new era of spiritual enfoldment as foretold in astrology. In the early seventies, when the movement was well on its way, the name New Age was adopted. Of course it was a term with whiskers on. Gurdjieff? follower A.R.Orage had already founded a magazine, partly funded by George Bernard Shaw, by the name of New Age in 1906.
As might be expected New Age unleashed counter-forces from the side of fundamentalist Christian denominations. Especially after [Marilyn Furguson]? wrote in her book The Aquarian Conspiracy that the fraternity dedicated to this philosophy constituted a worldwide network. Dedicated persons would recognize each other in a few minutes without secret signs, but merely by a short exchange of ideas. This was seen as a sort of Satanic conspiracy. Especially people who followed so-called occult practices came under suspicion. The orthodox Christian establishment found allies in the equally dogmatic Sceptics and members of CSICOP? in their efforts to suppress and misrepresent New Age and occultism in the media.
New Age has not traveled to the end of the road yet. It is reaching a stage of maturity in which wheat is being separated from the corn. Yet, it still comprises a broad spectrum of activities from the commercial rip-off to unselfish dedication to serve mankind spiritually. Many do not wish to be associated with the name because it reminds them of the turbulence associated with the uprising of the younger generation in the late sixties and the lamentable drug excrescences.
One may pray that the movement will sustain its original purity and raise high the spirit of new generations, giving it an immense vista of life and a purpose to live for."
New Age beliefs place greater weight on oral traditions and "revealed truth" than do established historians and scientists. Some supporters of the New Age movement compare modern skepticism towards their worldview to the religious persecution faced by such early scientists as Galileo, while others welcome skepticism as just another point of view.
New Age adherents may believe truth instead comes from a mystical energy, shared by all forms of matter rather than logic, similar to historico-religious concepts of divine energy, grace, Providence?, and karma. Followers of the New Age movement often use and redefine vocabulary borrowed from various belief systems, and this can cause some confusion for the non-adherent.
As opposed to many traditional religions, New Age is not a belief system as such, but instead an aggregate of beliefs and practices (syncreticism), some of which come from established religions (such as Egyptian Mythology and Hinduism), and others of more recent vintage. Inside of the general concept of New Age there have formed groups with established belief systems resembling what is usually called religions and fixed belief systems, just like clubs, fraternal organizations such as the Masons, and any group which shares similar beliefs.
The New Age movement believes that it does not contradict these traditional belief systems, but rather fulfills the ultimate truths contained within them, and separates these truthes from false tradition and dogma. On the other hand, adherents of other religions often claim that the New Age movement has, at best, a shallow understanding of these religous concepts, and that New Age attempts at religious syncreticism are vague and contradictory.
Many individuals are responsible for the recent popularity of the New Age spirituality, especially in the United States. James Redfield wrote The Celestine Prophecy in 1993, and many have claimed that this book changed their lives by providing an open ended system, or philosophy, on human thought. Marianne Williamson updated A Course in Miracles when she penned A Return to Love.
A large number of individuals have adopted alternative methods of medicine that incorporate New Age beliefs. Some of the techniques often included in this list are herbal medicine, acupuncture, iridology?, use of crystals?. Adoptees of these techniques find them helpful in treating illness, and doing so in a way that makes them involved in their treatment rather than a passive spectator in it. Some rely on these exclusively, while others use them in combination with conventional medicine. Whilst conventional medicine has recognised that a patient's state of mind is crucial in determining the outcome towards many diseases, and uses herbal medicine as a guide to help locate new scientficially-tested drugs, most new-age medicine is regarded by them as at best harmless amusements that achieve their effect through the placebo effect or, at worst, deliberate quackery designed to defraud the ill and desperate.
New Age medicine's popularity and criticism of conventional medicine, has, however, encouraged conventional medical practitioners to pay more attention to the entirety of a patient rather than just their specific disease. Such approaches, termed "holistic medicine", are becoming more popular with both doctors and patients.
A large percentage of new age music is instrumental, and electronic, although vocal arrangements are also common. Enya, who won a grammy? for her new age music, sings in Latin or other languages on many pieces. [Medwyn Goodall]?, not as widely known, relies mainly on electronic keyboarding effects, and includes acoustic guitar as well. To understand this musical category of New Age may help shed light on the New Age perspective.
Music labelled as New Age quite often has a vision of a better future, or expresses an appreciation of goodness and beauty, even an anticipation, relevant to any event. The genius of new age composition derives from its amateur aspect. Nearly anyone who plays a musical instrument can produce an inspired piece, and convey their feelings easily, within this genre. Talent is in the ear of the listener, not in numbers-- air plays or CD's sold. Rarely does new age music find a problem with this world or its inhabitants, yet it offers a peaceful solution for a better world. Often the music is celestial, when the title names stars or deep space explorations. Ennio Morricone wrote the entire score for the movie [Mission to Mars]? and the last piece playing while the credits flash is orchestral style new age.
We find a syncretic musical mixture of themes, not revisionist, in the music of New Age. All genres of music considered as art are similar in this respect. The titles of New Age music are often provocative, because the words used by the artists attempt to convey their version of truth, in a few short words. On listening to the music, one may understand the idea within the title. Examples of titles: "bond of union", "sweet wilderness", "shepherd moons", "animus anima", and so on.
A partial list of New Age lifestyles or topics pertinent to the "movement":
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