New Age Cults Pantheism St Mark Coptic Orthodox

New Age Cults & Pantheism St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Saint Paul Servant Preparation Program July 17, 2004 • Charlotte, NC http: //www. stmarknc. us

Why Study New Age Cults? • If you were surprise attacked, how would you defend yourself? X Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3: 14) New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Why Study New Age Cults? • They view themselves as the “emergent spiritual tradition. ” • New Age cults claim compatibility with Christianity • Many “New Agers” say they are Christian • Many Protestant & Catholic parishes embrace some New Age beliefs New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Nebular • No founder, no headquarters, no organizational structure • No definitive statement of beliefs • No regulated meetings or teachings New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Mixed • Descended from Theosophy, Unity, Christian Science, and Bahaism • Mix of spiritual, social, and political forces üSociology, philosophy, physical sciences, medicine, anthropology, history, human potential, sports, science fiction, . . • Not a cult, per se, but a collection of groups New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

New or Aged? • Founded on ancient occultism or divination, activities forbidden by God. (Lev 20: 6, Deut 18: 9– 11, Acts 19: 19) • Can be traced back to Egyptian and Babylonian pagan religions. • Especially resembles Hinduism, with a Western twist. ü Astrology ü Numerology ü Witchcraft ü Crystal gazing ü Necromancy (communication with the dead) ü Magic ü Palm reading New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Beginnings • • Theosophy (1875), Helena Blavatsky Anthroposophy (1912), Rudolf Steiner Arcane School (1923) Alice Bailey Mind Science (1850’s) Phineas Quimby New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Involvements • “Global Co-Nexus” / “Global Brain” • • African: Zulu Baha’i Buddhism, Zen “Christianity” (=Unitarianism) • Native American • Confucianism • • Hinduism Humanism Islam Jainism Judaism Shinto Wicca Zoroastrianism New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

New Age: Hinduism • New Age: Absorbs all religions üReincarnation: Krishna seen as an archetype for Christ. üSupreme being of many forms & natures üOpposing theories are different forms of the same truth • Christianity: Rejects all religions (Ex 20; John 14: 6) New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

New Age: Monism • The worldview that “all is one. ” üPeople and things only appear to be individual. üThere is no “you” and “me” — only one big “I. ” üA rock sitting in a field is not separate from the field. • The everything is referred to by New Agers as: Reality, Power, All, Mind, Force, Absolute, Principle, One, Universal Energy. New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Atheism / Pantheism • If everything is one, then God must be one with everything. • In one sense, there is no such thing as God; God does not exist. [Atheism] • In another sense, there is nothing other than God; only God exists. [Pantheism] New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

New Age Beliefs • • • Man is God (cf. Shirley Mac. Laine). Sin and evil are not real. I (God) am the only thing that is real. Satan is an illusory product of the mind. No need for salvation. Jesus Christ was one avatar among many. New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

More New Age Beliefs • • • Occult/satanic practices Seances, astrology, witchcraft, satanism Ouija boards, crystal balls, tarot cards Trying to penetrate into “spiritual” world. Channeling: Using a medium to talk to a dead person. New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Refutations • Genesis 1: 1. God created everything, saw that it was good. God gave man free will, and the two wrestled. • Psalm 33: 13– 14 “The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. ” • Romans 1: 18– 25. Worship and serve the Creator, not objects. • Logically, if we and God were of the same substance, then it would make no sense for Him to punish us for our transgressions. Yet He does. New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Refutations (Cont’d) • Exodus 22: 18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. ” • Leviticus 20: 27 “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them. ” • Deuteronomy 18: 9– 12 New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Refutations (Cont’d) • A cosmic force cannot be self-aware and say “I AM. ” • Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ” • God hears (Ex 2: 24), sees (Heb 4: 13), speaks (Lev 19: 1), knows everything (1 John 3: 20), judges (Psalm 50: 6), loves (Prov 3: 12; Jer 31: 3) and has a will (1 John 2: 17). New Age Cults & Pantheism • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC