THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT: THE GROWING NATIONAL RELIGION BY BRANNON S. HOWSE       You might recall the 1986 song, "We are the World." This song is, for many, the anthem of the New Age Movement. The song, written by Michael Jackson and Lionell Richie and sung by a host of stars, was the theme song for "Live Aid," which was viewed by 1.5 billion people. Michele Jackson said the song was "divinely inspired." Obviously it would not be the divine influence that we as Christians understand. One line from the songs says, "Just as Jesus turned the stones into bread." If these New Agers would spend their time consulting their Bible instead of consulting the dead, they would know that Satan tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread, but Jesus refused.       Harry Belafonte, a well known entertainer admitted the purpose of the song, "We Are The World" was not so much to feed the starving people of Ethiopia, but "to create a sense of globalism and unity and oneness in the children."       Another name for the New Age Movement would be Cosmic Humanism. The New Age Movement is a religious movement. New Age leader and author Marilyn Ferguson has stated: "LSD gave a whole generation a religious experience…"1       While those that practice the New Age religion may use drugs or various hypnotic techniques not normally associated with religious practices, it is no less a religion with a religious worldview. The New National Religion?       Various polls and surveys reveal that Americans are, knowingly or unknowingly embracing and accepting the New Age religion. In fact, several surveys reveal that the majority of Americans agree with New Age philosophies while claiming to believe in the God of the Bible. While Americans claim a worldview that has a form of Godliness, the reality is more and more Americans are embracing various New Age philosophies that deny the God of the Bible as well as deny the authority of the Bible. In fact, most Americans, including those who regularly attend church, are Biblically illiterate and believe the Bible says things that in fact it does not.       The Barna Research Group, led by George Barna, has conducted numerous national studies over the past few years that clearly show the influence of the New Age Movement on the beliefs of Americans.       A 2004 survey revealed that "more than half of all adults (54%) believe that if a person is generally good, or does enough good things for others during their life, they will earn a place in Heaven."2       Three out of five adults (60%) say that the devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.3> More than two out of every five adults (44%) believe that when Jesus Christ lived on earth He committed sins.4       Four percent believe everyone is God. Seven percent believe that God is the total realization of personal, human potential. Four percent believe that there are many gods, each with different power an authority. Nine percent believe that God is a state of higher consciousness that a person may reach. And, 3% believe that there is no such thing as God.5       When you add these figures together, 27% of Americans have a New Age view of God.       A 2001 survey by The Barna Research Group revealed that a majority (61%) agree that the Holy Spirit is a symbol of God's presence or power but is not a living entity.6 In a typical month, one out of three adults (36%) read their horoscope.7       Another 2004 survey by The Barna Research Group revealed what unchurched people believe: 65% of the unchurched say that Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.8 57% of unchurched adults state that a good person can earn his or her way into Heaven compared to 64% who believed so in 2000.9 51% of the unchurched assert that when Jesus Christ lived on earth He committed sins.10       In regards to the Bible knowledge of Americans, The Barna Research Group found that 12% of adults believe that the name of Noah's wife was Joan of Arc. But, in reality the Bible does not provide her name (1997 survey).11       The majority of adults (56%) are convinced the Bible proclaims that the single, most important task in life is taking care of one's family (1997 survey).12       Three-quarters of Americans (75%) believe that the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves (2000).13       Many that claim to be a "born-again Christian" or "evangelical" say they don't believe in a literal Satan, Hell, the Holy Spirit or in absolute moral truth for all people, places and time. The Bible says that a man cannot serve two masters or be so unstable in his thinking and yet claim to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.       Numerous surveys reveal that many self-professing Christians embrace New Age teachings and philosophies.       As long as Americans become more and more ignorant in their knowledge and understanding of the Bible, the numbers of Americans accepting New Age philosophies while claiming to be a "born again Christian" or "evangelical Christian" will increase in greater and greater numbers. The New Age is Not So New       Why is the New Age Movement growing in popularity? Because the New Age movement, or Cosmic Humanism, allows one to claim spirituality while living like the devil. The New Age Movement justifies and encourages the American culture's growing acceptance and practice of paganism.       Rampant pornography, abortion on demand, euthanasia, doctor-assisted suicide, hedonism, the popularity of occult practices, beliefs and dress, promoting same-sex relationships to children in school, multiculturalism, political correctness and condom distribution in schools is the pagan worldview that is more than embraced but encouraged through the New Age movement.       Reincarnation, crystals, spirit and Master Guides, god-consciences, good and bad karma, global consciences, harmonic convergence, pantheism, Mother Earth, are all words you have most likely heard but know very little about.       The worldview of the New Age movement has been cleverly packaged and integrated into the pop-culture and American culture through, films, television programs, music, best-selling books and public school curriculum. There are even New Age churches you can attend, and some churches are teaching New Age doctrines and don't even know it.       The New Age Movement claims to be new, but certainly is not. Often times those that follow the doctrines and beliefs of the New Age Movement call it Cosmic Humanism.       The New Age philosophies have been around since the Garden of Eden when Satan, taking on the form of a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve into believing they could be "as God."       Even today, Satan, the mastermind behind the New Age Movement, desires to deceive both Christians and non-Christians through this deceptive worldview.       The New Age Movement has an overall global plan or goal. In fact, some popular New Age authors of the 1800's told followers to keep "the plan" a secret until 1975.14 Certainly various aspects of the plan became evident before 1975, but since then, many millions have accepted the movement's beliefs, plans, goals and personalities. An example of an early glimpse of the Movement was through the famous 1960's musical "Hair." The theme song was "The Age of Aquarius," otherwise known as the Age of New Beginnings. This is exactly what those in the New Age Movement are striving toward as they struggle to bring about a one-world government, one-world religion and one-world economical structure.       In this chapter we will examine the basic beliefs of the New Age Movement. However, it is important to remember that the beliefs of one that follow the New Age Movement or Cosmic Humanism are limited only to what each individual follower desires to believe and practice. In fact, most New Age Humanists pick and choose their beliefs with the idea that "if it feels good and works for me, it is all right." Therefore the beliefs of a New Age Humanists will vary from New Age Humanist to New Age Humanist. Thus, we will look at the basic or foundational beliefs of a Cosmic Humanist or New Age Humanist -- depending on which adjective you prefer.       On the front cover of their December 7, 1987 issue, Time Magazine featured a picture of Shirley McClain, one of the best know Cosmic Humanists. In their expose on the New Age Movement Time reported that: * The New Age is a combination of spirituality and superstition, fad and farce. * The main goal of the New Age is to define yourself. * A basic New Age belief is that you can be whatever you want to be. * The New Age proclaims that man is co-creator of the Universe. It sounds like the reporter for Time discovered that the New Age Movement is hard to define and indeed it is. Cosmic Humanism       As we have already stated, the New Age Movement is not new. In fact, a more appropriate name would be Cosmic Humanism. This deceptive religion's worldview is an apostasy. Apostasy means to have a form of godliness but deny God.       Cosmic Humanism or the New Age Movement not only denies God but proclaims that man is God. Humanism had its beginning in the Garden of Eden when Satan, taking on the form of a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve into believing that they would be as God if they would eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The belief that man is God is humanism. However, The New Age Movement differs from Secular Humanism.       Dr. David Noebel is the founder of Summit Ministries and is the author of many books including the New York Times Best-Seller Mind Siege, which he wrote with Tim LayHaye. Dr. Noebel's organization trains over 2,000 students each year in their apologetic, worldview camps. Dr. Noebel is one of the leading experts on the various worldviews that compete with Christianity. In his book, The Battle for Truth Dr. Noebel explains how the New Age Movement differs from Secular Humanism and is thus called, Cosmic Humanism: Cosmic Humanism (the New Age Movement) differs from Christianity and the secular worldviews in that it embraces neither theism nor atheism. Cosmic Humanism begins by denying the preeminence of any purported special revelation over any other. That is, Cosmic Humanists believe that the Bible is no more the Word of God than is the Koran, or the words of Confucius. David Spangler, who has been described as the "Emerson of the New Age" says, "We can take all the Scriptures, and all the teachings, and all the tablets, and all the laws, and all the marshmallows and have a jolly good bonfire and marshmallow roast, because that is all they are worth.15       Christianity is based on the belief of theism -- there is only one God. As Dr. Noebel explained, Cosmic Humanism (the New Age Movement) believes that everything is God -- you, me, the trees, stars, and the moon -- which is called pantheism.       Secular Humanism does not believe in the spiritual world or supernatural whereas Cosmic Humanism believes in both the spiritual world and supernatural world. The New Age Movement is Part of the Occult       Astronomy plays a big role in the New Age Movement. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, astronomy is "the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions."       Those that practice astronomy are called astrologists. Astrology is rooted in the occult. The practice of astrology is only one of many New Age practices or beliefs taken from the occult.       The New Age is not a cult that follows the teaching of a human that claims to be god or a savior but the New Age is part of the occult. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes the occult as "matters regarded as involving the action or influence of supernatural or supernormal powers or some secret knowledge of them."       In other words, the occult has to do with satanic and demonic practices, beliefs, rituals and influences. Why is it called the New Age?       The term New Age is derived from the belief that we are entering the Age of Aquarius, or the Age of New Beginnings, and leaving behind the Age of Pisces. Astrologers believe each symbol of the zodiac represents a different age. Each age lasts anywhere from 2000 to 2,400 years. The Age of Aquarius, or New Age, is thought to be an age where men will reach a higher level of consciousness. This consciousness involves understanding man's unlimited human potential through the discovery of the Christ that dwells within us all.       The Age of Aquarius was thought to have begun around the year 2000 but since these ages are thought to last from 2,000 to 2,400 years, they could be 400 years off. Moral Relativism       The only absolute in the New Age Movement is your own reasoning, your own free will, your feelings, your desires, and your dreams. If you listen to anyone else or find yourself being inhibited by moral restraints, you are actually inhibiting your path to god-likeness.       New Age author Shakti Gawain writes, "When we consistently suppress and distrust our intuitive knowingness, looking instead for authority, validation, and approval from others, we give our personal power away."16       New Age writer Marilyn Ferguson writes, "Most importantly when people become autonomous, their values become internal."17 Autonomous means that man is the center of all things and is accountable to know one but himself.       Vera Alder proclaims, "We should search ourselves very carefully to see if we have any fixed ideas, any great shyness or self-consciousness. If we have, we must seek freedom."18       Sexual freedom is also a big part of the New Age philosophies just as it was part of the free-love, and sex movement of the 1960's. Much of the 60's hippie movement was based on Cosmic Humanism. Shakti Gawain writes:       If you're setting limits on your sexual energy, it becomes distorted. If you believe it is something to be hidden, ignored, and controlled, then you learn to hold back completely or act sexually only at certain safe moments.19       Just as tolerance is a big part of the secular humanist worldview it is also a key doctrine of Cosmic Humanism. Best-selling New Age author Marianne Williamson believes that man's problems are all related to their intolerance and judgementalism: Adam and Eve were happy until she "ate of the knowledge of good and evil." What that means is that everything was perfect until they began to judge -- to keep their hearts open sometimes, but closed at others. Closing our hearts destroys our peace. It's alien to our real nature.20       Since the New Age movement believes the only absolute is one own reasoning and we are not to judge the beliefs and actions of others, Shakti Gawain writes: "I believe that every being chooses the life path and relationships that will help him or her to grow the fastest."21 Crystals       The New Age Movement proclaims that crystals contain incredible healing and energizing powers. They believe you can program a crystal, just as you would a computer, if only you concentrate hard enough. The crystals are often thought to have the ability to restore the "flow of energy" in the human body. Masters and Spirit Guides       The followers of the New Age believe in "Ascended Masters," "avatars," or "Spirit Guides," who are spirit beings. These spirit beings were at one time human beings that evolved through the process of reincarnation. These masters supposedly act as counselors. Napolean Hill, author of such book as Think and Grow Rich and Grow Rich with Peace of Mind is credited for being the father of many of the self-improvement courses, openly admits in his writings that some of the contents of his books were made known to him by the "school of Masters." Hill writes: Now and again I have evidence that unseen friends hover about me, unknowable to the ordinary senses. In my studies I discovered there is a group of strange beings who maintain a school of wisdom. The school of Masters can disembody themselves and travel instantly to any place they choose … to give knowledge directly, by voice. Now I know that one of these Masters had come across thousands of miles, through the night, into my study…I shall not set down every word he said…much of what he said already has been presented to you in the chapters of this book and will follow in other chapters. "You have earned the right to reveal a supreme Secret to others," said the vibrant voice. "You have been under the guidance of the Great School…Now you must give the world a blueprint …"22       A New Age leader by the name of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is credited as being the founder of the transcendental meditation movement. Through mediation and various other means such as guided imagery New Age followers are encouraged to get in touch with "the masters."       The Bible tells us that as the days become more evil, people will consult with demons and be involved in demonic activities: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (I Timothy 4:1-2) Reincarnation       Most New Age Movement does not believe in heaven or hell, but in reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that a person's soul repeatedly passes from one body to another at death. The process continues until the soul reaches a state of perfection by out weighting the soul's bad karma and bad deeds by good karma and good deeds. The more good karma one accumulates determines if one's soul is reincarnated into a desirable state. If one accumulates bad karma, he will be reincarnated into a less desirable state.       An inconsistency arises when you discuss "good" and "bad" karma. According to the New Age Movement, there is no right or wrong only interaction of forces. Dostoevsky has said, "Anything is permissible if there is no God, but anything is also permissible if everything is God."23       If cosmic humanism claims there is no good or evil no right or wrong then how can there be good and bad karma? In order to have good and bad karma you have to have a standard of right and wrong good and evil. This is just one of many contradictions in the New Age Movement.       New Age leader J.Z. Knight claims to have a thirty-five thousand year old spirit that speaks or channels through her. On the ABC News program 20/20, J.Z. Knight said, "If you believe in reincarnation how could murder be wrong?" If someone is murdered it happened because they wanted it to happen or their "bad karma" caught up with them.       J.Z. Knight is not channeling a thirty-five thousand year old spirit but a demon from the dark side of the spiritual world.       Kevin Ryerson says that criminal and murders are all part of the reincarnation process and can actually turn out to be great people thanks to reincarnation: Criminals and murders sometimes come back around to be murdered themselves, or perhaps to become a saint. For instance, Moses was a murderer. He beat the fellow to death out of rage, which was not exactly the most ethical decision. But he went on to become a great intellect, a great law-giver, and is considered a saint by many people. So basically, you get many chances. Your karma is your system of judgment. There is justice.24       Inconsistency Alert! Look at the inconsistencies in this one paragraph. Ryerson says that Moses did not act ethically when he got mad and killed the Egyptian for beating the Israelite slave. How could a New Ager judge the actions of Moses as unethical? I thought there was to be no judging and there are no set absolutes? For something to be ethical or unethical there has to be a standard of ethics or a standard of right or wrong. Also Ryerson says that karma is "your" system of judgment and there is justice. If there are no absolutes, if evil and good are all part of each other because all is part of God and God is part of everything then why does it really matter?       The more you read and listen to these various New Agers, the more you realize they talk in circles and contradict themselves every time they turn around. The New Age Religion in America's Schools       Beverly-Colleene Galyean, a well known, leading educator promotes "Imaginary guides" or "spirit guides" for school children, even children in the first grade. Beverly's blatant New Age curriculum has been presented to many teachers in seminars. She has also received several grants to study the effects of imaginary work on intellectual development, academic achievement and emotional growth. The results of her research have been published in professional journals throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Galyean proclaims that, "we only need look within ourselves to know the miracle we are.25       New Age methods, beliefs and techniques which have their roots in black magic, sorcery and various occult religions are being accepted as a means of furthering the effectiveness of education. The December 30, 1984 issues of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reported: Evidence is growing. Education Commissioner Ruth Randall has said, "The Whole-mind instructional strategies involving relaxation, bio-feedback training, guided imagery, visualization and the conscience and unconscious control of mental processes have profound potential to improve educational outcomes." Randall cites, "improved basic skills, reduced classroom disruption, enhanced student and teacher creativity, and more rewarding experiences for students and teachers"26       Guided imagery, visualization and other such New Age practices are very dangerous because of the potential to give your mind over to the control of another human or spiritual force. Many New Agers admit that the most popular way to meet a spirit or master guide is through drugs or hypnosis.       I have reviewed stacks and stacks of school textbooks and curriculum that promotes cosmic humanism also known as the New Age Movement. I could cite more examples of cosmic humanism in America's educational system than you would have time to read. I highly encourage parents to be absolutely 100% aware of what their children are learning at school. Ask your child if they are ever given books at school that they are not allowed to bring home. The New Age Definition of God       The Cosmic Humanist claims there is no such person as YAHWEH, the God of the Bible. To the Cosmic Humanist "all is God and God is all," which is called pantheism. Pantheism proclaims that God is part of everything and everything is part of God, thus we are part of God and he is part of us. In other words, God is a force that moves and works within all creation. God is a force or energy field that you can use to your advantage through the power of your mind if you choose to do so. As more and more humans tap into their consciousness and discover their godhood or deity the better and more peaceful the world will become.       Swami Muktanand, a guru, says, "kneel to your own self. Honor and worship your own being. God dwells within you as you!" The New Age proclaims that it is no longer the God out there that we need but the God in here, the God who resides within you.       Jan Roberts, author of The Seth Material, has said, "God is an impersonal energy field."28 Benjamin Crème, a well-known New Age spokesman and leader of the Tara Center has said, "There is no such thing as God. God does not exist, and in another sense, there is nothing else but God."29       Dr. Noebel describing Cosmic Humanism in his book the Battle for Truth writes: While the Christian believes that God created mankind and all that exists and that man can know His will only through the general revelation of nature and conscience and the special revelation of the Bible, the Cosmic Humanists believes that every person and all reality is God, and therefore any "truth" our inner selves discovers is God's truth. If we fail to realize our godhood in this lifetime, never fear! We'll soon have another incarnation and another chance at achieving Christ consciousness. Ultimately, every person will achieve godhood, and total unity will be restored. New Age theology, like fairy tales, guarantees a happy ending.30 The Cosmic Christ and Jesus Christ of Nazareth       History clearly records there was a Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Therefore, many New Agers need to explain who he was in order to counter the Biblical account of Jesus Christ being the Son of God.       Some New Agers, or Cosmic Humanists, define Jesus Christ as an advanced Master or Spirit Guide or a basic evolutionary force within creation. Christ to the Cosmic Humanist is also universal love and love, they say, is king. Concerning the Bible, some New Agers believe it is a farce or a literary fairy tale. Others appeal to the Bible by twisting its meaning to suit their own desires.       One New Age author writes that Jesus Christ was born to a Jewish girl name Mary who lived in Bethlehem of Judea. Jesus was like most Jewish children except for the fact that he, in past lives, had overcome the intense and natural inclination to sin. Therefore, Jesus could be tempted like others and not submit.31       Some New Agers believe that Jesus of Nazareth was an ascended spirit or master guide that took on the form of man to be the avatar or leader for the Age of Pisces. In Hinduism an avatar is an incarnation of a deity that takes on human form to be a spiritual leader.       The New Age publication, Science of the Mind states, "The significance of incarnation and resurrection is not that Jesus was a human like us but that we are gods like him-or at least have the potential to be."32       Jesus Christ, according to some in the New Age was a normal man that had ascended through the process of reincarnation to being a spirit or master guide. Jesus returned to earth to be an avatar or spiritual leader for the age of Pisces and was under the shadow or influence of the cosmic Christ.       Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the cosmic Christ are not the same, according the New Age teachings. The cosmic Christ is a force or energy field that is within creation and Jesus Christ of Nazareth was an ascended master or spirit guide who took on the form of man to be the avatar or leader for the Age of Pisces. Jesus of Nazareth was following a set script, just as an actor in a play. In fact, some New Agers believe Jesus went to the cross laughing. After his resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples and then ascended into the sky, where he returned to the spirit realm to once again be a master or spirit guide.       And just why would Jesus of Nazareth want to leave the spirit realm and take on human form to be the spiritual leader for the Age of Pisces? Because this spirit or master guide that took on the human form of Jesus of Nazareth was trying to do enough good deeds and actions to have enough good karma that would allow him to reach the highest level obtainable according to the New Age. And what is this highest level? Well, it depends on who you ask. Remember the New Age is a self-made religion. Some New Agers believe that ultimate reality or utopia is to become part of the great nothing where you have no limitation or boundaries.       In the popular New Age book A Course in Miracles, we learn that each person will ultimately become part of the "Divine Abstract." In the "Divine Abstract" there are "no distinctions, where no words are communicated, and where there are no events -- only a static, eternal now."33 The Christ is Now Here       Just as Jesus of Nazareth left the spirit realm to be the spiritual leader or avatar for the Age of the Pisces, New Agers are looking for the avatar or spiritual leader for the age of Aquarius. Some New Agers believe this avatar is now among us.       On April 25, 1982, millions of American opened up their newspapers to see a large advertisement proclaiming that "The Christ Is Now Here."       The ad sought to appeal to people of many faiths, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and even Christians.       According to the advertisement his name is Maitreya. The Maitrey, according to the Buddhist, is the fifth reincarnation of Buddha and they have been awaiting his return. To appeal to Christians that are awaiting the return of God's Son Jesus Christ, the ad said this Christ is the Messiah. This individual is supposed to be Krishna whom the Hindus are awaiting to return, and he is also Imam Mahid, whom the Moslems are looking to return.       The ad was sponsored by the Tara Center, which is a well known New Age organization lead by Benjamin Creme. The ad cost somewhere around $500,000 and was also sponsored by Unity and Unitarian leaders. The ad read: The World has had enough … of hunger, injustice, war. In answer to our call for help, as world teacher for all humanity, the Christ is now here.34       The Bible tells us that many will show up on the world scene claiming to be Christ and to be careful to not let them deceive you. Matthew 24:5 says,       "For many will come in my name claiming, 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many."       The ad sponsored by the Tara Center proclaimed the following facts about their New Age Messiah: He is a world teacher for all humanity. He is a modern man concerned with modern problems, political, economic and social. Since July 1977 he has been emerging as a spokesman for a group or community in a well-known country. He has extraordinary spiritual power. He will soon announce his identity. He will communicate to all humanity through a worldwide radio and television broadcast. He plans to build a new world. Benjamin Creme who travels around the globe speaking in major cities in the U.S. and abroad says that the "Lord Maitreya" is the New Christ and that he will come on the world scene as soon as mankind is ready to receive him and enter into the New Age. Benjamin Creme has encouraged people to be active in what he calls "transmission groups" and call on the powers of "the masters of the hierarchy", of which the Lord Maitreya is a part.       Another advertisement was run in the October 1982 publication of Readers Digest. The ad was sponsored by The Lucis Trust, formerly known as The Lucifer Trust, which is a New Age Foundation. The Lucis Trust was using the ad to encourage people to daily pray a prayer that is a call for the Christ of the New Age to come to earth and usher in the new world. The ad said a few of the goals of the Christ were a universal credit card system, a universal tax and a universal draft.       These are interesting goals of this New Age Christ. Sound like this guy might be a fan of the United Nations because the UN has called for a world tax and a world army.       Jesus Christ himself told us in the book of Matthew 24:4-5 that many will claim to be Jesus Christ and deceive many:       Jesus answered, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. The New Age Movement in America's Churches       There are many examples of the New Age Movement or Cosmic humanism being accepted in many mainline American churches and church denominations.       Pastor Rodney R. Romney is the author of the book Journey to Inner Space. Pastor Romney wrote his book in 1980 while he was pastor at First Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington. On page 30 of his book, Pastor Romney wrote, "Although he did say 'I am the way,' he meant he was the way-shower to God. He was not God and never claimed to be."35       On page 106 he wrote, "Jesus not only knew the Christ in himself, he saw the Christ in everyone else. Jesus became what each of us is destined to be, a Christ, and he remains with us in spirit to show us the way to God and to the Christ in our inner being."36       On August 29, 1990, I called Pastor Romney to give him the opportunity to comment on the statements from his book that I have cited. It was as far back as the late eighties and early nineties that I had begun to write and speak on the dangers of Cosmic humanism.       Pastor Romney informed me during our conversation that he was not trying to promote the New Age philosophies, but neither was he willing to retract or reword his quotes. Pastor Romney also said the real New Age began with Jesus, referring to the verse where Jesus Christ said, "Behold, I have come to make all things new." Pastor Romney said that Christ brought about the New Age through the teachings of his principles on the kingdom of God.       Pastor Romney said that he did not know much about the New Age Movement that the media promotes. In fact, Romney said that he really did not think there was a New Age Movement. He went on to say that the New Age of the media was created by people who did not like diversity of denominations. Since Romney said he did not know very much about the New Age Movement, or believe in the New Age Movement of the media, I asked him what he called the New Age. Pastor Romney said he thought the New Age is taking Christ seriously.       When I asked him what he meant by that he said that Christ remains with us in spirit to show us the way to God and to the Christ in our inner being. Romney went on to say that what he was trying to say was that Christ lives within all of us and is part of us at birth. Romney said we need the spirit to help us awaken to the fact that Christ is within us. Romney informed me that he felt that the New Age of the media was a passing thing, and I was wasting my time being concerned about it.       Since Pastor Romney at the time of our interview was a Baptist minister I thought it to certainly be a sign of the times when I discovered that Pastor Romney did not believe that Jesus Christ was God. Romney claimed to believe that Jesus Christ was God's son but he was not God incarnate.       Pastor Romney is just one of thousands of pastors and self-professing Christians that are embracing Cosmic Humanism and a false gospel.       The Bible predicts that New Age and other liberal churches will increase in numbers: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (II Timothy 4:3) Don't be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. (Hebrews 13:9)       Satan is pleased about the acceptance of his clever deception. As Oswald Chambers wrote: Satan's great aim is to deflect us from the center. He will allow us to be devoted to the death to any cause, any enterprise, to anything but the Lord Jesus.37 The New Age Movement in American Corporations       Not only have many American churches embraced Cosmic humanism and New Age techniques but many large corporations as well. The New York Times on September 28, 1986 reported: Representatives of some of the nation's largest corporations, including IBM, AT&T and General Motors met in New Mexico in July to discuss how metaphysics, the occult, and Hindu mysticism might help executives compete in the world marketplace. All is One       The New Age believes in monism which is the belief that all is one. Everything is interrelated in the teachings of the New Age. Humanity, nature and God are all seen as being part of one another. The New Age teaches that because humans do not view the world and universe in a "holistic" manner we have many problems. If the nations of the world and peoples of the world would realize we are all one in mind and spirit and thus unite globally and tap into our God consciousness, we would solve all the world's problems.       Shakti Gawain says that "when a small but significant number of individuals have moved into a new level of awareness and significantly changed their behavior, change is felt in the entire mass consciousness."38 God is Everything and Everything is God       The belief that all is God and God is all is called pantheism. According to the New Age Movement there is nothing that is not God. The god of the New Age is not a personal God that is all-knowing, all- powerful, omnipresent and separate from creation as is the God of the Bible.       Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." God is not here on earth as part of the trees, grass, streams, ocean or any other created thing. God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere, He is not bound by time, space or matter because He created time, space and matter. God is distinct from His creation. God is the Great I Am not the Great It Is. We Are All God       Ruth Montogomery claimed to have channeled a spirit, but of course we know she was only allowing a demon to speak through her. One reason we know this is because dead people don't talk and even if they could their souls have been cast into hell where they are held until judgment day where once again they are cast back into hell.       Another reason we know these are demons is because their messages and proclamations are always consistent with the same message that Satan told Adam and Eve, "you will be as God."       This channeled demon speaking to or through Ruth Montgomery told her, "We are as much God as God is a part of us…each of us is God…together we are God….this all-for-one-and-one-for-all….makes us the whole of God."39       The New Age Movement teaches that since all is God and God is all then we are part of God and God is part of us. The mixing of humanism and pantheism forms the foundational belief of the New Age Movement.       Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.'" We are not God but we were created by God and made in His image. God loved us enough to create us in His image giving us a soul or spirit that will live forever, giving us the ability to reason, to be creative, to have emotions such as the ability to love or hate injustice. God also created each human with His moral law written on our hearts and conscience (Romans 1) so that we might instinctively know what is right or wrong. Another name for the moral law would be the Ten Commandments.       For New Agers to claim they are equal to God is the same sin that caused Lucifer to be kicked out of heaven and to be ultimately condemned to Hell for eternity.       In Isaiah 14:13 we read where Satan said, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit."       Romans 1:25 tells us that men will choose to worship creation as God rather than worshipping God as God. "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised. Amen." We Must Tap Into Our Consciousness       The New Age says that because "all is one" and "God is all" we must begin to live and rule our lives as gods. Once enough humans begin to discover the god that lives within them, we can eliminate the problems of the world.       New Agers believe that they only need to use the unlimited power and consciousness of your mind to bring about all your dreams, desires and wishes. The New Ager believes they can tap into the power of their consciousness by using techniques such as biofeedback which is a form of self-hypnosis sensory privation, yoga and drugs. When you finally are successful at tapping into your consciousness and become one with God, you reach enlightenment. The New Agers have many names to describe the point when someone taps into their God Consciousness: God realization, Self realization, illumination, Cosmic consciousness or Higher self.       Whatever the adjective they use to describe this accomplishment, according to the New Age, it is mandatory for the bringing about of the new world full of peace and harmony. Through this consciousness the Cosmic humanist believes that man is able to control reality -- our destiny, our life and ultimate purpose.       Because the New Age believes he can control reality through the power of his own mind and consciousness, then there is no universal standard of good and evil- there is only interaction of forces. The only absolute is man's own reasoning.       The problem of the universe is not man's lack of understanding of his goodness or god-potential but the universal problem of sin. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus said in Mark 7:20, "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean'. For from within, out of men's hearts comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and make a man 'unclean.'"       Unless man rejects the arrogance of humanism and acknowledges he can not save himself and that there is right and wrong, good and evil and the standard is God's character and nature which we have offended, then man will surely die and face the wrath of God.       Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.       God sent His son Jesus Christ as the perfect, sinless, sacrifice to seek and save those that were lost. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."       Not only will the New Ager not be able to save himself by tapping into their God-consciousness, which does not exist, but the methods they use to attempt to do so are doing nothing but opening them up to demonic and evil, spiritual forces. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead."       When the New Ager allows the so-called spirit or Master Guides to speak through them, they are really allowing a demon to have control of their minds and bodies with the hope they are talking to a deceased individual. God strictly calls this occult activity evil and says to have nothing to do with any such thing. All Religions Are One       The New Age declares that all religions are actually one. They believe that we are all worshipping the same God, we just call him, or her if you will, by different names. In Time Magazine on December 27, 1982, an ad appeared with symbols representing Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Judaism. The caption underneath the ad read, "Our one prayer to our one father this Christmas: Peace, give us peace."       As politically incorrect as it is, there is only one God and the reason there is only one God is because there is only one that has been able to do the things that God has done. No other religious leader has lived a sinless life by being born of a virgin. No other religious leader has been able to do the miracles that Jesus Christ has done, having the power of life and death. No other religious leader was able to conquer the grave and rise again. Every other religious leader except God is dead. Jesus Christ came to earth as God incarnate. Jesus Christ predicted his own life, death and resurrection and fulfilled those predictions with pin-point accuracy. No other religious leader has been able to do this or will be able to do this in the future because there is but one God.       In John 14:6 Jesus Christ was asked by a man how he could know truth and Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me." The deceptive teachings of the New Age are not consistent with the words of Jesus Christ in John 14:6. A Powerful Delusion       Many Bible verses predict the New Age Movement and the powerful delusion and deception it will prove to be for many seeking real answers to serious life and death questions that will impact their eternity. II Timothy 3:13 says, "While evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."       "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way" (II Thessalonians 2:3).       The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (II Thessalonians 2:9-12) Same Terms, Different Meanings       One of the reasons the New Age Movement poses a concern to Christians is because they use many of the same terms as Christianity while having completely different definitions of those terms. In other words, the New Age movement has a form of godliness yet denies the God of the Bible.       We have already seen that Cosmic Humanists use terms like, Jesus, Christ, Messiah, and God yet they certainly are not speaking of the names by which the Bible refers to YAHWEH, the one true God. The New Age Trinity       The Bible teaches that God is a triune God, meaning God is three in one. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is what Christians call the Trinity. While the word trinity is not found in the Bible, it has become universally recognized as the way to describe God as three-in-one.       Some New Agers also use the term trinity while having a different meaning. In The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ, we find this New Age description of the trinity: Eternal thought is one, in essence it is two -- intelligence and force, and when they breathe, a child is born. This child is love…and thus the triune God stands forth who men call father-mother-child.40 New Age Atonement       Christians believe that atonement for our sins was made when Jesus Christ shed his sinless blood on the cross. There He atoned or paid the price for our sins. If we repent of our sins and submit our life will to Him and believe that He was raised from the dead three days after being crucified then we can have forgiveness.       The Cosmic Humanists believes that atonement was made when Christ was no longer an educative force standing outside the planet, calling evolution forward, but when he became a powerful force operating within the structure of the planet.       One New Age author says that atonement was made when the cosmic Christ entered the mental and emotional energy force of the planet Earth. The idea of God requiring a sacrifice for sin is totally unknown to God, says the New Age.41 Heaven, Hell & Judgment Day       Concerning heaven and hell one New Age author writes: Heaven and Hell is a made-up place for those who choose to accept the dogmatic beliefs of Christianity. Hell is impossible, it does not exist. This belief of Hell is designed to scare people into accepting the beliefs of Christianity. Sane- and sincere-thinking people do not believe in a heaven or a hell. Anyone with any true reasoning power, who believes in a loving God, cannot believe in this heaven of the Christian faith, or the torture of fire and brimstone as Hell is described.42       Other New Agers say that heaven and hell is simply a state of mind. New Age author and feminist Marianne Williamson says, "'Deliver me from hell,' means 'Deliver me from my insane thoughts.'"43       Concerning Judgment Day one New Ager writes: The Last Judgment is a healing time not a time of punishment for sin. The Last Judgment is when everyone comes to realize what is important and what is not and then makes an educated choice.44 The New Age Satan       Concerning Satan and demons David Spangler, one of the best known promoters of New Age says Satan is a mighty planetary consciousness, not an actual being: Man is his own Satan just as he is his own salvation.45 Christ is the same force as Lucifer…Lucifer prepares man for the experience of Christhood…Lucifer works within each of us to bring us to wholeness as we move into the New Age.46 Hollywood and The New Age       Whether it is the New Age Movement or religions that are closely associated with the New Age and share common doctrines and beliefs, many in Hollywood are causing New Age philosophies to become a part of American pop-culture.       When John Travolta was asked what happens after you die, Travolta explained, "I think that the body ends and you as a spirit go on. It's up to you what you are going to do. It could be [reincarnation] if that is what you chose to do. You want to get back into another body or if you just want to hang out, whatever you feel like."47       "After saying that he prays, though not regularly, Travolta was asked, 'Who or what would you be praying to?' He replied, 'To the yet-not-fully-understood God concept.'"48       Oprah Winfrey has had very popular New Age authors on her television program as a guest and promoted their books. Winfrey reveals that she embraces a New Age worldview when she said, "One of the biggest mistakes humans make is to believe there is only one way. Actually, there are many diverse paths leading to what you call God."49       Actor Richard Gere is a follower of Buddhism and many New Age beliefs stem from Buddhism. When discussing his religious beliefs in an interview, Gere said, "I was always interested in moral and metaphysical questions: What are the underpinnings of reality? The Mind? Where is the Soul?" Gere claimed what he liked about Buddhism is, "The willingness of Buddhism to really attack even the concept of a self: Is there a self?"       Gere's description of Buddhism could just as well be a description of New Age teachings. "There is a lot of work on the mind and intellectual play and exploration of reality itself, using language and pure logic, along with various techniques of meditation. It's a gradual process as the mind is familiarized with another way of seeing things and, hopefully, the correct way. So it is a process that takes several lifetimes, but it's within a lifetime one can see gradual change…" Know What You Believe       If Cosmic Humanism or the New Age Movement should make us certain of anything it should make us aware of the fact that it is vitally important to know what you believe - and why - as well as to examine every belief to make sure it is truth. Anything that is consistent with the character and nature of the God of the Bible is truth. Anything that is contrary to the Nature and Character of God is false teaching. The only way to truly know the character and nature of God is to know and study the Bible, which is a reflection of God's character and nature.       Just because it sounds good, or sounds like truth or sounds like the Bible or sounds like Christianity does not mean it is. There is nothing new about the worldview of liberals.       Liberals, both Secular Humanists and Cosmic Humanists are great at making lies look like truth. The sure way to know a counterfeit is to be so familiar with the real thing you recognize the counterfeit for what it is: A lie. Notes 1The Aquarian Conspiracy p. 90. (T. P. Tarcher, 1989) 2Barna.org, 2004 Survey, Beliefs: Salvation 3Barna.org, 2004 Survey, Beliefs: Theological 4Ibid; 5Ibid; 6Barna.org, Beliefs: Trinity, Satan 7Barna.org, 2004 Survey: Lifestyle Activities 8Barna.org 2004 Survey: Unchurched People 9Ibid; 10Ibid; 11Barna.org Survey: The Bible 12Ibid; 13Ibid; 14Rick McGough, One Minute Till Midnight, New Life Fellowship Association of God, 1988, Moline, IL. p. 26. 15David Noebel, The Battle for Truth, (Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 2001). p. 37. 16Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light (San Rafael, CA: New World Library, 1986), p. 37. 17Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy (Los Angeles: J.P. Tarcher, Inc., 1980), p. 327. 18Vera Alder, When Humanity Comes of Age (New York: Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1974), pp. 48-49. 19Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light (San Rafael, CA: New World Library, 1986), p. 128. 20Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" (New York: Harper Collins, 1992), p. 22. 21Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light, p. 60. 22Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich with Peace of Mind, (Ballantine Books, 1967) pp. 158-60. 23Time Magazine, December 7, 1987 24Kevin Ryerson, Spirit Communication: The Soul's Path, (New York: Bantam Books, 1989) p.84. 25Obtained from an advertisement for Beverly-Colleene Galyean's Center for Integrative Learning. 26Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 30, 1984 27David Hunt, The Cult Explosion, (Harvest House, Irvine, CA, 1990) p. 106. 28Jane Roberts, The Seth Material, (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1970), p. 237 29Benjamin Creme, The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom (Tara Press, 1980) p. 110 30David Noebel, The Battle for Truth, (Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 2001). p. 41. 31Levi, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ, (Santa Monica, CA: Devorss & Co, 1987), p. 13-14. 32Science of the Mind, October 1981, pp. 40-42, citied in Yungen, For Many Shall Come in My Name, p. 164. 33D.W. Bebbington, Patterns in History (Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 1979) p. 169. 34Ad taken out of national newspapers by the Tara Center, April 25, 1982. 35Rodney R. Romney, Journey to Inner Space, Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 1980 p.30. 36Ibid; p. 106. 37George Grant, The Family Under Siege, (Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN. 1994) p. 44. 38Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light (San Rafael, CA: New World Library, 1986), p. 179. 39Ruth Montogomery, A World Beyond (New York: Ballantine/Fawcett Crest Books, 1972), p. 12. 40The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ, Levi (Santa Monica, CA: Devorse & Co, 1987) p. 110 41A Course In Miracles (Foundation For Inner Peace, 1975) Vol. 1, pp. 32-33 42Benjamin Crème, The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom (Tara Press, 1980) pp.146-147. 43Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" (New York: Harper Collins, 1992), p. 22 44A Course In Miracles (Foundation For Inner Peace, 1975) Vol. 1, pp. 29-30 45David Spangler, Reflections on the Christ, (Monray, Scotland: Findhorn Publications, 1978) p. 39. 46Ibid; p. 40-44. 47Ray Comfort, What Hollywood Believes (Genesis Publishing Group, Bartlesville, OK., 2004) p. 15. 48Ibid; p. 15. 49Ibid; p. 121. 50Ibid; p. 137. 51Ibid; p. 137. 52Ibid; p. 137-138.