Does anybody around here know about this particular movement/religion/belief system? What are some of the characteristics?
You don’t have to be elaborative, just speak out whatever you know.
The New Age movement is hardly novel! Its philosophy is rooted in ancient traditions, often based on mystical experiences, each
within a different context.
Anthropologically, there have always been (wo)men within "primitive" societies who were looked
upon as possessing special knowledge and power. Medicine men, or shamans, had undergone a
spontaneous catharsis, or were initiated and felt called upon to maintain contact with the spirit
world for the clan.
When communities became more complex and organized there was little place for these loners.
Society began to specialize, people realized and felt drawn to form groups, guilds, or societies, to
ensure continuance and growing perfection. Contact with the spirit world was given into the hands
of organized religion, which also provided an established answer to questions about the unknown
and the Highest Power.
People who felt endowed with special powers could hardly adapt themselves to the corset of
established faith. They went underground. Yet they endeavoured to contact kindred spirits and
pupils willing to follow in their footsteps to pass on the work.
Esoteric tradition became handed down in spiritual groups, communes, or fraternities. Their mutual
devotion resulted in a high degree of perfection comparable to the guilds of craftsmen. In their
mystical experiences they beheld a spiritual reality that could hardly be reconciled with the dogmatic
representation given by the churches. When passing on their experiences, they had to exercise
extreme caution, lest being accused of heresy. Yet knowledgeable minds would understand their
veiled writings, symbolic representations, or even gestures.
In spite of all hindrances and opposition, hidden (occult) spiritual tradition reached unknown shores! One of them being Europe, where
interest in ancient traditions was revived at various times.
Interest in these traditions alternated. After periods of decline, often as a result of cultural and political conditions, a growing need for
revival of old almost forgotten values followed. The occult tradition seems so tremendously powerful that it cannot be suppressed. It
develops in cycles of flourishing and decline - each renaissance with a fresh approach, adapted to the spirit of the times.
Renewed interest in these spiritual, religious and magical traditions had a tremendous impact on the minds of man. The latest revival in
a popularized form is that of the New Age movement in the late sixties.
Now these are the facts and only truth about New Age movement. I say if you have proof otherwise show it or shut up. This is what truth is and if you don't like it, who cares.
Najoomi
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 craddle of the birth of the nation were influenced by Masonic, Spiritualistic and Rosicrucian thought. "A
New Order of the Age begins" 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.
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.
One of the foremost American psychologists of the time William James
(see photo) (1842-1910) called for a serious study of paranormal
phenomena. He played a leading part in the foundation in 1885 of the
American Society for Psychical Research. His The Varieties of Religious Experience has become a
companion for later generations.
A noteworthy event was the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. It was the first time
that a platform of this kind had been organized. Before an audience of four thousand people leaders
of the great religions presented their views on life. One of the results was a greater appreciation for
Oriental religions, who were well-represented. Swami Vivekenanda expounded inner Hinduism;
Soyen Shaku, abbot of a Japanese Rinzai monastry: Zen-Buddhism. Anagarika Dharmapala
established after the congress an American branch of the Maha Bodhi Society, the first Buddhist
society in the West.
This was merely the beginning of a flow of Eastern teachings and guru's to effect Western
thinking.
At the same time the Western esoteric tradition also found a following in new schools, movements
and cults. Too numerous to go into here presently.
I can post lot more stuff here, Roman, if you want. I know lot about New age movement and willing to educate you and others. I feel like that is my duty to educate ignorants about New Age movement.
Najoomi
Roman, New age movement is not for kids. It is very deep, very strong and very true movement. You got to study it, analyse it, and live it. It is very practical also. You can do practicals with it and produce empirical and experimental results to convince the ignorants who don't like New Age movement.
Here is some more stuff to read for you:
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. 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.
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.
Take care and more power for women!
Najoomi
Very interesting. Thanks Najoomi. Are the followers of New Age geographically prevalent in a particular part of the world or they are pretty much scattered in different counteries? Do you know the estimate of number of followers as well?
Thanks.
Roman, New Age followers are all over the world. Interesting thing is that lot of people who follow New Age movement don't even know that they are New Age followers. But don't worry our aim is to spread it all over the world and bring each and every human on the face of earth under the New Age movement. Can anyone stop us from that? I don't think so. Does anyone think its not the one and only great movement, where is the proof? We need rock solid, logical, empirical proofs. No Bullshit can be accepted in New Age. Can you refute that? I don't think so.
Najoomi
Najoomi,
Do you have any sort of statistical data etc on number of followers or know of a site where I can find the info? Thanks.