I like the books of bart ehrman, and taken as a whole they might be effective at undermining the reliability of the bible, but they dont really focus on philosophical problems with christianity. The new age does express a cloudy sort of religion, claiming vague connections with both christianity and the major faiths of the east new agers like to say the jesus spent 18 years in india absorbing hinduism and the teachings of buddha, plus an occasional dab of pantheism and sorcery. Christian answers for the new age, arlington, virginia. The new age appears to be in good shape in the first decade of the 21st century with a very wide following. Since christianity was the historical winner against roman polytheism, nonspecialists often have a distorted impression of how. Dec 21, 2017 as a new age enthusiast, i fancied myself a free spirit and a good person then a strange dream, an old friend, and a disturbing psalm woke me up to reality. Groothuis intervarsity press, 1986 the first good christian book on the new age movement is still at the top of my list.
Apr 16, 2018 doreen virtue, one of the most prominent figures in the new age movement, gave her life to jesus recently after an experience of the lord. The history and beliefs of the new age history and beliefs of the new age pdf format. Geisler and frank turek make the claim that all belief systems and world views require faith, including atheism. What book makes the best argument against christianity. Christian books on the new age movement 12 books goodreads. Barbara curtis, now a prolific christian writer, was a new age seeker for seven years before learning the truth about jesus christ in 1987. While it is passed off as new and exciting, there are many other teachers who preceded the secret with a similar message. The new age nam movement has many subdivisions, but it is generally a collection of easterninfluenced metaphysical thought systems, a conglomeration of theologies, hopes, and expectations held together with an eclectic teaching of salvation, of correct thinking, and correct knowledge. Fox states christianity has been out of touch with its. The best books on the new age movement christian research. Many books have successfully defended christianity against western rational skepticism.
Over the past few years, and particularly the past several months, the christian market has been virtually glutted with books on the new age movement nam. What is new age religion, and why cant christians get. The new age plan to defeat christianity by sherry shriner. What is the new testament argument against gnosticism. Bibliography of books critical of christianity wikipedia. Nancy detweilers book has joined the ranks of classic literature for guidance on spiritual growth for those truly seeking to know and understand that god is love. The age of aquarius is a reference to the precession of the zodiac. That is a salvationbyworks belief, which is unbiblical.
Every thoughtful christian can probably appreciate these 40 volumes in the journey to. But it is becoming increasingly difficult for booksellers to stock all these titles, let. Many christians arent even aware of how new age beliefs have infiltrated christendom through the progressive church. Recommended reading on the new age movement culturewatch. They believe there have been many christ, jesus being only one of many. There is not one verse in the bible that supports new age christianity. On my quest, i read tarot cards, collected crystals, and studied buddhism, meditation, visualization and wicca. He has written several books, including truth decay, in defense of natural theology coeditor, unmasking the new age, jesus in an age of controversy, deceived by the light, the soul in cyberspace, and, in the wadsworth philosophers series, on pascal and on jesus.
As a new age enthusiast, i fancied myself a free spirit and a. First half of the book by clark describes five major examples of pantheism, and the second provides the kind of incisive logical analysis for which geisler is rightly admired. Im aware that the rise of gnosticism was after the new testament was written but it would seem that a lot of the ideas on which it was built were floating around at the time. By reading and contemplating his words, we will gain a better understanding of how to live. In his books and workshops he encourages people to do guided meditations and visualizationsjust as he once didto initiate. Some counselors and fellow christians had encouraged me to forgive myself, but.
Lets create a new category, the silverbullet argument. Her life has since took a complete 180 degree turn away. What christian parents need to know about new age and occult. The new age plan to defeat christianity sherry shriner. New agers also believe that you go to heaven by being a good person. The bible opposes almost all the tenets of the new age movement. Is the new age movement pure deception as doreen virtue. His thorough, biblical analysis helps christians know how to respond to this. This is an argument that, in a single shot, takes down christianity or at least christianity. Christianity may well be facing the greatest challenge in its history.
Major confusion about the new age has been generated by academics, countercult groups, fundamentalist and other evangelical christians and traditional muslim groups, etc. Most people who have dabbled in new age circles will recognize the name doreen virtue. It objectively and methodically documents the hidden alliance between new versions and the new age movements one world religion. Precise scholarly definitions of the new age differ in their emphasis, largely as a result of its highly eclectic structure. Many of those taking an interest in new age are seeking deep, spiritual experiences and meaning in their lives. This is an area i personally knew very little about before doing this interview. New age prophetess alice bailey and author of many occult books, including the reappearance of the christ, describes the avatar of synthesis, who she says is a close associate of the christ. The first spiritual discipline of a new age christian is immersion in scripture. New age objections to christianity are mostly just an excuse for new age believers to live they way that they want without accountability. The target audience for both books was christian, but most christians seem to prefer the more popular and lessspecialized treatments on the subject. I so appreciate all the prayers and support ive continued to receive over the past six years. Christians believe jesus christ is god, the second person of the trinity, the same jesus of nazareth about which the gospels speak, who is the only son of god, true man and true god. Authors like the feminist neopagan starhawk were among my.
A thoughtful philosophical probe of pantheism and its relation to the new age movement. Jun 09, 2009 over the past few years, and particularly the past several months, the christian market has been virtually glutted with books on the new age movement nam. Sep 20, 2009 he has written several books, including truth decay, in defense of natural theology coeditor, unmasking the new age, jesus in an age of controversy, deceived by the light, the soul in cyberspace, and, in the wadsworth philosophers series, on pascal and on jesus. Unmasking the new age is an amazing work in that in 194 pages it covers virtually every relevant submovement and trend within this farflung movement, and addresses every major question it raises for christians. Jesus is often represented in new age writings as one among many wise men or great prophets.
With more and more people practicing meditation to alleviate stress and maintain peace of mind, it is important to be clear of the distinctions between christian meditation versus other traditional forms of meditation. In the early 80s, it became apparent to me that eastern religion was being widely promoted in the west as something new. May 04, 2019 most people who have dabbled in new age circles will recognize the name doreen virtue. Elliot miller, a crash course on the new age movement. The gnostics offered the world a different type of christianity, with a different jesus and a different gospel. New age is a term applied to a range of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices that grew rapidly in the western world during the 1970s. Charles fillmore, who founded the unity school of christianity, talked about the twelve powers of man, arguing that the causes of all things are essentially mental. The secret is a feature length, historic and factually based account of an age old secret, said to be 4,000 years in the making, and known to a fortunate few, as told by some of the greatest leaders of our time. What christian parents need to know about new age and. Doreen virtues testimony from new age to jesus youtube. The single best evidence against christianity is the continued existence of alternative religions. Warren smith points out bernie siegel continues to influence countless numbers of people in his role as a new age leader. In his book, searching issues, popular theologian nicky gumbel quotes a survey that estimates that 25% of americans are involved in some form of new age practice. Recommended christian books related to occult new age topics and some apologetics books listed alphabetically by author note.
This book is the result of an exhaustive six year collation of new bible versions, their underlying greek manuscripts, editions, and editors. This former editor of christian research journal, with an ma in. The new age does express a cloudy sort of religion, claiming vague connections with both christianity and the major faiths of the east new agers like to say the jesus spent 18 years in india absorbing hinduism and the teachings of buddha. In her books isis unveiled 1877 and the secret doctrine 1888, blavatsky claimed that her society was conveying the essence of all world religions, and it thus emphasized a focus on comparative religion. In this post i will briefly catalog some of the differences between christianity and the nam. The same thing happened to another valuable christian book on the nam by tom snyder called myth conceptions. May 23, 2017 the single best evidence against christianity is the continued existence of alternative religions. Many new age writers on the other hand refer to a christ spirit. Mar 06, 2018 many christians arent even aware of how new age beliefs have infiltrated christendom through the progressive church. New age deception our most effective defense against the. Oprahs mantra, find your own spirit, has become the rally cry of many. A christian reflection on the new age refers to a sixyear study by the roman catholic church on the new age movement.
Recognize the danger of the new age movement, read more about spiritual life growth, christian living, and faith. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Mar 27, 2019 i believe this book is the best onestop source for skeptics of christianity and believers who want to be better equipped to defend the faith. Since christianity was the historical winner against roman polytheism, nonspecialists often have a distorted impression of how the new religion took cultural hold. It wasnt until i recently did a study of new age spirituality that i realized how much progressive christianity has in common with it. Ive written about progressive christianity here, and talked about it here, here, and here. Perhaps it is time for christians to take the bible seriously. Jul 08, 2017 part 3 of my series on the new age movement in my previous post i highlighted some of the fundamental beliefs of the new age movement nam.
In the new age, the belief is that everyone is going to heaven. Recommended christian books related to occult new age topics. As a new age enthusiast, i fancied myself a free spirit. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. I had the opportunity to ask marcia several questions on what christian parents need to know about new age and occult beliefs. His parables are pools of water where different things are learned at different depths. It is an eclectic mix of practices involving eastern mysticism, occult, meditation, humanism, nature religions, and various selfimprovement techniques. Maclaine has written two bestselling books that chronicle her conversion to the new age. This list does not include books on the da vinci code issue. As a new age enthusiast, i fancied myself a free spirit and a good.
In his book, searching issues, popular theologian nicky gumbel quotes. This is a bibliography of literature treating the topic of criticism of christianity, sorted by source publication and the authors. We should be wary because the edenic lie still rings strong in the hearts of the deceivedand they want us to believe as they. Does this evidence thrive in the marketplace of ideas. What is new age religion, and why cant christians get on. The group of surveys cited above classify religious beliefs into 7 faith groups. The 10 best books for skeptics of christianity in 2020.
Seven major teachings of the new age jeremiah project. In the 2 nd century irenaeus 120202 ad wrote against heresies, he catalogued the beliefs and history of gnostics. This book is full of factual errors in particular with regards to heresies and the canonisation of scripture, theological cherry picking, snark against the new age and prejudice toward anything other than a fundamentalist view of christianity. In combating the prevailing deception, this site has many resources for you to use. The last days deceptions in the churches and the apostasy of the church. The study, published in 2003, is highly critical of the new age movement and follows the 1989 document aspects of christian meditation, in which the vatican warned catholics against mixing christian meditation with eastern approaches to spirituality. She lives with her husband tripp in a rapidlydwindling nest with 6 of their 12 children in waterford, virginia. Virtue had an experience of jesus in an episcopal church in early 2017, and says she has given up the angels, divination. A few decades later, in 380 ce, theodosius made christianity the sole authorised religion of the roman empire. Apologetics in the new age represents the first serious attempt by evangelical philosophers to answer eastern. And, even though those new age books i had read years ago implied and blatantly stated that information about the gnostic gospels and changes in the bible were squelched by the organized church, i was seeing that there were christians who did know about these things and. From new age to christianity dougherty, melissa, bright, taz, ward, daniel, virtue, doreen, dougherty, melissa on. As i mentioned before, it is important to understand what jesus was teaching us. The one version of the new age that does not exist.
As to the books below, they are all almost of equal value. What is new age religion, and why cant christians get on board. The new age movement is growing rapidly and gaining influence in our modern society. Part 3 of my series on the new age movement in my previous post i highlighted some of the fundamental beliefs of the new age movement nam. I would collect crystals and study strange spiritual books. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. I originally intended to launch into a critique of the nam following. Of course reading the bible itself causes some people to doubt christianity, but im looking for a book that takes a systematic approach in arguing against the faith. Defending christianity against the challenges of postmodernism. After providing a basic introduction and historical background, douglas groothuis proceeds to offer an overview of new age. A further major influence on the new age was the theosophical society, an occult group cofounded by the russian helena blavatsky in the late 19th century. I like the books of bart ehrman, and taken as a whole they might be effective at undermining the reliability of the bible, but they dont really focus on philosophical problems. She was a wellknown channeler of what she considered angelic entities, and was an author of many books and oracledivination cards.
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