Discussion Guide

   The New Age Movement is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Although its philosophy and underlying assumptions are not new, particular aspects and manifestations of the movement are constantly shifting and changing, like the images and designs you see when you peer into a rotating kaleidoscope. This discussion guide is designed to help you better understand where the New Age is coming from, where it is headed, and how it is affecting you, your family, your church, and your culture. The questions can be used for a self-study guide, but their greatest value is in a discussion with a spouse, a friend — or best of all — in the context of a small group that has been reading the book together.

   The guide is divided into twelve units. This makes for easy assignments, integrating a weekly class or study period that covers one quarter of the year. I have tried to follow a natural division of topics flowing out of the context of the chapters in the book. Some chapters are longer than others, of course, and some may provoke more questions and study.

   Here are a few tips for leaders — and for individuals — as you use the guide:

• Read and become familiar with the chapters that the questions relate to before you try to discuss the material. That way, the discussion will be more fruitful.

• Don't feel that you must answer every question. Some will spark animated and intense discussion; others may elicit little comment. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. And don't be afraid to explore other avenues of discussion or to raise questions that aren't listed here, as long as they are "on target" for the goals of your study.

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• If you have a designated leader, choose him or her in advance. It may be that the same person will be the "teacher" or leader throughout the twelve weeks. Or you may rotate the leadership from week to week. But make sure the leader doesn't hit the discussion time "cold." Assign the task at least a week ahead. The leader should take responsibility for guiding the discussion, determining relevance, and making sure that everyone who feels comfortable in taking part does so.

• Don't be afraid to challenge assumptions. Just because the book or someone in the group says that something is true, don't accept it if there is good reason to differ or at least raise alternative points of view. And remember, no question is too "dumb" or "unspiritual" if it needs to be dealt with.

• Move in the discussion from analyzing "facts' and "information" to considering "causes and effects," and, finally, to making personal applications. The goal is to explore how the New Age has touched you and how the Bible and Jesus Christ — the "Man for All Ages" — provide an alternative to the New Age version of spirituality.

• In addition to several "field trips" or "projects" suggested in this guide, the leader might consider assigning each person a "partner." The partners would continue discussion, make investigations, and report back to the entire group the next session. Also, the leader should encourage each participant to look for items in newspapers, magazines, and other sources that present current evidence of New Age influences. Share these with the group.

• If the group is ready for it by the concluding session, you might try role playing. One member of the class could volunteer to take the position of a New Age believer or practitioner, and another could role-play a Christian's attempting to dialogue and witness to the New Ager. Have the rest of the group critique the episode afterward.

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SESSION 1

Chapter 1: Preview of the New Age

1. When was the first time you heard the phrase "New Age"? What did it mean to you then? Has your perception changed? How?

2. The author says there are few, if any, "card-carrying" New Agers. Why is that? How do you know if someone is into New Age?

Chapter 2: Prevalence of the New Age

3. How has the New Age "touched" you or someone close to you?

4. Are there New Agers in your family or among your circle of close friends? Share with the group how they got involved with the New Age Movement if you know and feel comfortable talking about it.

5. Review recent motion pictures, television programs, or books that express an underlying New Age worldview or philosophy.

SESSION 2

Chapter 3: Preview of the New Age

1. How would you define the New Age Movement? Start with one facet or aspect of New Age and have each person add one new part to the definition until you reach a consensus that you have formulated a good, concise but inclusive description. (You may want to use a blackboard, overhead projector, or turnover chart to do this.)

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2. Construct a "Worldview Chart" comparing the New Age and the biblical worldviews. On the left of the chart write "New Age," and on the right, "Bible." Then, compose short descriptions for the two worldviews under these headings: "New Age" and "Bible." List what each teaches for God, Creation, Humans, The Problem, The Solution, and Goals.

3. At the end of this chapter, the author describes the New Age agenda. Do you agree? Would you add to it, or modify it, based on your perceptions? What evidences of this agenda do you see in your community?

Chapter 4: The Mind of the New Age

4. Why does the author say that the mind "is the heart of the New Age"? How does the New Age Movement's "use" or "structuring" of the mind differ from the biblical concept of the mind and of God?

5. When Paul writes in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (KJV), do you think he means that we can know the mind of the Lord? How capable are human beings of understanding God's mind? Can we understand enough to be sure of his will for our lives?

SESSION 3

Chapter 5: Historical Roots

1. If the "New Age" really isn't new, why is it called that? Review the historical roots of the movement traced in this chapter.

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Chapter 6: Headliners and Honchos

2. J.Z. Knight, among other New Age celebrities, has said that murder may not be wrong, given the reality of reincarnation. Where does this argument finally lead?

Chapter 7: Gifted Gurus

3. What common thread seems to be present among the "gifted gurus" described in this chapter? Why do you think so many people follow them? Has anyone in your group been a follower of a "guru"? Could a church pastor or evangelist be a "guru"?

Chapter 8: Communes and Groups

4. Although there are many New Age groups and communities, few identify themselves as a "church." Why do think that is true?

5. Discuss the degree to which the Unification Church, the Christian Science Church, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) incorporate New Age thinking or practice. Is it misleading or unfair to label them "New Age"? Why or why not?

SESSION 4

Chapter 9: Choosing a Channel

1. The author lists six alternatives regarding the source of "channeled" messages. Which explanation seems the most likely to you? Why?

Chapter 10: UFOs and ETIs

2. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, stories of UFOs and alien abductions keep popping up. Do you think information has been suppressed? Evaluate the claim that UFOs and ET contacts are caused by demonic activity. What do you make of the fact that much of the message content from ETIs seems to mirror "channeled" information?

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Chapter 11: Harmonic Convergence

3. Should we make fun of harmonic convergence theories? How does such a gathering differ from a mass-prayer rally?

4. What is the "hundredth monkey" theory, and is it dangerous?

Chapter 12: Crystal Consciousness and Pyramid Power

5. Should Christians wear crystals or hand or display them in their cars, homes, or offices? What would you say to your young teenage daughter who wants to wear a crystal unicorn pendant?

SESSION 5

Chapter 13: Native Americans and Shamans

1. Are there aspects of Native American religion that you admire or respect? What is the departure of Native American religion from Christianity if any?

2. What is "New Age" about Native American religion? Do you think the New Age Movement has co-opted Native American customs, beliefs,a nd rituals for its own ends?

Chapter 14: Goddesses and Neopagans

3. Has the New Age Movement caused the church and Christians to look more carefully at the "stewardship of the Earth" and ecology issues? Which issues need further exploration / effort?

4. Because women have been denied places of leadership and authority in traditional churches and synagogues, do you think that they find the goddess and empowerment aspects of New Age appealing? Should something be done about this?

5. The so-called Men's Movement has been growing rapidly. Is it perhaps an even more potent spin-off from New Age spirituality than radical feminism and the goddess / witches movement?

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SESSION 6

Chapter 15: Commercial Appeal

1. Visit a psychic fair or New Age expo if there is one in your area. What products and emphases are prominent? What kind of people are there? What do they seem to be seeking?

2. Have several teams from your group visit the major secular bookstores in your area. Look in the self-help and psychology sections. Are books that are overtly New Age represented? Or books that do not directly tie in with New Age but have a distinct Christian flavor or worldview? Is there a separate section for New Age books, or have they been blended into the other categories? Where are the Christian books? Is there a representative selection? Speak to the bookstore manager or owner if you are not satisfied that the selection or labeling is clear and fair.

3. Have several teams from your group visit major secular music and video stores. Is there a New Age category? How does it compare to the Christian section in the store if there is one?

4. Visit organic- or health-food stores in your area. Are New Age products or influences present? Would a shopper be innocently drawn into the New Age Movement by shopping there, or is that unlikely and an exaggeration?

   After each of the above "field trips," report and discuss your findings with the rest of the group.

Chapter 16: Corporate Entities

5. Have you heard of any management training programs in your area that incorporate New Age teaching or practices? Are these exercises or programs voluntary, or mandatory? As a group, try to determine some standards for such courses — what kinds of psychological and training techniques do you consider beneficial or at least value-neutral? And where should the line be drawn for those that a Christian should refuse to engage in? What alternatives could an employee appeal to in order to keep a job if he or she is caught in such a dilemma?

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SESSION 7

Chapter 17: Education, Music, and Art

1. Find course catalogs for your local community colleges. Look for examples of courses that teach Eastern philosophy, meditation, martial arts, yoga, and the like. Perhaps someone in the class could visit or audit a class or two. Is a religious philosophy being presented or endorsed? Now, examine the course catalog again to see if any courses on Judaism or Christianity are listed. Are there any that teach the Bible or church history? Does it appear that there is a bias against Judeo-Christian content? Do you think the school administrators are aware that New Age philosophy and worldviews spring from a spiritual, religious base?

2. Read Psalms 8 and 19 aloud. Consider meditating on these passages and sharing your insights. How does this differ from the New Age style of meditation or "centering"?

3. Douglas Groothuis, in his book Confronting the New Age, draws a distinction between two kinds of New Age music. "Progressive" New Age music is instrumental, relaxing, and no worldview is expressed. This kind my indeed be safe and soothing. "Mystical" New Age music integrates Eastern mystical practices with the music (for example, you are told to focus on the chakras and "welcome the energy of divine consciousness"); it induces "altered states" of consciousness and encourages meditation practices while listening to the music.¹

   Listen to some samples of New Age music as a group and identify with kind you are hearing. Can you come up with some workable guidelines for discerning New Age music that you would be comfortable listening to repeatedly?

Chapter 18: Holistic Health and Healing

4. How would you define "holistic health" or healing? Is the basic concept biblical? Has anyone in your group been treated by acupuncture or reflexology? Hypnosis? What were the results?

5. If there is a physician or nurse in your group or church who could speak to you about holistic health issues from a

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Christian perspective, invite him or her to give you an overview, particularly regarding the controversial practice of "therapeutic touch." When should you definitely NOT rely on the advice of a New Age health practitioner?

SESSION 8

Chapter 19: Psychology: Outside In

1. Examine some of the latest self-help and psychology books in local bookstores. Can you identify what worldview is implicit or assumed? Would an unsophisticated Christian be misled?

2. Critique the idea that "personal growth is the highest good." What would you say is the highest good?

Chapter 20: Science: Universal Mind Over Matter

3. Has anyone in the group had an "ESP" experience? How do you explain it?

4. If paranormal experiences should receive wholehearted support and endorsement from the mainstream scientific community sometime in the future, would this affect your faith? Is the "supernatural" simply a part of nature that we haven't discovered yet? What is the problem with "hitching a religious philosophy to a contemporary science," as one author-scientist talks about in this chapter?

Chapter 21: The Politics of Mysticism

5. To promote New Age thinking and acceptance in this country, do you think New Agers need to run for political office? Why or why not? Do you know of any who hold important leadership positions? Do they violate the separation of church and state by using their office to inject the New Age worldview into public affairs?

SESSION 9

Chapter 22: Religion and Churches

1. Through which "doorways" is the New Age philosophy most apt to enter our churches and synagogues?

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2. Are you or others in the group aware of such inroads? Talk about how and why they are happening.

3. Do you see any similarity between the New Age concept of "creating your own reality," and the "prosperity — name it and claim it — gospel," where preachers tell people to visualize whatever material things they want and "command" them into appearing "in Jesus' name"?

Chapter 23: Positive Images

4. What areas of agreement are there between the New Age Movement and Christianity? In what issues, if any, can there be cooperation between the two?

Chapter 24: Conspiracy Theories

5. In chapter 3, the author describes the New Age agenda. In light of chapter 24, who do you think is behind that agenda? What do you think of the statement that the conspiracy is one of "consensus" rather than a deliberate worldwide-takeover plot masterminded by a corps of New Age strategists?

SESSION 10

Chapter 25: Fakes, Frauds, and Placebos

1. Discuss the appeal of astrology. One-third of Americans believe there is a scientific basis for astrology. What do you think? What are the arguments in favor of this scientific basis? Why then do people follow their astrological "signs"?

2. Which of the following would you feel all right about doing or having your children engage in? Which would you disapprove of? Why?

• Lying on the floor, imagining you are one with the sun.

• Talking with animals.

• Mentally reviewing the cross-country run, or the debate that you will be engaging in later that day.

• Listening to audiotapes that have subliminal messages on them.

• Sitting in a lotus position and chanting or meditating to merge your consciousness with the divine "One."

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• Sitting on the floor, relaxing and watching tropical fish in an aquarium.

Chapter 26: Unproven Hypotheses and Non Sequiturs

3. Look up the definition of synchronicity in the glossary of this book. Does this seem at all like "Providence" that a Christian or Jew might speak about? Could you call synchronicity "answered prayer"? Why?

Chapter 27: Cautions and Dangers

4. Have you or someone in your group ever experimented with a Ouija board? With what results? What feelings do you have about it now? Would you let your kids play with one?

5. New Age publisher Jeremy P. Tarcher said in 1989 that "the glowing future of New Age publishing will be in its becoming so visible that it is invisible, in being taken for granted as part of an accepted truth — in other words, in simply being the culture."² What do you think Tarcher meant by this? How successful do you think this campaign has been? (Recall your group's trip to secular bookstores in Session 6.)

SESSION 11

Chapter 28: Reincarnation or Resurrection?

1. Review the arguments, pro and con, for reincarnation. Which seem most convincing?

2. The reincarnation theme repeatedly shows up in contemporary literature, films, and music. Can you think of several examples? Some of this may be lighthearted and innocuous, but what would happen to the biblical worldview if reincarnation should become a generally accepted belief? What implications would it have for society and the legal system, for example?

Chapter 29: Satan and the Problem of Evil

3. In light of this chapter about Satan and evil, what do you think about one possible explanation the author gives in

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chapter 9, that channeled entities are demonic or demon-influenced?

4. The author cautions about believing in "too many evils." Do you agree this is a problem? Why?

Chapter 30: Absolute Relativity

5. The author calls moral relativity both the "appeal" and "the Achilles' heel" of the New Age Movement. Why? Could this be a starting point for dialogue with a New Ager?

SESSION 12

Chapter 31: Beyond the Self

1. New Age philosophy seeks to "look within" to find answers to life's problems, but at the same time many New Agers seek and obey the advice of gurus and channelers. Why both? Is this an inconsistency? Could this be a point for dialogue with a New Ager? Where would you point them for answers?

2. Discuss the meaning of Luke 17:21 regarding the kingdom of God being "within" or "in the midst." Compare several versions and consult a reliable commentary. New Agers often construe this verse to mean that God and the self are one, or "I am God."

Chapter 32: The Broad Way and the Narrow Way

3. Review Scripture verses that prohibit necromancy, occult involvement, astrology, fortune-telling, and the like. (See endnote #15 in this chapter for some references.) Can you add others?

4. Role play a conversation between a New Age follower and a Christian. have one person take the New Age position and another the perspective of a Christian attempting to dialogue and witness to the New Ager. Ask the rest of the group to critique the episode afterward.

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Chapter 33: The Man for All Ages

5. The New Age movement may succeed in changing our society. But there is only one way society can be transformed. How is that? Would you like to make a commitment now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a part of that transformation process for the glory of God?  

Table of Contents

1. Douglas Groothuis, Confronting the New Age (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 191–95.

2. Jeremy P. Tarcher, "Here's to the End of 'New Age' Publishing," Publishers Weekly, 5 November 1989, 36.