What do you think the Impact of the New Age movement has on Christianity today?
405187
The Bible tells us not to be like reeds shaking in the wind, blowing to a fro...going from one mans doctrine to another.  The "new age" movement won't move TRUE Christians that are SEALED in their foreheads, in their minds by God.
248610
I will confess that I have not read Brian McLaren's book "A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey", although I did read the summary and some reviews on Amazon. I think that is enough to give me something to comment on. \n\n1. It sounds accessible to me. However, as a scientist myself, it sounds a bit over-simplified.\n\n2. When you ask about the church, it strikes me that "the church" is not at all monolithic, and that is part of the problem. It is fractured into literally thousands of quarrelling sects and cults. \n\n3. I have to admit I have been startled over and over at the attitudes I have found in American churches; incredibly inflexible and dogmatic and angry. And often very igorant of their own faith.\n\n4. I think it would be very healthy for American churches to move in this sort of direction. I do not think that they will. It does not sit well with the American psyche, or American culture, which is an angry culture and a culture of extremes. The US is like an adolescent, and is prone to temper tantrums, and it likes its religion like that as well. \n\n5. Although the book does not sound like it has much meat in it, I still think it makes some good points. \n\n6. Predictably, the noses of many of the American reviewers of the book on Amazon.com were put out of joint.
840250
Both, it's declining in Europe and the U.S. but rising in the Third World.  The success of Christianity is dependent on a poorly educated population, that's why the churches banned education of any kind in the past, and oppose the teaching of science today.
1185981
Well, what a special story. You set Christianity back at least 50  years.  I can picture the Christians rolling their eyes back now. LMAO.
668724
1) In the new millennium, Spirituality is being seen in a more clear sense, with respect and sensitivity all over. The one interesting fact about Hinduism is "Sarva Atma Bhava" which is the sanskrit expression for seeing  the one-ness of spirit - a spark of Divine in mankind - in all.\n\n2) However difficult this may initially seem to the cynics, we see an acceptance of above point and with this Humans all over becoming more sensitive to pain and suffering.Empathy at a higher level turns to Compassion.The first lesson in GITA teachings in qualities of a true Devotee (Chp 12) is Equanimity - as Friendliness to all, Dislike for none.Compassion, etc and this is reaching out....\nRegards \nCapt TR.\nChennai INDIA.,
464006
I have to somewhat agree with you.  With sincere apologies to Deepak Chopra I do believe the time for peace is no longer possible.\n\nThe mantra is very appealing and sounds like something I could follow in time, but society just can't handle that type of peace right now.  If a few million followed it we would still be where we are at now, with another religion/ practice to cause more controversy. \n\nVery good point though ;)
733720
interesting theory\ni would imagine that applies with religion yes\nhowever most religions have adapted .. even those who seem set in their ways , did at one point borrow and adopt other beliefs\n\nin saying that , i do feel that in present day , adapting is no longer accepted for many
1015734
Interesting website, but I'm a Hindu and this website is definately just a "Christianity is wrong" website. It's concept of God is limited in its perspective and it doesn't seem to bother to look further into the vast landscape of religious, philosophical, theological, and spiritual diversity that exists. The site seems to be aimed at trying to convince Christians that what they believe is wrong (which seems very similar to how many Christians try to convert people by trying to convince them what what they believe is right). So, for me, the website wasn't of any real interest.\n\nI do have a complaint about the website. It loads its pages too slow (and I'm on DSL!). Not sure why it was moving so slow, but it took me a while to even read through the website. Whoever maintains the website should look into this or contact their host. \n\nOther than that I am sure that the website is of interest to those who would already agree with it. Otherwise I seriously doubt many Christians would take it very seriously and the website isn't speaking to people of other religions (it seems not to even acknowledge the larger more diverse concepts of God, religion, etc). \n\nThanks for sharing the website.\n\nPeace be with you.
418617
I don't think there's an increase in the number of people practicing these religions, per se.  I think it's just more widely talked about these days than in the past.  It's kind of like saying there are more gay people now than in the past.  That's not true, either, it's just that more people aren't afraid to admit their gay as they were in the past.
1128144
Reincarnation wasn't so much "removed" from the New Testament as it was distorted and disguised with endless footnotes and spin doctoring from johnny-come-latelys who never met Jesus - beginning with Paul, who essentially founded the early Christian church. \n\nWhatever biblical passages didn't conform to their personal beliefs, they modified, deleted or slapped post-it notes all over, in an effort to discourage Christians from understanding Jesus' words within their own hearts and minds.\n\nIn the bible are clear, direct references to reincarnation such as "verily, verily [truly, literally] you must be born again", as well as numerous references to karma (e.g., the Beatitudes is a glowing example of the dynamics of karma). But church leaders who were never there - who never knew the man that spoke these things - edited his words to their own liking by telling us "Hey, don't take that literally - what he really meant was this..." \n\nAll this editing with explanatory footnotes was designed to give the church the supreme authority over the souls of mankind, under the guise of speaking for (and sometimes correcting the words of) God. \n\nThe Christian church has always focused much more on the "death" of its namesake than on his "life", and even today Jesus' martyrdom continues to be valued by Christians a great deal more than his ministry. In a sense the Christian church actually usurped Jesus by exploiting him as a sort of cover boy behind whom they promote their own agenda.  \n\nHistory has shown beyond any doubt that the early church got rich and powerful by selling dispensations and sainthoods, and by damning to hell (excommunicating) anyone who rebelled against their authority. These are the same people who wrote all the footnotes about how to interpret - and not to interpret - any biblical passages that might threaten that authority, such as references to reincarnation.
360224
New Age describes a broad movement in Western culture characterised by an individual eclectic approach to spiritual exploration. It has some attributes of a new, emerging religion but is currently a loose network of spiritual seekers, teachers, healers and other participants. The name "New Age" also refers to the market segment in which goods and services are sold to people in the movement.\n\nvisit \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age_Movement
1112884
Of course, you are being sarcastic, but your underlying point is whether Christianity will be viewed in the distant future the same as Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology.  It's a good question.  As humans continue to make social, economic, and technological advances, will people still hold true to their current religious beliefs.\n\nWill today's religions be replaced by newer more popular religions which have the effect of relegating older ones to mythology?  It is certainly possible.
632182
a HUGE impact. look at the da vinci code. even the author said it was completely fiction and people still took it seriously and started to question their ways of life and religion. or take the red book everyone carried in communist china. that little book ruled their lives (along with mao, but he was the author so it's all connected). there you go. it can change a person's whole point of view almost instantly
1077327
I've never thought of it that way. I'm in between religious beliefs at the moment, but yours has given me an entirely new perspective on Christianity. Thanks for putting it out there!
634694
There are literally millions of people who care about the spirituality of our youth out there you just haven't looked far enough. There is going on at this moment in American history the greatest growth in fundamental Christianity ever witnessed, and you cant see it? Come out of that dark cave at the bottom of the Grand Canyon you're stuck in. Seriously 'SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND'...ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN.\n    \n    PS: Keep the faith and Inquire thorough the Information \n        Highway we are both 'Talking On' right now. Find a \n        nice group of God's people to commune with, and \n        they don't all have to be christians.
1028350
There is nothing New to God, but Mortals have a lot to learn, there has been many things New to Man Since Ecclesiastes.  all our Modern Technology is a part of Gods Plan. and we will continue to see New things.
523162
I was exposed to Sec.Humanism when I was unitarian-universalist a while back.  I think it is a very common-sense, rational worldview.  I am not sure how spiritual Sec.humanism can be---but know some are to a point.\n\nThe effect on US?  It might help us solve some of our major problems with poverty, children in the child-care system, perhaps improve prison conditions (if needed), and perhaps bring a calm atmosphere to the already viotile area of politics.  That's just my take.\n\nThe effect on religion?   I am distinctly hoping that perhaps if Sec.Humanism becomes very popular or wide-known, maybe more religious folks can incorporate some of the humanism into their religion(s), maybe that might improve life generally---if not in small ways, by enabling the religious folks to take a hard look at their religious teachings and see how they can BETTER apply them to their lives (such as Judge Not, Help Others in Need, Live-Let-Live).  Again, just my take on it.