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New Religion Rising: An Editorial
Once upon a time, about 2,000 years ago, a new religion was formed based on pretexts not practiced by the then current religious world. Its members met secretly, mostly in private homes. Secret symbols were used to identify one another at a time when public acknowledgment could be detrimental, if not even dangerous, to one's life. The young, the bold, the thinkers, the outcasts were attracted to this religion. And as a result, it grew.
That religion, of course, was Christianity.
When it was accepted by the government (when the Emperor Constantine publicly proclaimed himself a Christian), Christianity had arrived. But as always happens when the government gets its finger in the pie, changes were quickly made to make it suit everyone. Secret meetings were no longer necessary; elaborate temples were built. Ancient (but pagan) practices were adopted and Christianized as a form of outreach. And when the position of Pope was established, Christianity became one of the world's major religions.
After two millennia of factions and splits, Christianity birthed first Protestantism, then Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, and around the turn of the twentieth century, Pentecostalism. The Pentecostals brought freer, less ritualized worship to their services, charging the air with singing, music, chants, and rhythmic clapping and stomping. They made healing a standard part of their services, prayed as if they expected answers, and vehemently proclaimed that miracles were still possible, thus shaking the other, more sedate and ritualistic Christians off their pews.
"Witchcraft" was the first charge made towards these unorthodox Christians. But through the years, compromises were made, and about 30 years ago, Pentecostalism settled fairly comfortably into the Christian family.
Now, a new religion is rising in this world. They meet secretly, often in private homes or, preferably, (and when the weather permits) in secluded glens. Secret symbols have been used to identify one another when public acknowledgment could be detrimental or even dangerous to one's career, family, and life. The young, the bold, the thinkers, and the outcasts are in its ranks. For want of a better word, we call it New Age.
New Age is a very broad term used to encompass many new beliefs, consisting primarily of holistic healing, meditation, environmental awareness and attunement with nature. In its broader context, it includes magic, the occult, spiritualism, and ancient rituals of old religions (or at least, close approximations of the same). Since these religions are not identified with the Christian God, this religion cannot be identified as another branch of Christianity.
Proponents of New Age call themselves anything from witches to pagan to, well, some are still searching for the elusive word by which they are defined. But whatever they call themselves, they are quietly changing the world''s view of religion as we know it.
So, once again the charge, "Witchcraft!" is leveled at a new religion. And maybe its true. Certainly, many New Agers have joined the ranks of those in witchcraft. But the problem is, as quickly as they are joining witchcraft, they are changing it. Traditional witches (are there any, anymore?) shake their heads in disapproval as their once ""secret society"" becomes more and more open. The religion of priestesses and priests is now opening to all as more and more newcomers are content to let others take the lead. And if witchcraft never did have any correlation with Satanism, new witches certainly seem to avoid more and more similarities now.
What is all this saying?
There is an evolution of religion going on in this world. Not to worry though; its all part of the natural evolutionary process, as we humans grow and learn and become closer to what we, as spirit beings, are reaching for. I personally believe that every major religion formed brought with it a message necessary for that time. Think of it as pages of a book. Each religion donates its page; without it, the book would be incomplete. Stop at that page, and the book is never finished. Christianity, for one, brought the message of good and evil, black and white, heaven and hell, so to speak. But now that the message has been learned, it has become time to move forward. We know the difference between good and evil. Now, it is time to proclaim the message of power and responsibility. We are taking the ancient religions of old and are melding them with what we have learned with the new religion, in order to form a newer, more perfect religion.
A few years back, while still gracing the pew of a Pentecostal church, I heard a prophet of the church warn of a new religion that would come. This religion, called New Age, would present a great threat to Christianity, he foretold.
At the time, "New Age" was just words and meant nothing to me. If I thought of it at all, it was in the context of this new religion persecuting Christians, as that was the Pentecostal message.
But I've done some studying since then. I've done a little research; I've lived life. As a result, I've made some changes in both my lifestyle and my religion. And one thing I know----the prophet was right. There is a new religion rising in this world, and it could threaten Christianity. Not with persecution, as I thought, but with extinction.
Do you not see how natural it is, that many of the practices of Pentecostals in worship are identical to practicing of witches in circle? Do you not see how naturally one flows into the other, like a creek joining a river, running to meet the ocean? Do you not see the new meeting the old and blending to become another new?
Religion appears to be coming full circle, and New Agers are very fond of circles.
Blessed be.
- Terry
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