Recently I read a column that appeared on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s website (cbn.com) discussing Oprah Winfrey’s embracing of the latest New Age movements.
The column written by Andrea D. Hedlund (http://www.cbn.org/spirituallife/inspirationalteaching/Hedlund_BewareOFactor.aspx) states, “Like a chameleon, we have also watched her spiritual colors shift over the years.” She goes on to warn, “We should be alarmed by Oprah’s increasing hostility toward the truth of the Gospel and recent embrace of New Age philosophies like Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth and ‘The Secret.’”
As I read the column I was reminded of the research I did a few years ago for a priest who is writing a book on the return of Gnosticism, particularly through New Age practices and beliefs. The common denominator in all of the New Age “religions” I investigated is the embracing of Adam and Eve’s Original Sin: Pride. It is Man who should be worshipped because of our God-potential. These spiritualities teach that Jesus was merely an archetype, someone to be respected and even followed as a teacher but nothing more than that.
These New Age gurus teach we are all filled with the potential to be God and just need to unlock the divinity within us. Thus, we are all “Christ” and Jesus merely showed us one path to get there. Whether you follow Jesus, Buddha, or any other spiritual master doesn’t matter. All is Truth and no religion is more right than any other.
Because of our sinful nature it is tempting to embrace ideas that flatter ourselves. However, we must always remember that Jesus—and Jesus only—is God Incarnate. And as he said, “Without Me You Can Do Nothing” (John 15:5)
It is also important to remind ourselves of Christ’s warning in Matthew’s Gospel: “If anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 10; 32-33)
