Virginia Biblical Demonology Research Society

Effects of the New Age Movement on Religion-Education Politics
Robert E. Best
VBDRS, Virginia

          Children and young people are being conditioned towards a New Age world view. They are being taught that there is a spiritual force that we have not tapped into. Jesus said unto  his disciples, "Lift up your eyes, and look upon the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35b). The harvest spoken of here are ripen souls for the reception of the Word.  Analogously, the New Age is looking upon the public school system to be their mission field with an already captive audience.1

        The movement has infiltrated American education with occultic New Age philosophy. The New Age's strategy is to "gradually develop their goal of a new world order through a new world consciousness."2 Although the Christian religion cannot be taught in public schools, apparently the New Age religion can and is being done so by various education programs using textbooks "replete with New Age buzz words like 'new consciousness,' 'energy fields,' 'centering,' 'holistic,' 'transcendental,' 'interdependent,' 'global village,' 'planetary vision,' 'meditation,' 'higher consciousness,' 'humanism,' full inner potential,' 'transcendent power,' 'tapping into the force,' 'new birth,' 'the untapped energy of the universe,' and so forth."3 These "conditioning" words are alienating children from traditional culture and replacing it with counterfeit values (an expression of personal preferences) conducive to New Age ideology. With this in mind, today's students are tomorrow's leaders.

        Education in America is primarily a State and local responsibility, and, as such, requires multi-layered funding. Although the local tax base is primarily responsible for supporting public schools, a certain amount is also passed on from the state and federal levels. Monies from taxing the citizenry is used on curriculums: what gets taught and methodologies employed in the same. Apart from State laws stipulating minimum graduation requirements including core subject areas, law mandates that teachers are to maintain a strict neutrality concerning religious topics. Maintaining a state of neutrality is nearly impossible in the discourse of religious or religious related topics. Citizens are paying the salaries of public educators who, in fact, promote non-Christian world views. In a public school setting, writes Colosson, "textbooks, self-esteem programs, drug and sex-ed curricula, and teacher's unions have adopted a view of humanity and morality that portrays mankind as autonomous from God."4 The philosophy behind education is a byproduct of secular humanism whose advocates are adept in teaching that man is God and that he is his own source of salvation.

        In transforming the consciousness and character of the world, New Age visionaries use public education as a means to bring about a world paradigm shift. In His book For Many Shall Come in My Name Yungen writes, "The field of education presents an ideal setting for transformation. In virtually every area of education and instruction from kindergarten to universities...the Ancient Wisdom is being taught either up front or covertly."5 Ferguson acknowledges: "Of the Aquarian Conspirators surveyed, more were included in education than in any other single category of work."6

        John Dewey is recognized as the Father of modern education and remembered for his efforts in establishing America's current educational systems. As a relativist, humanist, philosopher and educator, Dewey was a contributor to and a signatory of the Humanist Manifesto. Affirmations contained therein affirm evolution, atheism, and the meeting of life's challenges by knowledge and attitudes fostered by education. Championing relativism and global government, Dewey's writings and teachings have had profound influences on education in the United States. Both he and other signatories of the Humanist Manifesto are no strangers to promoting a counterfeit gospel to the masses through the vehicle of government mandated models of civil communities.

        Humanist and signatory of the 1930 Humanist Manifesto, Charles Potter, declared: "Education is thus a most powerful ally of Humanism, and every American public school is a school of Humanism. What can the theistic Sunday-school, meeting for an hour once a week, and teaching only a fraction of the children, do to stem the tide of a five-day program of humanistic teaching?" In one of Dr. Norman Geisler's lectures at the Los Gatos Christian Church in 1990, he tells of John Danfey's book A Religion for the New Age in which the author is quoted as saying, "I am convinced that the battle for humankind's future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of the new faith, a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being. Theses teachers must embody the same selfless dedication as the most rabid fundamentalist preachers for they will be ministers of another sort, utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in whatever subject they teach regardless of the education level, preschool, day care or large state university".7

         New Age scholars, visionaries and reformers are now beginning to evangelize the mission fields of our education system. Although the format of our public school's curriculum remains humanistic in its philosophy and purpose, the demise of secular humanism has given ground to an even more dangerous movement to a most receptive audience. Humanism failed as it left life without any real meaning, purpose or hope of an afterlife. A holy and transcendent God was removed from the equation and replaced with evolutionary science, moral relativism and materialism. Those trapped under its spell had no value or purpose in life. Man cannot survive in a spiritual vacuum of this magnitude for very long. By nature, man seeks transcendent meaning in life as he is created in the very image of God. Man reflects the Creator in the makeup of his immaterial constitution. In recovering lost meaning, the New Age masters are having students to turn inward to discover that they are God. New Age books, programs and occultic practices have found their way into the classroom.

        The success of this infiltration may have "started in 1954 with the publication of Alice Baily's book Education in the New Age. She is a disciple of Helens Petrovna Bolvatsky, a Russian mystic, co-founder of the Theosophy Society. It is published by Lucas Publishing Company, originally called Lucifer Publishing Company. Others have followed her philosophy, many not even realizing the New Age world view behind her suggestions."8 A not to subtle Mario Fantini, former Ford consultant on education, states that "the psychology of becoming New Age transcendence has to be smuggled into the schools."9

        As New Age ideas and practices infiltrate state-sponsored education, parents need to be aware of the programs introduced into their respective state's curriculum. Based on pantheistic theology, Dr. Beverly Galyean introduced her federally funded "confluent education" into the California curriculum.10 In promoting confluent education, Dr. Galyean's approach betrays the age old hiss from the Garden when she writes: "Once we begin to see that we are all God, that we all have the attributes of God, then I think the whole purpose of human life is to reown the Godlikeness within us; the perfect love, the perfect wisdom, the perfect understanding, the perfect intelligence, and when we do that, we create back to that old, that essential oneness which is consciousness.11

        To circumvent the issue of promoting religious ideology in the classroom, the use of labels and cleverly disguised terminology are exposing children to the influences of the New Age. These influences smack of a synthesis of Occultism, Buddhism, Zen and Hinduism. The common dominator of these religions being taught is that each child is God. Labels used include confluent education, integrative education, global education and transpersonal education. Techniques taught in the class room are meditation, visualization and guided imagery with the presupposition that the "Divine" is within. Educators are advised to disguise terminology in the classroom by well-known educators such as Paula Klimeck and Jack Canfield: "Centering can be extended into work with meditation in the classroom. If you're teaching in a public school, don't call it meditation, call it centering."12

        Craig Branch, Director of the Apologetics Resource Center, gives an incomplete list of specific programs that contain either new age precepts or practices of the new age transpersonal psychotherapeutic techniques used around the county. The following comes with the caveat that if one does not see the program one's child's school is using on the list, it is safe:13

Bridges - Choosing Wellness (by Prentice Hall) - Coping with Kids - Coping with Stress - DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) - Delphi Foundation Institute - Discipline with Dignity - Discovery Skills For Life - Dungeons and Dragons - Flexing your Test Muscles - Flights of Fantasy - Free the Horses (Active Parenting) - Get Set Green Circle Program -Growing Healthy - Health: A Wellness Approach (by Merril Publishing) - Heart to Heart - HeartMath - Here's Looking at You - Holistic Learning - Impressions - Integrated Thematic Instruction - Know Your Body - Kreative Kids - Letting Go of Stress - Life Education Centre - Mac's Choice -  Magick -Michigan Model for Comprehensive Health Education - PALS -Peaceworks - Positive Action - Project Aware - Project Rainbow - Project Strain - Quest - S.O.A.R. - Self Concept - Small World: Chinese - SOS (Strengthening of Skills) - Tactics for Thinking - TAD (Toward Affective Development) - The Centered Student - Visual Thinking: A Scamper Tool - Waldorf Schools - Whole Mind Learning - Wizards - Workshop Way - Yoga Program

        For decades, public schools have been churning out graduates who, for the most part, were deprived of a classical education. The philosophy behind Dewey's progressive education is based upon an optimistic view of human nature. The abolishment of societal moral standards and tradition in favor of experimental learning and individual interest has failed miserably in one's academic preparation for higher learning. Truth was situational, pragmatic (i.e., "whatever works") and determined by individuals and/or society. Experience replaced reason as the means of discerning truth. Both Daniel and Wade agree that "historically, pragmatism has proven to be a fatal flaw both individuals and educational systems."14 The educational system experienced a steady decline until 1983 at which time A Nation at Risk was published. Emerging from the ashes of a bygone tradition was a new emphasis on basics and national learning standards to improve results on standardization tests.

        What remains, however, is the denial of the Supremacy of God and the Deity of Jesus Christ. The New Age teaching, guised in acceptable terminology, is exposing children to demonic ancient wisdom, hypnosis, visualization, guided imagery, globalism, meditative practices, pantheism, et. al. Pantheism teaches God is all and all is God. If "all is One," then traditional thought which separates good from evil, right from wrong, and helpful from harmful must be dissolved. This New Age view of God is diametrically opposed Biblical theism. The New Age is monism which, philosophically, affirms only one essence in the universe–one reality–God (us). All is interrelated, interdependent and interpenetrating. All are part of one continuous reality that has no boundaries, divisions leading to the ultimate reality beyond good and evil. Eastern philosophy, the occult, witchcraft, anything that attempts to remove the truth of the Godhead by denying the supremacy of God and the Deity of Christ is classified as New Age.

        What began as a scattered revolt against traditional Christianity and Western Secularism has become a full-orbed assault on Western culture. Whereas Secular Humanism sees mankind as the product of chance evolution, cosmic humanism (New Age) sees mankind as gods in disguise. Children are being taught psychotechnologies designed to alter ordinary consciousness, and this change in consciousness leads to an awareness of oneness and spiritual power. Scripture warns us about approaching the spiritual dimension apart from Christ (Acts 19:13-16).15

        The New Age's hope for personal and social transformation has found its way into our classrooms to a most strategic audience - an audience who will affect world control for the next century. Political vision stems from our deepest beliefs concerning reality and value. As discussed in a previous writing, the New Age is working toward a "collective consciousness," a one-world religion and a new world order which will resemble a totalitarian form of control. Public schools are being used, in essence, as "indoctrination camps" hidden by a front - education.

        Materials or activities that advance the Antichrist and anti-American doctrines are referred to as Secular Humanism and/or New Age Theology and are characterized by reliance on science and human nature instead of God and His Word. Our children's textbooks prompt thorough parental examination. As parents we need to move the state and local school boards to adapt policies that would censor New Age programs from entering the system, as well as prohibiting any teachers from using them. May our prayers include parental spiritual discernment, parental involvement in their child's education and parental action to influence both state and local school boards.

Endnotes

1.  Edward F. Murphy, The Handbook For Spiritual Warfare, Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003, p. 505.
2.  Ibid., p. 503.
3.  Ibid., p. 505.
4.  Don Closson, Difficult Choices, Richardson, TX, Probe Ministries,   1992, http://www.prob.org/content/view/859/88 (accessed July 2, 2008).
5.  Roy Yungen, For Many Shall Come in My Name, Silverton, OR, Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2^nd ed., 2007, p. 78.
6.  Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy, Los Angeles, CA J.P. Tarcher, 1980, p. 280.
7.  Charles F. Potter, as cited in Edward, Ibid., p. 506.
8.  Dr. Norman L. Geisler, as cited in Edward, Ibid., p. 505. Theosophy is a cult founded by Helena Petrovna Bolvatsky in 1875 and attempts to expound on the wisdom of God found in all religions. Occultic practices are used within the group. Lucis Trust is a long-standing occult organization advancing Luciferian beliefs. Bailey formed the Lucifer Publishing Company in 1920 and changed the organization's name to Lucis Trust in 1925. Lucis Trust is the publishing company for the UN.
9.   Ferguson, Ibid., p. 280-81.
10. Francis Adeney, "Educators Look East," Spiritual Counterfeits Journal 5, no. 1 (Winter 1981), p. 28.
11. Ibid., p. 29.
12. Education For a New Age: New Age Magazine, Feb. 1978, p. 36.
13. Craig Branch, Public Schools: The Sorcerer's New Apprentice - Part 4, http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchieves/new-age/NA4W1229.pdf (accessed July 4, 2008).
14. Eleanor A. Daniel, and John W. Wade II, Foundations for Christian Education, Joplin, MO, College Press Publishing Co., 1999, p. 38.
15.  Psychotechnologies are systems (approaches) used for a deliberate change in consciousness.

Comparison of New Age Politics With Totalitarianism: Communism and Nazism
Robert E. Best
VBDRS, Virginia 

Exceeding the limits of man's ability to reason, Lucifer's fall has extensive consequences that extend far beyond the physical realm. The first sin in the universe took place in the heavenlies. Lucifer wanted to become "like the most high" (Isa.14:4) and thus his sin is called the original sin. Satan brought this sin of independence to man by way of temptation so that he may adopt the very same philosophy of life. The Kingdom of Evil was in place before man was created and its many manifestations include the social dimension of politics and government.

Although not identified in the Genesis account, Satan was the tempter (II Cor. 11:8; I Tim. 2:14; Rev. 12:9). Man was given but one prohibition: he was not to eat of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God had already communicated to man that "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." The tempter's presence in the garden was to persuade man that if he ate of the fruit, not only would he not die, but that he would also be as Elohim. The essential character of sin resides in the disposition to be independent of God. The garden served as the testing ground for man's obedience to God.

Adam fails the test of the prohibition and is found self-willed instead of God-willed. Man finds a conscience as a result of his fall. Man was taken out of the Dispensation of Innocence and placed into the Dispensation or Age of Conscience. It was during this time that man was responsible to God through the prompting of his conscience. This age served as a demonstration of how hopeless man was when left to himself. Apostasy surfaced and permeated civilization. God then executed the judgement of the universal flood in which only the lives of Noah and his family were spared.

Man's failure marked both the end of the Age of Conscience and the beginning of the Dispensation or Age of Civil/Human Government. It is here that the establishment of human government, authority of magisterial function, the power of life and death takes place. Man is ruling man for God. Noah soon displayed his incapability to rule. God commanded Noah to occupy the now desolate earth by multiplication and diffusion of race. Violation of the same was evident by the concentration and centralization of man instead of diffusion. Ryrie writes, "Fellowship with fellow man now replaced fellowship with God and their building the tower of Babel was to help them achieve their aim (Ryrie 60). God divided out the earth (Deut. 32:8) according to Moses. They met God's intervention with rebellion. Pember writes, "At Babel the world resisted this ordinance, and now men are renewing their efforts to the same end by maintaining that we should be humanitarians, cosmopolitans, anything but lovers of our own country (Pember 280).

The premise for which the builders in Shinar banded was solely ecumenical (Trib.com). It has already been demonstrated that man's "autonomous or self-governing spirit would likely prove to be self-destructive" (Willmington 50). Before further advancement of the topic of social evil, it will be noted that Babel's founder, Nimrod, was a "ruthless conqueror of the ancient day with ambitious political aspirations" (Willmington 53).

The mistakes made by those associated with the Tower of Babel are in the early stages of being repeated at an unprecedented pace. New age gurus, organizations and demonically inspired politics are exponentially multiplying. In reading the historical events that happened at both the Garden of Eden and at Shinar, the Bible student can discern the demonic methodology employed. The methodology used by Satan and his fallen angels in managing the affairs of this world will advance the awareness of a collective evil that is ingrained within the rhythm of life. Satan's kingdom, this world's system, is dedicated to the destruction of humankind and to bringing the world under his dominion by undermining faith in God, twisting values, and promoting false ideologies.

Perhaps no better example of this subjugation is that of infiltrated structures. This work of perversion is done by way of infiltrating institutions, government administrations, educational systems and religious bodies or organizations. "The key point is that Satan and his hordes conceal themselves in the structures of the world and human life, making the world and humankind instruments and bearers of their power. In that sense the cosmos is indeed possessed, so that energy and structures meant for good, meant to serve God, are turned against him and his purposes" (Schlier 28-29). This subversion is accomplished by substitution of money, power, pleasure, science, politics, art, religious idols and false doctrines.

One needs to look no further than recent history to observe dark forces at work within governments and similar structures. The ideologies that energized world leaders culminated in atrocities led by men such as Hitler, Stalin and more recently, Saddam Hussein. Genocidal crimes are a hallmark of such evil. John Robb writes, "Although Satan is not omnipresent or omniscient, he is a master networker who works through a vast organization of spirit beings who apparently communicated with each other and work in some sense cooperatively to undermine humanity's encounter with the kingdom of God in every way they can. Towards this end evil spirits attempt to gain influence over government leaders, legal systems, educational systems and religious movements. Admittedly, Scripture is not entirely lucid as to how these spirits are organized or how they operate, but there is enough Scriptural warrant to make conclusions regarding this" (Robb 174).

According to Paul, dominion and control may be the primary objectives of these demon "gods" of which he calls "principalities," "powers," "thrones" and "dominions." Schlier writes, "The acquisition of power and influence over human beings and their societies seems to be their obsession. This dominating nature may be revealed in their very names. For example, the meaning of Molech, god of the Ammonites, is "ruler." He managed to get such control over the people of Ammon that they offered their firstborn children to him as sacrifices by fire. Chemosh, the national god of Moab, possibly means "subdurer," perhaps a reflection of the degree of dominion he had obtained over this people, as well as of the successes he gave Moab in wars against their enemies" (Schlier 29).

Furthermore, "Principalities do not merely possess power; they are power . . . pure power . . . capacity, dominion in person . . . the principalities exercise their being by taking possession of the world as a whole and of individual men, the elements, political and social institutions, historical conditions and circumstances, spiritual and religious trends" (Schlier 67). Larkin adds, "These 'Principalities' are ruled by 'Princes,' who control certain nations of our earth, as in the days of Daniel the Prophet, when a heavenly messenger was sent to Daniel, but was hindered 'three weeks' from reaching him by the 'Prince of the Kingdom of Persia,' Satan's ruling Prince of Persia until Michael the Archangel came to his rescue" as recorded in the book Daniel (Larkin 16).

Berkhof refers to Paul's teaching in Romans in harmony with the idea that these principalities and powers seek a totalitarian form of control or government: "Paul observes that life is ruled by a series of Powers. He speaks of time (present and future) of life and death; of politics and philosophy; of public opinion and Jewish law; of pious traditions and the fateful course of the stars. Apart from Christ man is at the mercy of these powers" (Berkhof 22). A student of world history is quickly met with the realization that tyrannical forms of government are not only dehumanizing, but is revealing of its demonic underpinnings. What emerges to the forefront of these government forms is totalitarianism. Columbia University Press Encyclopedia defines totalitarianism as:

A modern autocratic government in which the state involves itself in all facets of society, including the daily life of its citizens. A totalitarian government seeks to control not only all economic and political matters but the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population, erasing the distinction between state and society. The citizen's duty to the state becomes the primary concern of the community, and the goals of the state is the replacement of existing society with a perfect society. Various totalitarians systems, however, have different ideological goals. For example, of the states most commonly described as totalitarian - the Soviet Union under Stalin, Nazi Germany under Hitler, and the People's Republic of China under Mae - the Communist regimes of the Soviet Union and China sought universal fulfillment of humankind through the establishment of a classless society (see communism); German National Socialism, on the other hand, attempted to establish the superiority of the so-called Aryan race.

After the death of Lenin in 1924, Joseph Stalin came to power in the Soviet Union government. Stalin is regarded as one of the greatest mass murders of all time. It is estimated that both his direct orders and instituted inhumane programs were directly responsible for the deaths of at least 4,000,000 and up to 20,000,000 people. Adolf Hitler, the demonically energized leader of the Holocaust, is responsible for the death of more than 6,000,000 Jews.

New Ages advocates promise that the New Age will radically transform the consciousness and character of the modern world. They are optimistic predicated upon the potential of collective humanity. Advocates propagate that the whole society must be brought into harmony with the One as the New Consciousness produces the New Age. According to Groothuis, the political message of the New Age is this: "Our consciousness is unlimited and our responsibility is total" (Groothuis 113).

"As gods come of age we must transform the planet," Groothuis further writes (Groothuis 113). New Age politics is sometimes called transformationalist politics. Marilyn Ferguson says "the political system needs to be transformed, not reformed" (Ferguson 191). This transformation does not stop with a change in political structure but a new consciousness. The New Age agenda includes a political one of which is being tirelessly advanced. Groothuis writes that "religion can never be severed from politics as political vision stems from our deepest beliefs concerning reality and value. Politics follows faith (Groothuis 111). Now is the time to disregard traditional ideologies and usher in a new world view, as it were. In reality, New Age globalism will be pushing us back into the Middle Ages into a new Kingdom of Darkness in all it totalitarian monstrosities.

The agenda, without doubt, is setting the stage for the New World Order and the Antichrist. Oneness, unity and wholeness–the One for all is the root idea of the New Age (Groothuis 114-115). The idol of this age is transpersonal or collective consciousness. The world as "one with all its unity and interdependence transcends national boundaries and divisions between nations and peoples" (Groothuis 116). In 1956, Mumford wrote, "The destiny of mankind, after its long preparatory period of separation and differentiation, is at last to become one . . . This unity is on the point of being politically expressed in a world government that will unite nations and regions in transactions beyond their individual capacity" (Mumford 142). This author concurs with Groothuis in that many UN goals parallel those found in the New Age Movement.

Truth causes divisions as there are no provisions for neutrality. The words of our Lord found in Luke 12:49-53 tell of divisions predicated upon Him . . . there can be no unification outside the same. Jesus Christ is the only manifestation of God in the flesh and preached that He is the way, the truth and the life. Satan tempted Christ by offering him all the kingdoms of the world if He would only worship him. Our Lord responded to the tempter, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and Serve him only'" (Mt. 4:8-10). Man is, again, rebelling against the God given divisions of land and people and worshiping the god of Humanism instead of the God of whom Jesus spake. This pantheistic enlightenment, according to Scripture, is nothing more than a counterfeit and deception.

In globalizing the nations both politically and economically, a pervasive sense of irony is apparently hidden from the New Age players. Although New Agers desire national distinctiveness within the new world order, a global, centralized power must be in place by which "nations must be united and globally guided" (Groothuis 127). ,Global government, by its very nature, "necessitates coercive control and power," writes Groothuis (Groothuis 128). History teaches that such a political order increases the opportunity for abuses on God-given rights. David Spangler of Planetary Initiative and New Age thinker, Thompson, both "agree that the new political order must be hierarchical" (Groothuis 127).

Only those possessing cosmic consciousness will be fit to rule and conduct the affairs of a "spiritual society." This is due, in part, because the ultimate reality is being beyond good and evil will belong to such a one who is divinized. Groothuis says that "One group has absolute power and sees itself a spiritually superior. Any student of history can see that this is a dangerous situation" (Groothuis 127). Current diversity could never pose any greater danger than that of a centralization of power in a fallen world (Groothuis 128). Such an antecedent can have only one consequent: totalitarianism and tyranny. Strict national boundaries must be transcended by the realization of unity and interdependence (Groothuis 116).

A sense of cosmic commonality will replace patriotism and nationalism - there are no separations of peoples or nations - all are one with the cosmic order. The idea of a one world government has left the theoretical realm as there are numerous organizations that are "implementing the goal of a new world order" (Groothuis 117). The host of organizations include: the United Nations; Planetary Citizens; the Green Party of Germany; the European Union; the Trilateral Commission and the Club of Rome. Although the United Nations cannot be considered a New Age institution, it plays a major role. The United Nations' goal is to establish peaceful order; however, Bando says, "The UN is drifting away from the goal of establishing an international peaceful order . . . and is working instead to build a New International Economic Order in which the UN manages global resources" (Bando 29).

This unification would mean the "nations" will not only be united politically but economically as well. The new world will call for a new economic order in which wealth will be evenly distributed. How might such redistribution be made? Satin speaks of a "planetary guidance system" that offers a system of planetary taxation on resource use which would be part of an economic redistribution of wealth to poorer nations (Satin 117). This redistribution may have extensive consequences concerning private ownership.

It has been advanced that government with demonic intervention has a totalitarian bent and that the New World Order proposes no divergence from this bent. The totalitarian proposed New World Order has no divergence with such a form of control. Clearly antithetical to the virtues of democracy, totalitarianism, in all its various systems or forms, have certain characteristics that are common to all. When we think of totalitarian states, we automatically think of hard-line communist regimes as Marxism, Leninism, Troskyism, Stalinism or Maoism. The term also applies to North Korea, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Characteristics of a totalitarian society include:

- Total control of society...an attempt to dominate all spheres of social life.

- Extensive mechanisms of terror by secret services.

- Censorship, monopoly of information...centrally steered propaganda which aims to imposed the official ideology on all people.

- Radical detachment or departure from the past.

- A new ideal type of man or person.

- Nihilistic and/or selective approach to traditions.

Uncertainty characterizes the future of New Age politics which, in turn, limits our ability to ascertain to what ends the controlling power will take to dominate various spheres of social life. New Age unity is ideological rather than organizational therefore suggesting that the ideologies of the controlling power will be tightly woven into the fabric of their subjects' lives. According to Karl Lowenstein, "The governmental techniques of a totalitarian regime are necessarily authoritarian. But the regime does much more. It attempts to mold the private life, the soul, the spirit, and the mores of citizens to a dominant ideology. The officially proclaimed ideology penetrates into every nook and cranny of the state society; its ambition is total" (Pipes 240). In an endeavor to secure freedom, humankind will lose it.

An agenda to install a socialistic and totalitarian one world government emerges upon a close examination of numerous United Nations documents. In studying these documents, however, one must look beyond the eloquent expressions and exposition of human dignity and rights. On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 29 of this document predicts a horrific future of serfdom. In no uncertain terms, rights and privileges granted by the UN may be withdrawn at their discretion per third part of said Article:

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

A totalitarian form of power has its ideal type of man or person. Such a system, however, begins to de-evolve into a cult of personality of a type of monarchy. Soviet communism's ideal man was the "collective" man otherwise known as the "New Soviet Man." This ideal man is one whose nature is conforming to a collective political ideal who is dedicated to a common goal. This type of man exponentially would create a brave new society. Nazism or National Socialism's ideal person, however, was centered around the German or Aryan race. Nazism's one nation and one people rejected all forms of individualism. The tyrannical nature of their philosophy not only placed group concerns above individual concerns, but it incorporated aspects of Social-Darwinism in the so-called purification of the German race. Hitler's goal was not so much a classless society or social equality but rather that of race and the provision of "Lebensraum."

As previously discussed, only those possessing cosmic consciousness will be fit to rule and to conduct the affairs of a "spiritual society." This is due, in part, to the ultimate reality of being beyond good and evil. Those who are divinized in having achieved that reality will be elevated and "superior" to all others for they possess the wisdom of the cosmic consciousness and will lead all others. This leads to a most dangerous situation. New Age thought and practice is, perhaps, the most narcissistic form of religion practiced paralleling Lucifer's narcissistically motivated sin, self-centered nature and his system of religion. This is the very religion in which the New World Order will put into place for the masses. The New Age movement has, already, dismissed the sovereignty of God and the Deity of Christ for a counterfeit god. The lie has not changed.

The ever growing acceptance of New Age thought is setting the stage for the appearance and rule of the Antichrist. The New Age shares an undeniable common basis with the Antichrist in that both reject the notion of a sinful nature, the rejection of our Heavenly Father's provision for eternal life (Jesus Christ), and the acceptance of the demonically inspired worship of oneself. This acceptance is not exclusive to those outside Christendom as believers are being deceived within the church. New Age principles and thinking have found their way into the church dressed with bits of Christian vernacular. Some of the very elect are being deceived . . . discernment is imperative as no one is apparently above deception. The occult is being repackaged in modern, pseudoscientific terminology and received by undiscerning Christians as the latest in "self-help" or "personal development" techniques.

The Olivet Discourse is the cornerstone of all New Testament eschatology. In answering His disciples' question pertaining to signs that would indicate the nearness of His return, Jesus precedes the identification of those signs with the statement, "take heed that no one deceives you." Jesus was talking about unprecedented spiritual deception. The New Age spiritual deception, in the context of Bible prophecy, will play into the hands of the coming apostasy of the Christian church, the one-world government and the Antichrist. It will be required of those who are living during the Tribulation, to terminate all self-worship and to worship the Antichrist instead. It will be then that Satan's desire to be worshiped will be consummated. The object of worship will be the radical departure from the past in that the Lord Jesus is no longer worshiped, and self-worship is replaced with Luciferian worship. May we all increase the intensity with which we study the absolute authority by which all things are measured.

Works Cited

Ryrie, Charles D., Dispensationalism Today. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1965.

Pember, G.H., Earth's Earliest Ages. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1975.

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