Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs - A Review

In light of ARC's up and coming Areopagus Journal on the New Age, here is a book review (which will also be published in the journal) on John Ankerberg and John Weldon's helpful Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs (Harvest House Publishers, 1996; 670 Pages).

Ankerberg and Weldon are both known for their competent proficiency on a wide variety of Christian apologetic issues (see www.johnankerberg.org, for example) and the New Age Movement is no exception. This encyclopedia receives high marks generally speaking because it is comprehensive enough to cover a vast amount of relevant information regarding New Age beliefs and practices, and yet it is clear and straightforward enough to be used by just about anybody. Here is a self-description: “The material in this book is popularly written and should be considered as introductory and intermediate in nature.” The research is presented in a friendly and accessible way.

The helpful introduction written by Charles Strohmer, defines and describes the foundational “New Age way of seeing life” identified by the author as “foreign.” Here several key terms are put in the spotlight: monism, pantheism, Gnosticism, polytheism, animism, and energy. When exploring any issue within the New Age Movement, it would be helpful to refer back to this section and review these terms, for these beliefs are the concrete bottom of the New Age structure and explain why adherents engage in many strange practices. Unless their most basic beliefs are understood, their practices will not make much sense either, especially to the Western mind.

The authors balance well between New Age organizations, personalities, beliefs, and practices. For example, there is an entire section dealing with Scientology, an organization, but there is also a section called “New Age Education,” that focuses on the individual leaders and their methods for integrating their beliefs and practices into public schools.

A further strength of this broad guide is its interaction with actual practitioners of the movement. It is not simply a book of mud-throwing. The authors truly seek to understand the movement from the standpoint of those who are or have been active in it.

One other unique and helpful feature of this work is the “Info at a Glance” segments found at the beginning of each new section. These contain brief, one-paragraph descriptions of each organization, belief, and practice, as well as information on the founder if there is one. There is also a scientific evaluation given as well, which sheds fresh light on each issue from the world of scientific discovery. However, the scientific synopsis is sometimes the simple label “discredited” without any supporting documentation.

The authors must be commended for their recognition of the spiritual dimension of the New Age movement. Apologists can often make the mistake of believing intellectual persuasion alone is sufficient for showing a person an error. However, Ankerberg and Weldon show clearly that often satanic and demonic forces are at work behind the New Age movement. In the section dealing with the New Age concept of “enlightenment” they write:

“It is our conviction that the experience of enlightenment isn’t what proponents claim it to be: an exalted and divine state of consciousness permitting experiential awareness of the pantheistic reality of all existence. We think it is just the opposite. Far from being a spiritual evolutionary leap for mankind, we think enlightenment is a rather unprogressive encounter with the demonic, which ultimately leads to possession.” (p. 242)

This type of language, looking beyond the outward, physical movement itself and to the spiritual reality behind it, is found throughout the encyclopedia. In fact, Ankerberg and Weldon have been criticized (perhaps unfairly) for having too strong a focus on this aspect of the New Age movement, finding a “demon under every rock”.

The following is an overview of the many of the topics in the book: A Course in Miracles / Attitudinal Therapy, Altered States of Consciousness, Angel Contact, Astrology, Channeling, Crystal Work, Divination Practices and Occult “Games,” Dowsing and Water Dowsing, Dream Work, Eastern Gurus, Enlightenment, New Age Seminars (Like EST), Hypnosis, Mantras, Martial Arts, Meditation, Muscle Testing, New Age Education, New Age medicine, Physics, Scientology, Shamanism, Silva Mind Control, Visualization, and Yoga.

If you are considering the purchase of this Encyclopedia for your own library, remember that it was printed in 1996 and is now out of print. Because of the ever-changing nature of the various New Age movements, leaders, and practices, constant updates need to be made to a work such as this. For example, there is nothing in this work on the new uprising of Kabballah, enthusiastically embraced by many Hollywood and pop stars, such as Madonna. In spite of this shortcoming, Ankerberg and Weldon have provided a unique, solid, and concise grasp of where things were a decade ago and certainly this is prerequisite knowledge to comprehending the world of the New Age in our day. The funny thing about history is how it keeps repeating itself.

Pastors especially should have a copy around the office. Eventually you will be confronted with some aspect of the New Age movement and this resource can give you quick reference when you need it.