New Age Spirituality

[nic]

Is new age spirituality something to be feared? Is there any truth in what is called the Law of Attraction? Do our thoughts create a reality around us?

[Dave]

The law of attraction - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_attraction

“The law of attraction is the name given to the belief that "like attracts like" and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. This belief is based upon the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from pure energy, and the belief that like energy attracts like energy.

One example used by a proponent of the law of attraction is that if a person opened an envelope expecting to see a bill, then the law of attraction would "confirm" those thoughts and contain a bill when opened. A person who decided to instead expect a check might, under the same law, find a check instead of a bill.”

I agree that the Wikipedia example is terrible and makes the ‘Law of Attraction’ seem almost magical. On this scale it is just a load of crap.

However, on a much smaller / personal scale I do believe that there is something to be said for this theory. Our attitudes influence our perceptions. People that have powerful attitudes, both positive and negative, have an effect upon the biological life forms around them.

My example of the positive would be a politician that can lie out of both sides of his mouth and still become president because of his charisma. The combination of his projected competence and empathy make him a likable and electable guy – whether the public’s perception of his is accurate or not.

My example of the negative is as simple as the expression: a wild animal, or a dog, can smell your fear. By the person fear, their body broadcast all types of biological signals t cause the animal to sense that this person cannot be trusted and is a potential danger.

What power causes on person to be a glass half empty pessimist and another person a glass half full optimist? Either way the glass is half full. But it is our perception of it that dictates the way it appears to us.

Old woman or young woman? Look at the image. The Gestalt theory of cognitive closure says/predicts that if you work as a life guard at the beach filled with beautiful women all day long, or you are on an emotional high – you will only see the young beautiful maiden. But, if you spend your days worked with grumpy elderly people – you will see the old hag. It is the same image for both, but it is in the perception of the viewer that dictates how it is seen. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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[Dave]

Wicca Rope Magic

In my youth – a long time ago in a galaxy far away – I was acquainted with a Boston prostitute that claimed to be heavily involved in the practice of Wicca. I have often wondered I my association with her led to my own personal experiences with the Archons (dark forces) of Gnostic beliefs.

Regardless – she and her circle of friends practiced a form of witchcraft they called ‘Rope Magic.’ I have searched and searched for some imagery that could visually explain what I was told, but found none. So hopefully I can explain it well enough to make the point.

Imagine five lengths of knotted ropes all tied together at one end – forming five spokes of an imaginary wagon wheel. Now draw a five sided star on the floor, which always forms a pentagram at its center. To practice their magic one witch would sit naked at each point of the star facing each other. At the center of it all is a burning candle. Each witch would hold one free end of the knotted rope suspending the center knotted center above the candle’s flame. They would all pull on the rope as hard as they could making it a taunt as possible while starring at the candle’s flame. If they each consecrated on the same thought in unison – their thoughts would be focused toward the center of the pentagram, candle’s flame, and the rope’s knotted center.

By concentrating their thoughts in unison in this way they believed they could cause a physical effect in the physical world that we would see as magical powers.

All I will say is that her alleged magical powers did not prevent her from being arrested!

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[Dave]

Do our thoughts create a reality around us?

My answer to this is an answer of scale. Our thoughts dictate our demeanor and our body language, which determine how we are perceived by others. Our thoughts also dictate the choices we make. This combination has a lot to do with how our life unfolds. Both have a great impact on our successes and failures. Both impact how we perceive our surroundings.

A quotation by Henry David Thoreau that has had a great impact in my personal life is: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

But even with the best attitude and intentions, the victims of individual crimes – or the innocent victims of large scale crimes, terrorism, or war – did not choose to be victims. No one will ever convince me that women are ever responsible for their own rapes!

[Dave]

Is new age spirituality something to be feared?

Again – I do not have a yes/no answer for this.

I would say that it depends greatly on the definition of the vocabulary used. To the Jews Christianity would have been perceived as a New Age movement, as well as, Lutheran and Calvinism movements. As a flower of Jesus Christ I find no fault with these New Age movements at all – why – because they are Christ centered.

I claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but also claim not to be a Catholic or a Protestant – many would see me as a New Age spiritualist.

Satanism is a new age movement organized during the 1960s. Wicca, as a religion, came about after Christ walked the earth. Many ‘New Age Spiritual’ movement today focus on self and are little different than the Buddhist sojourn toward Nirvana, or the Hindu search for a perfect Karma.

For me, any movement that is stuck in the worship of the creation instead of the creator is a false teaching by false prophets. If you accept that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience then we will all continue to exist after death in some form. Therefore there are countless ways to enter the spirit realm; however, there is only one way to the ultimate desire locality in that spirit realm.

[Stella]

Jesus said

Matthew 17:20
New International Version
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

A mustard seed is very tiny. But even this much faith is capable of performing miracles. Do you think Jesus was referring to faith in a pagan idol? Or faith in the Lord?

[Virginia]

There is a trial just ended in Mesa, Az. Well the jury found her guilty of first degree murder but could not decide on life in prison or death. I mention this because the defendent Jodi Aries believed in the law of attaction. Well the guy she murdered did not see her as wife material and broke up with her many times. Only wanted her for perverted sex. Now there will be a mini trial the middle of July to decide on life or death.

Unfortunely she believed in the law of attraction but the guy did not.