The 1960’s hippie movement, along with the New Left and civil rights movement, are considered the three dissenting groups of the counterculture movements. The hippies drew on the traditions of the bohemians and beatniks to rebel against “the establishment;” middle class values, the Vietnam War, aspects of non-Judeo-Christian religions, while promoting sexual liberation and the creation of a New Age religion embracing Eastern philosophies and concepts. They preached peace, love and harmony between humans and the environment. Many adopted communes as an alternative to tradition family values.
The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius by the 5th Dimension became the anthem of the New Age movement, with its Zodiac symbol, the water bearer, representing all the religious knowledge of mankind throughout the ages blended together into the jar and poured back on earth to begin an era of unity, love and religious brotherhood. But when was this to start?
According to one New Age ‘expert’ the Age of Pisces coincided with the birth of Christ and continued until the end of the year 2000 at which time the Aquarian Age would begin. Another New Age ‘expert’ said that it began in 2009, and yet others claimed it would happen in 2012 or 2359. Needless to say, we certainty haven’t seen it yet!
The New Age Movement did not begin as a religion but as a syncretism (mixing) of numerous religions and philosophical ideas. It has some similarities to ancient Gnosticism but the New Age movement, according to its followers, is more than anything an emotion, filling the void left by a secular culture and discontent with traditional religious beliefs.
Some followers believe in astrology as a means to foretell the future, others claim crystals are a source of healing and others believe in the use of Tarot cards. A few believe that God is a state of higher consciousness or a total realization of personal, human potential, while others think they are God.
The movement encompasses Monism, Pantheism, Reincarnation, Karma, Aura, Ecological Responsibility, Universal religion, Meditation, Divination, Holistic health, Astral Projection and my favorite, the New World Order which will be a one world government to bring an end to all wars, disease, hunger, pollution, poverty, discrimination, etc.
During the 60’s and 70’s a large number of disillusioned ‘intellectuals’ and hippies traveled to India and other points east seeking ‘truth, wisdom and enlightenment’ from a vast supply of gurus, swamis, yogis and other self-styled ‘illuminated masters’. Few understood that they were following in the footsteps of a woman who a hundred years earlier had trodden the same path and set out the foundations for the present occult revival and whose work is pivotal to the spiritual character of the United Nations today and the new “World Religion”.
“Millions of Christians, sadly, do not recognize the authority of God’s law or its applications to modern society and have reaped the whirlwind of cultural and intellectual impotence. Denying the power of the death and resurrection of Christ, they have made themselves footstools for God’s enemies.” By This Standard: The Authority of God’s Law Today by Dr. Greg Bohnsen
