The Problem with New Age

by crucesignatus1096

Throughout the United States, and the world over, “positive thinking,” utilizing the power, and other ideas focusing on self-improvement find immense popularity. With propagators on the T.V. and all over the media, this is not a surprise; indeed, friends at my trad chapel urged me to watch a 2006 film promoting these ideas entitled The Secret. One can find the roots of these ideas in a relatively young system of thought called “New Age.” Also known as “New Thought,” this philosophy, which purports to have ancient roots, beginning with the ancient Egyptians, King Solomon, or the Knights Templar, came about during the mid-19th century. Born during the century of great philosophical confusion and evil, these ideas are ultimately incompatible with the Faith and Church of Jesus Christ.

Just as the masons, those dabbling in the occult, and other young sects, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Mormons, claim, the New Age presents itself as having the spiritual solution dating from antiquity. Finally, after centuries or millennia of obscurity or incomplete truths from institutions like the Church, men find themselves blessed with true spiritual treasure. The truth is not found in what Catholicism or any other religion offers, but after watching Oprah or another talking head and paying 19.95, life will suddenly improve. I would hope that this immediately stands out to informed Catholics. As St. Paul said, “Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Tim. 4:1).

A major tenet of New Age is positive thinking. Immensely popular in workplaces, the “law of attraction” (LoA) posits that one should only focus on and emphasize positive thinking. Those who are overly pessimistic should be shunned for the benefit of those utilizing the LoA. It is true that we should seek to remain positive in the face of adversity, and Debbie Downers, eeyores, and other glass half empty types of people do make life more difficult. However, people will have their up and down periods in this adventure of life. One should pursue goals and dreams, but surrounding one’s self with yes men or those with unreasonable hopes do not eliminate the difficulty of life’s trials. Life does not become easier. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines hope as “the desire of something together with the expectation of obtaining it.” Yet, prudence dictates that one must weigh the good and bad in each situation. In practicing the LoA, nothing is too difficult, and this is beyond a psychological pump up a coach gives in a locker room. However, the true danger of this idea rests with all of the blame falling upon the shoulders of the practitioner.

Some time ago, a high school friend (an acquaintance, really) reconnected with me on Facebook. After the usual small talk, he inquired as to whether or not I had a job. I did not, but informed him of my desire to make fast money. In an amazing “coincidence,” I happened to come across the right person at the right time, it seemed, since he partly owned (through parents, I thought) a company that had an opening, and he needed a “smart guy” like me. To make a brutally long story short, he duped me into going to a multilevel marketing  seminar for a supplement and vitamin company, with the ultimate hope that I’d pay $700 (by any means necessary. He sold all of his electronics to buy in) to work under him within his shady, pyramid scheme company. It was at this brainwashing session that I first encountered the New Age and the LoA head on. Most people who in invest in direct marketing fail miserably; they lose everything and then some. For every millionaire driving a Lamborghini, one thousand suckers lose thousands of dollars, slave away for months, and alienate any friends and relatives who refuse to chip in to their grand plan to be retired millionaires by age twenty-five. All they leave with is the bitter sting of defeat. This is necessarily the case, lest the pyramid collapse. At this crowded conference, with superficial “niceness,” PowerPoints, and a rah-rah mentality that would make Orwell proud (but positive), everyone who doubted or refused to join needed to be dismissed for their negativity. Legitimate concerns from family, those who know the mark best, and friends be damned. If one failed at this “millionaire by 25” endeavor, it was because they weren’t positive enough. THey didn’t believe enough, they gave up, or they faltered in following the perfect formula. The danger of this rosy-glassy philosophy rests with the guilt and blame the lemming will encounter, if not in business, elsewhere in life. This idea that anyone could have done right had they only done x, y, and z finds itself popular across the board. Many men find themselves enthralled with the player/pick up artist community online. Modern, post-Christian gurus, without a family of their own, offer basic dating tips to desperate men, some even willing to shell hundred of their hard-earned dollars. Apart from common sense, such as taking risks, getting out of one’s shell, being true to one’s self, and being confident, these hucksters promote ideas that ultimately belittle women as objects to be “picked up” for cheap thrills. When the average Joe fails in his attempts to be a wannabe Don Juan, it’s ultimately his fault for not following the flawless formula. He did not listen to the guru close enough. These new agers dismiss the possibility that some things are not meant to be, and that incompatibility exists. No matter how hard one tries, sometimes that person won’t give them the time of day. In spite of having a dazzling résumé, a well-kept appearance, and a suitable personality, that HR department, for whatever reason, decided to give the job to somebody else. Regardless of all of the effort and training, some do not succeed athletically for whatever reason (an injury, bad luck, or competition from others more talented). The New Age promotes the idea that, because  the Higher Power is immanent with us all, each of us can achieve anything we set out to do, once we remove personal and social shackles. Apart from being philosophically flawed, some turn to rage when their efforts fail (see the sad story of George Sodini).

The good suffer, and our primary example should be He who suffered a most cruel passion, yet had not a penumbra of sin. Expectations will often not come to pass, but not because of personal failings. Success arrives in much the same way, in spite of personal achievement. Be hopeful, positive, and resilient, but know that success is truly not because of our own efforts.