Saving Oprah: Understanding

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Saving Oprah Understanding Evangelizing
New-Agers

• Cky J. Carrigan, Ph.D.
• Interfaith Evangelism, NAMB, SBC
• ccarrigan_at_namb.net
• 919-844-9434
• www.ontruth.com

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I. WHAT IS THE NEW AGE Movement?

• Not an institution or single organization
• Large number of autonomous groups individuals
• Hundreds of groups religious leaders
• NAM is a westernized form of eastern religious
  beliefs combined with occultic practices,
  self-help, holistic medicines, astrology
• Not new in time, but new to western traditions

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What is the New Age Movement? (continued)

• American origins
• 1800s
• New thought movement
• Spiritualism
• Theosophical society
• Counterculture movement of the 1960s-70s
  adopted the above new ideas
• Oprah Winfrey reintroduced New Age in 1990s
• Estimated that 1 in 5 Americans hold some NAM
  tenets, but most do not consider themselves New
  Agers

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Gallup Polling on Psychic and Paranormal

• 01 - 90
• Psychic, Spiritual, Mind Healing 54-46
• Extrasensory Perception 50-49
• Haunted Houses 42-29
• Ghosts of the Dead 38-25
• Mental/Spiritual Telepathy 36-36
• Extraterrestrials Visiting Earth 33-27

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Gallup Polling on Psychic and Paranormal

• 01 - 90
• Clairvoyance of Future 32-26
• Communication with the Dead 28-18
• Astrology 28-25
• Witches 26-14
• Reincarnation 25-21
• Trance Channeling 15-11

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Lion King and Pocahontas Advances The New
Age Worldview
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Childrens Media Is Riddled With New Age, Pagan
and Occultic Themes
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Space Themes Promote New Age
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Aliens May Be New Age Ascended Masters
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15 Million Americans Do Hindu Yoga
--- 100 Increase In 5 Years
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Transcendental Meditation Produces An Altered
State Of Mind Relieves Stress
--- Promoted In Schools And Workplaces
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New Age Mantras Used in Meditation
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Psychic Services Are A Multi-Billion Dollar Indust
ry In America
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Some Pocket Monsters Of Pokemon Use
Psychic Powers In Dangerous Roleplay Games
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Crystal Balls Are A Kind Of Divination Which
Is Prohibited In Bible
16
Tarot Cards Are Another Very Popular And Widely
Available Form of Divination
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Astrology-- Divining the Future With The Stars--
Is Prominent In The New Age
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Acupuncture Is New Age Alternative Medicine Based
on Chinese Principle of Chi
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Aroma Therapy Is New Age Way to Wellness
--- Change Your Reality With Aroma Therapy
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Colour Therapy Is Another New Age Way To
Wellness --- Change Your Reality
With Colour Therapy
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Change Your Reality With Gemstones
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Experiencing Energy Flows At An Energy Vortex Is
A New Age Way To Achieve Balance And Wellness
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On The New Age Bookshelf
The Entire Series of Chicken Soup for the Soul Is
Dedicated To Spirituality Not Biblical Truth
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On The New Age Bookshelf
Harry Potter Books Promote Witchcraft
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On The New Age Bookshelf

• Conversations With God by Neale Walsch
• Embraced by the Light by Betty Eadie
• A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman
• Teen Witch by Silver Ravenwolf
• The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav

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On The New Age Bookshelf

• Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
• by Deepak Chopra
• The Other Side and Back by Sylvia Browne
• The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama, et al
• Mind Medicine by Uri Geller
• Talking to Heaven by James Van Praagh

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New Age Herbal Connection
Balance your health in a natural way according
to a 5,000 year old perfected health care
system. India's Vedic Medical System called
"Ayurveda". Be a part of Ayurveda, the
Spiritual Health Science which could be the
World's health care system of the next
millennium.
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Eastern Martial Arts Bring
New Age Ideas To Western Culture --- Tae-Bo
Founder, Billy Blanks, Is A Religious Pluralist
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Feminism, Earth Religions, Mother
Earth, Pantheism, Witchcraft, Goddess
Worship Are All New Age FEM-Themes
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Neo-Paganism, Witchcraft, and Wicca Share Many
New Age Beliefs
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Spirit
Fire
Air
Pentacle Is Symbol of Earth Religions New Age
Earth
Water
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Horn
Horn
Inverted Pentacle is a Symbol of
the Horned-God, Pan. Also a Satanic Symbol.
Ear
Ear
Chin
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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS

• Pantheism
• God is All
• All is God
• God is Impersonal
• Since you are something, you too are God
• Monism
• All is one
• All distinctions are mere Illusions

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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS BELIEFS (continued)

• Reincarnation
• Will be reborn as a new baby, after death, and
  live a new life
• Past lives
• Future lives are improved by positive karma in
  this life and visa-versa

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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS (continued)

• People are Divine
• Sensation of finiteness is Illusion
• Humanity has forgotten its Divinity
• Enlightenment is discovery of Divinity
• Enlightenment achieved by means of yoga,
  meditation, past life regression, soul travel,
  channeling spirit guides

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People Are Divine

• If Everyone Was Taught One Basic Spiritual Law,
  Your World Would Be A Happier, Healthier Place.
  And That Law Is This.. Everyone Is God.
  .EVERYONE
• Says Shirley McLaine

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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS (continued)

• Morality is Relative
• No Distinction between good/evil or right/wrong
• There can be no judge of ethics
• Actions simply are, they are not good or evil
• In absence of an ethical judge, the individual
  person decides what is good for him

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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS (continued)

• Distinction between Jesus The Man from Christ
  Spirit
• Christ Spirit is but one example of One who has
  self actualized His Deity
• Some believe that Jesus was a Hindu Guru
  crucified for professing Hindu beliefs

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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS (continued)

• A New Age of enlightenment transformation is
  coming
• This world is about to undergo a transformation
  to a higher level
• This transformation will be the result of a
  world-wide shift to the New Age model

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II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS (continued)

• Pluralism
• All religions are equally true one
• Essence of all religion is the same

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--Christianity Vs. New Age--

• Trinitarian
• Monotheism
• Creator-Creation
• Resurrection

• Pantheism
• Monism
• Reincarnation

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--Christianity Vs. New Age--

• Image-bearing
• Humanity
• Absolute Bib.
• Morality
• Jesus Christ

• Divinity of
• Humanity
• Moral Rel.
• Jesus Became
• A Christ

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--Christianity Vs. New Age--

• New Age is
• Coming
• Pluralism

• Jesus is Coming
• Exclusivity

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III. EVANGELISM STRATEGY

• Because of diversity, find out the particular
  beliefs of the recipient and begin from there
• Be prepared gently to undermine the foundation of
  their belief system (pantheism, monism) by
  pointing out necessary implications

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III. EVANGELISM STRATEGY(Continued)

• Gently point out the inconsistencies between
  belief and the possibility of practice
• Point out self defeating claims of moral
  relativism
• Offer the genuine unique Jesus as the solution to
  all
• Share your own genuine experience of faith and
  repentance living in Christ

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Snake Analogy Practical Advice for Surfing the
New Age Wave

• Dont Play With
• Snakes
• If Youre Going
• To Play With
• SnakesKnow
• The Dangers

SNAKES
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Surfing the New Age Wave

• Dont Surf In
• The New Age
• If Youre Going
• To Surf In The
• New AgeKnow
• The Dangers

New Age