In Reply to: Re: New Age and Holistic Health posted by MG on July 16, 2004 at 12:11:49:
I consider my self a Christian and somebody very close to me is into forms of hinduism (I am not sure what that means). We have often talked about the subject of meditation and prayer. We are trying to see if there are any differences. The only difference that I can see is that the way prayer is to me, it is an active state while meditation is a pasive state. The way I pray is what I learned to do it by "entering into His gates with thanksgiving" and then resting at the feet of the master waiting for words of wisdom or guidance, or revelation, or something else that I cannot describe with words. On the other hand, meditation is the second part only.
I have ideas as to what happens, etc. but I may be wrong because it is such a personal and introspective thing.
So, what is New Age? I think it is the explanation in common terms of some natural phenomema that has underpinnings of spirituality or are not normally in the main stream. I am not sure that I would make up all of it to be demonic, although some parts may be, but the reflexology example might simply be a physical connection not widely known or used in other circles.
I have found that some of the things taught by other religions are fairly right on. What I wonder about is that some people go into those practices without understanding of "what spirit" they are and therefore are not protected. I hope I am making sense.