ML asks: Many of my friends are into pilates and I’d like to get involved too but many of these moves look very much like yoga. Are the two related in any way?
Category Archives: New Age
Is There a Problem with The Shawl Ministry?
RG writes: “At my (Roman Catholic) church today, some women in the narthex were promoting a “prayer shawl ministry” and handed me a brochure promoting this website: http://www.shawlministry.com/. Overall, it sounded like a good idea – providing comforting prayer shawls for the homebound and hospitalized. I thought it odd that there was a reference to “applied Feminist Spirituality.” So when I went home, I checked out the website. There are a few troubling non-Christian things discussed there such as where they talk about “chakras” under Symbolism –> Aroma therapy. They also talk about a “mothering God” which sounds a bit New Age-like to me. By the way, they are willing to teach people how to knit and crochet, and I would like to learn (learned as child, but forgot). I just don’t want some New Age agenda pushed on me or to do anything contrary to my Christian faith. Would like your comments.”
The Questionable Opinions of Anthony DeMello, S.J.
KK asks: “I noticed on your website that you have a new age section and was wondering if you considered Anthony DeMello and his book Awareness to be new age?”
The Hijacking of St. Hildegard by New Age Enthusiasts
SM writes: “I read your article about mandalas and how they are prayer ‘gimmicks.’ I was just wondering what you think about the artwork (mandalas) of St. Hildegard of Bingen, especially since she is now a Doctor of the Church. It seems to me that you are saying some of her practices were new age.”
Beware of Therapies That (Secretly) Require a Religious Conversion
One of the greatest threats to Christians in the burgeoning field of alternative health care is when these therapies require a person to adopt a belief system that is not compatible with the faith.
Can Shamanism Be Compatible With Christianity?
CF writes: “Google keeps sending me this banner for Shamanic healing across the top of my e-mails. Out of curiosity, I went to look at what the newest in “new age” was offering. Can you believe (no pun intended) that the 4th bullet point says that “you won’t find anything contrary to to your religious beliefs”…WOW! I bolded the actual bullet…see below. I am so sick of new age being pushed down our throats! I asked Google to stop these banners!”
Is It a Sin to Go to a Tarot Card Reader?
Photo by Viva Luna Studios on Unsplash
GD writes: “Tarot cards are becoming very popular among my friends, some of whom are Catholic. Isn’t this a form of divination which would make it a sin?”
Can a Witch’s Ball be Used for Decoration?
DO asks: “What is a witch ball? Is it an object of the occult? Can it cause harm if used as a decoration innocently? Is it related to the glass yard ornaments called ‘gazing balls’?”
Dr. Daniel Amen Offers Mixed Bag of Tantric Sex, Eye Movement Therapy and Brain Scans
AT writes: “There is something that is bothering me and I hope you have an answer for me. I went to your blog and was surprised by the number of TV personalities that believe in these new age practices. The name Dr. Daniel Amen jumped out at me. About 5 years ago I went to a Christian counselor who is a follower of Dr. Daniel Amen. She suggested a therapy to me called EMDR (eye movement desensitization restoration). I did have one EMDR session. Is this therapy connected to Dr. Amen? If so, is it considered a New Age practice?
Can Bones Tell the Future?
We recently received a question from a caller on our Wacky Wednesday radio show who had received a small bag of bones from a recently deceased relative. Although the bones had some sentimental value, she was uneasy about keeping them in the house and wondered if she should destroy them. Our answer was unequivocal “yes!”
