One of the things that became clear, for me, throughout the whole of the New Age Movement, was that many people were looking for something spiritual in their lives. And in so many ways the movement was a response to that need in people. Indeed, many people felt they’d found what they were looking for in what it offered.
Now, I have to say straight away that there is much about the New Age Movement that I don’t understand. And what I don’t want to do is criticise other people’s sincerely held beliefs in this post. That isn’t my reason for mentioning it. And if I did do that I would be talking from a position of ignorance, which I may well have already done in the first paragraph.
No, my reason for mentioning the New Age Movement, and people searching for something spiritual in their lives, is simply that it’s my belief that they didn’t need to search so far. The goal was always so much closer to home. For me, that search has deepened my Christian faith and led me back into the Church.
The Church hasn’t been especially successful in promoting itself. But I feel sure that if many of those who have found satisfaction within New Age philosophies hadn’t dismissed Christianity and The Church out of hand — probably because it was seen as old fashioned and irrelevent — they, too, might have found what they were searching for: just as I have.
To my mind, the God of glory, really is the end of our searching.
God of glory,
the end of our searching,
help us to lay aside
all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom,
and to give all that we have
to gain the pearl beyond all price,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.Additional Collect for The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 16) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
God is in our hearts even when we feel like we need to go and find Him. The New Age has much to offer us and we them. Building a bridge between the two mystical faiths is interesting and exciting. Selah.
I suspect, if we were to delve deeply enough, we would find many points of similarity, albeit with different names. So bridges could be easier than many think, and not have to cross the vast expanses they expect. The hardest part is, as is often the case, getting people to actually start.
Well I’m off the starting blocks and have been for some time! But I am not looking for every christian to do that, we all have our priorities as to what we feel is the right thing to do in Gods will. Mine is to build bridges between faith and that includes our own denominations, who pose more of a real problem than the groups we look at outside of our communion! Selah.
If only there were people like yourself, Steve, willing to build those bridges. I try to take every opportunity to do the same; though must admit, there are times I don’t do as much as I’d like to, or should do.
I think you’re right, though, and the real problems are within our own denominations and communion. From what I’ve read I think the Lambeth Conference has been more successful than many thought it would be; and there’s a good vibe coming from it.
I have not been able to follow the LC but it sounds very positive if the vibe is pulsing in an upwards direction! Lets pray that unity and understanding within the Bishops can step forward in a strong direction and show us all that we too can overcome hard and difficult conclusions about our private theology. One Bible but so many understandings, thank goodness airline pilots follow the rule book on flying without swapping its rules for their own preferences or we would never take off from the airport!
Even more worrying would be if you did take off from the airport — who knows what might happen after that?!
I guess much the same could be said about Lambeth — one Conference, many understandings. If you were to rely purely on our press reports, it might not come across as so positive. But reading the blogs of some of the participating bishops paints a very different picture.
I feel really hopeful about the future of the Anglican Communion; whereas I didn’t before the Lambeth Conference. I suspect there will be changes ahead, some of which may be painful, but I believe the Communion will survive them.
But we do have to listen to each other, and not try to force everyone into exactly the same mould and mindset. And, yes, sometimes that may involve difficult conclusions about our private theology.