Articles from the Religious Research Journal

 

 

Fundamentalism and the New Age

By Tom Hemphill

 

More than ten years ago, while speaking at a Religious Research conference, I cautioned those gathered to be alert to fundamentalism, wherever it may be found.  I offer that challenge again to our readers today.

 

I increasingly see a polarization in American society between those who are open, accepting and seeking to build a broad base of community, on the one hand, and those who are essentially closed in their thinking, judgmental, and identify as "community" only those who totally agree with them.    It is this polarization that truly divides Americans, regardless of the formal and informal groups that we join.

 

Note that these categories are neither religious nor political.  Rather, these are orientations to life itself.  Relatively open and relatively closed people can be found in every societal grouping, either “right” or “left.”  I use the term “fundamentalist” here to describe the latter, closed group, regardless of their spiritual, religious, philosophical or political persuasions. 

 

Fundamentalists are those whose minds are made up.  They are not open to new ideas or possibilities because they are so very certain that the ideas and convictions they now hold are “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”  Thus, they are “closed” rather than open in their thinking and in their willingness to consider new ideas, alternative lifestyles, different cultures, etc.

 

Some who consider themselves to be “New Age” or “spiritual” tend to look down on fundamentalists as right-wing Christians.  But the truth is that neither “the right” nor Christians have exclusive rights to fundamentalism.  

 

Narrow, self-serving, closed thinking can be found in the spiritual movement, in every political system, in every religion, and in no religion.  Fundamentalism can be found anywhere – including in the New Age movement.  

 

As I have written in this journal before, I am among those who believe that the earth and humanity are now going through a change so total that the very terms used to describe it seem inadequate: paradigm shift, metamorphosis, end of time, birth of the new humanity.  Typically, the 25 years following the Harmonic Convergence (August 1987) is seen as being the time of transition from what we have always been into what we are becoming. 

 

There are those who look for a moment of chronological time when “the shift” takes place. I do not know the moment; I believe it is a process, and I do not know in how many ways or times or events this process may manifest in the physical world.  But I do not doubt for a minute that we six billion humans and all of the Earth are in this process right now.

 

So what does this say of closed-mindedness or open-mindedness?  If indeed God is saying to us today, as He said to the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, I am doing a new thing,” then it is necessary that we be listening, open to hearing His voice.  It is necessary that we be willing and able to conceive of this transformation if we are even to witness it, much less participate in the process. 

 

How does one recognize or admit to the greatest moment in human history if one is doggedly defending a very old way of thinking?  How does one remain open to a shift of paradigm if one is fiercely defending the principles and parameters of the old paradigm?  How does one embrace birth if one insists that the status quo is of God and therefore all new things are evil?  How do we metamorphose from caterpillars to butterflies if we insist that everything of "cater-pillarness" is sacred and dare not be changed?

 

Speaking to a group of Christian laymen several years ago, I stated that the primary challenge of the Church today is to lead the process of discovery and awareness that will enable humanity’s metamorphosis.  If we fail to do this, our religion becomes increasingly irrelevant – not bad or evil, just irrelevant. 

 

If we promote metamorphosis, however, we must carefully identify among our most cherished beliefs that which is truly of Spirit and that which is merely of treasured tradition.  What is enlightened and what is familiar “caterpillarness”?  Tradi-tions must be let go if we are to cling to that which is Good (i.e., of God).

 

We cannot accomplish this next step if we are bound and determined not to let it happen.  That is, I do not believe that wholeness of life will be forced upon us.  God doesn’t work that way.  She stacks the cards in our favor, always, but does not take away our free will. 

 

If we are absolutely determined to refuse to see what is before us, refuse to partake in God’s greater goodness for us, refuse to accept this gift of life, then – I am certain – God will honor our choice by allowing us to stay in a situation much like that which we have known throughout human history. 

 

Indeed, Dr. John taught that some will choose to grow spiritually and will be ready to move on to greater challenges and blessings.  Others will choose to remain much as they are, and will not be required to progress more rapidly than they are able or ready to do.  The “judgment” in this scenario is simply the choices which each of us makes.

 

            The world is overrun with thinking that insists on old answers, traditional ways of viewing reality, fixed opinions, closed thinking, judgment based on biases, and rejection of those who are different or who disagree with our point of view.  I do not see how one can cling to such fixed, inflexible attitudes and opinions, and still be open to the newness that God is creating in our midst. 

 

We must be clear that God is not changing.  But our experience of God’s creation is indeed changing.   That is, whatever new things God is about will still reflect God’s values, God’s true nature.  Old human beliefs may be changed or discarded, but the essence of God will be as it has always been.  It is human nature, to cling more strongly to the familiar in the face of the uncertain.  But now and in the coming decade, such thinking will increasingly be a disservice to ourselves and those whom we might bless. 

 

So I encourage you to seek openness in your relationship with God and with other people.  Seek to hear in your heart where the Spirit of God is leading you – for that will be your best indication of where God is also leading humanity and the Planet Gaia Herself.

 

The ancient Hebrew text of creation which we know today as the Biblical book of Genesis states that it is “ruah” – the breath of God – which moves into and through chaos and brings order to it, thus effecting creation. 

 

I assure you that God is again breathing on the face of the Earth, breathing new creativity into humanity and all of life as we know it, breathing Her will and purpose into our lives, our families and our global future, even as She did in the original moment of Creation.  Now is the time to be open, to feel the breath of Spirit on your face.

 

I urge you, my friends, to be alert to closed, defensive, fear-driven types of thinking in yourself, in your religious leaders and political officials, in those who educate our children or guide our economy.  I am not an enemy of fundamentalists. 

 

But I do not see a place for fundamentalist thinking as humanity moves through the divine birth canal from limited awareness to Whole Life, nor as we seek to leave our earth-bound caterpillar past and soar on butterfly wings of Spirit, nor as we open the windows of our souls so that the breath of God can blow through us, heal us and enlighten us.

 

Now is the time of newness of Life.  Now is the time that God speaks to us and through us: “Behold, I am doing a new thing!”  Now is our time!

 

 

 

 

 

Back to index of articles

Religious Research Home