Difference between a New Age Christian & traditional Christian?

Question

I recently started talking to an old friend who claims he's a new age Christian but what does that really mean? What is the difference between a New Age Christian & traditional Christian? How much do there beliefs differ from one another? I would like clarification about this subject not to pass judgement but rather for understanding.

Answer 1

I do know some people who identify themselves as "New Age Christians", and they tend to be much more liberal in matters of doctrine and worship than traditional Christians. The ones I know aren't Biblical literalists. They are often willing to incorporate certain ideas from other cultures and beliefs into their worship. They may be practitioners of "esoteric Christianity", which involves non-traditional beliefs. On the whole, I'd say they're likely to be on the more liberal side of Christianity. They may even see Christ as an Ascended Master or self-actualized soul. They're also more prone to use phrases such as, "I salute the Christ within you." They see Christ-Consciousness inherent within all souls; in other words, they see "a spark of the divine" in everyone. Several of the ones I know also believe in reincarnation.

Answer 2

Personally, I'm not sure what exactly the phrase "New Age Christian" means. But if I were to hear that term used, I would immediately assume one of the following:

1. The person practices a brand of Christianity which allows you to pick and choose parts of scripture you want to accept; or

2. It is some kind of merger between Christianity and the New Age Movement of spiritualism; or

3. It is perhaps some fancy, modern-day term used to depict a branch of Christianity which is non-denominational and does not use traditional Christian preaching or outreach.

Which of these, I'm not certain. It is possible that I'd be wrong on all accounts. Personally, I think the best answer you'll get to this question will be from the old friend of yours. He's in a much better position to account for the differences.

Answer 3

New Age Christian? Never heard of it. I always hear the New Age being associated with the occult for some reason, although I don't know much about it. But I'm guessing that New Agers have beliefs contrary to Chrisitanity so a New Age Christian would probably be just as much like a traditional Christian as a Jehova Witness or a Mormon would be, which isn't much at all.

Try typing "New Age Christian" into Wikipedia.org (online encyclopedia), you should find all you need and more there.

Answer 4

A fine question. I'm in the middle of reading David Wells' "Losing our virtue: Why the church must recover its moral vision." It's all about how the church has embraced the world much more than the world has embraced christianity. Why? Because Christianity is much much less about sin and virtue as much as it is about "feeling holy and loved." New Age religion is about feelings and the whole "you're okay, I'm okay" routine. Christianity, traditional Christianity anyway, is a very tough faith that requires a very devoted lifestyle. You cannot simply pop into church here and there to hear some good worship music and then go out.

Traditional Christianity is about being the same man Saturday night as you are on Sunday morning.

Answer 5

When "New Age" is pasted onto a religion, it usually means a radically different interpretation of scripture and theology. It probably also incorporates ideas from other faiths not associated with traditional Christianity, like reincarnation, crystal power and extra theology, doctrines and history. It could be something like a Spirit-filled, "holy roller", Pentecostal church, or it could be so different that they could merely be borrowing the name "Christianity" to attract more proselytes. Unless you have the name their brand of Christianity goes by, it would be hard to tell.

Answer 6

H'devil is from Judaism. It potential, "The Adversary". He never rebelled. He became constantly below God's controll. He became the prosecuting lawyer, the sounding board, the guy who God could talk with, who would not be a "definite" guy. See the e book of interest. Lucifer became a pagan God, the Morning famous individual. A wonderful and beneficent deity. As Christianity took over the Roman Empire, many pagan entities, like Lucifer, or Pan, have been demonized. A separate mythology grew up, in line with passages in the a number of books of the Hebrew Prophets, the Lucifer became a rebellious angel, who chosen to rule in Hell extremely than serve in Heaven.

Answer 7

"New Age" Christians are more "liberal" in thier thinking...

"Old Age" Christians are more "conservative" in thier thinking...

New age will use bands and have basketball or other sports associated with thier parishes.

Old age will "not" have bands, but maybe a piano or organ accompaniment. They go there to worship the LORD only and not have any other thing on thier minds, such as extramural activities. They will have "tent revivals" to bring in new perspective Christians...(Those who see the tents and wonder what its about and find that its for the furthing of the Word and promoting the Love of JESUS CHRIST).

Old age will stay strict to the Word of GOD.

New age will use a loose interpretation at times, with the Word of GOD.

At a new age Church, it will be like a rock band is entertaining in there...(Yes, I went to one, and it was only one time because it almost made me deaf!).

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 8

My personal opinion is that the 'new age' Christian is geared more toward breaking free from the religious bondage that the traditional Christian seems to be.

Answer 9

New age Christians listen to rotten music and insist on hand shaking and back patting in church. Traditional Christians seem to have much more reverance for the church and traditions.
Hell, I don't know....

Answer 10

Bible states there is neither Jew nor gentile, slave or free in Christ.
Bible states that we are a new creation once we are baptised.
Bible also states we are then as new creations to grow into true beleivers
"For by this shall men know you are my disciples, if you have love, one for another, as I have loved you.

There is no New Age Christian - there are pretenders who like tittles like this because it makes them feel smug

God bless