Is New Age Type Thinking a Religion

Occasionally someone, often from a religious sect, will say that New Age type thinking is also a religion. So what is difference? Well, first let’s look at what are the basic elements of religion. There are 3 C’s in religion: Creed, Code, and Cult (I got these terms from Alan Watts which he used in a lecture discussing eastern philosophies).

Creed: This the nature of the things – how a certain belief system defines the universe, god (God, or the object that is to be worshiped) and also how the universe works.

Code: This is the divine revealed law or “code” that should be followed. It could also be a person that you follow. The code requires that you obey either a set of laws, commands, or a person.

Cult: The cult aspect is how the worship is performed or the methods used, whether it be through mantras, prayer, singing, sacraments, etc.

So looking at these briefly described elements which, does a new age type thinking exclude any of these? The Code is what is lacking. Mostly because in New Age and even some eastern philosophies there is not a definable obedience to any particular laws that is required. The self and progression is what is required, not adherence to a divine code of conduct. It could be argued we do follow our own judgment and thus we are ascribing to our own code, and if we believe we are part of the divine then in fact we are following the code. But this still means code has not been handed down to us by direct contact from the divine – we must find our own way.

This is because New Age and also certain eastern philosophies don’t believe in a monarachal prototype of the universe. In other words, “god” or any similar type being/system” does not have a king like status that demands obedience.

So what does this teach us, if anything? Well, it does bring about a question. Why is the monarchical model good for religion, but not good enough for the world we live in? Most of us in the world have chosen to live in republics/democracies, and are fine with it. If the monarchical model is the Higher Power model, would it not be ideal model on earth?

One related point I will bring up is that the monarchical model strips us of our freewill, which ultimately is what this earthly plane experience is supposed to be all about.

What good is religious faith if you never challenge it, and thus don’t really know what you believe when your beliefs are challenged? The same goes of any type of thinking or belief.

Cory Mitchell