Ediblog.com
Debra Rae
Cosmic Yuppies In An Age Of “Exuberant Religiosity”
Part II
©2007 Debra Rae
Yoga
Imagery
The
term “yoga” means “union with Brahma,” allegedly the divine spirit of
the universe. In giving way to one’s true divine nature, the goal is samadhi
or occult enlightenment accomplished by controlling vital energy (prana)
in the act of breathing.
Some
may be surprised to learn that virtually all standard yoga texts link psychic
powers and other occult abilities with its practice. From a Bible perspective,
yoking with Brahma is to be unequally yoked with unrighteousness (2 Corinthians
6:14). Divining, horoscopes, wizardry, hypnotism, and psychic services are among
such “abominations” to be eschewed, not embraced (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
Nevertheless,
as meditative technique has flooded the mainstream, so have psychic phenomena.
What’s not to like about Lifetime’s budding star, Lisa Williams? A bubbly,
quirky, and highly likeable wife and mother, Lisa’s extraordinary readings
make believers of the most skeptical among us.
Meditative
practices associated with yoga feature mental passivity and mantra meditation,
both of which attract even Christians who tend to be long on experience, but
short on doctrine. To achieve a so-called “cloud of unknowing,” where
God’s presence is thought to be waiting, those who ponder aright are
instructed to “shut down” and “turn off” while whispering some
supposedly sacred word. It is alleged that mystical silence requires the soul,
not the mind, to contemplate God.
While
rote methods, as those employed in mystical “contemplative prayer,” have
become all the rage in many Christian circles, these nevertheless miss the mark.
Being still before God in its truest sense is taking time to relax, ponder
God’s goodness, reflect upon His Word, and acknowledge Him at work. In doing
so, there is no need for altering one’s consciousness because, by its very
nature, waiting on God is decidedly cognitive.
Conversely,
New Age counterfeits leaven the loaf with a prescription once advanced by
Harvard-trained Dr. Timothy Leary, best known for his misguided mantra, “turn
on; tune in; drop out.” More often than not in bygone days, this was
accompanied by chemically-induced altered states of consciousness. For many,
yoga has become today’s “drug of choice.”
Ancient
Mysteries Revived
In
exuberant pursuit of spiritual ascension, Opti-Mystics employ a homemade
meditation regimen incorporating
a sophisticated mix of blended heresies springing from Hinduism, Buddhism, Greek
philosophy, and ancient mystery religions of the
Sadly,
it has become
increasingly fashionable to accept that the “old age” defined by antiquated
Judeo-Christian dogma must give way to a new, enlightened age promising full
flowering of human potential, worldwide collaboration and, yes, world peace.
Today’s
so-called “inner voice of humanity” (the universe’s alleged consciousness)
begs for “a pure moment of one” when peoples of the world will hug each
other innocently, deservedly, metaphysically. Toward this end, the clear
boundary between physics and metaphysics is obliterated by supplanting
scientific study of the universe (cosmology) with its worship (cosmolatry). In
fact, the Internet is awash with cosmo-phrases that enlist a “great united
voice heard everywhere.”
This
touchy-feely brand of nouveau spirituality
effectively hooks the curious, lured to what New Age Aquarians reference as
“the inner force,” but what the Bible calls “seducing spirits.” While
the Bible advances no cosmic plan for global enlightenment, collaboration, and
empowerment apart from the Lord, Jesus Christ, what it does
offer exceeds human imagination and desire. Ultimately, by His doing, the
believer is invited to partake of the Divine nature—but only in measure and in
strictest accordance with God’s plan and purposes.
Newsweek’s
“Special Report: Spirituality 2005” noted that increasing numbers of
Americans, especially those younger than sixty, embrace “no religious
affiliation,” yet still describe
themselves as “spiritual.” That is to say, the impulse to link with a higher
being(s) is on the rise; at the same time creed, commandments, and ritual bite
the dust. Neo-pantheistic
syncretism may well appeal to seekers of meaning in a life otherwise
existentially defined, but in the end revived Mediterranean mysteries produce no
better fruit for 21st century mystics than they did for the ancients!
The
Universal Self
Becoming
a “transformed partaker of the Divine Nature” communicates something
altogether different to a New Age mystic than to a Bible-believing follower of
Jesus Christ; yet a prominent, albeit ill-advised evangelist goes so far as to
pair the two. Their shared mission, he contends, is no more or less than
“transcendence in the midst of the mundane.” To the contrary, the Great
Commission is more about evangelism, revival, and reformation.
The
New Age mystic wrongly perceives God to be no more or less than the sum total of
all that exists. Since energy flows through us, we are gods-in-the making. In
fact, Opti-Mystics believe that the universe is a seven-tiered ladder of
centrifugal energy fields. At the bottom of the ladder rests the spin of
earth—at its top, expansion of the Galaxy wherein lies the divine “universal
self.”
Opti-Mystic
David directs followers to “unfasten their seatbelts” so as to free the
intellect from “territorial entanglements.” This, he claims, eases natural
alignment with “higher celestial influences.”
While
notable teachers of low-rung terrestrial
humanity include Christ (thrown in with the likes of Moses and Buddha), David
and disciples apparently share an even higher calling. Their new revelation of
Universal Azium Ascension purportedly awakens celestial
humanity to capital “L”-Life in the greater universe.
In
David’s view, illumined humanity occupies an “ascending place” within the
universe. By applying Opti-Mystical meditative technique, those spiritually
awakened accelerate conscious evolution from lower rungs of instinct and
intellect through the third rung of emotion—i.e., love—and on to higher
stages of spirit-consciousness.
To
attain ever-ascending states of consciousness, individually or collectively,
seekers commonly employ centering techniques. For more adept practitioners, the
quickest way to contact one’s “spirit guide” is by means of meditative
visualization, encouraging participants to create their own self-god
reality—more commonly known as “visions of grandeur.”
International
Women of Wisdom Foundation: Illumination Knows No
Gender
“Power”
can refer to godlikeness, physical might, moral vigor, ascendancy over others,
autonomy, or influence. In today’s culture, it is often associated with a
variety of “-isms”—feminism, for one.
The
empowerment principle frequently accompanies esoteric enlightenment to so-called
higher consciousness. Having undergone a sort of mystical evolution, the highly
evolved profess to have mastered “the self” and, in having done so, to have
discovered “the god within,” as is the case with Opti-Mystics.
The
inward journey in search of the so-called “higher self” and universal
consciousness is by no means gender-exclusive. Jungian psychologist
Marion Woodman
credits the International Women of
Wisdom Foundation for manifesting what she calls “the
feminine side of
WOW
welcomes “any woman who desires to connect with other women” and thereby
“be inspired by the spirit that links us … and our ancestors before us.”
In the wake of women’s liberation, girl power is said to rock.
Correspondingly,
empowerment jargon drives popular talk show venues, as the Oprah show. “I
am WOMAN,” “You go, girl,” “My body, my choice” all represent
mantras of would-be adepts whose spirits are awakened and whose human potential
is nearing full bloom.
Expressing
“the Divine Feminine” may indeed transcend the mundane; however, humble
submission to the Lord of lords more accurately reflects biblical perspective.
In
contrast, skewed “sacred secrets” advance
an all-inclusive oneness principle that hints at Bible truth, but wrongly
demotes God to an impersonal force while, at the same time, it promotes His
creation to celestial stature.
True
transcendence uplifts humanity, no matter the gender, but never forfeits God’s
glory to another, certainly not to His “feminine side.” While there may be a
“softer side of Sears,” the principle in no way applies to the mighty God of
Holy Scripture.
The
OptiMystical Universe Guide Book
Ostensibly
a children's
book, The Little Prince
expounds profundities relating to life and love. The essence of the book is
contained in this famous line: “Here is
my secret. It is very simple: one sees well only with the heart. The essential
is invisible to the eyes. "
Asteroid
2578
Saint-Exupéry
was named after this novel’s author who imagined himself stranded in a desert,
where he met a young human-appearing, but extra-terrestrial prince. Throughout
their conversations, the author revealed terrestrial follies juxtaposed against
celestial possibilities.
David
Hargrave contends that the OptiMystical Universe completes a trilogy preceded by
Old- and New- Testaments. All three represent divine revelation, teaching
humanity how to live and play—i.e., find their bliss—while stranded in some
terrestrial desert, as was Saint Exupéry. While we may appear to be human,
really we are extraterrestrial princes, embryo gods as it were.
Celestial
humanity experiences heaven on earth, but not without traveling the universe in
bodies of light—hence, Hargrave’s tongue-in-cheek mandate: Travel
Light. He assures us further that his way is a “peace
of cake.” To awaken to what Hargrave identifies as “celestial
humanity,” we first must explore “the gentle light of dawn,” as did Saint-
Exupéry’s little prince.
While a charming concept, it is by no means grounded in reality.
All
can agree that sincerity is engaging, as exuberance is compelling. My brief
encounter with David was characterized by both. Unfortunately, one can be too
spiritually minded to be of earthly good. Furthermore, a sincere person can be
sincerely wrong.
To fall prey to New Age religiosity is to err by identifying, perhaps unwittingly, with a worldwide coalition. The burgeoning new world order is propelled by an esoteric belief system compatible with Opti-Mysticism and its ilk. Moreover, it is united by a global agenda at war with biblical Christianity and at odds with what has come to be known as the American dream.
Debra Rae is an author and educator who has traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad. Having authored two books—the ABCs of Globalism and ABCs of Cultural-Isms (the latter highlighted at the 55th Annual CBA International Convention, 2004)—Debra contributing columnist for News With Views. Debra has been a speaker on numerous radio shows aired across the nation, the Western Hemisphere, Russia, and the Middle East. This past year, she co-launched and now co-hosts WOMANTalk, a special edition of Changing Worldviews TALK Radio, for which she writes weekly commentaries.
www.debraraebooks.com, www.womantalk.us,
www.newswithviews.com/Rae/Debra.htm
