New Age Religions

This group believes that, “…God is Love Itself, and…Love is revealed in the personage of the Lord Jesus Christ…The Bible is the Word of God and can be read on many different levels…Life after death is real, and the details about that life have been explained in the teaching of Emanuel Swedenborg’s book Heaven and Hell…The Second Coming of Christ does not mean the destruction of all of creation and a fierce judgment on humankind. The second coming is taking place right now, in a new understanding of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the teachings of the New Church.”

(Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “Swedenborgian,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05)

“Channeling is generally considered the transmission of messages or ideas from non-human entities, or spirits or souls outside the human body, to and through a human, for translation and transmission to that, or other, humans…Often, but not always, preparation to channel may include the Channeler’s induction to a trance or meditative state, and may or may not require the use of crystals, stones, chakras, or other talismans to encourage the communications. Depending on the particular channeler, communications may come from the spirits of dead people, from otherworldly presences, or from spiritual leaders. A large segment of current Channeling proponents…report and discuss channeled messages from a higher, divine being, though there seems to be a general consensus among channelers that traditional Christian notions of there being just ‘one all knowing God’ is not necessarily so, and that the source of their spiritual messages may well be many spiritual entities.”

(Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “Channeling,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05)

“The term flying saucer religion can be applied to a number of religious groups which invest alien contact with religious significance. Such contact is most often made on a psychic level with a member of an advanced alien race. Generally the benign aliens bring to the human race doctrine concerning spiritual advancement and eschatology. The beliefs of flying saucer religions are characteristically eclectic and often dove-tail eastern and western traditions. This ecumenical feat is accomplished by identifying historic religious figures such as Jesus Christ and the Buddha Gautama with advanced alien beings. The New Testament is a key eschatological influence for most of these new religious movements, and both premillennial and postmillennial groups exist…The leaders of these religions, termed contactees, are those who have established a steady contact with their ‘space brothers.’ Through these contactees, followers have access to spiritual instruction which in turn prepares them for their cosmic eschatological expectations.”

(Louisiana State University, College of Arts and Sciences, “Flying Saucer Religions: An Introduction,” https://www.artsci.lsu.edu, 12/27/05)

Religions that use plants or artificial substances that produce psychedelic effects. In some cases substances may be ingested by a priest or other spiritual leader to induce a trance for revelatory purposes. In other cases, substances are taken by groups of people who participate in sacred ceremonies.

Drugs and Mysticism The International Journal of Parapsychology, Vol VIII (No. 2) Spring 1966; 295-313 by Walter N. Pahnke

“The contemporary psychic community is oriented to experience…In being oriented to religious experience, psychics share a lifestyle with mystics and pietists of all ages. Psychics have leaned toward scientific demonstration of the truth of their faith. Psychics see their beliefs proved in the everyday repitition of verifiable psychic events…For some, the truth is in the deep philosophy which comes through an otherwise shalllow person who operates as a channel. For others, the truth is found in the very extistence of an invisible world of psychic perception demonstrated by clairvoyance.”

(J. Gordon Melton, The Encyclopedia of American Religions, 1978)