Sample by Topic from Apologia Report

NEW AGE MOVEMENT

 

"Interview: When Science and Spirituality Meet" by John Clamp -- a look at the cooperative working relationship between Rupert Sheldrake and Matthew Fox and their joint effort to promote a new vision "which brings together science, spirituality and a sense of the sacred." Kindred Spirit, Sep/Nov '96, p28. (I just noticed a "new release" ad for The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet, by Fox and Sheldrake [Harper San Francisco]. Publishers Weekly Religion BookLine, Sep 15 '96, p3.)

(from Apologia Report 1:25, September 16, 1996)

 

"How to Spot New Age Influence" by Richard Abanes -- an excellent place to find this general treatment, gives bookstore managers advice on what to avoid. The works of M. Scott Peck and Betty Eadie are noted as examples; alludes to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Bookstore Journal, Jul '96, p134.

(from Apologia Report 1:25, September 16, 1996)

 

After 131 weeks on the Christian Science Monitor's "Guide to Bestsellers" list James Redfield's Celestine Prophecy retains the #6 spot. Its sequel, The Tenth Insight, #8, "is also a poorly written, thinly disguised allegory. The book centers around the discovery of a 10th Insight that he says is necessary for 'implementing these Insights, living them, ... fulfilling destiny' (and selling more books) [parenthesis in original]. Redfield dabbles in spiritual healing, reincarnation, energy levels, and dimensional travel. There are glimmers of -- forgive the pun -- insight, but the whole is a mishmash of religion and new-age thinking." After reading that I'll bet you're wondering what the reviewer, Yvonne Zipp, had to say about Celestine. OK: "Well-intended but poorly written, the plot is a cross between 'Indiana Jones' and a self-help book. The hero is on a quest for a recently discovered Peruvian manuscript that details the progress of spirituality at the end of the 20th century. At different stages of the journey, he and his fellow searches [sic] discover spiritual 'insights,' nine in total." Christian Science Monitor, Sep 19 '96, p14. For another secular review of The Tenth Insight see, "Prophecy Fulfilled: The Celestine Sequel" by John Leland in Newsweek, Jun 24 '96, p70.

(from Apologia Report 1:25, September 16, 1996)

 

"The Role of Elders in the Pagan Community" by M. Macha Nightmare -- catch the name? The author is an elder in what I believe to be the largest of all Wiccan organizations, Covenant of the Goddess. Her article helps lend form to what is essentially a movement with little structure. Green Egg, Sep/Oct '96, p5 (also see p12 & 22).

(from Apologia Report 1:28, October 28, 1996)

 

"Living Your Dreams" by Marguerite Rigoglioso -- Is this the latest New Age trend? "To follow your bliss, you may need a new kind of consultant -- a life coach. It's like hiring a personal trainer for your soul." The story profiles the work of various coaches and clients who negotiate a fee of $200 to $800 per month for help in chasing their dreams. A photo of the author, who is now "writing a book of [her] spiritual journey with the Goddess," shows her behind figurines described as "goddess images that inspire her." Choose *your* coach with great care. New Age Journal, Nov/Dec '96, p76.

(from Apologia Report 1:29, November 11, 1996)

 

"Mantra for a Company Man" by Martha Hamilton and Frank Swoboda -- yet another take on New Age management techniques. Includes a review of the three main approaches to corporate training today by "a psychologist specializing in workplace change." Washington Post Weekly, Jul 8 '96, p19 -- as seen in Current Thoughts & Trends, Oct '96, p27.

(from Apologia Report 1:29, November 11, 1996)

 

"Wisdom and Folly" by Elizabeth Lesser -- the author is a cofounder of the Omega Institute - "America's largest holistic learning center." Did you know that Marilyn Ferguson wrote an article titled "The Movement that Has No Name" for the New Age Journal four years before she published The Aquarian Conspiracy, the New Age classic? It would seem Lesser's article is one of two with similar stature in this issue. In it she reflects on how the New Age has come of age and includes insightful sidebars on the best and worst aspects of the movement. New Age Journal, Jan/Feb '97, p64.

(from Apologia Report 2:2, February 3, 1997)

 

"De-Crystallizing the New Age" by David Spangler -- includes a photograph of this "prophet of personal and planetary transformation" referring to his strong influence at the beginning of the movement. In this piece he "joins other pioneers to look at where we are and where we're headed." The title indicates the desire of Spangler to shift the reader's thinking away from the movement and toward the reason he differentiates between the movement and what he sees as the core idea behind the New Age. Taken from A Pilgrim in Aquarius, by David Spangler (Findhorn Press, 1996). New Age Journal, Jan/Feb '97, p70.

(from Apologia Report 2:2, February 3, 1997)

 

Still going strong, Warner Books ran a full-page ad in the February 18 edition of the New York Times (pA16) congratulating James Redfield (and itself) on passing the 4 million mark for The Celestine Prophecy, 1996's "bestselling novel in the world."

(from Apologia Report 2:7, March 24, 1997)

 

"Russia Gets Religion ...and Flirts with the New Age" by Irena Maryniak -- Normally we would drop this into the next issue of AR-Notes due to the date (got by us somehow), but when we see the descriptive, intentional use of the phrase "New Age cults" (in the first paragraph) by this proud "alternative press" flagship, we just have to give it more attention. While the groups labeled by the term here come as no surprise, the use of the word "cult" in this context supports the notion that the term is gaining acceptance again after falling below the threshold of politically correct disrespect earlier this decade. "What qualifies in the article as a New Age cult," you may wonder? Sounding very traditional, Maryniak mentions psychic and divination guides in general and even witches as examples early on in the piece. Maryniak also notes a report of "12,000 religious communes identified in 1996" within Russia, and further into her story adds that about 30,000 "foreign missionaries" have flooded in "since the Wall fell." The Unification Church is described as having "distributed a promotional textbook called My World in 2,000 Russian schools." Hare Krishnas are said to be "claiming a following of 700,000 ... and Scientologists (over 12,000 in Moscow alone)." Utne Reader, Mar/Apr '97, p25.

(from Apologia Report 2:21, July 14, 1997)

 

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Sources:

 

Bookstore Journal, (719) 576-7880, <74521.43@compuserve.com>

 

Christian Science Monitor, (800) 456-2220, <http://www.csmonitor.com>

 

Current Thoughts & Trends (Navigators), (800) 288-2028, <dsevcik@navigato.mhs.compuserve.com>, <http://www.navpress.org/ctt/>

 

Green Egg (occultic), (707) 463-1067, <gemagazine@aol.com>, <http://www.caw.org/green-egg>

 

New Age Journal, (617) 926-0200, <editor@newage.com>, <http://www.newage.com/home/>

 

Newsweek, (800) 631-1040

 

Publishers Weekly Religion BookLine, (800) 278-2991, <72624.3562@compuserve.com>

 

Utne Reader, (800) 736-UTNE, <subscriptions@utne.com>, <http://www.utne.com>

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