New Age facts for kids

The New Age is a way of thinking and living that some people in Western countries follow. It's not a single, organized religion. Instead, people who are part of the New Age movement often believe that everyone is free to choose what they believe and how they live their lives. They often combine ideas from different cultures and religions, both Eastern and Western. They decide for themselves what "God" means to them, or if they even believe in a God at all. Many New Age followers enjoy meditation as a way to connect with their spiritual side.

There are many books written by authors who share their views on the New Age. You might also hear New-age music, which is usually calm and relaxing. A core belief in the New Age is that a new, better time is coming. People will become more aware of their special spiritual nature, which will make the world a different and improved place.

Understanding the New Age Movement

The New Age movement brings together many different ideas about spirituality and the world. These ideas often mix beliefs about God, nature, and philosophy. It includes many different "theologies," which are ways of understanding God and the world. A big part of the New Age is being open to different religions and ideas.

Key Ideas of New Age Thinking

Some main ideas in New Age thought include:

• "Feel-goodism": This means doing what feels right, as long as you are not harming anyone else.
• "Moral relativism": This suggests that what is right or wrong can depend on the situation.
• "Pluralism": This is about accepting and respecting many different beliefs and ideas.

The name "New Age" comes from the idea of the "Aquarian Age," which New Age supporters believe is starting now. This new age is expected to bring peace and understanding. It is also believed to help people feel more connected to a divine or spiritual source. New Age teachings suggest that humans are not connected to this source because they do not fully understand its true nature.

Humans at the Center

In New Age thinking, humans are very important. People are seen as divine, meaning they have a special, god-like quality within them. They are also considered "co-creators," meaning they help create their own reality and the future of the world. While the New Age movement is generally open to most world religions, it often disagrees with the idea that there is only one path to spiritual truth. This is because New Age philosophy believes in many different paths. It is hard to define New Age exactly because it does not have one main leader, a single set of rules, or official members. At its heart, the New Age movement has two main ideas: "Evolutionary Godhood" and "Global Unity."

Evolutionary Godhood: Spiritual Growth

New Age thought often supports the idea of evolution, but it takes it a step further. It suggests that our spirits are also evolving. This idea is called "Evolutionary Godhood." It means that the next big step in human evolution will not be physical, but spiritual. The idea is that humans are constantly moving towards a "god-consciousness." This is a state where people and reality connect in a complete understanding.

Practices for Spiritual Evolution

Many New Age practices are designed to help speed up this spiritual evolution. These practices can include:

• Astral projection: This is a practice where someone tries to train their soul to leave their body and travel.
• Channeling spirits: This involves allowing spirits to speak through you or guide you.
• Crystal usage: Some believe crystals can help purify the energy systems of the body and mind.
• Visualization techniques: These include using mental images or even role-playing to achieve certain goals or states of mind.

In simple terms, Evolutionary Godhood means that people will soon see themselves as having a divine nature. This is sometimes called the "Christ principle" or "Christ consciousness." New Age teachings suggest that we are all good and divine by nature. Ultimately, we can create our own reality.

Global Unity: Connecting Everything

The second main idea of the New Age movement is "Global Unity." This idea usually has three parts:

People Connecting with Each Other

One New Age principle is that everyone will realize their special connection with one another. This understanding will lead to pure harmony. With harmony between people, there can be economic unity, where everyone works together financially. This could then lead to political unity, possibly a single world government, and spiritual unity, meaning a single world religion.

People Connecting with Nature

Another New Age principle is that everything is connected to the divine, and the divine is in everything. This means nature is also part of the divine. So, we must live in harmony with nature. We should care for it and let it support us. New Age followers believe humans are not so different from other animals. We should live peacefully with them, understand them, and learn from them. Many in the New Age movement refer to the connection of the Earth and nature as "Gaia." Gaia is often respected and even seen as a god by some. Native American rituals are also popular in the New Age movement because they focus on nature and how humans relate to it.

People Connecting with the Divine

Since people are seen as divine by nature, everyone can realize their "divinity." This can help them contribute to the shared purpose of humanity, Earth, and nature. The main goal in life is to fully understand our own divine goodness. The New Age idea of the divine is often seen as impersonal and present everywhere. It has not revealed itself in a specific way to humans. Because of this, New Age philosophy suggests that people are not bound by strict moral laws or absolute truths. There is no single, objective right or wrong in New Age philosophy. Instead, people should be open to all ways of understanding truth, meaning, and purpose. The goal is to create a world where morality and religion are personal to each person's own understanding of reality.

Images for kids

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  New Age meditation group at the Snoqualmie Moondance festival, 1992

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  This barrel house was the first dwelling constructed at the Findhorn Ecovillage.

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  New Age shrine in Glastonbury, England

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  Astrological ideas hold a central place in the New Age

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  Reiki is one of the alternative therapies commonly found in the New Age movement.

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  Stonehenge is a site visited by New Age pilgrims, as seen in this midsummer rave.

See also

In Spanish: Nueva era para niños