Exploring New Thought: A Christian Perspective on the New Age Movement

Many Christians associate the New Age movement with occult practices and view it as a satanic ideology. However, there’s a related movement that presents itself as a Christian belief system—it’s known as New Thought.

This spiritual movement has significantly influenced New Age beliefs, emphasizing how our thoughts can shape reality. It prioritizes concepts like positive thinking, the law of attraction, spiritual healing, and the belief that a divine intelligence or God resides within all things, accessible through correct thinking.

Melissa Doherty, a Christian author and apologist, found herself involved in this movement before discovering her true Christian faith.

In her recent episode of “Unshamed,” Melissa delves into the seemingly benevolent, yet, ultimately deceptive nature of the New Thought movement, which misleads countless individuals into thinking they’re truly Christians.

“If I had to sum up New Thought in two words, it would be metaphysical Christianity, which suggests that everything we perceive physically has a spiritual counterpart, including language,” Melissa explains.

She points out that New Thought encourages readers to take on the role of an “arbiter,” instead of interpreting the Bible in its historical context and understanding its intended messages.

“You interpret things based on your feelings and personal meaning. Metaphysically, truth is derived from within, rather than from external sources, because God exists within you,” she adds. “So, it becomes a subjective experience. There’s a deeper, hidden meaning in the text that speaks to you individually.”

Melissa simplifies the movement to a core idea: “It’s an American movement centered on positive thinking, with Jesus as its mascot.”

Its followers believe they are “creating” their own realities; that illnesses and hardships are merely states of mind. “How you feel shapes your reality,” Melissa states.

However, she regrets the many “distortions of truth” that result. For instance, she cites a saying from New Thought: “When you look in the mirror, you are seeing God.” She interprets this as a misrepresentation of Jesus’s teachings.

Despite how appealing this perspective may sound, Melissa asserts that it is misleading. This realization led her to title her book Happy Lie, aiming to reveal the true biblical insights against the backdrop of the heretical elements found in New Thought.

“I was deceived,” she admits.

To explore further, check out the full episode.