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Gods of the New Age Scholars Crossing SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations 1985 Review: Gods of the New Age Edward Hindson Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs Recommended Citation Hindson, Edward, "Review: Gods of the New Age" (1985). SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations. 126. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs/126 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. IN REVIEW THE CHILDREN OF GOD: oped a complete dependence upon help because he has been programmed The Inside Story them for all contact with the real to hate and distrust everyone. She tells by Deborah (linda Berg) Davis world. of the spiritual confusion she and her Without bitterness or accusation, husband faced after their break with Reviewed by Ed Hindson, the author tells of her father's in­ COG. She writes: "You can be out of Senior Editor cestuous advances, her broken mar­ a cult physically, but still be very much riage, her children born out of wed­ 'in' the cult, for the cult is part of you." lock, and the all-pervasive grip the cult Freedom from the cult comes only "Family" held on her total being. Yet, when we find God's true freedom and she admits "I was responsible for be­ forgiveness, she adds. Her story ing dominated .... Neither my father reaches its climax when she and her nor this movement could have held any husband finally come to Christ in 1981 power over me at all unless I had at a Bill Gothard seminar in Long yielded to them." Beach, California, after three years of She tells the story of her father'S spiritual confusion since their break self-deduced belief that he had become with COG. God's End-Time Prophet and that his This is a powerful yet heartbreak­ letters were revelations of God's Word ing book that should be read by every to His true disciples. Riding the crest Christian. Its insight, pathos, and The cult explosion of the 1960s and of the Jesus Movement and fueled by detail will keep you on the edge of your 1970s often hitchhiked on the contem­ his mother's total rejection of the seat. Its tale of tragedy will give you porary "Jesus Movement" and its reac­ established churches, David Berg compassion(not anger) for those locked tion to the hippie counterculture. One created the Royal Family· to bring in in religious cults. If you really want to of the most bizarre cults rising to the kingdom of God. Luring converts help them, get this book! (Zondervan, popularity at that time was the multi­ from the disillusioned youth of the six­ 1984, 244pp., $10.95) national movement known as the Chil­ ties and early seventies, with the dren of God. This book is the personal slogan "Jesus loves you," the Children GODS OF THE NEW AGE memoir of the frightening and fascinat­ of God developed into a rapidly spread­ by Caryl Matrisciana ing experiences of the daughter of ing street cult. David Berg, founder of that cult and With genuine caution the author Reviewed by Ed Hindson author of its famous "Mo(ses) Letters." warns against the Charismatic confu­ This compelling firsthand account pro­ sion that runs through the COG cult. vides keen insight into the psychology She writes: "Christians involved in of religious cults. Charismatic circles should take a long Here is a tale of intimidation, de­ look at the early stages of the Jesus ceit, twisted logic, immorality, and People movement and specifically the gross personal manipulation of thou­ Children of God, which began as a sands of people. Rarely has someone Charismatic, Bible-believing organiza­ so close to the leadership of such a cult tion." She adds further, "Many Chris­ exposed the entire family history tians who claim to have discernment behind the cult leader. In carefully have been duped by men such as my documented fashion Deborah Davis father boasting the 'gifts' of the Holy tells the story of her grandparents' Spirit." She then concludes: "By their break with the Christian church fruits shall ye know them-not by their ("Disciples") and their subsequent rise gifts. " "The West has been invaded by the to leadership in a Pentecostal healing Deborah's keen insight about cult East!" claims the cover of this con­ ministry (a path very similar to that of life, its control over its leadership, troversial expose of the New Age Move­ Jim Jones of the People's Temple cult). revelations of exception to biblical ment. Written by a former Krishna Raised under the influence of his domi­ commands, and the occult invasion of cultist and New Age advocate, this book nant and powerful preacher-mother, the mind of the leader are chilling in­ is an absorbing and compelling ac­ David Berg would develop an itinerant deed. Yet, in spite of all this, she ad­ count of one woman's struggle to evangelistic ministry of his own. With mits: "Coming out of a cult is more dif­ understand the modern world. pathos, compassion, and humility his ficult by far than being in." Emerging This book is not a technical or doc­ daughter tells the story of her early from a life of falsehood and admitting trinal evaluation, rather it is a vivid childhood during those days. Locked in you have been wrong, she warns, is a personal account of one person's spir­ a world with little security other than painfully excruciating experience. The itual odyssey from the teenage rock her ever-traveling family, she devel- cult member has nowhere to turn for culture of the 1960s through the October 1985 55 Eastern cults (Krishna, Yoga, Trans­ fusion lead her to complete despera­ before I had even understood who He cendental Meditation, Astral Projec­ tion and an encounter with the gospel was!" Her vivid personal narrative will tion, etc.) of the 1970s, finally of Jesus Christ. Her clear, powerful not let you put this book down once - culminating in a personal conversion salvation testimony needs to be read you begin reading her story. (Harvest - to Jesus Christ. It is a powerful and by every Christian personal worker House, 1985, 221pp., $6.95) compelling real-life drama. Though who wants to understand how to reach written to laymen, every pastor needs today's young adults. UNHOLY DEVOTION: Why Cults to read this book in order to under­ The author provides a personal Lure Christians stand the mind-set of today's 30-year­ look at an aspect of contemporary life by Harold Bussell olds, many of whom are products that is foreign to many Christians. She of the same subculture as Caryl is very critical of New Age philosophy The dean of the chapel at Gordon Matrisciana. as reflected in rock music and in College has written a clever treatment This Raised in India by British parents, movies such as Star Wars and The of the psychospirituallure of the cults. righ1 the author grew up with an aversion Empire Strikes Back. She is convinced In this volume he examines such issues fond to Hinduism, yet she fell into the that these films are filled with Hindu/ as uncritical devotion to leaders, sub­ own mystical magnetism of its Westernized Krishna concepts promoting reincar­ jective religious experiences, inflated A counterpart: the New Age Movement. nation, yoga, transcendental medita­ expectations, the vulnerability of high Her story begins as a teenager watch­ tion, altered consciousness, and so power, and the problem of legalism. by r ing the play "Hair," where she begins forth. Her comments are balanced and He calls for a genuine Christianity that beca longing for the "Age of Aquarius." Her perceptive, and she is obviously right! is morally absolute and culturally rel­ sive pursuit of inner happiness eventually In light of the growing impact of ative as the best deterrent to cultic Jew~ leads her through materialism, drugs, counterfeit religion, every Christian enslavement. (Zondervan, 1983, 128pp., (so v yoga, meditation, est, rebirthing, mind­ would do well to read this book. $4.95) -E.H. had control, and finally the pursuit of Caryl's own testimony says it best: cha~ Krishna-consciousness. Her story "Like the blazing sun breaking through COME BEFORE WINTER ... tion could be repeated many times by the a month of foggy days, Jesus entered AND SHARE MY HOPE tent "victims" of New Age philosophy. A my life. The counterfeits vanished, by Charles R. Swindoll com broken marriage, live-in arrangements, burned away by His genuine gifts. J promiscuity, and eventually total con- How desperately I had needed Him Typical of his jam-packed, thought­ said provoking style in Growing Strong in lear the Seasons of Life, Charles R. Swin­ doll repeats his performance in Come before Winter . .. and Share My Hope. Through witty stories and ancient prov­ erbs, he presents a treasure of en­ couragement and hope in 122 ever-so­ brief chapters. Each concludes with an Don't be - in this book you'll appropriate Bible reading. Swindoll's discover the "why" of hu· creative presentations are inspirational man sUffering and pain. daily devotions making it tough to read The most frequently asked question in just one. (Multnomah Press, 344pp., America is, "Why do people suffer?" $13.95) -D.W.H. In this highly provocative and thought­ ful book, Dr. Edwin Young (pastor THE HIGH COST OF INDIFFERENCE of Second Baptist Church, Houston, edited by Richard Cizik Texas, and viewed by millions on television) provides fresh insight This collection of statements on a and answers on the subject of variety of political and social issues­ suffering from God's perspec­ from abortion to poetry, nuclear arms tive.
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