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Introduction to

Worldviews – Lesson #11 April 14, 2020 *Background to New Age *Review >New Age is not a single system, but represents a >Introduction to number of religious ideas. -What is a – “A worldview is the perspective >I use the term “New Age” because that is the most through which you understand and approach life and the recognizable term for us, but I am referring to a wide range of world belief systems that hold certain ideas in common – other terms -We are in a battle that could be used would be “Cosmic ,” -We must understand worldviews in order to be faithful “Transcendentalism,” or “Eastern .” ambassadors for Christ >These believe systems hold to a pantheistic . >We must understand our position (Colossians 2) -The Christian worldview is constantly under attack from * many directions >Essentially sees the physical as bad and the spiritual as . -It is understanding our position in Christ that gives us the >Because “” is spiritual, the physical earth was created by ability to defend God’s a lesser evil . >We must engage the culture (I Peter 3; Jude) >Jesus descended from the spiritual realm in order to impart to -We must both defend the truth and contend for the mankind the secret from this spiritual realm. >All worldviews either promote truth or distort truth -While Christianity promotes truth, other worldviews *Transcendentalism distort truth >Two major leaders were and Henry -Every false worldview distorts truth in a different way David Thoreau 1 Islam: distorts the truth about God >There are entities that transcend the senses 2 : distorts the truth about man >Emphasis on a connection with 3 Marxism: distorts the truth about stewardship >God is in nature, and since we are part if nature, God is in us 4 New Age: distorts the truth about the universe >Society is a corrupting influence, so we should be self reliant 5 Post-: distorts the truth about truth *Eastern Mysticism >Hinduism – worships thousands of >Buddhism – attempt to attain Nirvana