World Religions 8: New Age, Neopaganism, and Humanism: Seek the Gospel Truth

Some time ago, I wrote a post on how America lost its way and holds a worldview based on syncretism. I’ve also been writing a series on World Religions. It started with the History of Paganism based on the Book of Genesis and continued through the years, describing all the “major religions” around the world. It’s been a deep dive, describing how Satan infiltrated himself into the lives of humans. In this post, I land in the modern era of New Age, Neopaganism, and Humanism. We’ll even touch on Globalism. Is that enough “isms” for you? Let’s dig in…

What is Neopaganism?

Neo-Paganism is a modern religion that includes beliefs and activities that are not from any of the main religions of the world. For example, the worship of nature: the practitioners of neo-paganism are reviving ancient pagan practices and beliefs of pre-Christian Europe. I actually saw a tree-hugger once. There was a huge tree whose roots had grown into the sewer system at the apartment complex where I lived, and management was going to have it removed. A guy came up, stared at it up and down, then hugged it like he was saying goodbye to the tree. That’s neopaganism. Today’s earth-worship, the “climate change” movement, is neopaganism.

Forms of neopaganism are so varied, they almost defy description.

Movies, video games, board games, music, and festivals seem fun, but that’s the devil’s deception. They are demonic. It’s demons playing within the physical realm.

“Today’s Satanism is do what you want, when you want, with whom you want, where you want, whatever you want. It’s pure, unrestrained lifestyle — no rules.”
Pastor Mike Golay

Paul wrote…

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ²For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ⁵They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

⁶They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.
2 Timothy 3:1-6

Globalism, or the New World Order, will bring the world back to paganism. It even redefines paganism. That’s neopaganism.

Demonization, Marxism, Socialism, and more demonic teachings have infiltrated our schools and colleges and have infected our children and youth.

We either worship the Creator or the creation. Any time you put something else above God, you are practicing paganism.

That means even putting yourself before God. That’s Humanism.

What is Humanism?

In Humanism we…

Have “deceitful and wicked” hearts
“Suppress the truth” to go our own way
“Love darkness rather than light”
“Are not willing”
“Nullify the Word of God”
“Have passions at war within us”
“Will not tolerate sound doctrine but with itching ears gather around us teachers to suit our own desires.”

Why do we worship everything but God?

Cross Examined with Frank Turek…

When did Humanism start?

Movements start with a trigger. Humanism started with the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake had wide-ranging effects on the lives of the populace and intelligentsia. The earthquake struck on an important religious holiday (All Saints’ Day, November 1). Subsequently, it destroyed almost every important Roman Catholic Church in the city. It caused anxiety and confusion among the citizens of a staunch, devout, and mostly Roman Catholic country. Theologians and philosophers focused on and speculated on the religious cause and message, seeing the earthquake as a manifestation of divine judgment. (source)

In other words, they turned away from a seemingly vengeful God and turned their focus on themselves. Thus, man can become god. The Roman Catholic Church at that time didn’t help matters because they weren’t teaching the truth of the Gospel of Salvation.

This video describes the event. However, it brings up the point that it birthed the science of earthquakes and changed how buildings in earthquake-prone areas are built.

Was the 1755 Portugal Earthquake God’s Judgment?

We can only speculate. However, look at it this way. It was November 1, 1755, The Day of the Dead. In the Roman Catholic Tradition, it was a major religious holiday. It honored the dead, not God. It was a 100% pagan holiday, certainly not a “Holy” day. By the way, that’s where the evil Halloween tradition came from. Nothing like giving Satan a party day.

Fact: God created the earth. God is in control. We do live in a fallen world. Natural disasters happen. Nevertheless, there are no such things as coincidences!

So the new “enlightened” scholars saw the earthquake as God’s judgment. A good God wouldn’t kill people who were in church celebrating dead people, would he? Just because an event is held in a church doesn’t make it right in God’s eyes.

Paul wrote…

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

Satan got another foothold.

That’s all Satan needs: a little foothold, and he slowly infiltrates lives, governments, universities, churches, and schools like a cancer.

The plot is very simple because the enemy is very predictable:

Going back to the Tower of Babel is what they are aiming for. They believe people should come together (globalism) and make a name for themselves, building a world spiritual, political, and financial system to replace God.

Everything we see in our world today is moving in the direction of eliminating nationalism and embracing globalism. But the real goal is to create a world without God, without His Word, without His values, and without His people.

What they don’t know is that we can see through all this, because our God declared the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done. His counsel shall stand, and He will do ALL His pleasure! (Isaiah 46:9-10)
Amir Tsarfati, Behold Israel

Humility is the first and primary character of Jesus. Pride is the first and primary character of Satan.

Here are a couple of examples of Satan’s work among Christian believers…

Burkina Faso: Christian Widow Threatened by Animist Family

Femke was married to a village witch doctor for 33 years and was terrorized by demons. The spirits would drive her mad and tell her information her husband would use in his fortune-telling. When he died suddenly, she sought spiritual freedom. A pastor prayed for her, and she was healed of all demonic oppression.

When she started destroying her husband’s valuable occult charms, it enraged her brother-in-law, who threatened to kill her. Femke fled to the capital, Ouagadougou, where Christian widows like her have few opportunities for support other than begging, working on road crews, or smashing rocks into gravel by hand.

But Femke has hope in Christ. Through her local church, VOM, and the global body of believers, she received a small new home and a few animals to help provide for her needs.
Voice of the Martyrs

Togo: New Believer Attacked by Sorcerers

A young Christian in Togo was severely beaten recently by local sorcerers who were angry that he had become a follower of Christ. Abraham, who lives in a village where sorcery and human sacrifice are practiced, is currently hospitalized for wounds he suffered in the attack. Pray for his physical recovery as well as his healing from mental and emotional trauma. Please also pray that those who practice sorcery in Abraham’s village will hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ.
Voice of the Martyrs

Mongolia: Syncretism

A Mongolian couple professed faith in Christ in 1991. That was before evangelical missionaries pushed for the use of Buddhist terms for terms for God, heaven, hell, prayer, etc. The couple saw it as syncretism. They organised meetings on the Bible for Mongolians who mix the Bible with Buddhist terms, but were deeply disheartened to see people show no interest in the Lord of the Universe (God) or in Jesus Christ, and would use any means to further their own interests. The couple gave up, finding no one who would carry on their work. They now use social media to evangelise Mongolians.
Global Connections

Components of Paganism, New Age, and Humanism

Neopaganism — how can you worshipvenerate a piece of ceramic

Personal rituals
Living dutifully to family
Reverence for ancestors
Obedience to sacred civic law
Consulting auspices and oracles
Praying to god(s), saints, and Mary
Reverence for cult objects (statues)
Civic rites (assemblies and parades)
Initiation into shrine cults
Military-like fraternity/membership
Offering sacrifices to gods
Expiation for ill omens
Participation in Civic Festivals
Hearing and learning myths in poetry
Participation in markets (I see the New Agers at the Farmers Market!)
Watching/providing civic games
Watching/providing plans
Studying philosophy
Ethics in dealing with others
Personal morality/austerity/legalism
Hollow religion
Blind obedience: you don’t know WHY you’re doing something. You just do it to fit in, feel good, and “belong”.

You can never be good enough.

Bundle this all together, and you have New Age. That label seems to make it OK. It’s popular, cool, fun, intriguing, and “spiritual”.

What is New Age?

Living in Downtown Phoenix, AZ, I’m surrounded by syncretism. There’s one house that has everything from a statue of Buddha to a lit cross and leftover Halloween decorations. It’s like they want to cover all the bases.

We also have Reiki practitioners and sellers of crystals, and there’s a yoga studio coming soon around the block from me. My favorite Thai restaurant has a statue of some Buddha angel that’s supposed to protect them.

Some see this as New Age.

Sedona, AZ, Vortexes

Native Americans believe that a spiritual transformation occurs more easily in Sedona because the veils to other dimensions are more translucent and accessible. These vortex sites are said to bring about self-awareness and spiritual healing.

A vortex is believed to be a swirling center of energy that can produce a range of physical, emotional, and spiritual effects. Many people believe that the Sedona Vortexes are particularly powerful and can enhance meditation, self-discovery, and spiritual growth.

The Sedona Vortexes are natural geomagnetic points that create a swirling energy center radiating from the Earth’s surface. Many people have reported feeling inspired by these beneficial spiritual energy sources. The belief is that these vortexes facilitate balance, prayer, healing, and intuitiveness.

Are the Sedona Vortexes legitimate scientific phenomena? Scientists say no. There is no evidence that Sedona or any sites pinpointed as vortexes of swirling energy entering or exiting the Earth are real. No measurable magnetic or electric energetic field is found in these areas.

I visited Sedona in 2024 and climbed up to one of the vortexes. I didn’t feel a thing. More than likely, the Holy Spirit was protecting me. Thank you, Lord!

Here are some real testimonies of former New Age practitioners, Satan worshipers, witches, mystics, and psychics who at one point, finally saw the Light…

Jesus said…

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NLT

All religions cannot all be right! There’s only ONE TRUTH, and that’s Jesus Christ.

Do All Paths Lead to God?

It’s getting worse…

Where Do You Stand?

When I was in high school, I was very much into astrology. I had Linda Goodman’s Sunsigns memorized. I was also intrigued by tarot cards, palm readings, Ouija boards, and the occult. See, I was raised Catholic. It was an empty religion. I got nothing out of it. Certainly not salvation! Thus, I went out into the world looking to fill the hole in my soul. I couldn’t find it. I could have fallen into many different black holes, like drugs, alcoholism, mysticism, and any of the other bevy of things I tried.

BUT GOD SAVED ME!

God can save you, too!

If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…

Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.

Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ, and He died taking your sins away forever, and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
Repent of your sins: In other words, stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender it all to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you, He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean, past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
Be Baptized by water baptism: Show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in your heart.