History UsefulNotes / NewAge

* MagicalNativeAmerican: So you wanna earn a living selling New Age faith? Just offer the whiteys sweat lodges, [[VisionQuest vision quests]], and teach them how to find their "[[YouKeepUsingThatWord totem animal]]." Better yet, write books claiming to "pass on" the wisdom of "the ancestors." You might say that actual Native Americans -- particularly the Plains peoples -- are ''not'' amused.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Many of them come off as this, partially because they [[YouKeepUsingThatWord use words and terminologies in ways that are utterly incomprehensible to the average person]].

The dark side of the New Age movement is that it has attracted a glut of self-proclaimed gurus who appropriate and exploit aspects of other cultures' spiritualities, most glaringly [[http://www.newagefraud.org Native American]], and has pushed sufferers of chronic illness and cancer away from scientifically-proven (and therefore [[AppealToNature anti-nature and evil]], in their minds) treatments, and into the arms of snake-oil salesmen and quacks peddling useless, and often harmful, "cures".

** For the record, if you see [[https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omtj--TiDB0/XK3yhkBV8RI/AAAAAAAApoU/d6_W2KJE_UotjoCnMmw9feKi2O32hdWdQCLcBGAs/s320/Migthy%2BI%2BAM%2BPresence%2B1.jpg this illustration]] or anything close to it, you should know that the original poster was created by Charles Sindelar for the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22I_AM%22_Activity I AM Religious Activity]] group in the 1930s. Known as "The Chart," it was appropriated without credit along with a lot of other material by subsequent New Age groups. Sindelar along with fellow devotee May [=DaCamara=] did most of the original paintings of Ascended Masters; he was later one of the defendants in the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sindelar I AM mail fraud trial]]. I AM was not the only group to be so accused and you can find extensive information online about some of the more UsefulNotes/{{Cult}}-like groups.

* MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi," "reincarnation," and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see non-Asian twenty-somethings gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive/evil Western religions. Some Asians are greatly displeased at the commodification of their culture, while others are amused. Particularly objected to are Hindu or Buddhist chants practitioners of these faiths consider sacred used without the reverence which the believers have, or in other contexts (yoga sessions, for instance, sometimes have Hindu chants intoned).

** This has caused rifts within some Native societies. Native people who have undertaken to teach sincere non-Indians the proper way to do sacred things, they too have been labeled "New Age frauds" and "twinkies" by their own people.

** The NESARA conspiracy is very, very popular with this crowd. It's a supposed law that was allegedly passed in secret in March of 2000 and would have gone into force in 2001 if not for 9/11 and the WarOnTerror. The law would call for new elections, cancel all personal debt, abolishing the IRS, ending the Federal Reserve and declaring World Peace.

* CrackIsCheaper: Any number of services, including DNA upgrades, light language activations, and energy attunements can be found online for free, while just as many are offered at whatever the heck price the seller wants to charge, relying on the assumption that one has the income to afford the service, and is willing to keep buying these activations as an expensive hobby that could easily appear to others as throwing away large sums of money on nothing. Then there's all the books, [=CDs=], crystals, meditation retreats, live and online seminars, private sessions, classes, certifications, handmade enchanted jewelry, etc. None of this is strictly necessary given the underlying philosophy of non-materialism, non-physicality, non-attachment to third dimensional reality, meditating and and not relying on the external world for fulfillment. Some of these processes are supposed to take place naturally without requiring any expense.

* CrackIsCheaper: Any number of services, including DNA upgrades, light language activations, and energy attunements can be found online for free, while just as many are offered at whatever the heck price the seller wants to charge, relying on the assumption that one has the income to afford the service, and is willing to keep buying these activations as an expensive hobby that could easily appear to others as throwing away large sums of money on nothing. Then there's all the books, [=CDs=], crystals, meditation retreats, live and online seminars, private sessions, classes, certifications, handmade enchanted jewelry, etc.

* CrackIsCheaper: Any number of services, including DNA upgrades and energy attunements, can be found online for free, while just as many are offered at whatever the heck price the seller wants to charge, relying on the assumption that one has the income to afford the service, and is willing to keep buying these activations as an expensive hobby that could easily appear to others as throwing away large sums of money on nothing. Then there's all the books, crystals, meditation retreats, live and online seminars, classes, certifications, handmade enchanted jewelry, etc.

* CrackIsCheaper: Any number of services, including DNA upgrades and energy attunements, can be found online for free, while just as many are offered at whatever the heck price the seller wants to charge, relying on the assumption that one has the income to afford the service, and is willing to keep buying these activations as an expensive hobby that could appear to others as throwing away large sums of money on nothing.

* EvolutionaryLevels:

* AGodAmI: Every now and then, someone with a god or messiah complex will wander onto a New Age forum and declare their awesomeness. They aren't taken very seriously by most. From time to time, some of the more charismatic have managed to garner small followings, occasionally spawning their own cults. Although mostly harmless, a rare few have managed to become quite significant for their fanaticism; including masterminding [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Rajneeshee_bioterror_attack terror]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway attacks]] to forcibly usher in the new age. More often, the more extreme would-be messiahs simply isolate their followers in secure compounds or camps, which eventually fall apart from internal disillusionment and dissension. Abuse of followers (financial, physical or sexual) is common, as in many other cults. The [[http://www.tyob.info/public/archived_sites/users.on.net/~thefirstbruce/Ballards/index.html I AM Religious Activity]], [[http://tyob.info Church Universal]] [[https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/sociopol_brotherhoodss36.htm and Triumphant]] [[http://www.blacksunjournal.com/elizabeth-clare-prophet Elizabeth Clare Prophet]]), [[https://www.alternet.org/2014/06/ramtha-new-age-cult-leader-unleashes-drunken-racist-homophobic-rants-large-following/ Ramtha]], and [[https://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/jach-pursel-has-turned-channeling-for-an-entity-he-calls/article_2fe5dccb-47e9-57cf-87b0-029281c54f2b.html Lazaris]] groups, among others, have been cited by ex-members as abusive in various ways.

* AGodAmI: Every now and then, someone with a god or messiah complex will wander onto a New Age forum and declare their awesomeness. They aren't taken very seriously by most. From time to time, some of the more charismatic have managed to garner small followings, occasionally spawning their own cults. Although mostly harmless, a rare few have managed to become quite significant for their fanaticism; including masterminding [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Rajneeshee_bioterror_attack terror]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway attacks]] to forcibly usher in the new age. More often, the more extreme would-be messiahs simply isolate their followers in secure compounds or camps, which eventually fall apart from internal disillusionment and dissension. Abuse of followers (financial, physical or sexual) is common, as in many other cults. The [[http://www.tyob.info/public/archived_sites/users.on.net/~thefirstbruce/Ballards/index.html I AM Religious Activity]], [[http://tyob.info Church Universal]] [[https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/sociopol_brotherhoodss36.htm and Triumphant]], [[https://www.alternet.org/2014/06/ramtha-new-age-cult-leader-unleashes-drunken-racist-homophobic-rants-large-following/ Ramtha]], and [[https://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/jach-pursel-has-turned-channeling-for-an-entity-he-calls/article_2fe5dccb-47e9-57cf-87b0-029281c54f2b.html Lazaris]] groups, among others, have been cited by ex-members as abusive in various ways.

* AGodAmI: Every now and then, someone with a god or messiah complex will wander onto a New Age forum and declare their awesomeness. They aren't taken very seriously by most. From time to time, some of the more charismatic have managed to garner small followings, occasionally spawning their own cults. Although mostly harmless, a rare few have managed to become quite significant for their fanaticism; including masterminding [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Rajneeshee_bioterror_attack terror]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway attacks]] to forcibly usher in the new age. More often, the more extreme would-be messiahs simply isolate their followers in secure compounds or camps, which eventually fall apart from internal disillusionment and dissension. Abuse of followers (financial, physical or sexual) is common, as in many other cults.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Some think that humanity will eventually do this. Many believe in various "ascended masters" as well who have already done so (often this includes Jesus, Buddha and other religious figures) that have already done so and act as guides for the rest.

** Actual Native Americans who oppose New Age use of Native traditions are either racist or dupes for, you guessed it, [[ChristianityIsCatholic Rome]] or the Illuminati (assuming they're not deemed part of the same, overarching conspiracy).

** For the record, if you see [[https://www.saintgermainfoundation.org/SGF_01_MightyIAM.html this illustration]] or anything close to it, you should know that the original poster was created by Charles Sindelar for the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22I_AM%22_Activity I AM Religious Activity]] group in the 1930s. Known as "The Chart," it was appropriated without credit along with a lot of other material by subsequent New Age groups. Sindelar along with fellow devotee May [=DaCamara=] did most of the original paintings of Ascended Masters; he was later one of the defendants in the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sindelar I AM mail fraud trial]]. I AM was not the only group to be so accused and you can find extensive information online about some of the more UsefulNotes/{{Cult}}-like groups.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: For polluting the Earth, oppressing each other, and all that jazz. There is a particular hatred for the medical industry, for supposedly being "anti-nature", and therefore promoting illness and suppressing magical "natural cures".

* MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi," "reincarnation," and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see white twenty-somethings gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive/evil Western religions. Some Asians are greatly displeased at the commodification of their culture, while others are amused. Particularly objected to are Hindu or Buddhist chants practitioners of these faiths consider sacred used without the reverence which the believers have, or in other contexts (yoga sessions, for instance, sometimes have Hindu chants intoned).

* NewAgeRetroHippie: The New Age movement of the 60's was popular with hippies. It hasn't lost this association, and a good chunk of them are what you'd call hippies. In particular, hippie New Agers popularized ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Urantia_Book The Urantia Book]]'' ([[https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book/read-urantia-book-online which you may read in its entirety here]]), which was probably written in the 1920s. Among those who have said they found Urantia interesting or useful are [[Music/TheGratefulDead Jerry Garcia]], Music/JimiHendrix, [[Music/WeatherReport Jaco Pastorius]], Stevie Ray Vaughan and [[Music/{{Kansas}} Kerry Livgren]].

* NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus: Notably averted -- as New Age believers typically believe that Jesus, Buddha, and other important religious figures were supernaturally gifted in some way.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: They aren't limited to helping those who strictly follow one of the Abrahamic religions.

* WideEyedIdealist: The movement has often been accused of this by its critics, who claim that this movement does not focus on the wrongs going on in the world but rather focus on "unrealistic" love and positive messages.

* NewAgeRetroHippie: The New Age movement of the 60's was popular with hippies. It hasn't lost this association, and a good chunk of them are what you'd call hippies.

* SecretCouncilOfSecrets: The Ascended Masters, which the New Age borrowed (along with a ton of other stuff) from Theosophy. They are human beings who are just somewhat more evolved and now serve as spiritual teachers or "elder brothers". If you hear a New Ager talking about Kuthumi, Maitreya, St. Germaine or Djwhal Khul, these are the names of some of the Ascended Ones. Jesus and Mary are also counted among them.

* HigherSelf: In New Age lingo, your higher self is the "you" which is eternal and timeless. Think of it like your physical body being the character in a video game, and your higher self being the player that controls it, though to a more subtle degree.

* SpiritAdvisor: Comes in various forms, such as angels, your "higher self," animal spirit guides, etc...

Likewise, their views on the divine vastly differ. Early New Age teachings focused on incorporating elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Gnosticism. More recent new agers may be Christian, neopagan, deist, [[UsefulNotes/{{pandeism}} pandeist]], pantheist, or even agnostic. Most often, their spirituality is a hodgepodge of concepts from various faiths, philosophies, and superstitions, for better or [[SadlyMythtaken for worse]]. The word "sycretistic" is used by them a lot.

Many new agers use terms that have been misappropriated from the scientific community, and due to the difference in the way they use these terms have more or less created a language barrier that can make it difficult to understand their philosophies at first glance. For example, where a scientist uses the word "energy" to mean "the potential to do work," new agers tend to use it to mean an ethereal substance akin to vital force or ''chi''.

Another concept you'll stumble upon sooner or later in the new age community is the concept of "indigo children" - that is, people who have incarnated on Earth specifically for the purpose of helping humanity to get its act together. Exactly how you tell who an indigo child is depends on who you ask, and the concept itself has been criticized heavily due to the "indigo traits" usually being overly generic or more likely being a sign of a developmental disorder, most commonly sensory integration dysfunction, dyslexia, or [=ADHD=]. The metaconcept of indigo children has branched out to include other types of souls with specific purposes, with equally shiny and colorful names such as "[[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles diamond]] children" and "[[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows rainbow]] children." Similar is the more recent concept of "crystal children", ostensibly the offspring of self-described indigos, and most commonly linked with autistic spectrum disorder.

The dark side of the New Age movement is that it has attracted a glut of self-proclaimed gurus who appropriate and exploit aspects of other cultures' spiritualities, most glaringly [[http://www.newagefraud.org Native American]]; and has pushed sufferers of chronic illness and cancer away from scientifically-proven (and therefore anti-nature and evil) treatments, and into the arms of snake-oil salesmen and quacks peddling useless, and often harmful, "cures".

* AGodAmI: Every now and then, someone with a god or messiah complex will wander onto a new age forum and declare their awesomeness. They aren't taken very seriously by most. From time to time, some of the more charismatic have managed to garner small followings, occasionally spawning their own cults. Although mostly harmless, a rare few have managed to become quite significant for their fanaticism; including masterminding [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Rajneeshee_bioterror_attack terror]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway attacks]] to forcibly usher in the new age. More often, the more extreme would-be messiahs simply isolate their followers in secure compounds or camps, which eventually fall apart from internal disillusionment and dissension.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Some think that humanity will eventually do this.
* {{Atlantis}}: New agers often believe in lost continents such as Atlantis, Lemuria, and Mu. If you look hard enough, you can find transcripts of people allegedly channeling the spirits of these islands' former inhabitants.
* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: Was Jesus an alien? Or was he a human with all [[MagicGenetics 12 strands of his DNA activated?]] What this celebrity or that scientist an Indigo?

* ConspiracyTheorist: Many new agers overlap with this. It's not uncommon to find New Agers believing in aliens or an impending New World Order caused by TheIlluminati conspiracy
** ADHD/ADD and schizophrenia were "invented" to cover up genuine psychic powers.

** Actual Native Americans who oppose New Age use of native traditions are either racist or dupes for, you guessed it, [[ChristianityIsCatholic Rome]].
** The NESARA conspiracy is very, very popular with this crowd. It's a supposed law that was allegedly passed in secret in March of 2000 and would have gone into force in 2001 if not for 9/11 and the WarOnTerror. The law would call for new elections, cancel all personal debt, abolishing the IRS, ending the Federal Reserve.and declaring World Peace.
** Other popular conspiracy theories include the 9/11 Truth movement, autism and the anti-vaccination movement, and the medical-industrial complex suppressing cancer cures.

** Some believe that the "next step" in humanity's evolution is some kind of spirit/energy being.

* HigherSelf: In NewAge lingo, your higher self is the "you" which is eternal and timeless. Think of it like your physical body being the character in a video game, and your higher self being the player that controls it, though to a more subtle degree.

* MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi," "reincarnation," and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see white twenty-somethings gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive/evil Western religions. Some Asians are greatly displeased at the commodification of their culture, while others are amused.
* MagicalNativeAmerican: So you wanna earn a living selling NewAge faith? Just offer the whiteys sweat lodges, [[VisionQuest vision quests]], and teach them how to find their "[[YouKeepUsingThatWord totem animal]]." Better yet, write books claiming to "pass on" the wisdom of "the ancestors." You might say that actual Native Americans -- particularly the Plains peoples -- are ''not'' amused.

* NewAgeRetroHippie: The new age movement of the 60's was popular with hippies. It hasn't lost this association, and a good chunk of them are what you'd call hippies.
* NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus: Notably averted -- as new age believers typically believe that Jesus, Buddha, and other important religious figures were supernaturally gifted in some way.

%%* {{Reincarnation}}
* SadlyMythtaken: A point of contention for many people, particularly Native Americans, who have had their spirituality misappropriated by self-proclaimed new age gurus. Also, if they believe in karma, they likely as not [[http://books.google.com/books?id=TOwVHLKkuIAC&pg=PA78&dq=%22Popular+Misconceptions+of+Karma%22&hl=en&ei=GZzETNfwCIL58Ab0hK3ZBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Popular%20Misconceptions%20of%20Karma%22&f=false have it wrong]].

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: A large portion of criticism comes from the fact that they keep misusing words like "quantum" and "energy." In some cases ''energy'' is being used in a spiritual sense and not a scientific sense.

The New Age movement more or less originated in the late 18th century, but took fire in the 1960s among [[NewAgeRetroHippie hippies]] and other young idealists. It went mainstream in The80s with the CatchPhrase "Create Your Own Reality", and the writings of Creator/ShirleyMacLaine, popularizing certain speakers who claimed to be [[WillingChanneler WillingChannelers]]. The core of the New Age movement developed as an offshoot of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy Theosophy]], particularly the syncretistic variation propounded by 19th century mystic Helena Blavatsky.

** Other popular conspiracy theories include the 9/11 Truth movement, Autism and the anti-vaccination movement, and the medical-industrial complex suppressing cancer cures.

* MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi," "reincarnation," and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see white twenty-somethings gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive/evil Western religions. As with Native Americans, Asians are greatly displeased at the commodification of their culture.
* MagicalNativeAmerican: So you wanna earn a living selling NewAge faith? Just offer the whities sweat lodges, [[VisionQuest vision quests]], and teach them how to find their "[[YouKeepUsingThatWord totem animal]]." Better yet, write books claiming to "pass on" the wisdom of "the ancestors." You might say that actual Native Americans are ''not'' amused.

The New Age movement more or less originated in the late 18th century, but took fire in the 1960s. The core of the New Age movement developed as an offshoot of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy Theosophy]], particularly the syncretistic variation propounded by 19th century mystic Helena Blavatsky.

The term "New Age" itself refers to the coming Age of Aquarius, which will result in massive changes for Earth and humanity. Exactly what these changes entail, and when they did/will take place, depends on whom you ask.

Likewise, their views on the divine vastly differ. Early New Age teachings focused on incorporating elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Gnosticism. More recent new agers may be Christian, neopagan, deist, [[UsefulNotes/{{pandeism}} pandeist]], pantheist, or even agnostic. Most often, their spirituality is a hodgepodge of concepts from various faiths, philosophies, and superstitions, for better or [[SadlyMythtaken for worse]].

Many new agers use terms that have been misappropriated from the scientific community, and due to the difference in the way they use these terms have more or less created a language barrier that can make it difficult to understand their philosophies at first glance. For example, where a scientist uses the word "energy" to mean "the potential to do work," new agers tend to use it to mean an ethereal substance akin to vital force.

Another concept you'll stumble upon sooner or later in the new age community is the concept of "indigo children" - that is, people who have incarnated on Earth specifically for the purpose of helping humanity to get its act together. Exactly how you tell who an indigo child is depends on who you ask, and the concept itself has been criticized heavily due to the "indigo traits" usually being overly generic or more likely being a sign of a developmental disorder, most commonly [=ADHD=]. The metaconcept of indigo children has branched out to include other types of souls with specific purposes, with equally shiny and colorful names such as "[[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles diamond]] children" and "[[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows rainbow]] children." Similar is the more recent concept of "crystal children", ostensibly the offspring of self-described indigos, and most commonly linked with autistic spectrum disorder.

The NewAge movement more or less originated in the late 18th century, but took fire in the 1960s. The core of the NewAge movement developed as an offshoot of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy Theosophy]], particularly the syncretistic variation propounded by 19th century mystic Helena Blavatsky.

The term "New Age" itself refers to the coming Age of Aquarius, which will result in massive changes for Earth and humanity. Exactly what these changes entail, and when they did/will take place, depends on who you ask.

Something you'll hear a lot about is raising one's vibrational level. The concept is that everyone's "energy field" (IE, [[LifeEnergy spirit/chi/lifeforce]]) vibrates at a certain frequency. Higher vibrations are supposed to enable your PsychicPowers and such nifty things. Generally speaking, prayer, meditation, eating right, and being kind and positive is supposed to raise your vibration, whereas unhealthy eating, focus on the material, and being negative lower it.

* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: And ''how.'' Was Jesus an alien? Or was he a human with all [[MagicGenetics 12 strands of his DNA activated?]] What this celebrity or that scientist an Indigo?

** The NESARA conspiracy is very, very popular with this crowd, it's a supposed law that was allegedly passed in secret in March of 2000 and would have gone into force in 2001 if not for 9/11, and the WarOnTerror. The law would call for new elections, cancel all personal debt, abolishing the IRS, ending the Federal Reserve. and declaring World Peace.

* EvolutionaryLevels: Some believe that the "next step" in humanity's evolution is some kind of spirit/energy being.

* [[GaiasVengeance Gaia's Vengeance]]
* HeinzHybrid: Alex Collier maintains that humans are a mix of 22+ different alien species, which makes us "[[CriticalResearchFailure genetic royalty]]" in the galaxy.

* HumansAreSpecial: For far, far too many reasons to list.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: For polluting the Earth, oppressing each other, and all that jazz.
** There is a particular hatred for the medical industry, for supposedly being "anti-nature", and therefore promoting illness and suppressing magical "natural cures".

* LifeEnergy

** MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi," "reincarnation," and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see white twenty-somethings gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive/evil Western religions. As with Native Americans, Asians are greatly displeased at the commodification of their culture.

* ThePowerOfLove
* PsychicPowers
* {{Reincarnation}}

* ScienceIsBad / ScienceIsWrong: When it occurs, it may overlap with ConspiracyTheorist.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: A large portion of criticism comes from the fact that they keep misusing words like "quantum" and "energy."
** In some cases ''energy'' is being used in a spiritual sense and not a scientific sense.

* [[FreudWasRight Jung Was Right]]

** The NESARA conspiracy is very, very popular with this crowd, it's a supposed law that was allegedly passed in secret in March of 2000 and would have gone into force in 2001 if not for 9/11, and the WarOnTerror. The law would call for new elections, cancel all personal debt, abolishing the IRS, ending the Federal eserve and declaring World Peace had.

* [[GaiasVengeance Gaia's Vengeance]]

* ThePowerOfLove

Likewise, their views on the divine vastly differ. Early New Age teachings focused on incorporating elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Gnosticism. More recent new agers may be Christian, neopagan, deist, [[{{pandeism}} pandeist]], pantheist, or even agnostic. Most often, their spirituality is a hodgepodge of concepts from various faiths, philosophies, and superstitions, for better or [[SadlyMythtaken for worse]].

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Many of them come off as this, partially due to the fact that they [[YouKeepUsingThatWord use words and terminologies in ways that are utterly incomprehensible to the average person]].

* SadlyMythtaken: A point of contention for many people, particularly Native Americans, who have had their spiritualities misappropriated by self-proclaimed new age gurus. Also, if they believe in karma, they likely as not [[http://books.google.com/books?id=TOwVHLKkuIAC&pg=PA78&dq=%22Popular+Misconceptions+of+Karma%22&hl=en&ei=GZzETNfwCIL58Ab0hK3ZBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Popular%20Misconceptions%20of%20Karma%22&f=false have it wrong]].

** MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi" and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see twenty-something-aged white people gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive Western religions. As with Native Americans, Asians are greatly displeased.

** MagicalAsian: For those with Eastern inclinations. As with the prevalence of the terms "chi" and "karma," it's become a stereotype to see twenty-something white people gush about how Hindu/Chinese/Japanese religion is so much "better" than boring/repressive Western religions. As with Native Americans, Asians are greatly displeased.