Citizen Columns
Citizen Columns >> Answer (September 10, 2009)
Question
New Age religions or lifestyles tend to cater to the individual. Is something missing in the individual approach to religion?
Answer
Of course. This was one of St Paul’s key insights, that we are “members of one another” (Romans 12:5). This was also one of the most striking dimensions of early Christianity, that individuals of diverse backgrounds could be united in a single experience of faith. Nevertheless, that communal experience was grounded first of all in individual experience and conviction. People then as now came initially to look at Christian faith perhaps out of curiosity or because they were intrigued by the personal change they saw in those who had become Christians, especially those who were suffering for their faith. This kept a question coming back to them, “what has happened to these people, that they have such patience, love and joy? Is this possible for me as well?”
The new life began not with dogmas but with transforming personal experience. “Come and see for yourself” was the invitation. That is still true today. Baptism, the initiation rite for entry into the church, begins with individual declaration of desire to follow a new way of living. “Do you renounce Satan and all his works? I do renounce him! Do you unite yourself to Christ? I do unite myself to Christ. Do you believe in Him? I believe …”
Where cultivation of personal spiritual life is neglected or takes a back seat to doctrines divorced from spiritual life or is overtaken by a frothy calendar of communal worship and activities it’s no wonder that people with sensitive souls look elsewhere, such as New Age spirituality. Yet even there individualism is not enough, as can clearly be seen in the number of New Age conferences, festivals, books , stores, magazines and websites that are out there. Human beings need to be fed spiritually as individuals, but they ultimately find a communal meal more satisfying than eating alone.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
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