AMERICATheSorcerer'sNewApprenticeTheRiseofNewAgeShamanism

DAVEHUNT

T.A.McMAHON

DAVEHUNTCLASSICTheDaveHuntClassicseriesfeaturesformerlyout-of-print,bestsellingtitles.Thisseriesprovidesreaderswithavaluablesnapshotoftheauthor’sinsightregardingpropheticworldeventsasviewedfromahistoricperspective.Inreflectingonwhatwasunderstoodofpasteventsatthetimetheyoccurred,itispossibleforcontemporarygenerationstogainanevenclearerunderstandingofbiblicalprophecyasthefutureunfoldsinthecurrentsigns(andheadlines)ofourtime.

Exceptwhereotherwiseindicated,allScripturequotationsinthisbookaretakenfromtheKingJamesVersionoftheBible.

AMERICA:THESORCERER’SNEWAPPRENTICECopyright©2011byDaveHuntandT.A.McMahon

PublishedbyTheBereanCallPOBox7019,Bend,OR97708

ISBN:978-1-928660-69-9Previouslypublished©1988byHarvestHouseunderISBN:0-

89081-651-4Alsopublished©1993byHarvestHouseasTheNewSpirituality

ThePublisherreservesallrights,butencouragesreaderstoquotematerialfromthisbookforreviewsorinstructionalpurposes,providedthat:theexcerptisnotlongerthan500wordsandisnottheprimarycontentofaworkforsale;thatthecontextispreserved;thatthecontentisnotaltered;andthatattributionisproperlygiventothesource.Foranyotherusage,pleasecontactTheBereanCall.

Contents1.ATurningPoint?2.Sorcery—TheNewParadigm3.CaveatEmptor:LettheBuyerBeware4.PopularizingSpirituality5.Naturalism,Scientism,andSupernaturalism6.TheResurgenceofNatureReligion7.Freud,Jung,andtheOccult8.Psychotherapy:TheReligious"Science"9.GhostsintheMachine10.InSearchofSpiritEntities11.MindsfromBeyond12.CreatingOne'sOwnReality13.FromSlimetoDivine14.Satanism,Rock,andRebellion15.ShamanismontheRise16.ImportantDistinctionsNotesBooksbyDaveHuntAboutTheBereanCall

[1]ATurningPoint?Today'sworldconfrontsastrangeandgrowingparadoxthat

couldverywellmarkapivotalpointinhumanhistory.Evenasthescientificandtechnologicaladvancementwhichusheredinthespaceageisacceleratingatanexponentialrate,wearewitnessingfarandawaythegreatestoccultexplosionofalltime.Theevidenceseemstoindicatethatsomethingofunusualhistoricsignificanceisinprocess.PrimitivepaganreligiouspracticesthatweregenerallyconfinedtoundevelopedThirdWorldcountries(andwereregardedintheWestwithsuspicionandridiculeonlyafewyearsago)arenowbeingembracedbyincreasingmillionsofenthusiastsworldwide.Bysomepeculiarmetamorphosisoccultismhasbecomescientific.

Theword"occult"(or"hidden")hastraditionallyreferredtoanancientperennialwisdominvolvingmysteriouspowerspursuedandpracticedinsecret.Reflectingarecentchangeinattitude,however,the1980'sbrandofoccultismisoutintheopen,havinggainedwideacceptanceandrespectabilityinmainstreamAmerica.CommentinguponthepervasiveeffectsofwhatisclearlyasignificantchangeinthebeliefsystemofscoresofmillionsofAmericans,RobertLindseywroteintheNewYorkTimes:

Representativesofsomeofthenation'slargestcorporations,includingIBM,AT&TandGeneralMotors,metinNewMexicothissummer[1986]todiscusshowmetaphysics,theoccultandHindumysticismmighthelpexecutivescompeteintheworldmarketplace.

...athreadofalternativethought...scholarssayisworkingitswayincreasinglyintothenation'scultural,religious,social,economicandpoliticallife.Ononelevel,theysay,itisevidencedbyasurgeofinterestinnewmetaphysicalreligions,mediums,theoccult,reincarnation,psychichealing,Satanism,"spiritguides,"andotheraspectsofsupernaturalbelief....

Leaders[inthemovement]contendtheyareusheringinwhattheycallaNewAgeofunderstandingandintellectualfermentassignificantastheRenaissance.1

Thelasttimeanythingapproachingthismassflightfromreasontomysticismoccurredwasinthe1920'sand30's.ItwasverylikelythisgreatoccultresurgenceinWesternEurope,andparticularlyinAustriaandGermany,whichhelpedtosetthestageforGermany'sacceptanceofNazism.Somehistorians,infact,havereferredtoHitlerasthe"OccultMessiah."Whatanti-NaziMaxPlanck(GermanphysicistandNobelprizewinner)hadtosayin1932wouldseemtoberemarkablyrelevanttocurrentdevelopments.Referringtothepeculiarandgrowing"popularityofoccultismandspiritualismandtheirinnumerablevariants"inhisday,Planckwrote:

Wemightnaturallyassumethatoneoftheachievementsofsciencewouldhavebeentorestrictbeliefinmiracle.Butitdoesnotseemtobeso....

Thoughtheextraordinaryresultsofsciencearesoobvious...[yet]thetendencytobelieveinthepowerofmysteriousagenciesisanoutstandingcharacteristicofourownday.2

Today'sdisillusionmentwithscienceisapparentlyevenmorewidespreadthaninPlanck'stime.Thepresentrevivalofsorceryisevidentinmoderntrendsinart,psychology,medicine,education,themilitary,business,music,andespeciallyinthemedia,fromchildren'stelevisioncartoonstomajorfeaturefilms.Theonceseemingly-reasonablehopethatthesolutionstomankind'sproblemswouldallbeprovidedbysciencehasprovenfalseandhasbeenabandonedbyallbutahandfulofhard-corematerialists.StanfordUniversityprofessorWillisHarmanpointsoutthat"thegrowinginterestinsuchareasasEasternreligiousphilosophies,yogaandmeditation,channeling...etc.hasmadeclearthepublic'sdissatisfactionwiththescientists'exclusiveclaimtovalidtruth-seeking."3TheUnitedStatesleadsthewayintheresultantworldwideoccultrenaissance(whichisalsobeingembracedeven

inthosebastionsofscientificmaterialism,ChinaandtheSovietUnion).

Taking"Spiritual"ExperiencesSeriously

Itisespeciallysignificantthattoday'ssorceryisnolongergenerallyassociatedwithevilforcesordespisedas"unscientific."Whileafewoutspokenskepticsstubbornlycontinuetolabelpsychicphenomenaaseitherhoaxordelusion,manycompetentinvestigatorswhowereoncedoubtersarereluctantlybecomingconvincedthattheevidenceinasignificantnumberofcasesisextremelypersuasive.A1983studybytheLibraryofCongress,forexample,concluded:"Anumberofrecent[psychic]experimentshaveyieldedmoreorlessconsistentpositiveresultsunderrigorousconditionsofinvestigation."BoththeSovietandAmericanmilitaryestablishmentsaretakingparanormalpowersseriouslyenoughtoinvestheavilyinpsychicresearch.Philosophy-of-scienceprofessorJohnGliedmanhascalledattentiontothefactthattheresearchofcertainleadingscientistsstronglysuggeststheexistenceof"ahiddenspiritualworld."AfterextensiveinterviewsinEuropeandAmerica,GliedmanwroteinScienceDigest:

FromBerkeleytoParisandfromLondontoPrinceton,prominentscientistsfromfieldsasdiverseasneurophysiologyandquantumphysicsarecomingoutoftheclosetandadmittingtheybelieveinthepossibility,atleast,ofsuchunscientificentitiesastheimmortalhumanspiritanddivinecreation.4

Millionsofpeoplewhoformerlyhadnointerestwhateverinpsychicphenomenaarebeingcaughtupina"newconsciousness"thatistotallychangingtheirlives.AmillionairesellshisfiveBurgerKingrestaurantsandmovestoaruralareainNorthernCalifornia,wherehebuildsapyramid-shapedhousetotapintotheenergyoftheuniverse.Hehaschangedhislifestylecompletelybecauseoftheteachingsofanalleged35,000-year-oldentitythatspeaksthroughaformerhousewife."Youwon'tfindheartsurgeonKenEyer

atProvidenceHospitalanymore,"beginsanothernewspaper'sreportonthehard-to-explaintransformationwhichthispowerfulmovementiseffectingaroundtheworld.ThearticlegoesontorelatethatDr.Eyer,inwhatisbecominganincreasinglycommonstory,isnow"dedicatinghislifetoareligiousphilosophylooselydubbed'NewAge.'"Theformersuccessfulphysicianisquotedassaying:

Imadealifedecisiontotakeastand,eventhoughthatmeantwalkingawayfrommymedicalpracticeatthepeakofmypopularity.Iknewtherewasmoretothephysicaluniversethanmyfivesensesweretellingme.5

Evenpsychologistsandpsychiatrists,whoseprofessionhastraditionallyrankedamongthemostskeptical,arenowtaking"spiritual"experiencesseriously.FeaturedspeakersandworkshopleadersatrecentannualconventionsoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychologyhaveincludedpracticingwitchdoctors,trancemediums,aTaoistmasterofZenandT'aiChi,andchannelersof"spiritentities"(suchasKevinRyerson,whohas"channeled"forShirleyMacLaineandwasfeaturedinherTVminiseriesinJanuary1987).Thisphenomenon,however,hasbeengivenanewpsychologicalinterpretation.Reflectingthistrend,AmericanHealthmagazinereported:"There'sanewbreedofshrinksintheland.ButinsteadofcouchesandRorschachtests,theiraccoutrementsaretarotcardsandastrologycharts...[theseare]theshrinksoftheyuppiegeneration...beliefintheoccultisstrongerthanever."6TheSanJoseMercuryNewsrecentlyreported:

Seeingvisions.Speakingintongues.WalkingandtalkingwithJesus.BlissedoutonBuddha.WrestlingwithSatan.SightingUFOs.

Itreadslikealitanyofpsychologicalafflictions—profilesofpeoplewhohavelettheirmembershipinthesaneworldlapseandhaveinsteadbecomecard-carryingcrazies.

Orhavethey?

AttheInstituteforTranspersonalPsychologyinMenloPark[California]...whentheirclientsdiscussmysticalexperiences,thepsychiatrists,psychologistsandcounselorsattheinstitutedonotblink.Theyarededicatedtorecognizingspirituality—eveninitsmostbizarremanifestations—asanimportantelementofthehumancondition.7

WhatIsGoingOn?

Withinthepasttwodecadestherehasbeenanincreasingincidenceofmysticalexperiencesandpsychicphenomenaamongthegeneralpopulacethatseemstobereachingunprecedentedproportions.ArecentnationwidepollsponsoredbytheUniversityofChicagoshowed67percentofthepublicclaimingpsychicexperiences.8Thisisupfrom58percentinasimilarsurveytakenin1973.9Confoundingskepticsandcriticsalike,thepollrevealedthatthosehavingmysticalandoccultexperiences"areanythingbutreligiousnutsorpsychiatriccases."Inapsychologicalwell-beingtest"themysticsscoredatthetop."Ironically,"spiritual"experiencesthatwereonceconsideredbypsychologiststobeasignofmentalillnessarenowbeingreportedevenby"elitescientistsandphysicianswho[still]insistthatsuchthingscannotpossibly"occur.10

Consideringtheoften-bizarrenatureofpsychicphenomena,itisunderstandablethatmanyofthosewhohavehadsuchexperiencesremainskeptical.Whathasapparentlyhappenedtothemsimplydefiesrationalexplanation.Atthesametime,however,thereappearstobenoshortageofthosewhoreadilybelievethattheunbelievablehashappenedtootherpeople.Almostanyonewhoclaims"revelations"fromsupernaturalsources(seeminglythemoreincrediblemeexperiences,thebetter)quicklygathersalargeandenthusiasticfollowing."Channeler"J.Z.Knight,whocatapultedfromobscuritytointernationalprominencealmostovernight,isone

exampleamonghundredsofpersonsseriouslyclaimingcontactwithavarietyof"spiritentities."

KnighttellsusthatshewasunpreparedbyhertraditionalChristianupbringingforthehuge"beingoflight"thatsuddenlystoodbeforeherinherkitchenandpromisedtouseherasachannelofblessingtotheworld.ThisincredibleentityallegedlyspentayearpreparingKnightforhermissionandperformingmiraclestoproveitspowers.Sincethen"Ramtha,"whoclaimstobea35,000-year-oldwarriorfromAtlantiswhohasbecomeagod,hasbeen"channeling"hisancientwisdomthroughKnightinseminarsandonnationaltelevision.Thispublicdisplayisarecentdevelopmentinanancientphenomenonwhichhastraditionallybeenpresentedprivatelythroughtrancemediumsinspiritseances.

SkepticssuggestthatKnightandother"channelers"are,throughskillfulacting,deliberatelydeceivingmillionswithamoneymakingscam.Itistruethatsomechannelershavebecomeextremelywealthy;andmostmediumshaveattimesbeencaughtinfraud.Itwouldbeamistake,however,toassumethattheentirephenomenonofchannelingcanbeexplainedawayasagianthoax.Independentlyofoneanother,millionsofpeoplewidelyscatteredaroundtheworldhavehadsimilarexperiences.Thisfacttogetherwiththestrikingconsistencyinthemessageeliminateshallucinationorcoincidenceaspossibleexplanations.Astwoeditorsfamiliarwiththissubjectinsightfullypointout:

Whateverthemethodofchanneling,itisthecontentthatismostimportant,andherethereisremarkableagreement,evenunanimity,amongthevariouschanneledentities.11

ThousandsofpeoplehavebeenconvincedbyJachPursel'schannelingof"Lazaris,"adisembodiedintelligencewithnopreviousincarnations,whoclaimstobethe"consummatefriend"ofmankind.Thenthereis"Mafu,"a"'highlyevolved'entityfromtheseventhdimension,"thatalsopreachesthesamemessagewhichAldous

HuxleycalledThePerennialPhilosophy.12Afterhe(orit)suddenlybegan"channeling"throughLosAngeleshousewifePennyTorres,MafuquicklygainedafollowingamongHollywood'selite.13AccordingtoMargoChandley,whostudied50"channels"intheprocessofwritingherPh.D.thesisintransformationalpsychology,thereareanestimated1000"channels"practicingintheLosAngelesareaalone,comparedwithonlytwoadecadeago.14Whatintheworldisgoingon?

ContactwithSpiritEntities?

Likemediumshipdownthroughhistory,today's"channeling"strainscommonsense.Nevertheless,ithasneitherbeenexplainedsatisfactorilynorexplainedawaybyscience.FreudandJungbothgrudginglyadmitteditsvalidityandmystery,asdidWilliamJames.Dismissingitallashoaxorhallucinationistoosimplisticinviewofthecompetencyandreputationsofthosewhohaveexperiencedit.Take,forexample,RuthMontgomery.Attheheightofanillustriouscareerasoneofthemosthighlyhonoredwomenjournalistsofherday,Montgomerywasassignedbyaneditortoinvestigatethestrangephenomenonofcommunicationwithallegedspiritsofthedead.Surprisingly,shefoundherselfconfrontedwithmorethanenoughevidencetoeventuallyovercomeherseasonedjournalisticskepticism.Asaresult,anunexpectedtransformationoccurred:"Spiritentities"beganwritingbooksthroughMontgomery,andshebecameknownas"theHeraldoftheNewAge."15

HelenShucmanisanotherinterestingcaseinpoint.AnatheistpsychologistatColumbiaUniversity,Shucmanwashardlyalikelycandidatetoreceive"revelations"fromthespiritworld.Yetthevoiceshebeganhearing(whichclaimedtobeJesus)persistedinitsrepeateddemand:"Thisisacourseinmiracles;takeitdown!"Itwasfutiletoresist.AfterconsultingwithsomeofhercolleaguesatColumbia,Shucmanreluctantlyobeyed.Whenthedictationhadfinallyended,the"Course"encompassedanastonishing1100

pagesthatmanypsychologistsandtheologiansalikeacclaimforitsbrilliantinsights.Thatseemstobeanunreasonablylengthyandlucid"hallucination."

Strangelyenough,eventhoughthevoicehadclaimedtobeJesus,itcontradictednearlyeverythingtheBiblefaysabouthim,accordingtoKennethWapnick,headofthefoundationthatpublishesthe"Course."16InfactthemessagewhichShucmanreceivedwasconsistentwiththatbeingcommunicatedbyawidevarietyofentitiesthroughthousandsof"channels"aroundtheworld,channelswhomShucmanhadneverevenheardofandwhosetalltalesshewouldnothavebelieveduntilshehadexperiencedasimilarvisitation.

Whatisthesourceoftheseapparentintrusionsfromsomemysteriousspiritualdimension?Whyisthereanexplosionofsuchexperiencesatthistime?Andwhy,inspiteoftherichvarietyintheentitiesandmannerofcommunication,istheresuchconsistencyinthemessagetheybring?Wewillbeexaminingthatmessageinourattempttoidentifyitssource.

SomeDisturbingPossibilities

IttookWhitleyStrieberyearseventoadmitthathisownbizarreexperienceshadoccurred—experienceswhichheisnowconvincedarereal,yetbeyondcomprehension.Highlyintelligent,well-educated,andalreadyabest-sellingauthorwithareputationtomaintain,Strieberisnotthekindofpersononewouldsuspectofrepeatedhallucinations,muchlessdeliberatedeceittosellanotherbook.InCommunion,hemeticulouslylaysoutthefactsaswellashecanpiecethemtogether,comprisingwhathecalls"ashatteringassaultfromtheunknown...anelaboratepersonalencounterwithintelligentnonhumanbeings."17Dotheycometoearthfromotherplanetsorfromanotherdimension?Fromhisownmind,orfromUFO's—frominnerorouterspace?Strieberstilldoesn'tknow,yettheimpactuponhislifeanduponthelivesofagrowingnumberof

otherpeoplewithsimilarexperienceshasbeendevastating.18

Strieberisangryandstillconfused.Hefeelsviolated."Thevisitors,"hetellsus,"marchedrightintothemiddleofthelifeofanindifferentskepticwithoutamoment'shesitation."Atfirsthethoughthewasgoingcrazy.Eventuallyhecametothepointwherebeingdiagnosedasinsanewouldhavebeenpreferabletobelievingthatwhathewasexperiencingwasreal.Butthe"threepsychologistsandthreepsychiatrists"whogavehim"abatteryofpsychologicaltestsandaneurologicalexamination"declaredhimtobe"normal"ineveryrespect.Healsopassedwithflyingcolorsaliedetectortestadministered"byanoperatorwiththirtyyears'experience."Again,neitherhallucinationnorhoaxseemstofit.Inhissearchfortruth,Strieberalsoconsultedspacescientists,physicists,andanastronaut,onlytolearn:"Tothescientificcommunity,thenatureofthisphenomenonremainsanunresolvedquestion."

Interestinglyenough,suchanauthorityasastronomerRobertJastrowholds(alongwithanumberofotherleadingscientists)atheorywhichcouldexplainatleastsomeofthecontactswithnonphysicalentities.Jastrow,whosetupanddirectedtheGoddardInstituteforSpaceStudies(whichplayedakeyroleinthePioneer,Voyager,andforthcomingGalileospaceprobes),makesthisfascinatingsuggestion:"...lifethatisabillionyearsbeyondusmaybefarbeyondtheflesh-and-bloodformthatwewouldrecognize.Itmaybe...disembodiedandhasescapeditsmortalfleshtobecomesomethingthatold-fashionedpeoplewouldcallspirits.Andsohowdoweknowit'sthere?Maybeitcanmaterializeandthendematerialize.I'msureithasmagicalpowersbyourstandards…"19

Whencoupledwithtelepathyandotherpsychicpowers,Jastrow'stheoryopensupthefrighteningpossibilitythathumanmindcouldbeinvadedoratleastinfluencedanddeceivedbynonphysicalintelligencesfromouttheresomewhere.Thisinturn

raisesanumberofotherquestions.Whoarethey,andwhatcouldbetheirmotive?IfJastrow'ssuggestioniscorrect,wouldwenothaveadifficulttimeevenknowingthatourmindswerebeinginfluenced?ThisseemstoagreewiththeconfusionthatStrieberandsomanyothershaveexperienced.Andcouldnotthisexplanationprovideatleastoneviableexplanationfor"channeling"andothervisitationsandcommunicationsfromtheapparent"spirit"entitieswhoappearinsuchavarietyofforms,from"ascendedmasters"tospiritsofthedead?Theworld'smajorgovernmentsandleadingscientiststakethesearchforextraterrestrialintelligence(SETI)seriouslyenoughtolaunchspaceprobesandsearchprogramsinanattempttoestablishradiocommunicationwithintelligentlifebeyondoursolarsystem.ItwouldseemjustasreasonabletotakeseriouslythepossibilityofpsychiccontactwithnonphysicalETI's.

Usheringinthe"NewAge"

Thesuddenandinexplicableexplosionofapparentcontactwithentitiesfromanonphysicaldimension,whileonlyonefacetofthecurrentoccultrevival,seemstorepresentthemajoravenueforbringingatransformationalmessagetomankind.Thisgivespeculiarsignificancetothefactthatmillionsofpeoplearenowbeingtrainedtocontact"spirit(orinner)guides"throughsuchproliferatingEasternmeditationtechniquesastranscendentalmeditation,andminddynamicscoursessuchasSilvaMindControl.Manysupposedlymodernmethodsforself-improvementnowbeingofferedinthousandsofcoursesworldwideareinfactarevivalofancientsorceryundernewlabels.Thegenerictermforalloftheseis"NewAge."

Attheheartofsorceryhavealwaysbeensecrettechniquesforallegedlycontactingspiritentitiesinordertogainsupernaturalknowledgeandpower.Theseancientoccultmethodologiesarepresentlybeingrevived,resultinginrenewedcontactwiththesame"helpfulspirits"knowntooccultistsforthousandsofyears.Only

nowtheprocessisdressedinmodernpsychologicalorself-improvementterminology,andthepurposeisexplainedastappingintoaninfinite"innerpotential."Asaresult,theexplorationof"innerspace"insearchofmysticalpowershasbecomeagrowingandtrendyobsessionintheWest.

Whileskepticalobserversoverthepast20yearshavepersistedinlabelingita"fad"andpredictingitsimminentpassing,theNewAgemovementhasquietlybutrelentlesslygatheredmomentum.Viewingthisunprecedentedphenomenonwithconsiderablehope,someresearchershavecalleditthemostpowerfulforceforpositivechangeinhumanhistory.Stillothers,however,havewarnedthatEasternmysticism,whichistheheartofthe"newconsciousness,"isaTrojanhorsethatwilleventuallybringdownWesterncivilization.ThesecriticsseeintheNewAgementalitynowsweepingtheWestthesamepenchantfora"magicalformula"thatthepopularIndianpoetRabindranathTagoreascribedtoMahatmaGandhi.ThatmentalityTagorelabeled"theoriginalsinfromwhichallour[India's]illsareflowing."20

Theideathatmagicalformulas,notforquick-fixpoliticalsolutions(aswithGhandi)butforharnessingoccultpowersandcontactingthespiritworld,couldactuallybegrowinginappealtomillionsofwell-educatedpersonsinthespaceagemayatfirstseemunbelievable.Wecannotescapetheshatteringimplications,however,byburyingourheadsinthesandofmaterialisticdogmatismthatdemandsaphysicalexplanationforallphenomena.Afterall,whatisthephysicalbasisforethics?Itisastonishingthatthemechanisticbeliefthatallhumanbehaviorandvaluescanultimatelybeexplainedinphysicaltermshashungonforsolong.AsNobelprizewinningneurophysiologistSirJohnEccleshaspointedout:

Butiftherearebonafidementalevents—eventsthatarenotthemselvesphysicalormaterial—thenthewholeprogramofphilosophicalmaterialismcollapses.

Theuniverseisnolongercomposedof"matterandavoid"butnowmustmake(spaceless)roomfor(massless)entities[i.e.minds].21

AGhostintheMachine?

Inaclearbreakwithmaterialism,Eccleshasdescribedthehumanbrainas"amachinethataghostcanoperate."Asaresultofhisresearch,Ecclesisconvincedthatthereiscompellingevidencetosupportthetraditionalreligiousbeliefintheexistenceofanonphysicalsouland/orspirit—andthatthisisthe"ghost"whichactuallyoperatesthehumanbrainandthroughitthebody.Thiswouldinturnseemtosupportbeliefinlifeafterdeath.Itiscertainlyreasonabletoassumethatthe"operator"couldverywellsurvivethedeathofthe"vehicle"itwasoperating,particularlyinviewofJastrow'sinterestingspeculationconcerningpureintelligenceswithoutphysicalbodies.AmongthosejoiningEcclesinhisimportantconvictionaresucheminentscientistsasNobelLaureateEugeneWigner,knownas"oneofthegreatestphysicistsofthecentury";SirKarlPopper,whohasbeencalled"themostfamousphilosopherofscienceofourage";andthelatemathematicianandquantummechanicstheoristJohnvonNeumann,whohasbeendescribedasperhaps"thesmartestmanwhoeverlived."

ThereisnoescapingthesweepingchangesthatmustbemadeinscientifictheoryandpracticeoncetheexistenceofEccles's"ghost"inthemachineisadmitted.Ifthephysicalbrainisrunbyaspiritualentity,thiswouldmeanthatpsychokinesis(mindovermatter)isnotonlypossiblebutessentialforbodilyhumanexistence.ThisremarkablefactwouldopenthedoortothepossibilityofESPandotherpsychicpowers,whichcouldthenlogicallyoperateoutsidethelimitationsofthephysicallawsofthespace-time-matteruniverse.Infact,psychicphenomenaofallkindsmightevenresultfromcontactwithJastrow'snonphysicalentities.ThislikelihoodbecomesevenmorereasonableasaresultofEccles'sfascinatingexperiments,towhichwewillreferlater.InBeyondtheBrain,clinicalpsychiatristStanislavGrofpredicts:

Westernscienceisapproachingaparadigmshiftofunprecedentedproportions,onethatwillchangeourconceptsofrealityandhumannature,bridgethegapbetweenancientwisdomandmodernscience,andreconcilethedifferencebetweenEasternspiritualityandWesternpragmatism.

Thoughmanyquestionsstillremain,Eccles's"ghostinthemachine"wouldseemtochallengetheskepticswithalogicalrationalenotonlyforparanormalpowersbutalsoformysticalexperiences.Thepossibleimplicationsarestaggering.Recognizingthisfact,psychologistCarlRogersacceptedtherealityandpredictedtheimminentpracticalapplicationof"suchparanormalphenomenaastelepathy,clairvoyance,precognition...healingenergies...thepowerofmeditation,oftranscendentforces...."22

Intheareaofadvancingtechnology,sciencefictionhasproventoberemarkablyprophetic.Aretheincrediblesci-fiportrayalsofoccultforcesalsopropheticofthenewmindpowersthatmankindisabouttodevelop?InArthurC.Clarke'sclassicChildhood'sEnd,theextraterrestrialOverlords(representingtheOvermindoftheuniverse),whohavearrivedinUFO'storescuemankindfromtechnologicalself-destruction,remindtheearthlings:

Therearepowersofthemindandpowersbeyondthemind,whichyoursciencecouldneverhavebroughtwithinitsframeworkwithoutshatteringitselfentirely.

Alldowntheagestherehavebeencountlessreportsofstrangephenomena—poltergeists,telepathy,precognition—whichyouhadnamedbutneverexplained....Buttheyexist,and...any[complete]theoryoftheuniversemustaccountforthem.23

ShatteringaModernMyth

Theviewthatsciencehasdisprovedreligionandthatthereforenogreatscientistcanbereligiousisoneofthemostwidelybelievedyethumanlydestructivemisconceptionsofthetwentiethcentury.MostoftheNobelprizewinnersandotherbrillianttheoristswho

havegivenustoday'snewphysicsareinagreementthatinspiteofanyadvancementsciencehasmadeormayyetmake,Godandreligionwillalwaysremainnotonlyrelevanttohumanlifebutbeyondthescrutinyofscienceitself.AsMaxPlanck,whoisoftencalledthefatherofmodernquantumtheory,hasstated:"Itisnotbyanyaccidentthatthegreatestthinkersofallageswerealsodeeplyreligioussouls."24WhenEinstein,whohimselfheldreligiousbeliefs,wasaskedwhateffecthistheoryofrelativitywouldhaveuponreligion,hebluntlyreplied:"None.Relativityisapurelyscientifictheoryandhasnothingtodowithreligion."25NobellaureateErwinSchroedinger,whoalsoplayedavitalroleingivingtotheworldthenewphysics,remindsus:

Thescientificpictureoftherealworldaroundmeisverydeficient.Itgivesalotoffactualinformation,putsallourexperienceinamagnificentlyconsistentorder,butitisghastlysilentaboutall...thatisreallyneartoourheart,thatreallymatterstous.

...itknowsnothingofbeautifulandugly,goodorbad,Godandeternity.Sciencesometimespretendstoanswerquestionsinthesedomains,buttheanswersareveryoftensosillythatwearenotinclinedtotakethemseriously....

WhencecameIandwhithergoI?Thatisthegreatunfathomablequestion,thesameforeveryoneofus.Sciencehasnoanswertoit.26

InQuantumQuestions:TheMysticalWritingsoftheWorld'sGreatPhysicists,KenWilberhasdoneavaluableservicebypresentinginonevolume"virtuallyeverymajorstatementmade"onthetopicofthemysticalandreligioussignificanceofscience"bythefoundersandgrandtheoristsofmodern(quantumandrelativity)physics:Einstein,Schroedinger,Heisenberg,Bohr,Eddington,Pauli,deBroglie,JeansandPlanck."Togethertheydismantlethepopularmythaboutsciencedisprovingreligion.Infact,accordingtoWilber'sperception,"allofthesegreatphysicistsembracemysticismofonesortoranother."Drivingthispointhome,hewrites:

Youwho—mayIsayso?—bowtophysicsasifitwereareligionitself,toyouIask:whatdoesitmeanthatthefoundersofyourmodernscience,thetheoristsandresearcherswhopioneeredtheveryconceptsyounowworshipimplicitly...were,everyoneofthem,mystics?[emphasishis].27

Bymysticism,Wilbermeansareligionthatinvolvesneitherdogmanororganization,butisbasedentirelyuponone'sownsubjectiveexperienceandtranscendsobjectivecriteriaasabasisofevaluation.Whileallthesescientistsspeakoftheexperiencingof"God"bythehumansoul,theyseemtohavediverseideasaboutwhoorwhatGodmightbe.Whysuchdifferences—ordoesitevenmatter?Whatconsequencemighttherebeifsuchimportantbeliefsprovedtobefalse?Canexperiencereallybetrusted?Areallexperiences,includingthoseencounteredwhileondrugs,underhypnosis,orinmysticaltrance,equallyvalid?Bywhatcriteriacanmysticalexperiencesbeevaluatedinordertoeliminateself-delusion?Moreover,ifJastrow'sorStrieber'snonphysicalentitiesactuallyexist,mighttheynotdeceiveEccles'ssimilarlynonmaterial"ghost"inthemachinewithoutbeingdetected?Suchquestionsareimportantenoughtodemandourattention.

AnAwesomePerspective

SirJamesJeansputthenewdevelopmentsinphysicsinawesomeperspectivewhenhedeclared:"Theoutstandingachievementoftwentieth-centuryphysicsisnotthetheoryofrelativity...orthetheoryofquanta...orthedissectionoftheatom...[but]itisthegeneralrecognitionthatwearenotyetincontactwithultimatereality...."28Puttingthisinlayman'sterms,CarlRogerswrote:"Thesearchforabasicmaterialunitoftheuniversewasfruitless.Itdidnotexist.Ourwholeperceptionofrealityvanishedintounreality."

Einsteinhadearliercommentedupontheinadequacyofsciencetoexplainultimatereality.Hehadremarkedthatthestudyof

physicsleadsinevitablytometaphysicsbypointingbeyonditselftosomenonmaterialorspiritualsourcefortheexistenceofthematerialuniverse.Afterstudyingthemysticalwritingsoftheworld'sgreatestphysicists,KenWilberwrote:

Thereisnolongeranymajorphysical-theoreticalobjectiontospiritualrealities...thisview—whichissupportedbyvirtuallyeverytheoristinthisvolume[Einstein,Sherrington,Heisenberg,Schroedinger,Planck,Eddington,etal]—isprobablythestrongestandmostrevolutionaryconclusionvis-a-visreligionthathaseverbeen"officially"advancedbytheoreticalscienceitself.

Itisamonumentalandepochalturningpointinscience'sstancetowardreligion...[and]inalllikelihoodmarksfinalclosureonthatmostnaggingaspectoftheage-olddebatebetweenthephysicalsciencesandreligion...29

Thefactthatthegreatestdiscoveriesinphysicspointtoanonphysical(orspiritual)dimensionofrealityclearlyencouragestheexplorationofthismysteriousrealmof"innerspace."Infact,thisnewventurenowseemsfarmoresignificantformankind'sfuturethanthevauntedexplorationofouterspace.Andthefactthatsciencecannotcritiquereligionormysticalexperienceswouldseemtoleavetheexplorersofthisrealminaprecariousposition.

InnerSpace:TheMysticalJourney

EdgarMitchell,CommanderofApollo14andthesixthmantowalkonthemoon,isrepresentativeofthemanyscientists(includingotherastronautssuchasRustySweickartandBrianO'Leary)whoarelendingtheirprestigetothesupportofEasternmysticismandthehuman-potentialmovement.Itwasonhismoonmission,duringwhichheengagedintelepathyexperimentsbacktoplanetEarth,thatMitchellunderwentamysticalexperienceof"cosmicconsciousness"similartowhatmanypeoplehaveencounteredwhileundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicdrugsorindeepyogictrance.Soprofoundwasthisexperiencethatuponhis

returntoearththisdedicatedastronautabandonedtheouter-spaceprogramtojointheexplorationof"innerspace,"nowconsideredbymanytobethemostpromisingandexcitingfrontier.Toimplementthisnewsearch,MitchellfoundedtheInstituteofNoeticSciences,athinktankofpsychicresearchdedicatedtorecoveringthe"perennialphilosophy"knowntoYogis,gurus,andotherancient"spiritualmasters."

AnumberofSovietcosmonauts,amongthemAlekseyLeonovandGeorgieGrechko,havereportedlyexperiencedthesamemysticaltransformationonspacetrips.ItwasLeonovandGrechkowhoworkedwithSweickartoftheU.S.A.toorganizein1985theAssociationofSpaceExplorers.Alongwiththepromotionoffuturecooperativespaceprograms,ASEmembershopetoencouragepeaceanddisarmamentthroughspreadingthenewvisionoftheonenessofalllifewhichtheyexperiencedinviewingearthfromouterspace.Andtoaccomplishthisgoal,manyoftheseastronauts/cosmonautsareconvincedthatitwillbenecessarytotapintoaninfinitebutneglectedhumanpotentialwhichcanonlybeuncoveredthroughthemysticalexplorationof"innerspace."ItisthisnonphysicaldimensionofmindandspirituponwhichallNewAgepsychospiritualtechnologiesdepend.

Inspiteoftheirofficialmaterialistandantireligionstance,theSovietsareintriguedwiththethoughtofparanormalmindpowersandareworkingdiligentlytoperfectmind-over-mattertechniques.Sovietcosmonautsarealreadybeingtrained"tocontroltheautonomicnervoussystemthroughauniqueblendofyoga,autosuggestionandothermind-over-bodymethodsofself-control,"whichtheRussianscientistscallpsychicalself-regulation(PSR).Theircommoninterestinthedevelopmentofpsychicpowersandthesharingofmysticalexperiencesin"higherstatesofconsciousness"isasignificantfactorinbringingSovietandWesternscientistsandastronautstogether.Thisgrowingrapportisbeingimplementedinuniqueways,includingglobalvideo

conferencesbetweenthetwonationsoverasatellitehookupcalledaspace-bridge.Participantsseethiscooperativeeffortasanimportantstepontheroadtoworldpeace.

TheSoviet-AmericanExchangeProgramwasspearheadedbyEsalen,locatedontheCaliforniacoastsouthofSanFranciscoanddescribedas"theHarvardofthehumanpotentialmovement...wherescienceandmysticismhavebeenwrestlingwitheachotherfor20years."AccordingtoSoviethistorianPaulPozner,"NoAmericangrouphaseverpenetratedasdeeplyintoSovietsocietyasEsalen."30Thecommoninterestintheexplorationof"innerspace"hasplayedasignificantroleinfosteringgrassrootscooperationbetweenthetwosuperpowers.

Butjustastheexplorersofouterspacecannotbecertainofwhattheymayfind,soitiswithinnerspaceaswell.Thattherecouldbegravedangersinvolvedshouldbeobvious.Onecriticwiselycautions:

NewAgerswhoarechargingintotherelativelyunmappedwildernessesofthepsyche...shouldrememberthatstrangebeastswithunknownhabitsliehiddeninnewterritories.Theunclearedandunfencedregionsofthepsychecontainagoodmanyvipers,carnivores,freaks,andmonsters....

Thenecessaryweaponsandinstructionsforconfrontationhavenotyetbeenissuedtotheaverageperson.31

AreWeinAnyRealDanger?

Somethingofgreatsignificanceisoccurring,anditmustbetakenseriously.ThelastrevivalofoccultismplayedintoAdolfHitler'shands,andtheeventualvictimsnumberedinthemillions.Onecanonlywonderwherethecurrentandfarmorepervasiverenaissanceofsuchoccultismwilllead.Oneresearcherandsyndicatedcolumnisthaswritten:

Awholegenerationhasnowassaultedthegates,usingeverything

fromthehallucinogenicdrugstotarotcardsintheirsearchforGodheadandunitywiththesuper-mind....

Therapidgrowthofmind-expansionandconsciousness-raisingexercisesisbringingaboutmanypsychologicalandsociologicalchangesinoursociety....

Areweinanyrealdanger?Isthephenomenonathreattousasindividuals?Theanswertothatisasimpleyes.32

Thereisconsiderableevidence,muchofwhichwewillofferinthefollowingpages,toindicatethattheabovestatementisnotoverlysensationaloralarmist.EvensuchaskepticasDanielLawrenceO'Keefewarnsthatman's"magicalheritage...castsathreateningandpossiblypermanentshadowoverallhisothercreations."AndalthoughO'Keefe(whohaswrittenwhatsomeconsidertobeanacademicclassiconthesubject)seesnosubstantiverealityinoccultismbutconsidersittobeapurelysociological/psychologicalphenomenon,heneverthelesswarnsthatman's"unshakeableoccultheritage"couldsuddenly"overwhelmcivilizedcultures...."33

TheconcernsofO'Keefeandothersociologistsandpsychologistsarerealenough.Suppose,however,thatmagicisnot"allinthemind,"amerefigmentofman'sfearsandsuperstitions.Ithasbeentheconsensusofmankindforthousandsofyearsandinallculturesthat"spirit"beingsarebehindsorcery.Thisideaisgivenlittlecredencebytoday'smaterialisticsociety.Yetevenscientificmaterialism,whichwasoncelookeduponasthesurewayofescapefromthe"gods"or"spirits"ofprimitivereligions,confrontsusonceagainwiththeseanciententitiesinmodernform.Indeclaringthatthecosmoscouldhavespawnedcreaturessofaradvancedinevolutionthattheywouldmanifestgodlikepowersandmightevenexistwithoutphysicalbodies,sciencehasbroughtback,inperhapsmoredangerousform,the"gods"and"demons"ofancientreligionstohauntmodernman.

Weshouldrememberthattoday'seagerexperimentersaremere

apprenticesinthisnewgameofWesternizedsorcery.Thetaleofthesorcerer'sapprenticemakesasoberingandinstructivepoint:Wetoocanlosecontrolinanaiveattempttomanipulatemagicalpowers.Intheirdesiretoselltheirtechniquestoagenerationdisillusionedwithmaterialismandhungeringforspiritualreality,thousandsofself-proclaimedexpertshavewithentrepreneurialzealmadeavailableaworldwidemysticalsupermarketofstaggeringproportions.Itisthisfascinatingworldofexoticandpotentiallylethalproductsthatwewillexplore.

[2]Sorcery—TheNewParadigmTimesofoccultrevivalhavecomeandgonethroughthe

centuries,leavinglittletraceuponthepagesofhistory.Scholarswhoresearchandinterpretthepasthave,sincethemuch-vaunteddaysoftheeighteenth-centuryEnlightenment,generallyavoidedreferringtowidespreadmysticalmovements.Thoughoccultismwaspubliclytreatedasnonsense,however,secretlyithascontinuedtobepracticedinvariousformseveninthehighestacademicandgovernmentcircles.Atlonglastthereisarecenttrendtocandidlydealwiththisphenomenon.Anewbreedofhistorianswhorecognizetheroleithasplayedisnowwillingtoconfrontthehistoricimportanceofoccultism.1

ThenewsophisticationthatgrewoutoftheEnlightenmentalso"demythologized"themiraculousfromtheBible,therebypurgingJudaismandChristianityofanythingthatsuggesteddivineintrusionintoauniverseoverwhichtheambitiousinhabitantsofplanetEarthwereseekingtotakecontrol.Itwasbelievedthatscience,asmankind'snewhope,wouldeventuallysolveallproblemsandanswerallquestions.AndasforGod,therewasnolongerany"needofthathypothesis."

Suchanegotisticalandnaiveviewisheldbyveryfewphysicalscientiststoday,althoughitisstillthepopularfaithamongso-calledsocialscientists.Whateverone'sview,however,thereisnodisputingErwinSchroedinger'sreminderthatscienceis"ghastlysilent"aboutallthat"reallymatterstous."Andasformankind's"newhope,"SirArthurEddington,calledbysomethegreatestofEnglishastronomers,hadthistosay:"Therewasatimewhenthewholecombinationofselfandenvironmentwhichmakesupexperienceseemedlikelytopassunderthedominionofaphysicsmuchmoreironboundthanitisnow.Thatoverweeningphase...is

past."2

ArthurKoestler—editor,novelist,researcher,andoneofthemostcelebratedwritersofthiscenturyonbothscienceandmysticism—putitinevenstrongerterms:

Themechanisticanddeterministicworld-viewwhichisstilldominantinsociologyandthebehavioralsciences...hasnolongeraleglefttostandon;ithasbecomeaVictoriananachronism.

Thenineteenth-centuryclockworkmodeloftheuniverseisinshamblesand,sincematteritselfhasbeendematerialized,materialismcannolongerclaimtobeascientificphilosophy.3

Whilewewouldnotminimizethegreatstridesthatsciencehasmade,wemustacknowledgethatforeverydooritopenstenmoreunopeneddoorsappearontheotherside,likeever-recedingimagesinahallofmirrors.Moreover,whilewehavelearnedmuchaboutsuchthingsasenergy,gravity,space,andtime,wearenoclosertoknowingwhatanyoftheseisthanweretheancientHindusorEgyptians5000yearsago.Muchlesscansciencedeterminewhatloveortruthorbeautyis,ortherealpurposeoflife.Eddingtonargues:

Whenfromthehumanheart,perplexedwiththemysteryofexistence,thecrygoesup,"Whatisitallabout?"itisnotrueanswerto...reply:

"Itisaboutatomsandchaos;itisaboutauniverseoffieryglobesrollingontoimpendingdoom...."4

Materialisticaffluenceandsensualpleasuremaytemporarilystiflethecryformeaning,buteventuallythesoul'sthirstforwatersfromadeeperwellbecomesunbearable.Suchwasthelongingwhichgavebirthintheearly1960'stotheflower-childrebellionagainstthemonotonoustyrannyofmaterialism.Thefountainoffinancialsuccesshadpolluteditselfandturnedbitter.Affluencesatisfiedacertainsensualitybutleftthespiritfeelingstrangely

numbandempty.Adisillusionedgenerationcriedoutforsomethingmore—andAmerica's"demythologizedreligion"hadnothingtooffer.AsEsalen'sGeorgeLeonardputit:"TheneighborhoodProtestantchurchisthelastplacetohaveamysticalexperience."5ThesamecouldbesaidforthelocalCatholicchurch,Jewishtemple,orMoslemmosque.

AQuestionofReality

ThestagewassetforthePiedPiperofHarvardtoleadaparadeofmesmerizedyouthtoanewdimensionofspiritualexperiencethatsciencehadtoldthemdidnotexist.TimothyLeary'sLSD(alongwiththeotherpsychedelics)turnedouttobethelaunchingpadformindtripsbeyondthephysicaluniverseoftime,space,andmattertoastrangedimensionwhereintoxicatingnectarswereabundantandexoticadventuresthenorm.Formillionsitwasa"mind-blowing"experiencethatforeverchangedtheirworldview.

TheBeatlesplayedakeyroleinleadingagenerationofyouthintodrugs.Leary,justbackfromIndia,calledthem"thefourevangelists."RelaxinginhistepeeandlisteningtotheBeatles'albumSergeantPepper'sLonelyHeartsClubBand,Learysaid,"TheBeatleshavetakenmyplace.Thatlatestalbum—acompletecelebrationofLSD."6TheRollingStonesandotherbig-timeRockgroupswereevangelistsalso.In1969,LifemagazinequotedRockstarJimiHendrix:"...throughmusic,youcanhypnotisepeople....Andwhenyouget[them]at[their]weakestpoint,youcanpreachintothesubconsciousmindswhatwewanttosay."Hewasfranktoadmit,"DefinitelyI'mtryingtochangetheworld."7LloydRichards,deanoftheYaleSchoolofDrama,hassaid,"Theartsdefinewhatever[the]newsocietyisthatwe'reevolving...."8Theawesomepowerofmusictomoldthethinkingofthemasses(andparticularlyofitsyouth)hasbeendemonstratedbythosewhounquestionablyknewwhattheyweredoing.Crosby,oftheCrosby,Stills&Nashgroup,boasted:

Ifiguredthattheonlythingtodowastostealtheirkids.Istillthinkit'stheonlythingtodo.

...I'mnottalkingaboutkidnapping...[but]aboutchangingyoungpeople'svaluesystems....9

Drug-userswereinitiallyintriguedwithwhetherthevividexperiencesonthedrughighwererealormerelyamentalmiragesomehowtriggeredbyachemicalreactioninthebrain.Wasitalljusta"headtrip,"orwasitreal?Whatisreal?Afterenoughtripssuchquestionslosttheirmeaning.Experiencehadbecomethesoleandself-authenticatingtruth.Whetheritwasallmerelyimaginedinthemindornotceasedtomatter.

Noargumentcouldanylongerconvincethosewhohadexperiencedthe"alteredstate"thatrealitywaslimitedtothephysicalworld.Thesights,tastes,smells,sounds,andfeelingsinthisstrangenewlandofthemindoftenseemedevenmorevividandrealthanthoseintheso-called"realworld,"whichtomanyoftheseadventuresomeexplorersnowseemeddrabandtastelessbycomparison.ThemagicaldoortowhatCarlosCastanedacalledthe"sorcerer'sworld,"10arealmsurpassingevenAlice'sWonderland,hadswungopenandAmericawouldneverbethesame.

Mostdictionariesstillcategorizesorceryasan"evil"formofoccultismindistinctiontoso-called"whitemagic."However,manyoftoday'santhropologists,includingbest-sellingauthorssuchasMichaelHarnerandCarlosCastaneda,seesorcery(likeallcategoriesofoccultism)asaneutraltechniqueformanipulatingrealityforeithergoodorevil—aswiththedarkandlightsideoftheForceinStarWars.Thereareothers,however,whowarnthatitisasdangeroustobecomeinvolvedinwhitemagicasitisinanyotherformofsorcery.

FromDrugstoEasternMysticism

Drugswereonlythefirststepintotheworldofmystical

experiences.TherealpowerwastobeexperiencedthroughEasternmysticism.Awarethattheeagerpursuitof"alteredstatesofconsciousness"whiletrippedoutonpsychedelicshadrenderedagenerationvulnerable,theEasternguruslostnotimeinvadingtheWestwiththeircosmicgospelofreincarnationandNirvana.Disciplesflockedtothembythemillionstolearntechniquesforachievingthesamealteredstatesthroughmeditationwhichtheyhadpreviouslyreachedondrugs.Leary'sHarvardcolleagueindrugexperimentation,RichardAlpert,afterspendingafortuneinpsychotherapytonoeffect,wenttoIndiato"findhimself"andcamebackasRamDass,oneofthefirstWesternerstoturnguruandleadothersdownthesamepath.11

AfterstudyingwithMaharishiMaheshYogiathisashraminIndia,theever-popularandadmiredBeatlesledmultitudesoftheirworshipfulfollowersintotranscendentalmeditationandotherformsofYoga.Manyotherwell-knownAmericansalsobegantopracticeandpromoteTM.InTheRelaxationResponse,whichwenttothetopofthebest-sellerlists,HarvardMedicalSchoolassociateprofessorHerbertBensonpraisedMaharishiandTM'sresults.12Unfortunately,Bensonmadenomentionofthefrighteningspiritualsideeffects,ofthesuicidesandinsanity,orofthefactthatthemantra(asecretwordtoberepeatedwhilemeditating)isnotthemeaninglesssoundwhichMaharishirepresentsittobebutinsteadisthenameofaHindugod.Moreover,accordingtotheauthoritativetextsonYoga,therepetitionofthissoundinmeditationisacalltothatentitytopossessthemeditator.MarilynFergusonwouldlaterrejoicethatinfluentialpersonswereusingtheirtalentstobringthis"newconsciousness"intoeveryareaofmodernsociety.13

Otherstookadifferentview,butthevoiceofreasonwasdrownedoutintheclamorforinstantbliss.OnedisillusionedformerNewAgerwhowasquotedintheNewYorkTimesinsightfullycomplained:"Thedrugofthe'60swasLSDandmarijuana.Ithinkthedrugofthe'80siscosmicconsciousness."14InhisbookFrom

ShamantoPsychotherapist,WalterBrombergwrites:Whereasinpreviousgenerations"alteredconsciousness"wasconsideredamarkofbohemiandepravityifsoughtvoluntarilyoroneofmadnessifinvoluntary,nowadaysa"high"istheessenceofpsychologicsophistication.15

TheAgeofAquariushaddawned,andwithitcameanewvocabularythatisalltoofamiliartoday.Insteadof"freakingout,"thenewtermwas"enlightenment."Andinplaceof"trippingoutondrugs,"onewasnowexperiencing"higherstatesofconsciousness."Onlythelabelshadchanged:Thenew"astraltravel"broughtthesameexperiencesastheold"drugtrip";"enlightenment"simplyreinforcedinamoreprofoundwaythesameHindupantheisticworldviewthatthedrugmovementhadfostered.Theweirdandoftenfrightening"spiritentities"(variouslycalledgods,masters,teachers,orguides)whichEasternmeditatorsclaimedtomeetinYogictrancewereunmistakablysimilartothoseencounteredondrugs.Althoughsomeofthemaskstheyworedifferedslightly,theirpersonalitiesbetrayedthem,andthesamebasic"perennialphilosophy"camethroughconsistently.

Recognizingthisratherremarkablefact,LearyusedtheBardoThodol(TibetanBookoftheDead)inThePsychedelicExperience,hisclassicguidefordrug-users.Someofthoseusersevenreportedbeinginitiatedintotranscendentalmeditationby"spiritentities"whileonadrugtrip.Theconnectioncouldnolongerbedenied.EventuallythetransitionfromdrugstoEasternmysticismbecamealmostroutine.EasthadmetWestinanencounterneverdreamedofbyRudyardKipling.

TheDeepeningInvolvementinEasternMysticism

Sincetheearlydayswhendrugsandmysticismwereanovelty,theinfluenceofEasternmysticismhasspreadtoeveryareaofWesternculture.OrganizationalpsychologistMarshaSinetardeclaresthateventhepragmaticcorporateworldwillbe

transformed—byanewbreedof"actualized"employeesandexecutiveswhopracticeYogatorelievestress,havemysticalexperiences,followaninnerguidance,andplacefirstpriorityuponpersonalspiritualgrowth.16Thisremarkabletransformationisinfactalreadywellunderway.Asonlyoneofmanyexamplesthatcouldbecited,theNewYorkTimesreported:"AtStanfordUniversity'swell-regardedGraduateSchoolofBusinessthesyllabusforaseminaron'CreativityinBusiness'includesmeditation,chanting,'dreamwork,'theuseoftarotcardsanddiscussionofthe'NewAgeCapitalist.'"17

ThegrowingacceptanceofNewAgebeliefsandpracticesbybothhardheadedbusinessexecutivesandivory-toweredacademiciansisfurtherproofofthesurprisingbreadthofthisexplodingmovement.EvenvenerableHarvardUniversityinCambridge,Massachusetts,haslentitsimmenseprestigetoNewAgebeliefsbyhostingthe1987IyengarYogaConvention.AfewmonthsearlierathighlyregardedClaremontGraduateSchoolinSouthernCalifornia,asymposiumofuniversityprofessorsseriouslydiscussedout-ofbodyexperiences,extrasensoryperception,spiritsurvivalofbodilydeath,andreincarnation.Commentinguponthenewrespectandopennesstowardwhatonlyafewyearsagowouldhavebeenwrittenoffasreligiousdelusion,oneoftheparticipatingprofessorsremarked:"Thiskindofconferencecouldn'thavebeenheldinauniversitysettingtenyearsago."

Noteveryoneisattractedtothedazzlingvarietyoftoday'sspiritualmerchandise.However,weallknowsomeonewhohasbeenorwillbeinvolved.Theissuesraisedareofimmenseimportanceandwilleventuallyaffectallofus."Fadormovement,"reportedtheLosAngelesTimes,"NewAgethinkingiscoursingthroughbusiness,education,thearts,MadisonAvenue,evenpolitics."I8UniversityofDenverprofessorCarlA.Raschke,acriticoftheNewAgemovement,callsitthe"mostpowerfulsocialforceinthecountrytoday."Itwouldbedifficulttodisputethatappraisaland

irresponsibletooverlookthehiddenandoft-deniedreligiousandocculticnatureofwhatisoccurring.

Attheheartofthishistorictransformationisanundercurrentofrevolutionarychangethatreachesthehighestlevelsofreligionandpolitics.FormerCaliforniaGovernorEdmundG.Brown,Jr.,forexample,whospentfouryearsinaJesuitseminarybeforeturningtopolitics,hascommittedhimselfseriouslytotheEasternmysticismhehadbeendabblinginforsometime.BrownhashopesthatthroughembracingsomeofthespiritualitywhichhasbeenpracticedintheEast,theWesternmilitarypowerscanlearntocoexistinpeace.HerecentlyspentaboutsixmonthsinJapanstudyingunderZenBuddhistsasameansofmeeting"hisownspiritualneeds.""PopeJohnPaulH's[surprising]admonitionduring[his]visittoIndiathattheworld—andRomanCatholics—oughttolooktotheEastforinspiration"19playedanimportantroleinBrown'sdeepeninginvolvementinEasternmysticism.

TheAquarianConspiracy

WhyarehighlyeducatedWesternersturningbacktoancientEasternmysticalpracticesinthemidstofthegreatestscientific/technologicalboominhistory?Howcoulditbethataworldwhichisinmadpursuitofmaterialismisatthesametimebecomingincreasinglyenamoredwithspiritualityandpsychicpowers?Whatisbehindthisobsessionwithoccultforces,andwherecanitbetakingus?Thesearelegitimatequestionsthatdeserveaseriousanswer.InTheAquarianConspiracy,abookthathasbeencalled"theNewAgeBible,"MarilynFergusonenthusiasticallyreports:

Agreat,shudderingirrevocableshiftisovertakingus....Itisanewmind,aturnaboutinconsciousnessincriticalnumbersofindividuals,anetworkpowerfulenoughtobringaboutradicalchangeinourculture.

Thisnetwork—theAquarianConspiracy—hasalreadyenlistedthe

minds,heartsandresourcesofsomeofourmostadvancedthinkers,includingNobellaureatescientists,philosophers,statesmen,celebrities...whoareworkingtocreateadifferentkindofsociety....

Thetechnologiesforexpandingandtransformingpersonalconsciousness,oncethesecretofanelite,arenowgeneratingmassivechangeineveryculturalinstitution—medicine,politics,business,education,religionandthefamily.20

Ferguson'striumphantdeclarationsarebaseduponthepeculiarbeliefthatarevivalofancientoccultismisthekeytothesalvationoftoday'smodernworld.Itisremarkablehowthatquestionableassumptionissoreadilyadoptedbyotherwisecautiousandintelligentleadersintheirenthusiasmtowelcomethedawningofa"NewAge."CarlRogers,whowasoneofthemostinfluentialpsychologistsofthiscenturyandimpactedmodernsocietyasfewothershavesinceWorldWarII,wasinfullagreementwithFerguson'sappraisal.InanarticleforaSouthAfricanNewAgemagazine,Rogerswrote:

Itistrulyan"Aquarianconspiracy."Multitudesofcongenialpeopletheworldoverare"conspiring"together...discoveringthattheyviewlifeinthisfundamentallynewway....

Wearefacingacombinationofparadigmshiftswhichmaybemorepowerfulthananythingtheworldhasknownbefore.21

Rogersneglectstotelluswhythispowerful"paradigmshift"willbebeneficial.Thatseemstobetakenforgranted—butwhy?Noristoday'ssweepingoccultrenaissance,withitsdreamofacquiringsupernaturalpowerstoattainbothmaterialprosperityandthespiritualtransformationofourspecies,takingplaceonlyintheaffluentandsuccess-orientedWest.OneofthemostconvincingevidencesofthepowerofNewAgethinkingisitsamazinginternationalscope.Reportingenthusiasticallyuponwhatitcalls"aworldwide'AquarianConspiracy,'"onepopularNewAgemagazine(whichoffersvideoandaudioself-hypnosistapesfor"programming

themind")recentlydeclared:ThestrengthoftheNewAgeMovementliesinthefactthatitgrowsintheconsciousnessoftheworldpopulation...[andasthis]thinkinggainsmomentum,NewAgeinfluencebecomesmoreobviousineveryareaofsociety.22

ABurgeoningMysticalWorldmart

Tosupplytheskyrocketingdemand,enterprisingopportunistsofferanalmost-unlimitedvarietyofexoticandwell-packagedmerchandise:everythingfromassortedsubliminalself-hypnosistapestovarioustechniquesforcontacting"spiritguides"inordertoaccomplishanythingfromimprovingone'stennisorgolftodestroyingcancercells.NearlyeverycityofanysizenowhasatleastoneifnotseveralpublicationsdevotedentirelytoNewAgeproductsandongoingactivities,usuallydistributedfreewhereverhealthfoodsandmetaphysicalbooksaresold.InChicagoonecanpickupNewAgeChicago,inPittsburghtheThreeRiversNetwork,orinLosAngelesL.A.Resources;whileperiodicalssuchasWholeLifeTimesandCommonGroundcirculatenationwide,andsimilarmagazinesandnewspapers(suchasAustralia'sNewAgeNews)canbefoundthroughouttheworld.

Totheastonishmentofbothhard-corematerialistsandthemostastuteeconomicforecasters,aburgeoningworldwidesupermarkethasappearedonthescenealmostovernight—aconglomerationofbusinessventuresformarketingspiritualitythatgiveseveryindicationofgrowingfasterintheforeseeablefuturethananyothersegmentofAmerica'seconomy.Inpursuitofthegrowingprofits,anewgenerationofpromotersandentrepreneursofthemysticalhasarisentotakeadvantageofthisexplodinginterestinpsychicexperiencesandoccultpowers.Andtomaketheirservicesknownnationwide,thereisnowtheNationalNewAgeYellowPages:AUnitedStatesGuidetoConsciousness-RaisingServices,Products,andOrganizations,apublicationwhichfirstappearedearly

in1987.23

Literallythousandsoforganizations,mostofwhichdidn'texist20yearsago,arenowgeneratingimpressiveprofitsaspartofthisfast-growingmarketforinnovativelypackagedoccultism.Thefollowingisjustasmallbutrepresentativesamplingofcompanies,organizations,andproductslistedintheSpring1987editionofL.A.Resources:"SpiritualEnergyConsultant—TheSoulHealingSystem";"Rebirthing";"WholeBrainIntegration—Balanceleft/rightandfront/backbrainforaccesstonaturalalteredstates";"LayingonofHandstechniquestoeffectphysical,emotional,mentalandspiritualhealing";"AMeditativeApproachtoColonTherapy";"AncientTibetanscienceofUniversalEnergy";"AphrodisiacalCookingforRejuvenation";"CollectiveYogaofIntegralPerfection";"GayMetaphysicalSpiritualAssociation";"DharmaSahZenCenter";"DeerTribeShamanicLodgeofCeremonialMedicine";"TheSorcerer'sShop";and"Pyramid&CrystalEnvironmentSystems."

TheNewSpiritualityDoesn'tComeCheap

OneofMahatmaGandhi'sintimatefriendsusedtodelightinsayingthatittook"agreatdealofmoney"tokeephim"livinginpoverty."Gandhi'sobsessionwithdenouncingallthatwasintroducedbyforeigninterestsandgettingbacktothesimpleandwholesomeIndianlifestyleofpre-Britishtimesincludeddamningrailwaysas"amostdangerousinstitution."Butthatdidnotpreventhimfromusingtherailwaysystem.ItwasonlyoneofthemanycontradictionsinGandhi'slife.Tomaintainhispovertystance,healwaysrodethird-class.However,hehadaspecialcoachtohimself,whichofcoursecostfarmorethanifhehadriddenfirst-class.

Considerablemoneyisalsorequiredwhenitcomestomaintainingtheallegedlysimple,natural,andspiritualNewAgelifestyle.Traditionally,spiritualityhasbeenofferedfreelyorfor

voluntarycontributions.Theenticinggospelofthe"newspirituality,"however,mostofwhichcomesfromGandhi'sIndia,isbeingpackagedappealinglyandsoldformoney,oftenatexorbitantprices.Beneaththeseeminglysinceredoublespeakabouthigherconsciousness,enlightenment,astraltravel,infinitepsychicpowers,andcosmiclaw,blatantbottom-linematerialisticprofitabilityplaysalargepartinthenewspirituality.Thereisanewclassofmillionairesmadeupofgurus,psychics,"channelers,"andpromotersofassortedself-improvementtechniqueswhohavemadeverysubstantialfortunessellingetherealideas.

ThosewhoscoffatwhattheycalltheimpotentmysticismoftheNewAgeneedtorememberthatmoneyispower,andthatthismovementisgeneratingmanybillionsofdollarsinsales.U.S.News&WorldReportcommentedrecently,"Whileskepticscastdoubts,psychicscountdollars."24Earlyin1987,Newsweekreportedthestaggeringstatistic:NewAgeself-improvementprogramsbeingpushedonemployeesbyAmerica'smajorcorporationsaccountfor"about$4billionincorporatespendingeachyear."25AndthisisonlyoneverysmallsegmentoftheNewAgemovement.

Salesofoccultbooksareexpandingsorapidly(therewasa95percentincreaseinsalesforB.DaltonstoresintheweekthatShirleyMacLaine'sTVminiseriesairedinJanuary1987)thatAmericanBooksellermagazinerecentlyranafeaturearticletitled"ANewAgeforMetaphysicalBooks."Toaccommodatethischangeinvalues,B.Dalton(oneofthenation'slargestbooksellingchains)hasreorganizeditsmerchandise:Whatusedtobecalled"AstrologyandOccult"isnowincludedinanewsectiontitled"NewAge."Atthe1987AmericanBooksellersConventioninWashingtonD.C.,whereamongthemorethan20,000booksellers,exhibitors,andauthorsShirleyMacLainedrewthemostattention,52publishersformedtheNewAgePublishingAlliancewiththemotto"AConsciousnessWhoseTimeHasCome."AsoneNew-Age-oriented

journalrecentlyobserved,readersoftheocculthavebecome"moremainstreamandaffluent,withanincreasednumberofprofessionals."

Atthe1987AwardsCeremony,aGrammywaspresentedforthefirsttimefor"NewAgeMusic,"anewcategorywhichwasalreadygeneratingover100milliondollarsinannualsales.UnitedAirlineswasquicktodevoteanentirechannelto"NewAgeMusic"foritspassengers,andLincoln-Mercury,BMW,andHondawereamongthefirstautomanufacturerstojumponthisskyrocketingbandwagonwiththeuseofNewAgemusicforpromotingtheirproducts.ByNovember1987theLosAngelesTimescouldreportinitsbusinesssectionthat"radiostationsthatplayNewAgemusicexclusivelyhavesuddenlysprungupinvirtuallyeverymajorU.S.city."26MuchofthismusicisdesignedtohelpinducethealteredstateofconsciousnessthatisessentialtoNewAgespirituality,butseldomarepurchasersadvisedofthisfact.

AVulnerablePopulationReadyforMagic?

MostastonishingistheacceptabilityandinfluenceofthisoccultrevivalbehindtheIronandBambooCurtains,inspiteofMarxism'sofficialrejectionofallthings"spiritual."MichaelMurphy,thecofounderofEsalen,isoneoftheleadingpromotersofthehuman-potentialmovement(anotheraliasforNewAge).Commentinguponthegrowingworldwidereceptivitytothisnew"spiritualawakening"(whichhehasenthusiasticallyobservedinhispromotionalvisitstomanycountries),Murphydeclares:"NowherewasthismoreevidentthaninmytravelsintheSovietUnion."Hegoesontoexplainthatshamanism(witchcraft)isontheriseinRussia,whereitisbeinghailedevenbyleadingscientistsasthenewhopeofmankind.27Gorbachev'screepingcapitalismalsoseemsdestinedtopartakeofNewAgemagic:WernerErhardhasbeengivenathree-yearcontracttoenlightenSovietmanagerswithhispsychologizedmixtureofZenBuddhismandScientology.Inlate1986theWall

StreetJournalreported:Thevideorecordingthatflickersonthetelevisionscreenshowsastartlingscene:WernerErhard,thefounderofestandaguruoftheMeGeneration,islecturingagroupofSovietbureaucrats...standinginaMoscowauditoriumbeneathapictureofLenin....

AndsoEastmeetsest.TheKremlinthinksthatMr.Erhard'sbrandofinstantself-helpcouldmotivatethesluggishSovietbureaucracy....

WilliamGaylin,apsychiatrist...[says]theErhardnostrumsappealtoa"vulnerablepopulationreadyformagic."

TheRussians,apparently,arevulnerable.28

Westernbusinessandtechnologyleadersareclearlyvulnerablealso.InspiteofthefactthatErhardabandonedhisfamilyandhasbeenlessthansuccessfulinsolvinghisownpersonalproblems,hisclientsintheWestcoverthespectrumfromFordMotorCompanytotheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration.OneNASAmanagerandestgraduate,infact,"persuadedtheU.S.governmenttospend$45,000forafive-dayworkshopfor50NASAengineersandmanagersheldbyMr.Erhardandhisassociates."29CaliforniaBusinessmagazinereportsthatmorethanhalfofthe500presidentsandcompanyownersitsurveyedhaveinvolvedtheiremployeesinNewAgetrainingseminarsthatmakeuseofvarious"consciousness-raising"techniquestaughtinprogramssimilartoErhard'sest(nowcalledtheForum).

Thereisperhapsnoclassofpersonsmorevulnerabletothisworldwide"AquarianConspiracy"thanemployeeswhoarerequiredbytheiremployerstotakeNewAgecourses.RonZemke,senioreditoroftheprestigiousbusinessmagazineTraining,complainsthat"spiritualinstruction"isnowbeing"servedupincorporateashrams."30Observingonesuchprograminactioncausedtworeportersfromanothernationalmagazinetoaskfacetiously,"Isthistheheadquartersofareligiouscult?"Theanswerstheydiscovered

afterfurtherinvestigationwereextremelydisturbingandcausedthemtoreport:

No,thisisthetelephonecompany.Anditslatestseminars...calledKronetraining...[are]requiredlearningforthe67,000employeesofPacificBell,California'slargestutilitycompany....

BesidesPacificBell,suchcorporategiantsasProctor&Gamble,TRW,FordMotorCo.andPolaroidhaveallsignedonNewAgeconsultants.31

SomeemployeesofPacificBell"complainedtotheutilitiescommissionthatthecompany'sKroningexercises[annualcost:about100milliondollars,ultimatelypaidforbyphonesubscribers]32wereinfactmind-controlsessionsbasedonthe[mystical]teachingsofGeorgesGurdjieff...."33Asaresultofthecommission'sreprimand,thosecontroversialworkshopsweresuspended,thoughPacBellinsistedthattheywerebeneficial.EmployeesofmanyothercorporationswhoarebeingrequiredtoparticipateinsimilarNewAgeprogramshaveaddedtheirvoicestothegrowingchorusofconcern,butwithlittleeffect.Inspiteofthewarningsfromnumerousexpertsconcerningtheveryrealdangersthatareinvolvedinsuchtechniques,thereisanexpandinglistofemployees(includingthoseinmanagement)whohavebeenfiredforrefusingtoparticipateinNewAgeprograms.34

Themodernspaceagehasbeeninvadedbyancientoccultbeliefs.TherecanbenodoubtthatEasternmysticismhasestablishedastrongandexpandingbeachheadintheWesternworld.Theresultingblendofscienceandmysticismhasbecomeknownas"theconsciousnessrevolution"—yetanotheraliasfor"NewAge."Agenerationnotonlyofdrug-usersbutofmeditatorsandself-improvemententhusiastsfromallwalksoflifeandstrataofsocietyhasbeeninitiatedintosorcery.Americahasbecomethesorcerer'snewapprentice,anditmayalreadybetoolatetoturnback.

[3]CaveatEmptor:LettheBuyerBewareToallappearances,weareinthemidstofanunprecedentedand

all-encompassingspiritualtransformationthatseemstobeacceleratingworldwideonallfronts.Itcannotbeexplainedawayasanextremistmovementofclosetoccultistssuddenlycrawlingoutofthewoodworktogatherfollowersfromthefringesofsociety.Norcanitbebrushedasideassomeweakrippleinthewakeofthecounter-culturalrebellionagainstWesternmaterialismthatseemedtocomeoutofnowhereinthefiftiesandsixtiestosweepawayagenerationofyouth.ItistruethatmanywhowereinvolvedinthehippiemovementbecameNewAgersaspartofanaturalprogressionfromdrugstoEasternmysticism;thereisacloseconnection.Yetcountlessmillionswhonevertunedin,turnedon,anddroppedoutarenowcaughtupinwhatcanonlybedescribedasasweepingspiritualmetamorphosisofmodernculture.

WhilenoonehasaccusedtheNewAgemovementofbeingacult,therearesomedisturbingsimilarities.CultexpertReginaldAlevwarnsthatNewAgegroupstellparticipants"they'rethemasteroftheirowndestiny,sortofanEasternversionofNormanVincentPeale,buttheydon'tknowtheyarebeingsubjectedtomindcontrol."1Thegrowingconcernovermassmanipulationseemsvalidenoughwhenoneconsiderstheveryclaimsof"transformationalseminar"leaderssuchasJohnD.Adams,whoboaststhat"trainingforthetechnologicalage...iseffectiveinaligningmassesofpeoplewithacommoncause."2AccordingtotheNewYorkTimes:

Psychologistswhohavestudiedtheprocesssaythatwhileparticipantsareinthis"alteredstate,"leadersofthegroupsareabletoimplantnewideasandaltertheirthinkingprocesses.3

TheTimesarticledeclared:"Gurushiredtomotivateworkersareraisingfearsof'mindcontrol.'"Thischargeissograveandhasbeenmadebysomanyexpertsthatithastobetakenseriously.OneofthoseexpertsisformerUniversityofWisconsinpsychologyfacultymemberEdwinMorse,whowarnsthatgraduatesofNewAgecoursesnowbeingrequiredforemployeesofmanybusinesses"areoftenpsychicallyscarred."Nowinprivatepracticeandspecializinginhelpingsuchpeople,Dr.Morsedeclares:"These[mindcontrol]groupsareusinghypnoticproceduresandpeoplearenotbeingtoldaboutit."4

Thereare,accordingtoRichardL.Watring,additionaldangersinherentinthemind-controltechniquesattheheartoftheNewAgetrainingprograms.Watring,whoispersonneldirectorofBudgetRent-a-CarCorporationinChicago,assertsthattechniquesaredeliberatelybeingintroducedintoemployeetrainingprogramswhich"induceatrance-likestate."Heisconcernednotonlyaboutthebehaviormodificationsimilartobrainwashingwhichcanresult,5butalsoaboutthemanyreportsfromparticipantswhoareconvincedthattheyhavecomeunderharmfulinfluencefrom"spiritentities"asaresultofthesetrancestates.

Watringfeltcompelledtoinvestigateafterobserving(withconsiderablesurpriseandalarm)theeagernesswithwhichordinarilycautiousbusinessleaderswerebuyingintomysticismmislabeledasmotivationalpsychology.Arguingthatthoseexposedbyemployersto"'NewAgepsychotechnologies'...[for]altering'normal'consciousness...oughtto[betold]upfront"thatinevitablytheir"fundamentalworldviewsandJudeo-Christianreligiousbeliefs"arebeingtamperedwith,6Watringexplains:

Foraboutthelastthreeyears,Ihaveobservedtheintroductionandgrowthofanewphilosophyofhumanpotentialanddevelopment.Laypeoplemostoftenrefertoitasthe"NewAge"movement.

MarilynFergusonchronicledthehistoryandcurrentdevelopment

ofthismovementinherbest-seller,TheAquarianConspiracy.Shelistsanumberofpsychotechnologies..."foralteringconsciousness"suchasMeditation,Self-hypnosis,Focusing,Centering,GuidedImagery,Visualization,TranscendentalMeditation,Yoga,Biofeedback,Dianetics,SilvaMindControl,andmanyothers.

IbegannoticinganumberofconsultantsandcorporateHumanResourcesDevelopmentpractitionerswhowerepromoting"highercreativity,""improvedmemory,""acceleratedlearning,""stressmanagement."IfoundthatmostofthesemethodsweresomewhereonFerguson'slistof"meanstoalteringconsciousness."

Ithenbegantowonderaboutthemotivesofthepersonssellingtheseconcepts.Weretheyreallyouttoimprovehumanpotential?Orhadtheyhadsomeprofoundexperienceontheirspiritualjourneyandwerereallyenlistingotherstofollowtheirpath?

IrecentlyhadanopportunitytoparticipateinapaneldiscussionattheAssociationofHumanisticPsychologyAnnualMeeting.ThetitleoftheirconferencewasCHANGEAGENTS-85,andIaccusedthemoftryingto"change"thebeliefsystemsoftheirclients.

Isuggestedthatsomepractitionershavea"hiddenagenda,"andthattheirclientsareentitledtoknowhowcertainpsychospiritualtherapieswillaffecttheclient'semployees.7

Evangelistsofthe"NewSpirituality"

ThemislabelingofEasternreligionasscienceisevenaffectingeducation.Forexample,theAugust1987annualconventionofTheAssociationforHumanisticPsychologyincludedundertheheadingofHumanisticEducationaworkshoptitled"ZenBuddhistEthicsandtheCaringClassroom:TheapplicationofZenBuddhismtoeducatingchildren...."AsimilarattempttointegrateProtestant,Catholic,Jewish,orIslamicbeliefsintothepublicclassroomwouldquicklybringtheACLUonthescenetoprotestsuchflagrantstatesupportofareligion.YetEasternmysticismandevenvariousforms

ofwitchcraftareregularlybeingtaughtandappliedinpublicschoolsacrossAmericawithgovernmentsupport.Thatgrowingtrendwillbeaddressedinmoredetaillater.

Undertheguidanceofsomestateandfederalofficials,publicschoolshavenowbecomemajorcentersforconditioningthepresentgenerationtobecomfortablewiththenewparadigmofsorcery.Thisdeliberateprogram(whichhasthefullbackingoftheNationalEducationAssociation)8tochangespiritualvalues,whichhavetraditionallybeenlefttoparentsandchurch,hassparkedanationalhome-schoolingmovement,resultinginthegreatestflightfrompubliceducationinthehistoryofAmerica.

The"changeagents"maybeverysincereinbelievingthattheir"hiddenagenda"istheonlyhopeforrescuingmankindfromdestruction.Thisdoesnotjustify,however,theiruseofdeceitinpeddlingtheirproductsnorthesuppressionofinformationconcerningtheinherentdangers.RonZemketellshowappalledhewaswhen,with"zealousexcitement,"hewastoldaboutaworkshopthattaughtparticipantshow"tosellaNewAgeagendatomanagementwithoutthemrealizingwhattheyweresigningonfor."PointingoutthecontradictionofclaimingthattheNewAgeisconcernedfor"therightsanddignityofindividuals"whileatthesametimedenying"therighttobetoldthetruth,"Zemkewrites:

IftheNewAgeissomethingwewillhavetobetrickedintobyanelitecadreof"enlightened"peoplecertainthattheyknowbestwhatweoughttothinkandfeelandvalueandbelieve,thenIguessI'llhavetostickwiththeoldorder.9

Yetsuchunderhandeddeceptionbyelitistsseemstobetheacceptedmodusoperandi.TheeditorofaNewAgemagazineboastsunashamedlyofagatheringofprofessionalswho"camefrom11states"todiscusshowbettertoinfiltrateNewAgethinkingintoeveryareaofsociety.Asanexampleofhowthiswasbeingaccomplished,hementioned"aSouthernCaliforniaPh.D.,director

ofasuccessfulhypnosiscenter...employedbytwoofCalifornia'slargestpubliclyheldcompaniestoteach'successandpositivethinking'totheiremployees."Heexplainedthatshecarefullyavoidsusing"thewords'metaphysics'or'NewAge,'buttheideas[sheteaches]arenothingelse."Hewentontosayenthusiastically:

OneofthebiggestadvantageswehaveasNewAgersis,oncetheoccult,metaphysicalandNewAgeterminologyisremoved,wehaveconceptsandtechniquesthatareveryacceptabletothegeneralpublic.Sowecanchangethenamesanddemonstratethepower.Insodoing,weopentheNewAgedoortomillionswhonormallywouldnotbereceptive.10

Inspiteofthedangersinherentinconsciousness-alteringtechniques,NewAgeevangelistsareconvincedthatthemysticalsupermart'sgildedwaresareessentialnotonlyforemployeesofmajorbusinessconcernsbutforthewell-beingofsocietyatlarge,whetheritrealizesitornot.Theyseemdeterminedtoconverttheworldwiththegospeloftheir"consciousnessrevolution"evenifitrequiressomesubtledeceit.

AWebofDeception

Theveryterm"NewAge,"howeverwell-intentioned,ismisleading.Itsonlyclaimtobeingnewliesintheastonishingrespectability,acceptability,andcredibilitynowbeinggrantedinthespaceagetostone-agesuperstitiouspractices.Everythingnowknownas"NewAge"(herbalortraditionalmedicine,holistichealthandvegetariandiets,self-hypnosis,reincarnation,spiritguides,pyramidpower,colortherapy,Yoga,andotherformsofEasternmeditation)issimplyarevivalofancientreligiouspracticesnowbeingpassedoffasnewadvancementsinscience,medicine,andpsychology.

Thereislittledoubtthatthepromotersofthismovementareawareoftheironyofrelabelingancientoccultismassomethingnew.EdgarMitchellandotherleadersopenlyconfessthattheyare

promotingarevivalofwhattheycallthe"ancientwisdom.""Thisstuffhasbeenaroundfor5000years,"declaresShirleyMacLaine.11Thenwhycallitnew?AsTimothyLeary(formerlyostracizedashighpriestofthedrugmovement,butnowwidelyacceptedinacademia)defiantlydeclaredinaspeech,tothedelightofhisaudience,atthe22ndAnnualConventionoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychology:

Ourtriphasalwaysexisted....AllthroughthedarkagesthereweretheSufis,theKabbalists,theBrotherhoodsandSisterhoodsandthewitchcraftgroupsandtheKnightsofMalta,andtheMasonicorders....

Thespiritofhumanism...thebeliefthatit'sallwithinandyou'regoingtofindGodlookingintotheeyesofyourlover,wedidn'tinventthat.Itdidn'tstartinthe'60soreveninthesacred'50s,it'sbeengoingonforever.12

Intheprocessofcalling"new"whatisinfactextremelyold,themysticalisbeingmarketedastechnological.Inaclassicflimflam,oneoftheworld'smostancientreligiouspracticesisbeingsoldasthe"scienceofYoga."TheaverageYogastudentintheWestisnotawarethatYogawasintroducedbyLordKrishnaintheBaghavad-GitaasthesurewaytotheHinduheaven,orthatShiva,"TheDestroyer"(andoneofthethreemostpowerfulandfearedofHindudeities)isaddressedasYogeshwara,orLordofYoga.InoneofthemostauthoritativeYogatexts,theHathayoga-Pradipika,datingbacktothefifteenthcentury,SvatmaramalistsLordShivaasthefirstinalonglineofHathaYogateachers.NordoestheaverageYogainstructormentionorlikelyevenknowthemanywarningscontainedinancientYogatextsthateven"HathaYoga[theso-calledphysicalYoga]isadangeroustool."13

ThefactthatYogaistheveryheartofHinduismisusuallysuppressedandoftendenied.HearingoccasionalreferencestoPatanjali'ssecond-centuryB.C.YogaSutras,theWesterner(whohasbeenledtobelievethatYogaispurelyphysical)erroneously

assumesthatPatanjaliwasanearlyPlatoorEinsteinandisunawarethatHindusregardhimasoneoftheirgreatestreligiousleaders.Undertheimpressionthattheyarebuyinghealth,millionsofpeopleareunwittinglygettinginvolvedinHinduism.Thistypeofdeceptionistypicalofmostproductsintoday'sexplodingmysticalmarketplace.Becauseoftheflagrantmisrepresentationandmislabeling,manypurchasersofwhattheyhavebeenpersuadedarescientificmethodsfordevelopingtheirfullpotentialareinfactbeingledintoreligiousbeliefsandpractices.

ThatmanyofthepractitionersofYogaandotherformsofEasternmysticismdoseemtoreapbenefits,atleastforatime,cannotbedenied.Nevertheless,theirbasicworldviewandreligiousbeliefsystemarebeingtamperedwithinwayswhichtheymaynotrealizeandwhichtheyarecertainlynotbeingalertedtobytheirinstructors.Moreover,thoseengaginginconsciousness-alteringtechniquesinvolvethemselvesinpotentiallydangerousspiritualexperiences,asweshallsee.

TranscendentalTrickery

Transcendentalmeditation(TM)isatypicalexampleofNewAgemisrepresentation.WhenMaharishiMaheshYogifirstintroducedTMtotheWest,heopenlytaughtthatitwasaHindureligiouspracticeandthatitsrealpurposewastoproduce"alegendarysubstancecalledSomainthemeditator'sbodysotheGodsoftheHindupantheoncouldbefedandawakened!"14Butwhenhewasdeniedaccesstopublicschoolsandgovernmentfundingonthegroundsthathewaspromotingreligiouspractices,MaharishiquicklydeletedallreferencetoreligionandbeganpresentingTMasascience.Nothingwaschangedexceptthelabels.Thisdeceptionhasbeenfurtheredbythemanycelebrities,athletes,psychiatrists,andotherleaderswhohavepracticedandpromotedTM,somenodoubtwithoutrecognizingthatitisinfactpureHinduism.BobKropinski,aformerTMinstructor,explains:

Ijoinedin'71....in1957they[had]startedanorganizationcalledSpiritualRegenerationMovement...forreligiousandeducationalpurposesonly.

...in1974[Maharishi]...completelyrenamedallthecorporations.

..[under]anewsetofArticlesofIncorporationdeletingeverythingthatsaid"spiritual"and"religious."...

UsingscientificterminologyishiswaytolegitimizetheteachingofHinduism.Forexample,Maharishi...begancallingGod"thevacuumstate."

...Heinstructedpeopleinthedeception.15

SincethattimeadvertisementshaveblatantlydeclaredthatTMis"notareligion,notaphilosophy,notYoga...itinvolvesnochangeofbeliefsystem,isnotthoughtcontrol,mindcontrol."Inactualityitisallofthese.AccordingtoKropinski,whowonalawsuitagainstTMinJanuary1987,Maharishimadeitcleartothoseontheinside:

Itdoesn'tmatterifyoulieteachingpeople...[because]TMistheultimate,absolutespiritualauthorityonthefaceofthisEarth.

[TMers]aretheonlyteachersandupholdersofgenuinespiritualtraditiononthefaceoftheearth.They'rerunningtheuniverse.

Theyarecontrollingthegodsthroughthesomasacrifice.16

TMis,infact,oneofmanyformsofYoga,andisnolessdangerousthantherest.SevenformerTMers,forexample,recentlyfiledsuitforninemilliondollarseachinWashingtonD.C.,chargingthatMaharishifailedtoteachthemto"fly"aspromisedandthattheirpracticeofadvancedTMhadcausedsevere"negativeemotional,psychologicalandphysicaleffects."Kropinskirelatesthatpeoplewereexperiencingviolentshaking,hallucinations,murderousimpulses,andsuicidalthoughts"asaresultoftheTMpractice."Atteacher-trainingsessionsdistraughtTMerswouldtellofflyingintoanuncontrollablerageinthemidstofmeditation,smashingfurniture,assaultingtheirroommates,andtryingtocommitsuicide.InresponseMaharishiwouldtellthemto"liedown

onthefloorandtakeitasitcomes."Kropinskirelateshisowninnerturmoil:

WhenIleftthemovementIwasfilledwithallsortsofwildsuperstitions;IbelievedthatIwasgoingtobestruckdownbythegods....

[Butthen]Ifoundoutthat...therewereothervictimsofthisprocesswhoalsohadtocometotermswiththefactthattheyhadbeenraped:spirituallyandfinanciallyraped.17

CaveatEmptor

Mostself-improvementtechniquesbeingadoptedthroughoutsociety—bypubliceducators,psychologists,psychiatrists,medicaldoctors,andsuccess/motivationseminarleaders—employvaryingformsofEasternmeditationandself-hypnosissimilartoTM'svariationonYoga.Itisthesevery"technologiesforexpandingandtransformingpersonalconsciousness"thatMarilynFergusonlaudsinTheAquarianConspiracy.YetinkeepingwithwarningsexpressedbyWatringandothers,therearemanydocumentedcasesofpersonsinvolvednotonlyinTMbutinotherformsofYogaandautosuggestionhavingextremelyfrighteninganduncontrollablespiritualexperiences.Asaresult,somehavebeendriventoinsanityandevensuicide—butthesefactsaredeliberatelysuppressed.18Thesameproblemsoftenplagueparticipantsinassortedmind-dynamicsandself-improvementcourses,especiallywherethetechniquesinvolvecontactwithvisualized"innerguides."

ItisnotuncommonforthepractitionersofEasternmysticism,eveninitsvariousWesternizedself-helpforms,tosuddenlyfindthemselves"outofbody"orthrownacrosstheroombysomeunknownforce,orelseencounteringwhatseemtobeveryrealalienentitieswhoattempt"possession."InanunusuallyfrankinterviewinYogaJournal,KenWilber(practicingmysticandYogaenthusiastwhohasbeendescribedastoday's"Einsteinofconsciousness")warnsthatanyformofEasternmeditation,even

done"correctly,"involves"awholeseriesofdeathsandrebirths;extraordinaryconflictsandstresses...someveryroughandfrighteningtimes."19

InTranscendentalMisconceptions,formerTMinstructorR.D.Scotttellsofnumerous"spiritmanifestations"amongmeditators.Suchexperiencesincluded:"visionsoffloatinggreeneyes...creaturesoflightfloatingabovethepujatable[initiationceremonyaltar],"aswellasghoulishcreaturesmaterializingperiodicallytostarewithterrifyingexpressionsatparticipants.20Scottgivesanumberofreasonsfordiscountingtheideathattheseexperiencescouldallbeexplainedashallucinations.Oftenmorethanonepersonsaw"thesameprocessionofspiritcreaturessimultaneouslyandwithoutanyadvancewarning...."21OfcoursesuchpossibilitiesarenotmentionedintheadsandbrochurespromotingTMandotherformsofYoga.

Thereseemstobeanalarmingincreaseintheincidenceofsimilarmysticaloroccultexperiencesamongthegeneralpopulace.TheDurham,NorthCarolina,FoundationforResearchontheNatureofMan(aninstitutionfoundedbyDukeUniversity'sfamousparapsychologistJ.B.Rhine)haslatelyreporteda"greaternumberofcallersseekinghelp."Asaresult,theFoundation"iscompilingadirectoryofmental-healthprofessionalswithexpertisein[counseling]thosesufferingfrom'confusingordistressingeffectsofostensiblyparanormalexperiences.'"22

"Normal"SpiritualEmergencies

Paradoxically,manypsychologistsandpsychiatrists,whosefunctionispresumablytoidentifyandtreatmentalaberrations,nowacceptthese"transpersonalcrises"asnormalforpeople"onthespiritualpath."Nevertheless,mental-healthprofessionalshavefounditnecessarytoorganizesupportgroupstohelpthoseoverwhelmedbywhattheyalsocategorizeas"spiritualemergency."

Onesuchorganizationiscalled"PassagesIn"andoffers"roundthe-clockemotionalandspiritualcareandattention."23PassagesIndirectorDavidPursglove,atherapistandtranspersonalcounselorfor25years,listssomeofthenormal"transpersonalcrises"asfollows:

TheremaybeastrikingnumberoffrighteningESPandotherparapsychologicaloccurrences,suchasout-ofbodyexperiencesoraccurateprecognitive"takes"[predictions].

...[or]aprofoundpsychologicalencounterwithdeathandsubsequentrebirth,oftenwithanupsurgeofspecialpowersandstrongimpulsestoheal.

[Or]theawakeningoftheserpentpower(Kundalini)...energystreamingupthespine,tremors,spasmsandsometimesviolentshakingandtwistingmovements.24

ResearchersFloConwayandJimSiegelmannotethatthemoststartlingeffectsofcultinvolvementare"bizarredisturbancesofawareness,perception,memoryandotherbasicinformation-processingcapacities...floatinginandoutofalteredstates...unnerving'psychic'phenomena...."25Yetthesearetheverysymptomsfoundamongmanypeoplewhoarenotmembersofacultatall,butsimplygotinvolvedwithYogaatthelocalYMCAorwithself-hypnosistapesorvisualizationthroughaself-improvementseminar,orwithotherYoga-relatedconsciousness-alteringtechniquesrequiredbyanemployerortaughtasrelaxationinpublicschools.Thosewhoaredrawntothenewspiritualitybecauseofthebenefitsitofferseventuallydiscoverthatinordertoreapthesebenefitsitisnecessarytocultivatealteredstatesandpsychicphenomena;"badtrips"seemtobeanormalby-product.

"Suchexperiences,"admitsMarilynFerguson'sBrain/MindBulletin,"arecommonamongpeopleinvolvedinYoga,meditationandotherspiritualdisciplines...,"26Infact,withtherapidspreadofEasternmysticismintheWest,these"spiritualcrises"havereached

epidemicproportions.Inordertodealwithsuchproblems,JohnsHopkinsUniversitySchoolofMedicineprofessorStanislavGrof(aleadingLSDauthority)andhiswifeChristina(aHathaYogateacher)organizedthe"SpiritualEmergencyNetwork"(SEN)in1980.SENwasoriginallyheadquarteredatEsalen,wherepsychologistssuchasFritzPerls,AbrahamMaslow,andCarlRogersusedtoholdforthintheearlydaysofthehuman-potentialmovement.Esalenhaditsshareof"badtrips"leadingtodestroyedlivesandsuicide,27butagainthesewereconsideredtobethenormalcasualtiesalongthepathtoNirvana."Wewenttoofar,"cofounderMichaelMurphyadmits."Iwishwehadn'tmademistakes,butwewereadventurists."28

ThefirstwordsheardbythosewhocalltheSENhotlineare"Welcometotheclub!"Ofcoursethosecallingindesperationhadnointentionofjoiningsuchaclub,andprobablywouldneverhavegotteninvolvedinNewAgepsychospiritualtechnologieshadtheybeenhonestlytoldthedangersbeforehand.NowlocatedattheCaliforniaInstituteofTranspersonalPsychologyinMenloPark,California,SEN"coordinates35regionalcentersthroughouttheworld"29involvingabout1500"professionalswhounderstandthenatureofspiritualawakening...."30Ironically,Easternmysticism'smethodsof"spiritualawakening"(theverymethodsthatcausethe"badtrips")continuetobepromotedbytheexpertstowhomthevictimsofsuchproblemslookforhelp.

"TappingTheseEnergiesIsFire"

Unfortunately,amidallthehypepromotingquestionableproductsintoday'sspiritualmarketplace,thereisseldomacaveatwarningthebuyertobeware.Andwhentherarewarningisissued,itisalltoooftenburiedsodeeplyamidoptimisticfluffthatfewpeopletakeitseriously.Consider,forexample,thefollowingfromW.BrughJoy,medical-doctor-turned-Eastern-guru,whomactorRichardChamberlaincreditedwithrealigninghis"psychicforce":

Notonepersonknowswhat[psychicpower]isorallofitsaspects,andnoonehaseverknown,despiteattemptsoverthousandsofyearstomasterthisknowledge.

Tappingtheseenergiesisfire,andtheconsequences...canbepsychosis,aggravationofneuroses,accelerationofdiseaseprocessesandsuicide.31

Alongwithsuchawarning,onewouldexpectthepublictobeurgedatallcosttoavoidanyinvolvementwithforcessolethal.Instead,likeShirleyMacLaineandothersofthenewbreedofWesterngurus,Joyencouragescultivatingthevery"alteredstatesofconsciousness"thatopenthedoortotheseadmittedlydangerous"energies."Asthoughenticedbyaprizesodazzlingthatnoriskistoogreat,Joydeclares:"Theawakeningintocertainstatesofconsciousnesscanbestowgiftsofsuchvaluethattheyarebeyondprice...powersnotyetrecognizedbyconventionalWesternscience...."32Appalledbysuchanattitude,astronomymagazineSky&TelescopeeditorAlanM.MacRobertdeclared:

Therealsignificanceoftheparanormalboomisthatsomanyofustakeitsouncritically.

Itisasifthequestion"Isthisso?"hasbecomeirrelevant—andhasbeenreplacedbytheattitude,"Ifitfeelsgood,itmustberightforme."...

Ithinkthisparadigmhasserveduspoorly.33

ThatWasZenandThisIsNow

InamajorarticleinTrainingmagazine,RonZemkereminiscesabouthisearlierinvolvementinthehuman-potentialmovement,when"bethereorbesquare"wasthewaysomanypeopleregardedtheperpetualroundofNewAgeconventionsandseminars."WewereregaledwithSufiwitandwisdom,"recallsZemke,"challengedtotouchthespiritualinourselves,encouragedtoseetheconnectednessofallthingsandlecturedonusingthe

creativesidesofourbrains.Wesharedourmostintimateinsecuritieswithperfectstrangers,challengedourparadigms,gotrealwithourfeelings,didadecentamountofillegaldrugsandwenthomefeelingwehadindeedbeentransformedtoanotherlevelofexistence.Sortof."NotingthatthelastingeffectsofMarilynFerguson'sAquarianConspiracy"havebeennotablemostlyfortheirmodestywhencomparedtothepromises,"Zemkerecalls:

Thesparkleandallurebegantofadefromtheprospectofanothermarathoncosmic-consciousnessseminar,anotherweekendencounterwithmytrueself.Eventuallyitwasimpossibletodenythatapatternofpredictablesamenesshadsettledovertheseexperiences.

Ishaved,cutmyhair,slippedbackintothestraightworldinafairlystraightjob,andgraduallylosttouchwiththehumanpotentialmovement,withitsloftypromisesandpeculiaravenuestotruth,freedom,beautyandenlightenment....

Formostofus,thatwasZenandthisisnow...34

Whilemanypeople,likeZemke,havedroppedout,theNewAgemovementhasonlygrownstronger,pickingupatleasttwonewenthusiastsforeachonelost.Thereisadesperateneedforreliablecriteriaforevaluatingtheproductsbeingofferedintoday'sexplodingmysticalmarketplace.YetitisdoubtfulthattherewilleverbeanofficialwatchdogagencymakingcertainthatNewAgetechniquesmeetestablishedstandards,becausetheirspiritualandreligiousnatureeffectivelyplacesthemoff-limitstogovernmentregulation.

Unfortunately,allisnotasupbeatasthesmilingentrepreneursofmysticismwouldhaveusbelieve.LikeTMandotherformsofYoga,mostpsychospiritualtechnologiesfor"personaltransformation"havehiddenanddangerousdefects.ThereissubstantialevidencetoindicatethatsomeoftheattractiveNewAgeproductsshouldbeclearlymarkedExtremelyHazardous.Theroleofsorcerer'sapprenticecanbeafrighteningandverydangerousgame.

UniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyprofessorJacobNeedlemansoundsthiswarning:

[Inthepsychicmarket]there'snoBetterBusinessBureau.Letthebuyerbeware.Youshouldbeopen-minded,butnotsoopen-mindedthatyourbrainsfallout.35

Whateverotherclaimstheymake,entrepreneursoftheconsciousnessrevolutionmustcomecleanandhonestlyadmittopotentialcustomersthatwhattheyaremarketingisnotmodernmedicine,psychology,orscienceatall,butisinfactancientoccultismandsuperstition.Itisunconscionablenottomakeafulldisclosureofthemanygravedangersinvolved.Ourintentinthefollowingpagesistoconfrontthemajorissuesandtoshedenoughlighttodispeltheconfusionthatseemstobeanintegralpartoftoday'sburgeoningmysticalmarketplace.

[4]PopularizingSpiritualityInhislatestbook,YourMaximumMind,HerbertBensonreminds

usthatanongoingprojectformanyyears"attheHarvardMedicalSchoolhasbeentheexplorationintheIndianHimalayasofthefrontiersofthemind."Sponsoredbymajorfoundations,theresearchhascenteredonthepsychicpowersofBuddhistmonks.InJanuary1985afilmcrewsentbyBenson(followinganinvitationfromtheDalaiLama)documentedsomeincredibleevents.Inonetest,thedressed-for-the-ArcticHarvardteamsetoutinzerodegrees-Fahrenheitweatherfroma17,000-foot-elevationmonasteryaccompanyingtenmonkswearingonlysandalsandalightcottonwraparoundcloth.At19,000feetonarockycliffsideledge"themonkstookofftheirsandalsandsquatteddownontheirhaunches...leanedforward,puttheirheadsontheground,anddrapedthelightcottonwrappingsovertheirbodies."Bensoncontinuestheaccount:

Inthisposition,beingessentiallynaked,theyspenttheentirenightpracticingaspecialtypeofgTum-momeditationcalledRepeu...alightsnowdrifteddownoverthemduringtheearlymorninghours.

Noordinarypersoncouldhaveenduredtheseconditions.We'resureofthat.Yetthemonks...simplyremainedquietlyintheirmeditativepositionsforabouteightconsecutivehours....

Finally,atthe...soundingofasmallhorn,theystoodup,shookthesnowofftheirbacks,puttheirsandalsonandcalmlywalkedbackdownthemountainagain.1

Evenmoreimpressiveaccomplishmentswerewitnessedbythissameteamandhavebeendocumentedbyotherresearchersaroundtheworld.SuchextraordinaryfeatshavebeenthecommoncurrencyofYogis,witchdoctors,voodoopriests,andothershamansfortthousandsofyears,ofwhomthevastmajorityhave

consistentlyattributedtheirunusualpowerstospiritguides,gods,ordemonscontactedinalteredstatesofconsciousness.Whilestillreluctanttoconsiderspiritentitiesasitssource,growingnumbersofresearchersareacknowledgingthevalidityofoccultpower.Withtheincreasinginvestigationofpsychicphenomena,thepredictionmadebyShoshonemedicinemanRollingThunderseemstobeintheprocessoffulfillment:"Scientistswilleventuallylearnwhatpaganshavealwaysknown."ThekeytothisknowledgeandpowerisacknowledgedtobetheASC,oralteredstateofconsciousness.

WhetherexperiencedondrugsorinEasternmeditation,theallegedly"higherstates"ofconsciousnessseemedtoconfirmtheexistenceofwhatreligiousmysticsofallageshavecalledthe"spiritual"dimension.JonKlimo,formerRutgersUniversityprofessorwhohasdesigned,administered,andtaughtindoctoralprogramsineducationandpsychology,providesaninterestingexampleofthosewhoselivesarebeingchangedthroughrecognizingthevalidityofa"spiritual"realm.InhisbookChanneling,anexhaustivestudyofthatexplodingphenomenon,Klimocandidlyconfesses:

DuringthelastfiveyearsI'vecontinuedmyteaching,research,andadministrativeworkatasmallgraduateschoolofintegrativepsychology....HeremycolleaguesandIhaveattemptedtoaddboth"newscience"andancientpsychospiritualtoolstomainstreamapproachestotrainingcounselorsandclinicalpsychologists....

Icannolongerkeepthespiritualpartofthesearchseparatefromthecreativeorthescientific.Theyareallpartsofanemergingunity....

YetIconsidermyselftobeneitheramysticnorapsychic.Eachweeknow,Imeetmorepeoplewhoclaimtobeexperiencingthesamething.2

Almostovernighttheconceptof"spirituality"begantofinditswayintothemindsetofpeoplewhoonlyafewshortyearsbeforewouldhavescoffedattheidea.Intheprocessofthismetamorphosis,

however,suchwordsasspiritandspiritualhavebeenpurgedofobjectionablereligiousdogmaandnowhaveapopularmystique.Anavantgardejournalforprofessionalpsychotherapists,whichhaspublishedsucharticlesas"TheTherapistandtheMedium:AProperMarriage,"declares:"Thenewfrontierofpsychotherapyisspirituality.There'saquietrevolutioninthemaking...andprofessionalslikeyouaretheagentsofthischange."3

PromotingSpiritualityasScience

TheassumptionthataspiritualdimensionofrealityexistsunderlieseverythingthattheNewAgeoffers.Whatismeantbyspiritual,however,seemstobeamatterofvaryingopinion.AJapanesescientistwithdoctoratesinbothphysicsandmedicineiscurrentlytouringtheworldgivinglectureson"AMedicalBreakthroughfromaSpiritualViewpoint."Heclaimsto"incorporateaspiritualdimension"intothetreatmentofdiseasethrougha"synthesisofmedicineandreligion,"combining"presentmedicalsciencewithspiritualwisdom."

Promotionofspiritualpracticesinthenameofscience,however,createsconfusion.Best-sellingauthorandpsychiatristM.ScottPeckhascalledfor"spiritualleadership"andanewAmerican"revolutionofthespirit."4Suchanappealismeaninglesssolongas"spiritual"ismerelyaninspiringeuphemismtobeflavoredtoindividualtaste.

TheAugust1987annualconferenceoftheAssociationforTranspersonalPsychologywastitled"SpiritinAction."PittsburghpsychologistJonSpiegel,writingintheAssociationforHumanisticPsychology(AHP)Newsletter,declared:"AHPhasalwaysheldspiritualconcernsclosetoitsheart...[remaining]opentospiritualpracticesbotheastandwest.Wehavechampionedthereturnofspirittotherapy."5Onemightwellaskwhathumanistsmeanby"spiritualconcerns"andthe"returnofspirittotherapy."That

questionseemstobeansweredbythenatureofthespiritualitybeingpromoted.

ScofferswhoimaginethatShirleyMacLaineisinvolvedinsomethingsobizarrethatonlyasmallfringeelementtakesitseriouslyneedonlyattendaconventionoftheAHPtodiscoverhowwidelytheidentical"spirituality"whichMacLaineproclaimshasbeenembraced.AttheAHP's24thAnnualMeeting,forexample,heldatDiegoStateUniversityinAugust1986,practicingshamans(witchdoctors)wereamongthekeyspeakers.Participantsweregiventheopportunitytoexperienceandlearntodevelopinotherpeopletheshamanicalteredstateconducivetocontactwithspirits.Thereweremediumisticseancesforexploringcommunicationswith"spiritguidesandotherspiritualfriends."Initsreportontheconvention,theLosAngelesTimesincludedaphotoofDurchbackAkuete,anAfricanwitchdoctor,"inducingatranceinAHPco-presidentLonnieBarbach."6

TheAHP,whichclaimstobeinvolvedinthescienceofpsychology,advertisedits1986conventioninShaman'sDrum:AJournalofExperientialShamanism.(Shamanismisthemostpervasiveformofnaturereligion,orwitchdoctoring.)ClearlytheAHPhopedtoattracttoitsrankspracticingshamansbylettingthemknowthatmuchoftoday'spsychotherapyinvolvesadaptationsoftheirancientreligion.Theimplicationwasalsoclearthatpsychologistsmaybeabletoteachshamansafewnewtricksofthetrade.Theadreadinpart:

AnunforgettableopportunitytolearnfromsomeofthemostimportanthealersandspiritualleadersinWestAfricaandBrazil—

Journeyintoalteredstatesofconsciousnesswhereonecanmeetone'shigherspiritteachersandthe"gods"themselves....

TopicsInclude:Ritual,Meditation...AlteredStatesofConsciousness,ShamanismandSpiritHealing,Mediumship...7

Clearly,toteachconsciousness-alteringtechniquesforthe

purposeofcontacting"spiritteachersandthe'gods'themselves"istoengageinwhathasalwaysbeenrecognizedasreligion.ExistentialphilosopherMauriceFriedmanhasstated,"Iagreethathumanisticpsychologyhasmixeduppsychologyandreligion...."8TheadinShaman'sDrumwouldseemtoleavelittledoubtastowhatreligionthehighlyrespectedAHPispromoting,thoughdisguisedbeneathalayerofpsychologicaljargon.Theconnectionisanancientone,for,asHerbertBensonhassaid,"Indeed,theshaman,ormedicineman,canbeviewedasanearlypsychotherapist."9

PsychologyisonlyoneareainwhichHindu,Buddhist,andothershamanicbeliefsandpracticesaregainingacceptanceasscienceratherthanreligion.UniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyphysicistFritjofCapraconsidersthistobeahelpfultrend,"partofamuchlargermovement,"whichhetermsa"fundamentalchangeofworldviews...aprofoundculturaltransformation."10InScience,Order,andCreativity,physicistsDavidBohmandF.DavidPeatarguethatforsciencetobegintoanswerlife'smostimportantquestions,itmustembraceacombinationofZenBuddhismandHinduism.11WearewellonthewaytofulfillmentofStanfordUniversitybrainresearcherKarlPribram'sinsightfulprediction:

ThereisnodoubtinmymindthattherewillbearapprochementbetweenthespiritualvaluesthatNewAgepeopleholdsodearandwhatwearediscoveringinscience.12

"ItWorks":PracticalApplicationsofSorcery

TheendorsementofEasternmysticismandshamanismbypsychologyhasencouragedthemaninthestreettopursuemysticalexperiencesandpsychicpowers.MultitudesarebeingdrawnintoCastaneda's"sorcerer'sworld."Althoughthereisstillmuchskepticismandopposition,thenewparadigmisfastbecomingtheacceptedview.WhilethepsychicfeatsofEdgar

Caycewerealmostunique40yearsago,thereareliterallymillionsofpeopletodaywhocanduplicateeverythinghewasabletodo.Thesemind-over-matterpowersarebeingacquiredthroughthemanycoursesin"minddynamics"or"alpha-leveltraining"nowbeingofferedbyscoresoforganizations.Manyoftheseseminarsguaranteetoturnthestudentintoan"EdgarCayce"inafewsessions.

Withoversixmilliongraduatesinmorethan70countries,theSilvaMethod(formerlySilvaMindControl),developedbyJoseSilva,isonlyoneofmanysimilarprogramsbaseduponpsychicpowersthatareallegedtobeavailablethroughattainingthe7-to14-cycles-per-secondalpha-brain-wavelevelofconsciousness.Thisisnotdarkened-seance-room,closet-occultiststuff;itistaughtoutintheopenin32hoursovertwoweekendsandisendorsedbybusiness,political,andreligiousleaders.Lifespring,Actualizations,DirectCentering,WernerErhard'sForum,andnumerousothermind-dynamicscourseshadtheirgenesisintheSilvaMethod.Whatitpromisesisincredible,andinmanywaysitseemstowork.Inordertograduate,eachtraineeisgivenalistofseveralnamesofpersonswhomheorshehasneverheardof,muchlessmet.Basedonlyuponthenamesandaddresses,apsychicdiagnosis(throughtechniquestaughtinthecourse)mustbemadeofeachpersononthelist.Anyoneunabletodothisattheendofthecoursetoatleast80percentaccuracy(comparabletoprovenmedicaldiagnoses)willbegivenafullrefundofthecoursefee.

ThestoryofoneformerSilvadistrictdirector,whohasleftSilvaMindControlforreasonsthatwillbecomeclearlater,providesagoodexample.AgraduateengineerpreviouslyinvolvedinnuclearresearchfortheUnitedStatesNavy,hewasapromisingyoungexecutivewithUnitedStatesSteelCorporationandmanagerofoneoftheirplants.Hisinvolvementinthecoursecamethroughtherecommendationofafellowexecutivewhohadfoundittremendouslyhelpful.

Afterthenecessaryleveloftraininghadbeenreached,theinstructorpairedoffthestudentswithpartnerstotesteachother'spowersinreal"cases."Hisfirstpartneraskedhimtodiagnoseher62-year-oldunclelivinginPittsburgh,Pennsylvania.Goingintothemeditativestatehehadbeentaught,hecalleduponhistwo"innerguides.""Tomysurprise,"herecalls,"apictureofamanappearedsuddenlyonmy'mentalscreen.'Iwasimmediatelyabletodescribehisfacialfeatures(largenose,heavyeyebrows,grayhairandtwodaysofunshavedbeard)andgeneralbuild(about5'10",thin,withastoopandabadlimp).Hewaswearingabulkybluebathrobeandatthemomentofmyobservancewassittinginawornbrownchair,drinkingbeerandintentlywatchingaprofessionalfootballgame,towhichheseemedaddictedtothepointofbecomingveryangrywithanyonewhodisturbedhimatsuchtimes.Otherthanthelimp,whichIdeterminedhadcomefromanindustrialaccidentthatseriouslyinjuredhisrightkneeeightyearspreviously,Ifoundnophysicalailments."

Comingoutofhisalphalevels,thisneophyteSilvatraineeopenedhiseyestoseehispartnercrying.Everythinghehadseenonthe"mentalscreen"anddescribedtoherhadbeenfullyaccurate!Withhisengineeringbackground,hehadbeenextremelyskepticalaboutthepsychicabilitieswhichtheinstructorhadclaimedwereuniversallyresidentineveryoneandwhichthetrainingwasdesignedtodevelop.Yetnowonhisfirstattempt,theseincrediblepowershadactuallyworked!Thereweretoomanydetailsinwhathehadseenonhis"mentalscreen"tobeexplainedastheresultofchance.Itwasastaggeringandlife-changingexperience.Inaveryshorttimehebecamesoenthusiasticabouttheseemingmiracleswhichhistwo"innerguides"couldperformthatheleftU.S.Steel,becameafull-timeinstructoroftheSilvatechnique,androserapidlyintheranksofthatorganization.

GuidancefromaMysteriousSource

Mostofthemind-dynamicsgroupssimilartothatofSilvaare

teachingmethodsverymuchlikethosewhichNapoleonHill(patriarchofsuccess-motivationandpositive-mental-attitudetraining)firsttaughtinthe1930's.Hillhadathisdisposalnine"innerguides,"whomhevisualizedaroundatablesittinglikeaboardofdirectorstoadvisehimandhisclients.Anditworked.AsaresultofHill'sefforts,millionsofotherpeople(includingmanyofAmerica'sleadingbusiness,professional,andpoliticalleaders)adopted,tested,andprovedtheastonishingpowerandpracticalityofthisancientsorcerytechniqueineveryareaoftheirlives.

Stillaperennialbestsellerafter50years,Hill'sbest-knownbook,ThinkandGrowRich,hasbeencreditedwithchangingthelivesandinfluencingthecareersofalargepercentageofAmerica'stopbusinessexecutives.Its1941editioncontainsendorsementsfromUnitedStatesPresidentsTheodoreRoosevelt,Harding,Wilson,andTaft;andfromsomeoftheworld'sgreatestscientistsandfoundersofAmerica'sleadingcorporations:ThomasA.Edison,LutherBurbank,JohnD.Rockefeller,F.W.Woolworth,WilliamWrigley,Jr.,GeorgeEastman(ofEastmanKodak),RobertDollar(ofDollarSteamshipLines),andothers.

MostastonishingwasthesourceofthetechniqueswhichHilltaught.Hebelievedinmysterious"guidance"fromaspiritualdimension("aregionbeyondthepowerofourfivesensestoknow")fromwhich"unseen,silentforcesinfluenceusconstantly."13Althoughhespokeagreatdealof"mindpower"and"positivementalattitude"(aphrasehecoined),Hillwasconvincedthatbehindtheseforceswere"unseenwatchers"guidingthedestinyofthosewhowerewillingtosubmittotheirleadership.Therewasnolimittothesuccessandwealthwhichtheseallegedlyhigherbeingswouldgiveinexchangeforobediencetotheirprinciples.Hillclaimstohavegottenthesesecretsfromcontactwith"TheGreatSchoolofMasters,"ofwhichhewrote:

SometimesknownastheVenerableBrotherhoodofAncientIndia,itisthegreatcentralreservoirofreligious,philosophical,moral,

physical,spiritualandpsychicalknowledge.Patientlythisschoolstrivestoliftmankindfromspiritualinfancytomaturityofsoulandfinalillumination.14

Hillclaimsthatanemissarycameindisembodiedformacrosstheastralplaneandintohisstudy.Inavoicethat"soundedlikechimesofgreatmusic,"thisvisitorfromaworldbeyonddeclared:"IcomefromtheGreatSchoolofMasters.IamoneoftheCouncilofThirty-ThreewhoservetheGreatSchoolanditsinitiatesonthephysicalplane."Hillwasinformedthathehadbeen"undertheguidanceoftheGreatSchool"foryearsandhadbeenchosenbythemtogivetheformulaofsuccess,the"SupremeSecret,"totheworld.Andwhatisthe"SupremeSecret"?That"whateverthehumanmindcanbelieve,itcanachieve."Wearelimitedonlybyourlackoffaithinourowninfinitepotential.

Thoughthismaysoundlikesciencefiction,the"formula"receivedfromthisspiritualmessengerneverthelessbecamethefoundationfortheentirespectrumofsuccess/motivation,positivemental-attitude(PMA)seminarsthatsoheavilyinfluencetheentireWesternworldtoday.OnecanonlywonderwhetherthemanytopleaderswhocredittheirsuccesswithfollowingtheprinciplesthatHillreceivedfromthisastonishingsourcereallybelieveinthisspiritual"SchoolofMasters"outthereontheastralplane.Ifnot,thenwhatdotheydowithHill'sstory?Ifheliedorwasdeluded,whywouldthetechniqueswhichhelearnedfromthatsourcebringsuchamazingsuccesstomillionsofpeople?

Perhapsthosewhogainparanormalpowerareloathtoquestionitssourceforfearoflosingit.Thereisalsothepragmaticattitudethatifsomethingworksaccordingtodefiniteprinciplesitistherefore"scientific"andthesourceofsuchpowermustbeimpersonalandisthusbesidethepoint.Thismayaccountforthegrowingpopularityofthose"mind-over-matter"metaphysicalreligionsoriginatinginAmerica(suchasReligiousScience,ScienceofMind,andChristianScience)thatclaimtomakeascienceoutoffaith.

SwamiVivekananda,whorepresentedHinduismatthe1893ChicagoWorld'sFairParliamentofReligionsandcreatedsuchasensationthere,maintainedthatitwastheHinduswhofirst"madeascience"ofoccultism.HeresentedthemisrepresentationofHinduismbywhathetermedthe"third-ratemagicalpowers"promotedbyMadameBlavatsky'sTheosophicalSociety.15Genuinepsychicpowers,accordingtoVivekananda(whofoundedtheworldwideVedantaSociety),"canbesystematicallystudied,practised,andacquired...."16Itisnotsurprising,therefore,thatleadingHindushavemadefavorablementionofthesimilarities"betweenthefundamentalprinciplesofmodernChristianScienceandthoseofthatancientsystemofphilosophyknowninIndiaasVedanta."17MaryBakerEddy,thefounderofChristianScience,wasconfidentthatherparticularsystemofoccultismcouldbejustifiedpragmatically.Shewrote:

Lettheagethatsitsinjudgmentontheoccultmethodsof[its]periodsanctiononlysuchasaredemonstrableonascientificprinciple,andproductiveofthegreatestgoodtothegreatestnumber.18

Thesame"scientificpowerofbelief"espousedbyHillandEddywastaughtinthecharmingtalethatbecameabest-sellingbookandmovie,JonathanLivingstonSeagull:"IcanbecauseIthinkIcan!"LikeNapoleonHill,authorRichardBachclaimsthattheentirestorywasdictatedtohimbyadisembodiedspiritontheastralplane.Likewise,JoseSilvatellsusthathismethodscamefromasimilarsource:aChinesespiritguidesittinginYogapositionintheastralplanewhomhemetintheearlydayswhenhewaslearninghowtohaveout-of-body-experiences.Hundredsoffurtherexamplescouldbegiventoshowthatsimilarinitiationsintoclassicsorceryhavebeenapersistentphenomenondownthroughhumanhistory.Infact,thishashappenedsoconsistentlyandspontaneouslytowidelyscatteredpersonsofallcultures,withoutcontactwithoneanother,thatitsimplycannotbeexplainedaway

aseitherhallucinationorcoincidence.

MakingSorcery"Scientific"andRespectable

Todaythereisanexplosiverevivalofthishistoricphenomenonineveryareaofsociety.Amajorreasonseemstobethatpsychologyhasgivenusanallegedlyscientificexplanationwhichremovesanynecessityofbelievingin"Masters"ontheastralplane,gods,demons,oranythingelseexceptourowninnerpotential.Thetheorythattheentitiesencounteredondrugs,inYogictrance,orthroughtechniquessuchastaughtintheSilvaMethodaresimplyarchetypalimagesfromthecollectiveunconscioushasmadesorceryquiterespectable.ConsiderthefollowingfromtheprestigiousStanfordGraduateSchoolofBusinessCreativityInBusinesscourse,whichhasinfluencedthousandsoftop-levelbusinessleadersinthemanyyearsithasbeentaught:

Welookwithintofindourownindividualanduniversalsource.Thatsourcehasbeencalledtheinnerself,theSelf,thehiddenmind,thedivinespark,theDivineEgo,theGreatIAM,God,andEssence.[Thelatteristhetermusedinthecourse.]

GettinginTouchwithYourInnerGuide:

Inthisexerciseyouwillmeetyourwisdom-keeperorspiritguide—aninnerpersonwhocanbewithyouforlife,someonetowhomyoucanturnforguidance.

[Arelaxationexerciseinpreparationforvisualizationispresented.]

Nowsurroundyourbodywithawhitelight....Nowimaginethatyou'rewalkingintosomekindofsituationorfavoriteplace....

Andnowyourinnerguidecomestomeetyouhere.Focusonthisfigureasitwalkstowardyou.Lookattheface....Youmighthaveabriefdialogue[withyourguide]....Andnowbringtheconversationtoaclose.19

MuchofthecreditforgivingtheaboveoccultictechniquesascientificimagegoestotherenownedpsychiatristCarlJung,who

likeSilva,Hill,andBachhada"spiritguide"also.ItwasinfactJung's"Philemon"wholedhimintodiscoveriesthatreinforcedhismajortheories,includingthe"collectiveunconscious"and"archetypalimages."TheinsightsthatJungacquiredfromthisotherworldlysourcearegaininganincreasinglywideinfluenceineverylevelofWesternsocietytoday,whileFreud,whorejectedoccultismandspiritualexperiences,isincreasinglydiscredited.ElmerGreen,pioneerbiofeedbackresearcherattheMenningerFoundationinTopeka,Kansas,hassaid:"ItishelpfulthatpublicandprofessionalinterestismovingtowardtheJungianviewofhumanityandthecosmos.20

AlthoughPhilemondidnotappearashisguideuntilafterhisbreakwithFreud,Junghadbeendeeplyinvolvedinoccultismsincechildhood,ashadhisparents,grandparents,andotherrelativesbeforehim.Thehomeinwhichhismotherwasraisedwassoinfestedwith"ghosts"thatasagirlshehadtoholdthe"spirits"atbaylongenoughforherfather(whowashimselfamediumaswellasaProtestantminister)towriteouthisSundaysermon."Everyweek,atafixedhour,heusedtoholdintimateconversationswithhisdeceasedfirstwife,verymuchtothechagrinofthesecond,"who"couldalsosee'spirits'."

Jungdescribedhismotheraslovingbyday,"butatnightsheseemeduncanny.Thenshewaslikeoneofthoseseers...archaicandruthless."21Afterhismaternalgrandfather'sdeath,hisallegedspiritspokethroughacousinofJung'sinseanceswhichJungavidlyattendedduringhisstudentdaysinBasel.22Jung'smaternalgrandmotheronceremainedintranceforthreedays,duringwhichshedescribedwithuncannyaccuracypersonsunknowntoherbutwhoseactualexistencewaslaterproved.23Withthisbackground,itshouldnotbesurprisingthatJunghimself(whoconfessed,"Itoohavethisarchaicnature")wasdeeplyinvolvedinoccultexperiencesallhislife.InhisclassicFreud,JungandOccultism,psychiatristandpsychicinvestigatorNandorFodorwrites:

ThediscussionofJung'spsychicparticipationmustbeginwithtakingadeepbreath.Itisastorysounbelievable,sofantasticthat—eversinceitwasfullyrevealed—analyticpsychologistshavebeenstaggeringundertheimpact,psychoanalystshaveignoreditasafairytale,andparapsychologistshavefounditadietsorichthatuptonowtheyhavenotbeenabletodigestit.

TheamazingthingisnotonlythatJung'spsychiclifewaskeptasecretmostofhislifebutthathisdoctoralthesisof1899onThePsychologyandPathologyofSo-CalledOccultPhenomenaremainedalmostunknown[because]revelationof[this]skeletoninJung'sfamilycloset...mighthaveworkedhavocwithJung'sstandingintheworldofscience....24

Inthe25yearssinceJung'sdeaththerehasbeenadramaticincreaseinpsychicbeliefandactivity.Nolongerwouldhisoccultinvolvementstarnishhisprofessionalimageasapsychiatrist.Infact,aswehaveseen,occultictechniqueshavenowbecomeanintegralpartofmanypsychotherapies.

AComingNewPentecost?

Referringtothegrowingacceptanceofmysticism,whichisnowinfluencingalmosteveryareaofsociety,apromotionalmailerexplainsthattheNewAgeJournal"waslaunched"in1973"becausetherewasnopublicationthatlookedatthisoutpouringofconsciousnessasonetrend—anawakeningofallpeoplesonearth."Whatcouldbethecauseandwhyisithappeningonsuchagrandscaleatthisparticulartime?Researcherandbest-sellingauthorBradSteiger,himselfaNewAgeleaderandpracticingoccultist,makesthisinterestingstatement:

NearlyeveryobserverofthecontemporaryspiritualsceneseemstoagreethatthereissomekindofnewPentecostgoingonatthistime,somekindofspiritualawakeningprocessatwork.AndagoodmanyoftheseobserversfeelthatthisgrowingmysticalconsciousnessmayhavesomethingtodowiththeLastDays.25

Thisreferenceto"Pentecost"andthe"LastDays"isinteresting

becausethesetermscomefromtheBible,mostofwhichisincompatiblewithSteiger'sconvictions.Infact,theBiblerecordsthatshortlybeforehisdeathJesusChristdeclaredthatanexplosionoffalsereligiousbeliefsinvolvingunprecedentedspiritualdeceptionwouldbetheprimarysignofthe"lastdays,"indicatingthathissecondcomingwasnear.ThenatureofthatdeceptionisspelledoutfairlyclearlyintheBibleandcorrespondsinremarkabledetailtomuchthataccompaniestoday'sNewAgemysticism.

Thesearchforsuccess,prosperity,andhappinessthroughpowerhasconsistentlyproventobeadisappointment.Today'sworldsuffersfromaspiritualmalaisethatcannotbecuredby"power,"eitherphysicalormystical.Infact,increasingpowerhasalwaysbroughtincreasingproblems.Themorepowerwecancommand,thegreaterthedangerthatitwillbemisused.Powerseemstobreedonlygreaterself-interestanditsconcomitantcorruption.Humanconsciousnessiscapableoftheextremesofbothhateandlove,selfishnessandselflessness—andhowtocureitoftheformerandlimitittothelatteristherealissue.

Thattheremaybepowersaccessibletothemindwhichareevengreaterthanatomicpowerisstaggering—butnotnecessarilythecauseforgreathope,particularlywhentheactualsourceandnatureofthispowerisopentoquestion.Yetthatissueisbeingdeliberatelysidestepped.WritingintheJournalofDefenseandDiplomacyonthesubjectofpsychicwarfare,CharlesWallacharguesthatinordertokeepaheadoftheSovietsinthisfieldwemustbewillingtopursuewithallspeedtheutilizationofpsychicpowerasaweaponeventhoughasyetwehavenoscientificframeworkforexplainingit.Hewrites:

Justasmanusedfirelongbeforeheunderstoodtheprinciplesofcombustion,itwouldseemprudenttodevelopandutilizethis[psychic]talent...ratherthanwasteenergyarguing...thatitdoesnotfitintotheframeworkofourphilosphy.26

Certainlyitisrelativelysafetoburnwoodwithoutafullscientific

understandingofcombustion,butthesamecouldnotbesaidaboutreleasingnuclearenergywithoutaverysophisticatedcomprehensionoftheatom.Andtherearemanyseriousresearcherswhoarenowconvincedthatpsychicphenomenamaywellinvolvesomethingpotentiallynolessdangerousthanatomicenergy.CoulditbepossiblethattheAmericansandSoviets(andallthosewhothinktheyaretappingintopsychicpower)arealreadylosingawartheydon'tevenknowisinprogress,notagainsteachotherbutagainstan"enemy"theydon'tevenadmitexists?

TowardtheendofhislifeCarlJungapparentlybegantosuspectwhathehadlongfeared:thatnotonlyPhilemonbutthemanyother"spiritentities"whichheandhiscloserelativeshadencounteredrepeatedlyasanintegralpartoftheirliveswerenot"archetypes"atall.Ratherthanrepresentingpowersinnateinthecollectiveunconscious,theseentitieswereinfacthostilebeingsindependentofhumanconsciousness.

WhatJungtriedmightilynottobelieveallhislifeisstillunacceptabletotheeducatedWesternmind.Mostpsychologiststodayinsistthat"paranormalexperiences"suchasJung,Hill,Silva,Bach,andmanyothershavehadinvolvenothingmorethanthepowersofhumanimagination.Thereisincreasingevidence,however,thatthistheory,whileclearlyinadequatetofullyexplainthephenomena,persistsbecausethealternativeistoodreadfultoface.

APandora'sBox?

Itseemsmorethanoddthatthosewhopromiseaparadisethroughrealizing"infinitehumanpotential"seldomunderscorethedangersthatmayliehiddeninthedarksideofuntappedpowersofthemind.InthisdayofpositivismmostearsseemdeaftothevoicesofthosefewwhowarnthatthedevelopmentofmysticalpsychicpowersmightopenaspiritualPandora'sboxofinconceivablehorror.Inviewofamassofevidencenowavailable,

however,someofwhichwewillconsiderinthefollowingpages,suchapossibilitycanhardlybediscounted.

Thepresentsituationisreminiscent,butinanevenmoreominousway,ofthatfacedbythosescientistsinvolvedinthetop-secretManhattanProject.Innumbingdisbelieftheybegantorealizetheincrediblepotentialforbothgoodandevilwhichtheywereunleashinguponmankindfromwithintheatom.Asaresult,theentireworldnowtremblesunderanuclearSwordofDamocles.Whatunthinkableterrorsmighttheunleashingofpsychicpowersbring?MaryBakerEddy,whopromisedtothosewhofollowedChristianSciencetheocculticpowertoheal,alsofearedthedarksideofthisforce."Whywetakesofewstudents,"shewrote,"isbecauseofthegreatdangerthereis...[that]thisdevelopedmentalpowerbecomesthe...extractsandessencesofevil."27

ItwaswithgreatenthusiasmandoptimismthatcontroversialCatholicpriestandpaleontologistPierreTeilharddeChardin,knownas"thefatheroftheNewAge,"wrote:"Dailytheideaofawakeningtoasuperconsciousnessbecomesbetterbasedscientificallyandmorenecessarypsychologically...."Yetthepossibilitythatunlimitedpsychicpowermightbeattheindependentandindividualdisposalofeachpersononthisplanettouseforhisorherownselfishendsisevenmorefrighteningthanhavingatomicweaponsinthehandsofafewgovernments.Asoneself-confessed"convertandfan"oftheNewAgemovementneverthelessthoughtfullyremarkedinarecentnationallypublishedinterview:

Whenyoureallylookatit,weliveinanapocalyptictime.It'sveryshakyandscary....

Therearemanygodsafoot.Therearemanyevilpowers....Iknowthereispowerinallofthisstuff.28

[5]Naturalism,Scientism,andSupernaturalismItcanhardlybedeniedthatnotonlythelivesofindividualsbut

eventhedestinyofnationshaveattimesbeenshapedbystrangeandseeminglyinexplicableevents.Althoughmaterialisticsciencecontinuestobetheuniversallyworshipedsacredcow,itsexplanationthattheseapparentquirksoffatearemere"coincidences"doesn'talwaysringtrue.Eveninthespaceagetheintuitivebeliefhangsonthatsomehowfrombehindthescenesa"higherpower"isatworkproviding"guidance."Thoughitmaybesuppressed,thenaggingsuspicionpersiststhatsomeunknownmindormindspossessingmysteriouspowerstranscendingtheknowledgeandcapabilitiesofmerehumansareinfluencinghappeningshereuponearth.

Onesuchpeculiareventplayedasignificantroleinshapingthehuman-potentialmovement.Ithappenedonafatefulnightin1962,withlong-termresultsthatnoneofthepartiesinvolvedsuspectedatthetime.LostinadensefogalonganisolatedsectionoftheCaliforniacoast,famedpsychologistAbrahamMaslowandhiswife,Bertha,weredrawntoadimlight,justoffthehighway,ofwhattheyassumedtobeamotel.Thusthe"longrelationshipbetweenthefatherofhumanisticpsychologyandtheEsalenInstitutewasforged."Fromthisapparently"chance"partnershipthehuman-potentialmovementerupted:

"It'strue!It'strue!"[cofounderMichael]Murphylaughsashedescribesthisstrangecoincidence.

"Itookitasasignfrombeyond.Isawmybeliefsconfirmedintheseomens."1

Thisreferenceto"beyond"and"omens"ismorethantongue-in

cheek.AndMurphyapparentlyseesthesamekindofintrusion"frombeyond,"butthistimefromthedarksideoftheforce,inthestunningandmacabredeathofcofounderRichardPricein1985.InthesteepforestrisingbehindEsalen,wherePricewasmakinghiswayalongoneofthetrailshelovedsomuch,ahugechunkofrock,somehowloosenedfromthemountainabove,seemedtohoneinonhimlikeaguidedmissile—orwasitjustacoincidence?

"Wewentupthereandtraceditspath,"Murphyreminisces."Atwo-tonboulderexploded10feetbelowhim.A200-poundshardflewupandbrokehisspine.Hewaskilledinstantly.Theboulderleaped100yardsthroughanarrowopeningintheredwoods.Itpartookoftheoccult."2InTheTaoofPsychology,psychiatristJeanShinodaBolencallssuchanoccurrencean"uncanny,meaningfulcoincidence,"a"Taoexperience"thatcausesthesuddenmysticalawarenessthat"wearenotalone"intheuniverse.3

ItwasnotonlythemannerofdeathbuttheironictimingofthesuddenendtoPrice'scareerthatconvincedMurphyofthe"occult"connection.EnthusiasticaboutarecentreorganizationandthestrongerleadershiprolehewouldbeplayinginfulfillingEsalen'smission"toexplorethemysteries"ofmind,body,andspirit,PricehadtoldMurphy:"We'refinallydoingitright!"Theverynextdayhebecamethetragicvictimofyetanotherof"thosemysteriouseventsthatareintertwinedwithEsalen."4Yetifthiswasindeedanother"signfrombeyond,"thereisnoindicationthatMurphyconsidersitsmessagetobeanydifferentfromthesame"confirmationofhisbeliefs"thatMaslow'sstumblinguponEsalen23yearsbeforewasunderstoodtomean.Beliefin"omens"hasitsproblemsofinterpretationandcarriesitspenaltiesintellectuallyifnotinactuality.

Favorable"omens"arewelcomedassupportiveofprogramsinprocess.Andwhensuchaninterpretationseemsimpossible,the"signfrombeyond"canbeneatlyturnedinone'sfavorbyviewingitasoppositionfromthe"darkside."Manhasalwaysbeenfarmore

enthusiasticaboutusingthe"gods"tofurtherhisownplansthanaboutsubmittingtotheirdirection.Andinthatrespectmodernmanisnodifferentfromhisancientancestors.

NaturalismVersusSupernaturalism

Inspiteoftheskepticismtowardthesupernaturalfosteredoverthelast200yearsbythegrowingdominanceofscientificmaterialism,superstitiousbeliefsofeverykindhavepersisted.YaleUniversityprofessorJonButlerdocumentsoccultism'ssignificantroleinthehistoryofAmerica.Itsinfluence,whileattimesscarcelyvisibleonthesurface,hasalwaysbeenpresent,5notjustamongthepooranduneducatedbutinthehigheststrataofsocietyaswell.Likenumerousothertopstars,DarylHallof"Hall&Oates"fame("themostpopularduointhehistoryoftherecordcharts")hasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheoccultforyears—andevengivesitcreditforhissuccess.Inarecentinterview,Hallrevealshishighregardforsorcery'smanipulationoftheForcebehindnature:

Thisconceptiscalledmagic.BeforeChristianity,beforepaganism,beforereligion,beforebeliefitself,itissaidtohavebeentheprimaryspiritualinstrumentofexistence,asupernaturalorderofthingsmorerealthanreality.6

Sorcery'spromiseofmagicalsolutionstoeveryconceivableproblemmakesitalmostirresistible.TheperpetualyouthofferedbyYoga,themiraculouscurativepowersattributedtocrystalsorherbaltea,andtheeternalroundofsecondchancesguaranteedbyreincarnationaretypicalexamplesofNewAgepromiseswhichappealtoauniversalhumanweakness.Beliefsthatshouldbeeasilyrecognizedasunwarrantedsuperstitionspersistnevertheless.

Topathletesandcoacheshavecertainhats,orsocks,ornumbers,ordaysoftheweekwhichtheyareconvincedbring"goodluck,"andnoamountofevidenceorreasoncanpersuadethemotherwise.Althoughmanyinsistthattheyarenotreally"believers,"

about70millionAmericansconsulttheirhoroscopesdaily,whilethesuperstitiousfearsofmodern,educatedsophisticatesdictatethatthe"unlucky"thirteenthfloorofmosthigh-risehotelsandofficebuildingswillsimplynotexist.(Floornumberingprogressesfrom12directlyto14.)Similarexamplescouldbemultiplied.

Mostofthosewhoindulgeinsuchirrationalbehaviorwouldprotestthattheydon'treallytakethesesuperstitionsseriously.Yettheiractionsdemonstratethatinspiteoftheirprofessedskepticism,today'ssophisticateshavebeenunabletoescapethatuniversalintuitivesenseofsomethingbehindthescenesmysteriouslyinfluencingthetragicortriumphantchainofeventsthatmoldshumanlifeanddestiny.VaryingtechniquesforattemptingtomanipulatethisoccultForce—techniqueswhicharebasicallyreligious—findareadymarketinsecularsociety.

Itisrightherethattheworld'sreligionsdivideintotwodistinctcamps:monotheism/supernaturalismversuspolytheism/pantheism/naturalism.IntheBible,honoredbyChristians,Jews,andMuslims,GodisconsistentlydepictedasthetranscendentCreator,whoisdistinctandseparatefromcreation(nature).Itisacreationthatisnotpartofhimbutwhichhehasbroughtforthoutofnothing.UnlikeHinduismandallotherpantheistic/polytheisticreligions,wheretheuniverseitselfisGodoranextensionofGod,theGodoftheBiblereachesintothecosmosfromoutsideandoverridesnaturallawtoworkmiracles.Thisisthebasisofwhatiscalledsupernaturalism.

Incontrasttosupernaturalism,allotherreligionsrepresentvaryingformsofnaturalism.Whilethegodsandspiritsandhigherpowersofsuchreligionsmayseemtovary,theyhaveonethingincommon:Theyareallpartoftheuniverseandworkfromwithinitinobediencetouniversallaws.InsupernaturalismGodisoutsideofnatureanddistinctfromit.Innaturalism,natureisallthereis,andthustherecanbeno"miracles,"butonlynaturalevents.SwamiVivekananda,knowninIndiaas"oneoftheforemostfiguresofthe

Hindurenaissanceofthenineteenthcentury"7andrememberedintheUnitedStatesforhislastingeffectuponAmericanoccultism,wrote:

Thereisnothingsupernatural.[Occultphenomena]areunderlawsjustthesameasanyotherphysicalphenomenon....

Alltheseextraordinarypowersareinthemindofman....Andeachmind,whereveritislocated,isinactualcommunicationwiththewholeworld.8

Innaturalism,manaspartofnaturecanhopefully"realize"hisowngodhoodandcreatehisownreality.Asalreadymentioned,thisisthepurposeofYoga(self-realization)andthegoalofallHinduism.This"realization,"however,isimpossibleinsupernaturalism,whereonlytheonesupremeGod,whoisnotboundbylaws,cancreateorperformmiracles.Thesearenot"mindpowers"innatewithinthehumanpsycheorcollectiveunconsciousandthussubjecttohumanmanipulation,butcomeonlybysovereigninterventionoftheGodwhoistotallyother(transcendent),andashealonewills.Hemaybepetitionedinprayer,buthecannotbecompelledtorespondinacertainwaybyritual,formula,oraffirmations.

Astrology—MatterOverMind?

DatingbackthousandsofyearsatleasttothetimeofearlyBabylon,astrologydeclaresmantobethevictimofforcesbeyondhiscontrolandpresentsastrangecontradictiontonaturereligion'sbasicgoalofmanipulatingrealitythroughsorcery.Thereareothercontradictionsaswell.Sincemindisnonphysical,itmustexistinadifferentdimensionfromthespace-matter-timecontinuumofcosmicraysandintergalacticforcesandatomicrhythms.Consequently,mindandconsciousnessmustbeindependentofplanetaryforcefields.Ifthisisindeedthecase,thenitcannotbetrue,asastrologyclaims,thatthepositionsofcertainplanetsinrelationtotheplaceanddateofone'sbirthdeterminepersonalityanddestiny.Astrology

mustbeamyth—yetithasconsistentlymaintainedanalmostunbreakableholdoverhundredsofmillionsoftheworld'spopulation.

Strangelyenough,mostpsychicsbelievestronglyinboth"mindpower"andastrology.Yetthewholeideaof"mind-over-matter"(psychokinesisorPK)isdestructiveofthebasictenetsofastrology(thatphysicalforcesexertedbyplanetsandstarsdeterminehumandestiny),whichactuallyrepresents"matter-over-mind."BeginningwithProfessorJ.B.Rhine'sworkatDukeUniversityinthe1930's,numerousPKexperimentsrepeatedinlaboratoriesaroundtheworldseemtohaveindicatedthatmindisabletoinfluencephysicalforcesandobjects.JeaneDixon'sastrologycolumnsappearinhundredsofnewspapersalongwithherpsychicpredictions,yetthetwoconceptsaremutuallyexclusive:Mindcannotcreateitsownrealityandcontrolitsowncircumstanceswhileatthesametimehumandestinyisdeterminedbyphysicalplanetaryforces.Bothcannotbetrue.

MostastrologybuffsrecognizewhatCarlSaganhassarcasticallypointedout:thatatthetimeofbirththegravitationalinfluenceoftheobstetrician'sbodyisgreaterthanthatofanyheavenlybody.Moreover,wecandemonstratethatanycorrelationbetweenastrologicalpredictionsandactualpersonalitiesoreventsiscausedbybeliefmastrologyratherthanbythepositionsofstarsorplanets.Fromtheverybeginning,astrologershavefailedtotakeintoaccountawobbleintheearth'saxisthathaschangedthepositionsofthestarsrelativetotheearth,movingthezodiacalsignsalmostafullpositionsincethesecondcentury,whenClaudiusPtolemaeusfirstarrangedthem.TheconstellationAriesisnowinthepositionassignedbythezodiactothesignofTaurus,andsoon.

Ofcoursethezodiaccouldbeadjustedtoconformtopresentplanetarypositions,butmostastrologersfeartamperingwithitorareunabletoperformthenecessarymathematics.Nordoesitreallymatterwhenweunderstandthatastrologyandthezodiacal

symbolshavenomoretodowiththeexistenceandactuallocationsinspaceofheavenlybodiesthandoesaOuijaboard.ThesesymbolsarerelatedtothearchetypeswhichJung'sspiritguidePhilemonencouragedhimtobelievehauntedthecollectiveunconscious.ConsequentlyJunghadgreatrespectforastrologyanduseditinhisanalysis."IncasesofdifficultdiagnosisIusuallygetahoroscope,"wroteJung.AccordingtoWholemindnewsletter,"Asurprisingnumberoftoday'spsychotherapistsarefollowingJung'sadvice."NewYorkCitytherapistSusanLeMak,forexample,finds"thesymbolsandarchetypesofastrology"helpfulingivingclientsanewperspectiveontheirproblems.9

FearofaDifferentSort

Regardlessofculturaldifferences,allreligionssincethedawnofhistoryhavebeenbaseduponthecommonbeliefthatsome"higherpower"controlstheuniverseandhumanaffairs.Theyvaryonlyintheirconceptionofthis"power"andinthemeanswhichtheyadoptoinfluenceit(orhimorher)toactontheirbehalf.Inthenaturereligions,the"higherpower"wasseenasinnatewithintheuniverseandwasgenerallyassociatedwith"spirits"believedtoinhabitelementsofnaturesuchastheearth,sun,moon,orsky.TheFindhorncommunityinNorthernScotland,foundedbyEileenandPeterCaddy,providesoneofthebestexamplesoftherecentresurgenceofthesebeliefsintheWesternworld.

AsEsalenistheMeccaofthehuman-potentialmovement,soFindhornistheVaticanoftheNewAgemovement.Findhorniansclaimtobeinvisualandverbalcontactwiththe"naturespirits"thatinhabitandmaintaintheplantworld.Theunexpectedlymagnificentproduce(inquantity,quality,andsize)thatgrowsoutofFindhorn'ssandysoilonawindsweptNorthAtlanticcoastlandisofferedasevidenceofhelpfromthe"devas."Andnumerousvisitorsofmorethanordinarycredentials,suchasformerMITprofessorandauthorWilliamIrwinThompson,tonameonlyone,havecomeaway

thoroughlyconvincedthatthe"naturespirits"areindeedrunningFindhornandtheuniverse.10

Inclear-cutterms,theBibleindictsthosewho,likepopularastronomerCarlSagan,worshipthecreationinsteadofitsCreator.11WhileSaganwouldridiculethesuggestionthat"spirits"inhabitelementsofnatureandguideitsdevelopment,heattributesthesamespiritualqualitiesofintelligenceandpurposetomatter.Thisneopantheismofacademiaiscalledecotheology.Oneofitsadvocates,GeorgetownUniversityprofessorVictorFerkiss,saysit"startswiththepremisethattheUniverseisGod."Ferkissseemsconvincedthatthisbeliefwill"preventtheenvironmentalexploitationoftheUniverse."12Ofcoursethisisnotscience,butscientism,areligiousfaithunsupportedbyevidence.Unfortunately,itisoftenmistakenforsciencewhenauthoritativelyproclaimedbyscientists.

"Ifwemustworshipapowergreaterthanourselves,"saysCarlSagan,thehighpriestofcosmosworship,"doesitnotmakesensetoreveretheSunandstars?"13Anativebowingbeforeastickorstonewhichhecreditswithsomemysteriouspower,awitchworshiping"Nature,OmightyMotherofusall,"andauniversityprofessorworshipingtheatomastheuniversalfatherofferobvioussimilarities.Thereis,however,onesignificantdifference:Althoughtheyareallinvolvedinnatureworship,thenativeandwitchremaintruetoabasichumaninstinctwhichSagan'sscientismseekstodeny.Andeventuallytheworshipofapurelyphysicalcosmosprovestobeunsatisfying.Adeepersenseofaweisdemandedbythecommonconvictionofmankindthatsomethingoffearfulpowerexistsinadimensionbeyondthematerialrealm.

Andifthereisnosuchdimension,thenhowcanweexplaintheunshakableconvictionsharedbyallculturesineveryperiodofhistorythataspiritualrealmdoesinfactexist?Theskepticswhobravelydenythespiritualrealmarelikethosewhoprotesttheir

disbeliefinastrologyyetcontinuetoconsulttheirhoroscopes.Thisuniversalsenseofthenoumenal(arealitybeyondthesenses)canbeeasilydemonstrated.Forexample,asuspensefulmysteryorarealisticwarmoviecanstimulateacertainfearinanaudience;however,horrorfilmsaremuchmorefrightening.Why?

Itisnotsomuchtheamountoffearthatmakesthedifferenceasitisthequality.Facingagunisonething;facinganunseen"ghost"bringsterrorofadifferentsort,eventothedogmaticmaterialistwhodeniestheexistenceofsuchentities.Anditisoutofthissenseofawesomefearofsomethingorsomeoneunearthlythattheuniversalimpulsetoworshipisborn.AsphilosopherA.E.Taylorargues:

Asfarbackaswecantracethebeginningsofreligion,the"holy,"evenifitisnomorethananoddlyshapedstone,doesnotsimplymeanthestrangeortheformidable;itmeans,atthelowest,the"uncanny,"andthe"uncanny"ispreciselythatwhichdoesnotsimplybelongto"this"everydayworld,butdirectlyimpressesusasmanifestinginsomespecialwaythepresenceof"theother"world....

Itisasdoubtfulwhetherthereisreallyanymanwhohasneverworshippedanythingasitisdoubtfulwhetherthereisanymanwhohasneverfearedorneverloved.

...Itishardtobelievethatthemostskepticalamongusdoesnotknowtheexperience....

Theexperiencemoreoverseemstobespeciallycharacteristicofman:astheGreekssaid,"Manistheonlyanimalwhohasgods."14

Marxisminsiststhatreligioniswithoutvalidity—anopiateforthefoolishmasses.LikeFreud'srelatedthesisthatreligionis"theobsessionalneurosisofhumanity,"Marxism'sclaimdoesnotringtruetohumanexperience.Thatsenseofthe"uncanny"towhichTaylorrefersisnormal,notabnormal;itmayberepressed,butitremains,nomatterhowdeeplyburied.Accordingtohisbiographer,

ErnestJones,evenFreud(whomadearejectionofGodthefoundationforhissystemofpsychoanalysis)couldnotentirelyescapewhathetermedtheuniversalneurosis.Hisownnaggingoccultbeliefspersistedinspiteofhisproposedpsychologicalexplanationsandscathingridiculeofthereligiousfantasiesheldbyothers.15

Farfromresultingfrominsidiousliesmanufacturedbyreligiouscharlatans,beliefinthesupernaturalissomuchapartofhumanconsciousnessthatitpersistsinspiteofalltheargumentsthatskepticismcanmarshal.TheSovietUnionandChinapresenttwoclassicexamples.Althoughatheismhasfordecadesbeentheofficialstatereligion,andtotalitariangovernmentsincompletecontrolofeducation,thearts,andmediahaveusedeverypoweravailabletowipeoutreligion,beliefinthesupernaturalremainsfirmlyentrenched.

TheWayoftheShaman

Nevercontenttobeapawnof"higherpowers,"mankindhassoughtwaystobargainwiththeunseen"masters"offate.Theultimategoal,ofcourse,hasalwaysbeentomanipulatetheseforcesandeventuallytotakecontrol.Itwasoutofthisdesirethatnaturereligionswereborn.Thuswithintheseeminglyrichvarietyofsuchreligionsthereisanunderlyingunity.Eachdiffersonlyinitsdescriptionofthegodsandinthedetailsoftheritualsorothertechniquesitoffersasthemeansofmanipulatingthe"higherpowers"forthebenefitofitsfollowers.

Ineveryculturethosewhospenttheirliveslearningthesecretsofoccultpowerwerehonoredasthepriests,priestesses,witches,witchdoctors,medicinemen,sorcerers,magicians,gurus,andmasters.Allofthesefunctionsaresobasicallysimilarthattheyarenowincludedbyanthropologistsundertheoneterm"shaman,"thetitlegivenbytheTungustribeinSiberiatoitswitchdoctorsormedicinemen.Siberianshamanspracticethesamesorcerythat

Castanedacalls"areligiousandphilosophicalexperiencethatflourished[inAmerica]longbeforethewhitemancametothiscontinent,andflourishesstill."Theshamanswereheldinawebytherestofmankindasthosewhomediatedwiththespiritworldandhadattheirdisposalthemysteriousforcenecessaryinordertoblessortocurse.Theywerehonored,placated,bribed,andflatteredinexchangeforarrangingfavorsfromthespiritworld;butatthesametimetheywerehatedandfearedfortheirsecretknowledgeandthepowertheywieldedoverotherpeople.

Materialismsoughttoliberatemankindfromtheholdofwhatitperceivedasmereunfoundedsuperstition.Withthedemiseofmaterialism,however,occultismisonceagainexplodingworldwide.Asaresult,thependulumisswingingsharplybacktoclassicnaturereligion.Becauseofitsconcernfortheearth,theecologicalmovementhasbeenheavilyinfluencedbythisoccultrevival.

Physicist/mysticFritjofCapraarguesthat"deepecologicalawareness"isofnecessityaspiritualconsciousness"inharmonywith...thetextsofHindus,Buddhists,andTaoists...inwhichtheindividualfeels...embeddedinnatureandthecosmos."16Similarly,anthropologistMichaelHarner,founderoftheNorwalk,Connecticut,CenterforShamanicStudies(whohasbeencalled"notjustananthropologistwhohasstudiedshamanism,[but]anauthenticwhiteshaman"),describesshamanism'scurrentresurgenceasawakening"forgottenconnectionswiththepowersofnature."17CarlJung,whoplayedakeyroleinlayingthefoundationfortoday'sNewAgemovement,believedthat"abalancehadtoberestoredbetweenpeopleandtheearth...abalancetowhichhispsychologycouldcontribute"throughfosteringaspiritualawakening.18Whatwehaveismorethananecologicalmovement;itisarevivalofnaturereligion.InthecatalogofaTheosophy-relatedNewAgecenter,thedescriptionofatwo-weekretreattitled"COUNCILOFTHEKEEPERSOFTHEEARTH:TheWayoftheShaman"containsthefollowinginterestingcommentary:

Attherootofalltheworld'sgreatspiritualtraditionsliestheaboriginalpulseofshamanism,thearchaicspiritualheritageofhumankindstretchingback40,000yearsormoreintothemistsofpre-history.

Theshamanictraditiondrawsitstremendoushealingpowerandwisdomfromdirectcontactwiththeearth,theplants,theanimals,thespiritrealmsofunderworldandsky,andthesacredteachersofdeathandchange.

Thisancientwisdomisstillpreservedandpracticedbyshamansinnativeculturesthroughouttheworld,cultureswhichhavenotsuccumbedtotheadvanceofindustrialcivilization.Itispreciselythisancientwisdom,whichhasbeenlostwithinourownWesternculture,thatwesourgentlyneedatthistimeinordertocorrecttheconditionofextremeimbalance,disease,anddestructionwefindontheplanettoday.19

TheessenceoftheNewAgemovementcanbedescribedasareturntothe"naturereligion"thathasdominatedallculturesandagainstwhichtheBible,representingsupernaturalism,standsaloneinunrelentingopposition.Thisdichotomybetweensupernaturalismandnaturalism(shamanism)canbetracedbackthousandsofyears.Infact,theworldwideconsistencyinshamanismdownthroughhistoryisremarkable.AsHarnerpointsoutinTheWayoftheShaman,onecanvisittribeswhichhavebeenisolatedforthousandsofyearsbythousandsofmilesofoceanwithnoknowncontactandmanyculturaldistinctives—yettheirshamanismisconsistentlythesame.20Apparentlytherehasbeenacommonsourceofcontinuingparanormalinspirationforallshamanismregardlessofhistoricaleraorgeographicallocation.Whilefetishesandritualsmaydiffer,theunderlyingbeliefstructureisasunvariedastheBible'soppositiontoit.

ShamanismandScience

Shamanisminitsvaryingformswasspawnedbymankind'sambitiousanddesperateprescientificattemptstounderstandand

controlthemysteriousforcesofnature;anditwasoutofthiswombthatsciencelateremerged.Hereagainwefindthesamedivisionasinreligion:betweenthenaturalistandthesupernaturalist.ThesupernaturalistscientiststudiestheuniversetodiscovertheawesomeorderbuiltintoitbyitsCreator.HearguesthattherecouldbenosciencewithouttheconfidencethatapersonalGodofinfinitewisdomandpowerhaddesignedthephysicaluniversetoworkaccordingtoconsistentlaws.Ontheotherhand,thenaturalist/materialistscientistlimitshimselftostudyingthematerialuniverseasifitwereallthereis,andheattributesitsincrediblyintricateandmagnificentorderanddesigntochanceplustime.

WhilethesupernaturalistscientistseekstoknowandworshiptheGodwhocreatedtheuniverse,thenaturalistscientistseekstoknowhimself,his"connectedness"totheuniverse,andthecosmicpowersthatconsequentlyresidewithinhimashumanpotential.AsthegoalofEasternmysticismistoawakenmantohistruebut"forgotten"identityasagod,sothegoalofmaterialisticscience(throughconqueringtheatom,space,anddisease)istoestablishmanatlastasruleroftheuniverseandintechnologicalcontrolofnature.Themagicianandthenaturalisticscientistarethuspartnersinthesameenterprise,oftenwithoutknowingit.InMillennium,HarvardtheologianHarveyCoxwrites:"Themagicalimpulseisthedesiretocontrolanddirectnature,touseitforhumanends,totameitssometimesmalevolentside."Coxgoesontoexplain:

Thisimpulsedevelopedthroughthecenturiesnotintoreligionbutintoempiricalscience.Thetruesuccessorsofthesorcerersandthealchemistsarenotthepriestsandtheologiansbutthephysicistsandthecomputerengineers.21

Inthissense,naturalisticscienceissimplyanacademicattempttoexplainandcontrolcosmicforceswithinamaterialistic/mechanisticframework.Itisthesameoldsorcery,nowdemythologizedofitsmiraculousandtranscendentelements.Thusithasbeensaidthattoday'sscienceisyesterday'smagic

explained.SciencefictionwriterArthurC.Clarkepointsoutthatforthoseinlessdevelopedsocieties,"anyscientificallyadvancedtechnologyisindistinguishablefrommagic."

Therearemanysimilaritiesbetweenmagic(shamanism/naturalism)andnaturalisticsciencethatresultfromtheircommonrootsandgoals.Forexample,inbothsorceryandsciencethe"power"isbeyondthecomprehensionoftheunenlightenedandcanonlybeactivatedbythoseprivytoitssecrets.Bothfunctionaccordingtonaturallaws,bothrejectthesupernatural,andbothdenythepossibilityof"miracles"inthebiblicalsense.CarlosCastaneda"enteredtheworldofthesorcerer"andreturnedtoearnhisPh.D.fromUCLAbywritingabouthisinitiationunderIndiansorcererdonJuanMatus.Fromfirsthandexperience,Castanedaarguesthatsorceryisjustasexactingasscience:

Thesamecriteria[asforscience]applytothesorcerer'sworld:theirschooling,whichreliesonoralinstructionandthemanipulationofawareness,althoughdifferentfromours,isjustasrigorous,becausetheirknowledgeisas,orperhapsmore,complex.22

FoughtlargelyintheWest,thestrugglebetweenmagicandmaterialismsawthescientistsemergeasthenewshamans.Theybecamethehighpriestsofasubstitutesecularizedsorcerydesignedtofreeaskepticalandmaterialisticculturefromitsfearofthegodsandspiritsofitsancestors.LikeMarxism'sgreatexperiment,however,theventurewasafailure.Centuriesofscientificandtechnologicaladvancesculminatinginthespaceagehaveprovidednonewanswerstoultimatequestionsandhavenotfreedmankindfromeitheritslong-standingattractiontooritsfearofmagic.Thatinstinctiveawarenessofsome"higherpower"remainsunshaken.Apparentlythereisnoescapingthisuniversalconviction.Andnowmaterialismisdead.AsArthurKoestlersoaptlyputit,physicshasgottenso"farout"thatitcannolongersupport

materialism.23Itnevercouldsupportestheticsormorals.SirArthurEddingtonwrote:

Forifthosewhoholdthattheremustbeaphysicalbasisforeverythingholdthatthesemysticalviewsarenonsense,wemayask:What,then,isthephysicalbasisofnonsense?...

"Ought"takesusoutsidechemistryandphysics.24

Inthefinalanalysis,sciencehasbeenabletoexplainnothingthatreallymatters.Ithaslefttheultimatequestionsunanswered,whilematerialismhasonlyaccentuatedthespiritualhungerofthesoul.AsWilliamIrwinThompsonhaspointedout,formaterialistssuchasVonDaniken,"Godsareastronauts...ahaloabouttheheadofafigurecarvedontherockatTasiliN'ajjeris...aspacehelmet."25Such"gods"lacktheotherworldlyqualitythatmankindsensestheymusthave,aqualitywhichmaterialismlacksandmysticismseemstosupply.

TheMergerofScienceandSorcery

Whatweseemtobeheadingfornowisarapprochementbetweenwhathaveuntilrecentlyappearedtobetworivalreligions:scienceandsorcery.ThereisagrowinghopethatanewworldwidereligionformedbythemergerofscienceandEasternmysticismwillatlastbringtheunityandpeacesodesperatelyneededifhumanityistosurvive.Recallingtheinsightshederived,notfromlogicorscientificdiscoverybutfromapowerfulmysticalexperience,FritjofCaprasays:"IknewwithabsolutecertaintythattheparallelsbetweenmodernphysicsandEasternmysticismwouldsomedaybecommonknowledge...aspartofamuchlargermovement[involving]...aprofoundculturaltransformation."26InfluentialpsychologistCarlRogerswasaleaderinthismovement.Hesawanewscienceemerging,"resemblingtheviewsoftheEasternmystic,ratherthanNewtonianmechanics."27

Manytopscientistshavesharedthissameview.Nowitseemstobecapturingtheheartsandmindsofincreasingmillionsofpeople.Asearlyas1979,atthesecondannual"OpenConferenceforMysticsandScientists"meetingnearLondon,SirGeorgeTrevelyanremindedconfereesthat"materialismisnolongerascientifically-basedphilosophy."28Thepurposeofsuchgatherings(prestigiousinstitutionssuchasMIThavehostedsimilarconferencesofscientistsandtheologians)istolaythefoundationforanew"religiouscience."Presentingtheirversionofthissamemessage,100musiciansrepresentingHisHolinessMaharishiandthescienceofTranscendentalMeditationcompletedatourin1987inwhichtheypresentedGandharva,"theeternalmusicofnature,"toappreciativeaudiencesin300citiesworldwide.WhileoneofthegroupswasperforminginLosAngeles,aspokespersonexplained:

Thisisnotentertainment.Weareonamission...tocorrecttheimbalancesofnature...tobringaboutworldpeace.29

Thirtyyearsagosuchanideawouldhavebeenlaughedoutofexistence.YetinDecember1987theLosAngelesTimesfounditnewsworthyenoughtogiveitaboldfour-columnheading,alargepicture,andaseriousaccountthatwenttheentirewidthofapage.The"reconciliation-with-nature-is-our-hope"religionseemstoholdanincreasingattractionforthemasses.

VaryingestimatesindicatethattheDecember31,1986,"WorldInstantofCooperation"involved100-500millionpersonsmeetinginthousandsoflocationsaroundtheworldto"meditate"forpeace.Thisunprecedentedeventwasbasedupontheancientnature-religionbeliefthateverythinginthecosmos(animateandinanimate)ispartofaUniversalMind.Therefore,ifenoughpeoplemeditatingtogetherheldthethoughtofpeaceintheirminds,a"criticalmass"couldbereachedthatwouldtipthebalanceincosmicconsciousnessandthusinfusetheworldwithpeace.TheAugust16/17,1987,"HarmonicConvergence"similarlyinvolvedmillionsaroundtheworldinEasternmeditation,chanting,andother

shamanicactivities.Itsprincipalorganizer,JoseArguelles,explainedthepurposeasasymbolic"surrendertoMotherEarth,"whichwouldbringinternationalpeace.

Whatweareseeingistherevivalonaverylargeandgrowingscaleofancientpaganismandarejectionofscientism.Thereisnomorereason,however,tobelievethatpersonalfulfillmentorinternationalpeacewillbeaccomplishedbysomehowgettingbackintouchwith"MotherNature"thanbytheconquestofnature.Canitreallybea"quantumleapforward"toreviveancientpaganearthritualsinavainattempttoplacatethewrathofthenaturegods?Itwouldseemjustassensibletopraytoaboltoflightningortoahurricaneastopetitiontheearth.

Inspiteoftheacceleratingreturntoshamanism,thepastfewdecadeshaveseenunusualgrowthamongtheChristianandIslamicfundamentalistsintandemwiththerisingwaveofconservatism.Thismovementmaysoonbesubmerged,however,andeventoasurprisingextentabsorbed,bytheinrushingtidalwaveofsorcery.Infact,apenchantforoccultismhasalwayssurvivedbeneaththesurfaceevenwithinthosebiblicaltraditionswhichoutwardlywereopposedtonaturalism/shamanism.TherewascabalisminJudaism;SufisminIslam;andGnosticism,mysticism,spiritualism,andmorerecentlyNewThought(ReligiousScience)inChristianity.AndnowforthefirsttimeindecadesthosechurcheswhichpresentNewAgeideasunderthebannerofChristianityarebeginningtoexperienceexplosivegrowth.Consider,forexample,Seattle'sUnityChurch,whichhasmushroomedfromamodest600memberstomorethan2000injustthreeyearsandisstillgrowing.Earlyin1987U.S.News&WorldReportnoted:

Accompanyingtheinterestinpsychicsisasteadygrowthinmysticreligion.TheUnitySchoolofChristianity,amysticorganizationinKansasCity,MO,reportsa34percentincreaseinitsministriesandstudygroupsinthepastfiveyears.30

WhethertheNewAgemovementinitspresentformwillcontinue

tobetheprimaryexpressionofshamanism'srevivalornot,onethingseemsclear:Nomatterwhatformthe"newconsciousness"nowsweepingtheWestmaytake,ifcurrenttrendshold,neitherscientismnortheincreasinglyaggressivefundamentalistmovementswithinIslam,Judaism,andChristianitycananylongerholditback.Inarecentissuepublishedtodefinethemovement,theeditorsofNewAgeJournaldeclared:"SocietyisnowinthemidstofachangepotentiallyassweepingastheRenaissanceortheProtestantReformation...asmoreandmorepeoplebegintoquestiontraditionalassumptionsaboutlife,thefutureoftheplanet,andthenatureofreality."31Whetherthissurprisingdevelopmentultimatelyprovestobeforbetterorforworse,onethingiscertain:Thewindsspreadingtheseedsofsorceryhavereachedgaleproportions.

AHauntingSenseofDejaVu

Esalenhasbeenatthecenterofthatgale.ItspurposefromtheverybeginninghasbeentobringaboutamergerofEasternmysticismwithWesternculture.Ithasplayedthatroletothehilt,servingasthemajorthinktankofthehuman-potentialmovement,where"menoflettersandscience"couldpreachamodernrevivalofsorcery.Itssuccessasaconsciousness-revolutioncatalystinfusingoccultismintotheAmericanpsychehasbeenastonishing.AstheLosAngelesTimesinafrontpagearticlenoted:"ManyoftheconceptspioneeredatEsalen—consideredexperimentalandoutrageousatthetime—arenowacceptedelementsofsuburbanliving"tobefoundatYMCA's,churches,anduniversities.32AsanotherchroniclerofEsalen'ssuccesshaswritten:

IdeasdismissedascrackpotincrackpotNewEnglandorasoccultintheborn-againheartlandhavebeenexploredatEsalenbysomeofthebestpublicizedmindsofourcentury.NotonlyJoanBaezandSimonandGarfunkelandsomeoftheBeatles,buteverycelebrityintellectualofthepast25yearshasbeenthere.

TheCarlSaganicityisastounding.ParticipantshaverangedfromHenryMillertoAldousHuxleytoPaulTillichtoArnoldToynbeetoSusanSontagtoHermanKahntoBuckminsterFullertoB.F.SkinnertoLinusPaulingtoJerryBrowntoFritjofCapra.We'retalkingweight.

It'sasifsomeonewithland,money,freetimeandrelentlesscuriosity(anaptdescriptionofEsalen'sleadership)decidedtoholdapartyandeveryonecame.33

AcivilrightsreporterandLookmagazineeditorwhenhecametoEsalenin1965tointerviewMikeMurphy,GeorgeLeonardhasbeenafixturethereeversince.Liketherestofitsleadership,hepersistentlytriestodistinguishEsalenfromwhattheycall"theschlock"invariablyassociatedwithsomuchofthehuman-potentialscene.ButwhileLeonard,whobecamepresidentoftheAHP,writesoff"ShirleyMacLaineismas'end-of-the-millenniumbehavior,'"healsoaffirms,"thereisaspiritualsideoflife."AndinspiteofLeonard'scriticismofher,Esalen'sviewof"spiritual"happenstocoincideverynicelywithShirleyMacLaine's.34

Esalenwasinto"channeling"longbeforeMacLaineandothersmadeitsopopular.Infact,beginningaround1980,Esalenhaditsownresident"channeler,"ayoungEnglishwomannamedJennyO'Connor,whowasmoreorlessapermanentfixtureforyears.Bymeansofautomaticwriting,agroupofnonhumanentitiesallegedlybasedonthestarSiriusdeliveredregularmessagesthroughJennythatwereattimesquiteremarkablefortheiruncannywisdomandprecognitiveaccuracy.RichardPricewassoimpressedthathebegantoinvolvetheNine,astheywerecalled,inhisgestaltsessions.InfacttheEsalenCatalogforseveralyearsofferedacourseingestaltwhichitpromisedwouldbefacilitatedby"TheNINE,aparanormalintelligence..."35

TherewasevenabiographicalentryinthecatalogfortheNine,whichdescribedthemas"giantreflectorsofyourselves,gestaltpractitioners,marriagecounselors—pureenergyofemergence

qualityavailabletoall."Priceexpressedtheopinionthatitdidn'tmatterwhetherthematerialchanneledthroughJennyfromtheNine"camefromSiriusorfromJenny'sunconscious."TheNinewereevenconsultedbyEsalen'sseniordirectorsinafamousmeetingthatresultedinashake-upofthetopleadershipapparentlyasprescribedbythesemysteriousintelligences.36

Hereagainwehavethesamenaturalisticideathatsome"higherpower,"ofwhichallthingsareapart,isinfluencinghumandestiny.Thisideaisfoundationaltoalloccultism.Whileittakesmanyforms,thereisanunmistakableconsistencybeneaththesurfacedifferences.Thispantheisticbeliefthatissodeeplyrootedinhumanconsciousnessisexperiencingaworldwiderevival.Havingplayedapowerfulroleinshapingpasthistory,itseemstobepoisedtodosoonceagaininourtime.

Toanystudentofthepast,thecurrentscenehasahauntingsenseofdéjàvuaboutit.Morethanoneanalysthaspointedouttherolewhichthisperversemixtureofscienceandreligionhasplayedinthefallofpreviouscivilizations.ReferringtothedeclineandfallofGreekandRomanEmpires,FranzCumontobserves:

Inthedecliningdaysofantiquitythecommoncreedofallpaganscametobeascientificpantheism,inwhichtheinfinitepowerofthedivinitythatpervadedtheuniversewasrevealedbyalltheelementsofnature....

Preachedontheonehandbymenoflettersandbymenofscienceincentersofculture,diffusedontheotherhandamongthebulkofthepeople...itisfinallypatronizedbytheemperors....37

[6]TheResurgenceofNatureReligion"Tonight,thestartling,soberingresultsofa20/20investigation.

Satanism—devilworship—isbeingpracticedallacrossthecountry."ItwasthevoiceofHughDowns,whowascohostingwithBarbaraWaltersanABCNewsmagazinetelevisionspecialonMay16,1985,titled"TheDevilWorshipers."WhathadcausedABC'sinvestigativeteamtotakeonthisunmentionabletopic?ThevoiceofHughDownscontinued:"...it'saffectingAmerica...perverse,hideousactsthatdefybelief.Suicides,murders,andtheritualisticslaughterofchildrenandanimals.Yetsofarpolicehavebeenhelpless...thereisnoquestionthatsomethingisgoingonoutthere,andthat'ssufficientreasonfor20/20tolookintoit."

Detectivesandjudgeshavetendedtoshyawayfromevidencepointingtosatanicinvolvementincrimes("Don'tcomeintocourtblamingthedevil!”commentsaninvestigator).AccordingtoSandraGallantoftheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartment,thatattitudeischanging,however,becauseoftheaccumulationofsubstantialevidence.AlloverAmericapoliceandsheriffdepartmentshaveformedspecialritualisticandoccultcrimesinvestigationstaskforcestodealwiththegrowingincidenceofsuchoccurrences.ChicagopsychotherapistKathySnowden"estimatesthatabout250therapistsnationwideareworkingwithsatanistritualabusecases.Satanists"includedoctors,lawyers,professors,universitypresidentsandmilitaryofficers,"saysdetectiveRobertSimandloftheChicagoPoliceDepartment.1

Intheirdisillusionmentwithtechnology,millionsofWesternersareturningbacktowitchcraftorvariousotherformsofshamanism/naturereligion.Thereis,ofcourse,causetobedisillusionedwithmodernsciencebecauseofthedestructionithasbroughttoourenvironmentandtoourpersonallives.Thefaultis

notwithscienceitself,however,orwiththepoweritproduces,butwithman'sabuseofit.Wehavebeendescribedasagenerationofnucleargiantsbutmoralmidgets.Untilthatfatalflawissomehowmended,theacquisitionofoccultpowerwouldonlyworsenasituationthatisalreadyoutofcontrol.

AmongthereligiousgroupspursuingocculticpowersisSanteria.ItisoneofthefastestgrowingwitchcraftcultsinAmerica,withanestimated100millionadherentsworldwide.Whilemostofitspractitionerswoulddenyanyinvolvementinhumansacrifices,thatsideofSanteriawasdepictedinTheBelievers,oneofthemosthorrifyingfeaturefilmstocomeoutofHollywoodin1987.Inthemovie,the"believers"werehighlyrespectedcommunityleaderswhoinsecretbandedtogethertopracticeritualsacrificeofchildreninordertoappeasehigherpowersandthereby"savetheworld."

SanteriamixesAfricannativeritualswithvenerationofCatholicsaints."Thefirstsymptomistheanimalskilledinaritualisticway,"SergeantRichardValdemar,asheriff’sdeputyinLosAngeles,explainedinaninterview."Thenit'sthe[human]bodies."AnundercoverdetectivewiththeRichmond,Virginia,BureauofPolicesayshewouldsendagentstoinfiltrateanygroup—theMafia,drugdealers—"butnotthis;thedangeristoogreatofbeingkilledorturnedaround."LosAngelespolicedepartmentdetectiveFrankAdairwarned:

Ihaveabrotherwhoisa[Catholic]priestandwhenIaskedhimaboutSanteria,hesaid,"Don'tmesswithit."

Whenyoustarttamperingwithareligionlikethis,youdon'tknowwhatyoumayunleash.2

"Alotofpeople—maybemost—confusewitcheswithSatanists,"complainsJamesJohnson.Theslenderandboyish18-year-oldisastudentatSouthernCalifornia'sprestigiousPomonaCollege,wherehealsoteacheswitchcraftinanoncreditcoursesponsoredbyMortarBoard,anhonorsocietyforseniors.Apracticingwitch

himself,Johnsoninsiststhat"witches,realones,don'tbelieveinSatan,orpracticeblackmagic...atleastnotWiccans."

Nevertheless,inspiteofvariationsintherituals,fromtheSatanistsononeendofthewitchcraftspectrumtothepractitionersof"whitemagic"ontheother,theunderlyingbeliefremainsthesame:Itisallnaturereligion.Alloftheritualsshareacommonpurpose:toinvokeand/ormanipulateanaturalforceinnatewithinthecosmosinordertoachievehealth,wealth,orsuccess,ortobringacurseuponone'senemies.Whetherthe"power"believediniscalledSatanorthegoddessdoesnotaffectthebasicphilosophy.Tryingtosoundbroad-minded,butatthesametimedistinguishingnaturereligionfromsupernaturalism,JamesJohnsondeclares:

Youcancallitoccultifyouwant,evensupernatural.Iprefertothinkthatwewitchesjustfindthesuperinthenatural.3

TheDarkandLightSidesofthe"Force"

Withtheriseofrelativism,alargesegmentofAmericansocietyseemstobelosingthecapacitytomakemoraldistinctions,leavingpeoplevulnerabletotheamoralphilosophyofwitchcraftwithitspromisesofself-fulfillmentandpersonalpower.Whilesomewitcheswouldconfessthattheyareinvolvedinblackmagic,mostWiccans,likeJohnson,claimtopracticeonlythewhitevariety.AntonLavey,founderofSanFrancisco'sFirstChurchofSatan,insiststhatthereisnodifferencebetween"black"and"white"magic.Andifpressed,mostoccultistswouldadmitthateveryformofmagiccomesfromthesamesourceandthatthedifferencedependsuponwhethertheforceisusedforgoodorevil.

Supernaturalistswouldargue,however,thatthereisnobasisinnaturereligionforarrivingatmoralsthatapplyeithertothe"higherpower"itselfortoitsusage.Therearenoethicsormoralsinnature;therefore,everykindofnaturereligion(whethercalledSatanism,Wicca,Hinduism,orwhatever)isbyverydefinitionamoral."Good"and"evil"donotapplytoatomsorgalaxiesornaturalforcessuch

asgravityorelectricityorpsychicpower.Historian/philosopherHerbertSchlossbergremindsus,"Animalsdonotactmorallyorimmorally;theyonlyactnaturally.Asystemofethicsthatsayshumanbeingsoughttobasetheirbehavioronnaturethereforejustifiesanybehavior,becausenatureknowsnoethic."4

NobelistSirJohnEcclespointsoutinTheWonderofBeingHuman—OurBrainandOurMind:

Theconceptsofinjustice,unfairness,andperverseness—liketheobligationstohonor,torespectandtopermit—areintelligibleonlywithinamoralcontextandtomoralbeings.

Inthemindlessuniverseofmerenature...thereisneitherjusticenormercy,neitherlibertynorfairness.Thereareonlyfacts,andnofact—asafact—seeksorrequiresajustification.5

Somepracticingwitchesclaimthatthepowertheydrawuponcanonlybeusedinbenevolentways,aclaimwhichseemstoattributemoralstoanimpersonalforce.However,moralityisclearlynota"power,"norisanypowereithermoralorimmoral.Thustospeakofa"higherpower"orthe"dark"and"light"sidesofaforceismisleading.Moralsimplyresponsibilitytoanultimateauthority—somethingwhichisentirelylackinginnatureandcosmicenergy.Noonecansaythatatomicpowerhasauthority,muchlessthatitisa"higherpower"thanelectricity.Biblicalsupernaturalismarguesthatmoralauthoritycannotderivefrommolecularstructureorevolutionaryforces(oranoccultforcewith"dark"and"light"sides),butonlyfromanintelligentpersonalCreator.AsEcclespointedlyobserves:

[Itis]notatallclearhow"naturalselection"hassomehowselectedforBach'sPartitas...orforasystemofjusticethatwillletathousandguiltymengofreelestoneinnocentmanbeconstrainedofhisliberties.6

Thefallaciousconceptofaforceinnateinthecosmos,witha"light"and"dark"sideproducing"white"and"black"magic,has

causedmuchconfusion.Forexample,atthesametimethattheearlyAmericancolonistswerestampingoutwhattheyperceivedaswitchcraft,theywerepracticingitthemselvesinitsunrecognized"white"formof"Renaissanceesotericism...[suchas]astrology,palmistry,andmagicalhealing."7InSalem,Massachusetts,towardtheendoftheseventeenthcentury,20personsfoundguiltyofpracticingwitchcraftwereputtodeathandanother150wereimprisoned.Thoseregrettableeventshavesincebeenuniversallycondemned,andrightlyso.Inreactionagainstthatextremism,however,hasthependulumswungtoofartheotherway?

ANewRespectabilityforWitchcraft

TodaySalemhasitsownofficialwitch,LaurieCabot;andbestsellingauthorLynnAndrewshasbeencalledthe"MedicineWomanofBeverlyHills."Activeparticipantsinwitchcraft/shamanismintheUnitedStatesfaroutnumberthemembershipofsomeChristiandenominations.EventheUnitedNation'sWorldHealthOrganizationhasgivenitsapprovaltoarevivalofwitchcraftunderthepopulareuphemismof"traditionalmedicine"or"nativecures."It'sjustamatterofgettingbacktoourpaganroots,averyacceptablegoalintoday'ssociety.OneChurchofWiccaintheLosAngelesarea,withmorethan8000members,boastsofitsinfiltrationofnearbyProtestantandCatholicchurches,ofitsmanyconvertsfrommainstreamChristianity,ofitswell-attendedclassesforchildrenwhoarereleasedanhoureachweekfrompublicschoolforreligiousinstruction,ofitssummercampsforyouth,andofitsfundingfrominternationalbankers.Inacoverstory,aSouthernCaliforniaweeklynewspaperrecentlyreported:

Maybeyoudon'tthinkthatyouknowanywitches....Theydoexist...[and]theydon'tlookanydifferentfromyouormeorthepeopleyouseeatthebusstop.

WitchesareinAltadena,inSierraMadre,inWoodlandHills,inCarson—alloverLosAngelesCountyandalloverthecountry....They'recomputertechnicians,electricalengineers,andthefolks

nextdoor.Butthey'rewitches,too....

WhentheCovenantoftheGoddess,awitchcraftumbrellaorganization,heldameetinginthemountainsnorthofL.A.lastyear,3500witchesshowedup.8

Sorceryinvariousformsismovingsteadilyintothemainstreamoftoday'sAmericanculture.Onerecentvolume,asymposiumbyanumberofexpertsontheoccult,referstothisrevivalas"asimultaneousrestagingofimpulsesthathaveneverbeenquiescentontheAmericanscene."9This"simultaneousrestaging"hasbecomeanexplosionwithever-wideningrepercussions.Witchcraftisanimportantfactornotonlyinecologicalactivism,asalreadymentioned,butinotherinfluentialmovementsaswell."Feministspirituality,"forexample,whichprominentleadersintheWomen'sMovementidentifyasthe"oldestspiritualityonearth"(i.e.Wicca),10isnowrecognizedasoneofthelargestsubmovementswithinthefeministcamp.Accordingtooneofitsleadingspokespersons:

It's[feministspirituality]amorphous,blendinginasurprisinglysmoothamalgamradicalfeminism,pacifism,witchcraft,Easternmysticism,goddessworship,animism,psychichealing,andavarietyofpracticesnormallyassociatedwith"fortune-telling."

Itexistsnationwideandtakestheformoflarge,daylongworkshops,smallmeditationgroups,andevencovensthatmeettoworkspellsanddoritualsunderthefullmoon....

Tothewomeninfeministspirituality,witchcraft...isawomen'sreligion,areligionoftheearth,vilifiedbypatriarchalChristianity,andnow,finally,reclaimed.11

EventheUnitedStatesarmedservicesarebeingpressuredintoaccommodatingwitchcraft.AcknowledgingthatwitchesamongU.S.forcesinEuropearedemandingofficialrecognition,theU.S.military'sunofficialdailynewspaper,StarsandStripes,recentlyexplainedthat"Wiccans,likeotherpagans,believeinmultipledeitiesaswellastheonenessofallwithnature."12TheArmyTimes

carriedastorytitled"Witches,PagansinMilitaryDemandRights."ItsympatheticallyreportedthatthosewhopracticeWiccaneed"chaplainswhounderstandpre-Christianbeliefsandwhocanhelpthemformworshipgroupsatremotedutylocations."TheTimesarticlereferredtotheArmy'schaplainhandbookforanauthorizedperspective:

Wiccansareconsideredpagansbecausetheyworshipseveralnaturegodsinsteadofasinglegod....Theyalsobelieveinpsychicpowersandholdritualsaccordingtolunarcycles.OtherpagangroupsincludeDruids,whobasetheirritualsonsolarcycles,andthosewhoworshiptheNorsegodsoftheancientvikings.

Theirreligion,Wicca,isthetribalworshipofancientpeoplesbasedin"magick,"herbology,healingandtheworship...oftheMotherGoddessandherconsort,theHornedGod.13

TheMovementBackto"Nature"

Oneofthemostrespectablepathsleadingintowitchcraftistoday'sback-to-naturemovement.ItisaparadoxthattheWesternworldiseagerlyembracingthenotionthat"natural"issomehowmorebeneficial,morebenign,andmorepureincontentandintentthanallthetechnologicalenhancementswhichsciencehasthusfarbeenabletobestowuponus.Littlereflectionisrequired,however,torealizethatthistheorycontainsanumberofbasicflaws.Thereisnothingmorenaturalthandisease,pain,death,andthosecalamitiescategorizedbyinsurancecompaniesas"naturaldisasters"(hurricanes,earthquakes,lightning,drought,andfamine,tonameafew).Infactitisagainstsuchoffspringofnaturethathumanityhasdesperatelystruggledtoprotectitself,andinsodoinghasarrivedatthepresentstageofcivilization.AsFrancisBacondeclaredintheseventeenthcentury:

Naturehastobehoundedinherwanderings,boundintoserviceandmadeaslave...[and]putinconstraint.

Itseemsironicthataftermankindhascourageouslyfoughtforthousandsofyearstoconquertheoftenantagonisticandsometimesdeadlyforcesofnature,thereisapopularandgrowingmovementcallingforsurrendertothesesameforces.Asa"basicprinciple,"theauthorsofRebirthingInTheNewAgerecommend"formingaconsciousrelationshiptotheplanet."14Sympathetictothiscause,CarlRogersadvocatedliving"inacomfortablerelationshiptonature,aresponsiblekinship,"withtheverythoughtof"theconquestofnature"being"abhorrent."15Whileonthesurfacethismightsoundreasonable,"nature"isnotsoconstitutedastoofferabenignanddependablekinship.Itisabsurdtospeakoflivingina"comfortablerelationship"withaneruptingvolcanooracholeraepidemic.Beforeweallsurrendertonatureasdivine,weoughttorecognizethattodosoisarepudiationofallthatmankindhascalledprogresssincethedawnofhistory.Itisaquantumleapfromrespectingandprotectingourenvironment(whichweoughttodo),toworshiping"MotherEarth."

Itwastheunnaturalactofreasonopposingthenaturalprocessesofnaturethatbroughtundercontrolahostofformerlyfataldiseases(suchaspolio,tuberculosis,andmalaria),thatloweredthedeathrateininfants,andthathassteadilyincreasedtheaveragelifeexpectancy.Medicalscienceisfarfromperfect,butitistherepeatedunnaturalactoftakingoutanappendix,oftransplantingakidney,orofremovingatumorthathassavedmillionsoflives.Suchrealitiesoughtnottobeforgotteninourrushto"surrendertoMotherEarth."Moreover,wedowelltorememberthatitwasWesternsciencethatbroughtthesebenefitstomankind.TheseblessingswouldneverresultfromthepantheisticphilosophyproducedbyalteredstatesofconsciousnessinducedinYogaorotherformsofEasternmeditation.NorwouldmedicalscienceeverhaveblossomedfromthemysticalbeliefsthattheWestisnowembracinginitspursuitof"naturalhealth."

Ithasbeenthroughthecontinuingbattletoovercomethe

elementsofnaturethatthemanycomfortsandbenefitsunknowninearliertimesandtakenforgrantedintoday'shighlyadvancedcivilizationhavebeenproduced.Noneisaproductofnature.Thereisnothingnaturalaboutcomputers,television,spacetravel,dams,bridges,books,orevensuchbasicnecessitiesofhumanlifeasweaving,foodprocessing,plowing,weeding,orcooking.Suchobviousconsiderationsseemtobeoverlookedbythosewhosoloudlytrumpetthepraisesofthe"natural."Thisisnottodenythatecologicaldestructionhasbeenunnecessarilywroughtbyhumanfolly.Atthesametime,however,complaintsagainsttheintrusionofscienceandtechnologymustbemadeonreasonablegrounds,andnotontheassumptionthattheearthisagoddesstobeworshiped,heldinawe,andleftuntouched.

FromInstincttoReason

Sucha"hands-off"mentalityismorepervasiveandinfluentialthanmostpeoplerealize.Forexample,afamilyofbeaversbuildsadam,leavingmanytreesunnecessarilyfelledhelter-skelter,somepartiallygnawedandstillstandingbutnowdead,withameadowfloodedandotherplantsandtreesdeadasaresult—butthisispartofnature,andassuchitisthedelightofenvironmentalists.Agroupofhighlyeducatedengineers,ontheotherhand,carefullyplansadamtominimizedamageandmaximizebenefitsformillionsofpeopleforgenerationstocome—andtheecologistlobbyhiresattorneysandsucceedsingettingtheprojectstoppedbecauseitmaybringextinctiontoanobscurespeciesoffishand"spoilthenaturalbeauty."

Whatisthedistinctionbetweenthetwodams?Whyisone"natural"andtheother"unnatural"?Whyisitthatmankind'sactionsalwaysinterferewithnature,whilethoseofallotherlivingcreaturesenhancenature?Whydoesabirdnestorbeehiveblendintotheenvironment,butahumanstructure(beitskyscraperorloghut)standsoutasclearlynotpartofnature?Andwhydoestheanimalworld,initsreactionstohumans,soobviouslyrecognizethat

mankindisanalienspeciesinauniquecategoryofitsown?Doesitnotseemironicintheextremethatevolutionitself,inpresumablyitshighestformonplanetearth(ifthatisreallywhatourspeciesrepresents),hasproducedabeingwhoisalienatedfromanddestructiveofthevery"MotherNature"whichsupposedlyspawnedhim?

Ifmankindwasdevelopedbythesameevolutionaryforcesasthebeaver,bird,orbeeandisthusequallyaproductof"naturalselection,"thenwhyarehumanactivitiescondemnedasunnatural,whilethemostviciousbehaviorofanimals(whicharesupposedlyrelatedtomanthroughtheprocessofevolution)goesunchallengedassimplynatural?Isitbecausehumansreasonbutlowercreaturesactbyinstinct?Beesinstinctivelyconstructcontainersinashapethatmaximizesstrengthwhileminimizingmaterial,astructurewhichmodernengineeringwithitsmathematicsandcomputershasnotbeenabletoimproveuponandwhichisstillcopiedinourmostadvanceddesigns.Asinglecell,thesmallestlivingunit,ismorecomplexinstructureandfunctionthanthelargestcity—socomplexthatitispresentlyinconceivablethathumaningenuitywilleverbeabletofullyunderstand,muchlessduplicate,acell.Confrontedbytheawesomegeniusofdesignandconstructiondisplayedthroughoutthecosmos,fromatomstostars,thesupernaturalistseekstoknowtheCreatorinordertoworshipandobeyhim.Thenaturalist,however,insiststhatitallcameaboutbysomeimpersonalforce,andseekstolearnthesecretofcontrollingandusingitforhisownends.

Literallymillionsofexamplescouldbegiventoshowthatinstinctprovidesanimalsandeventhetiniestinsectswithsurvivalcapabilitiesbeyondthecapacityofourmostadvancedtechnology.Andeveniftechnologycaughtupwithnature,itwouldnotbeavailabletotheaverageperson.Thatfactraiseshugequestions.Ababychickpecksitswayoutofitsshellandisabletowalkaboutandforageforfood,buthumanoffspringarehelplessforyears.

Evenasadultswehavetostudyanddrawuponcenturiesoflaboriouslyaccumulatedknowledge,butwearestillbehindtheanimalorinsectworldincrucialsurvivalcapabilities.Thisfactdoesn'tseemtosquarewiththetheorythatourspecies,asthe"highestform"producedbythesameevolutionaryforces,hasbeengivenreasonasareplacementforinstinct.

Ifmankindistheendproductofbillionsofyearsofnaturalselectionthroughsurvivalofthefittest,thenwhyintheprocessofreachingthispinnacleofevolutiondidthat"highest"specieslosetheentirearmoryofessentialsurvivalmechanismspossessedbyitsalleged"ancestors"andwhichisstillsocommonthroughoutnature?Thearcticterncanunerringlynavigateacrossthousandsofmilesofocean,eveninastorm;yetforahumantodothesamethingrequiresyearsofschooling,advancedtraining,andsophisticatedinstruments.Withoutanyeducationatallatinygnatcansurviveinjunglesoronaglacierandaccomplishfeatsthatarefarbeyondthecapabilitiesofthetoughestandbest-trainedMarineorGreenBeret.

Thecapacitytoreasoncouldmorereadilybelookeduponasanadvantageifinstinctsupposedlyaccumulatedoverbillionsofyearshadnotbeenthepricethatevolutionexactedinbestowingit.Thereisnowaytoexplainmankind'srationalfacultiesintermsof"naturalselection."Itisreason,infact,whichplacesmankindinanunnaturalclassbyitself.

TheCapacitytoReasonandtheDifferenceItMakes

Itistheabilitytoreasonthathasbroughtmankindintoconflictwithnature.Eitherthiscapacitymustbeadmittedasevidencethatmanisnottheproductofnaturalselectionandthereforedoesnotbelongtonature,orelsewhatthiscapacityproducescannotbedismissedasunnaturalbutmustbeconsideredasnaturalasthefunctionsandactivitiesofeveryotherlifeform.Ifmanistheproductofnature,theneverythinghedoes(whetheritbethebuildingof

damsornuclearpowerplantsorthewagingofwars)mustbeanaturalactandasdevoidofblameastheeatingofinsectsbybirdsorthedestructionofaforestbyblight.Yettheunderstandingthatmankinddiffersfromallothercreaturesonthisplanet,notjustindegreebutinkind(asMortimerJ.AdlerhassowellpointedoutinTheDifferenceofManandtheDifferenceItMakes),separatedbyachasmthatcannotbebridgedbyanyevolutionaryprocess,isrecognizedintuitivelybyhumansandinstinctivelybyanimals.Itisstrangeindeedthatwhattheworldofacademiahasattemptedtoeducateustobelieveforthepasthundredyears,theentirehumanspecies(andanimalworldaswell)continuestocontradictbyitsbehavior.

Incontrasttotheanimalworld,mankind'sabilitytoreasonmadesciencepossible.Thisdifferenceisoftremendoussignificance,asC.S.LewisarguessowellinMiracles.Themerefactthatwecanreasonaboutourcircumstancesandspeculateaboutpurposeandmeaningisproofthatourthoughtsarenotthemselvesprogrammedanddeterminedbythestimulusofnaturalevents.Wearethusfacedwithamajorweaknessinthetheoryofevolution,aweaknesswhichDarwinhimselfrecognized.16Ifeverythingisdeterminedbynaturalselectionandthesurvivalofthefittest,thenhistheoryitselfmusthaveresultedfromthesameforcesatwork.Evolutionwouldthereforebemeaningless,havingnothingtodowithtruthorreasonabledeductionsfromfacts,butwouldbepurelytheresultofanaturalprocess,withnomorerelationshiptologicthanachemicalreactioninatesttube.SirKarlPopperexplainsthatifDarwinismisright,thenanytheory(suchasevolution,forexample):

...isheldbecauseofacertainphysicalstructureoftheholder—perhapsofhisbrain.

Accordingly,wearedeceivingourselvesandarephysicallysodeterminedastodeceiveourselveswheneverwebelievethattherearesuchthingsasargumentsorreasons[foracceptingatheory].

Purelyphysicalconditions,includingourphysicalenvironment,makeussayoracceptwhateverwesayoraccept.17

Everyattempttofindevidencetoprovethatevolutionistrueisadenialofthetheoryitself.Reason,then,notonlymakesitpossibletoargueagainstDarwin'stheory(andcausedDarwinhimselftodoubtitsvalidity),butthisuniquehumancapacityisitselfevidencethatmankindisnotpartofnaturebutreflectsahigheroriginandpossessescapabilitiesthattranscendanythingfoundinnature.ThishumancapacitytoresistnaturedidnotfitintoCarlJung'snaturalisticschemeofthecollectiveunconscious.Inperplexityhewrote:

Oneasksoneselfwhereourconsciousnessgetsitsabilitytobesocontrarytonatureandwhatsucharbitrarinessmightsignify.18

TheHarshAmoralityofNature

Hinduismprovidesthemostcomprehensiverepresentationofwitchcraft's"nature-is-God"beliefsandocculticpractices.Nazism,inturn,wascloselyrelatedtobothHinduismandtoday'sNewAgemovement—aconnectionwhichwewillexplorelater.ItismorethancoincidencethatsomanyHindugurusdemand,asHitlerdid,absoluteobedienceandworshipfromtheirfollowers.And,strangelyenough,inspiteofthehorrifyinglessonsfromtheThirdReich,therearestillmillionsofpeoplewhoarewillingtoabdicatereasonandblindlyfollowaleader.TheattitudetowardHitlerstillwidelyheldininfluentialcirclesinIndiatodayissummarizedinthefollowingremarksmadebySwamiSvatantranandatoalearnedHinduaudience:

Whateveryoumaysayagainsthim,Hitlerwasamahatma,almostlikeanavatar....hewasthevisualincarnationofAryanpolity.19

ThatsomanyleadingHindushavepraisedtheidealsofNaziGermanyisquiteconsistentwithHinduism,fromwhichHitlerborrowedtheswastika.Compassioniscontrarytonaturereligion,a

revivalofwhichwasakeyelementintheThirdReich.ThosewhoholdtothesamenaturalismtodaymustadoptHitler'spragmaticwillingnesstoeliminate"undesirableelements"iftheywouldbeconsistentwiththeirprofessedbeliefs.MaharishiMaheshYogiexemplifiesthatconsistencywhenhewritesofthenewsocietythatTMisintendedtousherin:

Therehasnotbeenandtherewillnotbeaplacefortheunfit.Thefitwilllead,andiftheunfitarenotcomingalongthereisnoplaceforthem....IntheAgeofEnlightenmentthereisnoplaceforignorantpeople....

Non-existenceoftheunfithasbeenthelawofnature.20

Maharishiisexpressingthelogicofnaturalism:Natureisnotkind;itisharsh.Inactualfact,however,natureisneitherofthese.Suchtermsnomoreapplyto"nature"thantoarockorcloud.Norwouldloveorcompassionhaveanymoremeaningforhumansthanforanamoebaifwewereinfacttheproductsofimpersonalnaturallawsandevolutionaryforces.Ifthosewereindeedourorigins,thentheestablishmentofhospitalsandeveryactofmercyandself-sacrificeforthebenefitofothersoughttobebannedbyecologistsasdestructiveofthenaturalorder,andthelawoftoothandfangoughttoprevailastheonlyreasonablealternative.

Givinginsulintodiabetics,forexample,shouldnotbeallowedbecauseitincreasesthehereditarypoolofdiabetesandtherebyweakenstherace.Itisthusanunnaturalinterferencewiththeevolutionaryprocess.Everyvaccinealsoworksagainstnature'sprocessofweedingouttheweak.Suchunnaturalextensionsoflifeforthesickorhandicapped(whootherwisewouldbeeliminatedbynaturalforces)shouldthereforebeopposedbyallconvincedevolutionists.YetJonasSalk,developerofpoliovaccine,isaconfessed"evangelist"forevolution.Andheadmitstheglaringcontradiction.

HealsoadmitsthattheSalkInstitute,withitsdedicatedstaffof

medicalscientistsbattlingtoconquerdisease,isworseningtheproblemsofanexplodingpopulation.Caughtred-handedunderminingtheveryevolutionaryforcesinwhichheclaimstoimplicitlytrust,Salk,likeallproponentsofSagan'sscientism,isleftwithoutmoralargumentstojustifyhisbehavior.Asaconvincedevolutionist,hehasnobasisforvaluingmedicineabovemurder,andcanonlypainthimselffurtherintothecornerbysuggestingthathisdesiretosavelivesis"geneticallyprogrammed":

Weareimpelledtoextendthehumanlifespan.Ithinkthatwearegeneticallyprogrammedtobehavethatway.21

Salkbelievesthatideas(therearenomorals)areasmuchtheproductofblindevolutionaryforcesasaleaforagene.22Wearelefttowonderwhyevolutionwouldproducesomanybrilliantideasandthecompassionatebehaviorwhichunderminesit.Ofcourseevenourspeculationsaboutsuchcontradictionshavebeenprogrammedintoourgenesandarethereforenotreallyspeculationsatall!Evolutiondoesmakecountlessmistakesalongtheway,sothecompassionthathasbeenprogrammedintouscouldbetheresultofoneofthoseunfortunateharmfulmutationsthatwillleadtotheextinctionofourspecies.Thistheory,whichdoesawaywithallpurpose,bringstomindthewordsofAlfredNorthWhitehead:"Scientistswhospendtheirliveswiththepurposeofprovingthatitispurposelessconstituteaninterestingfieldofstudy."

ExpendableExperimentsofNature

ThehopelesscontradictionwhichWhiteheadidentifiedresultsfromtryingtoexplainhumanbehaviorbythelawsofphysicalscience.Itcan'tbedonewithoutdehumanizingusintostimulus/responsemechanisms.InWaldenTwo,psychologist/novelistB.F.SkinnerhashisalteregoFrazierexplaintohisguestthatthepurposeofthe"controllers"istodevelop"ascienceofhumanbehavior."Ofcourseitisimpossibletodevelopa

sciencewhenthesubjectoftheexperimentishoppingaboutcapriciouslywithafreewillandoneneverquiteknowswhatheisgoingtodonext.Fiveyearslater,inScienceandHumanBehavior,Skinnerwrites:"Thehypothesisthatmanisnotfreeisessentialtotheapplicationofscientificmethodtothestudyofhumanbehaviour."23ConcernedatthedemoralizingresultofsuchaphilosophybeingwidelytaughtinAmericanuniversities,AllanBloompointsoutinhisclassicTheClosingoftheAmericanMind:

Thiscontradictionrunsthroughoutthenaturalandsocialsciences.They[purportto]giveanaccountofthingsthatcannotpossiblyexplaintheconductoftheirpractitioners....[Forexample]thephysicistwhosignspetitionsinfavoroffreedomwhilerecognizingonlyunfreedom—mathematicallawgoverningmovedmatter—intheuniverse....24

NoristhedilemmahelpedbySalk'sassertionthatevolutionaryforceshavepreparedusnowtoguideourfurtherevolutionintohigherstatesofconsciousness.Hehasalreadyclaimedthatwehavebeenprogrammedtoworkagainstevolution.Moreover,"higher"isastatementofvaluesforwhichnaturalismprovidesnobasis.Yetthe"newparadigm,"writesMarilynFerguson,"seeshumankindembeddedinnature."25Ramtha,throughJ.Z.Knight,"channels"thesamemessageofharmonywithnature.Itisthecommonmessageoftheentitiesthatcommunicatethroughchannelers,mediums,Ouijaboards,andotheroccultmeans.

Thebasiccontradictionbetweenhumancompassionandtheimpersonalharshnessofnatureremainsunresolved.AgainEcclespointsout:"Thefactsofhumanmoralityandethicsareclearlyatvariancewithatheorythatexplainsallbehaviorintermsofself-preservationandthepreservationofthespecies."26Recognizingthathewasholdingirreconcilablebeliefs,butunwillingtoresolvehisinnerconflictbychoosingbetweenthem,theillustriousGermanpoetGoethewrote:

AsamoralistIamamonotheist;asanartistIamapolytheist;asanaturalistIamapantheist.27

Ofcourseitisimpossibletobeamonotheistandpolytheist/pantheistatthesametime.IntacitadmissionthatGoethe's(andhisown)naturalism/pantheismprovidesnobasisformoralvalues,Salkclearlystatesthatthesurvivalnotonlyofanyindividualhumanbutofourentirespeciesisofnosignificance;onlyevolutionitselfmatters.Norcanweevenenjoythedubioussatisfactionofknowingthatourracewillprovetobetheancestorofsomeultimatespeciesthatmaybeworthsaving.Althoughheclaimsthatevolutionseemstohavesomething"guiding"it,Salkinsiststhatneitherhenorevolutionitselfcanpredictthefinaloutcome.Hedoessuggestthat"wemayevolveintosomethingbetter."Not"better"fromourpointofview,however,butforthe"good"oftheevolutionaryprocess:

Wedonothavetosurviveasaspecies.Whatisimportantisthatwekeepevolving.28

Wearesimplyexpendable"experiments"ofnaturealongthepathtowardsomefuturesuperspecies.ThisphilosophywouldseemtojustifyHitler'sexperimentstoproducethe"masterrace."NorcanweblameHitlerorhisunderlingswhorantheexterminationcampsforsimplycarryingoutwhathadbeen"programmedintotheirgenes."Afterall,Hitler'sdeterminationtoeliminatetheweakismoreinlinewiththeevolutionaryprocessthanSalk'sdesiretosavethem.

Thecompletelyamoral,self-centeredcreaturethatwastheultimatemechanismofsurvival(andthusofdestructionforallothers)sofearfullydepictedinthemovieAlienrepresentsthe"morality"ofnature.Couldanyonetrustagoddess"Mother"whoseultimatefulfillmentwouldlieinproducingsuchanoffspring?NowonderSalkdeclares,"Ourfaithmustbeinourselves."29Yetifwearetheproductsof"naturalselection"(andnottheendproduct,but

anintermediatespeciesnotworthsaving),totrustourselveswouldseemtobetheheightoffolly.Thattoohasapparentlybeenprogrammedintoourgenes.Suchabeliefmaybeheldtheoretically,buttopracticeitindailylifewouldbetorejectcommonsenseandtodenyourveryhumanity.

TheUnfathomableSourceofCreativity

Whatreasonablepersoncouldliveasthoughlove,joy,appreciationofbeautyorpoetry,fearoftheunknown,desireformeaning,andconceptsoftruth,justice,ethics,andrespectfortherightsofothersweresimplysurvivalreflexesprogrammedintoone'sgenes?Ifthatwereso,thenalloflifewouldbeonehugecharade.TheDeclarationofIndependenceattributestherightof"life,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness"nottonaturebuttonature'sGod.Equalityisnowherefoundinnature;andifitwere,"survivalofthefittest"wouldcometoanimmediatehalt.America'sFoundingFathersseemedtobeoftheopinionthatifthereweretobeequalityamongmenithadtobetheresultofbeing"createdequal."Beforethrowingthisvaluableheritageaway,weoughttoweighthealternativesmorecarefully.

Wearesomethingmorethanhighly-evolvedcomplexclustersofproteinmoleculeswiredwithnervesandprogrammedbytrialanderrortorespondtovariousstimuliincertainscientificallyexplicableways.Itisinconceivablethatasenseofguiltorshamecouldbeexplainedintermsoftheflowofelectricalcurrentincertainpatternsinthebrain,orbymereglandularchemicalreactions.Thereisaprofoundmysterytohumanlifeunderlyingeachindividual'ssenseofpersonalidentity.Personalitymayindeedbeaffectedbytheparadeofexperience,butsomethingmorethanthatisinvolved.Eachindividualhashisorherownmysteriousautonomythatdefiesscientificanalysis.

Inattemptingtoaccepttheserealitiesofhumanexperience,Salkattimescomesclosetocompromisinghisscientism.Hisallusions

to"spirit"inhiswritingsandspeechesindicatethat,likesomanyothercommittedmaterialists,heunderstandsthattheremustbeanonphysicalrealitybeyondtheuniverseandinaccessibletooursenses.And,likeotherevolutionists,heinevitablycontradictshisreductionisttheoriesbyspeakingofthehumanspirit.Eccles,however,pointsouttheimpossibilityofreconcilingmankind'suniquespiritualvaluesandexperienceswithDarwinism:

Sincematerialist[evolutionary]solutionsfailtoaccountforourexperienceduniqueness,weareconstrainedtoattributetheuniquenessofthepsycheorsoultoasupernaturalspiritualcreation....

Wesubmitthatnootherexplanationistenable;neitherthegeneticuniquenesswithitsfantasticallyimpossiblelotterynortheenvironmentaldifferentiations,whichdonotdetermineone'suniquenessbutmerelymodifyit.30

OfcourseSalkrecognizestheproblemEcclesaddresses.However,unlikeEccles,heisunwillingtotransferhisallegiancefromnaturetonature'sCreator.InTheSurvivaloftheWisest,Salkwritesofwhathecallsan"unfathomablesourceofcreativity"atworkbehindthescenesdirecting"Nature's'game'."Hemustattributethis"unfathomablecreativity"eithertonatureitselfortotheCreatorofnature.Heoptsfortheformer.

Salkcannotescapemakingreligiouspronouncements,but,likeSaganandtheotherpriestsofscientism,heisnowforcedtoattributegodlikeintelligenceandpowerstoimpersonalcosmicforces.Thesearepronouncementsoffaiththatcannotbesubstantiatedbyscience.Thedeificationofnatureandofmankindasitsoffspring,thoughexpressedintheeruditelanguageofacademia,isthesamereligiousscienceespousedbywitchesandotherworshipersofthemysteriousforcetheybelievetobeinnateinthecosmos.

Forthoseimpressedbyrhetoricthismaysoundinspiring.Itshouldberemembered,however,thatinturningbacktonature

religion,Westernsocietycannotpickandchoosetheaspectsofshamanismwhichitfindsappealing(orhasdemythologizedandpsychologized)anddiscardtherest.Therearegodsandspiritsthatnotonlycomewiththepackage,butwhichhavetraditionallyplayedthekeyrole.The"spiritualentity"isamajorpartoftheprogramandcannotbeseparated,distilled,twisted,bent,mythologized,orsimplyignoredinordertomakesorceryacademicallyrespectable.Itisthedeliberatecultivationofarelationshipwiththeseentities(thoughcalledbymodernnames)thathasbecomethemajorconcernofmanycriticsoftheNewAgemovement.

[7]Freud,Jung,andtheOccultAnyattempttounderstandthecurrentworldwiderevivalof

sorcerymustcandidlyfacetheissueof"spiritmanifestations."Sincethedawnofhistory,abeliefintheexistenceofnonphysicalbeingswhointeractwithmankindhasbeenbasictoallreligionsandoccultism.Itisnotsurprising,then,thatabeliefinthesemysteriousentities(whethertheyarerealorimagined),isalsoplayingakeyroleintoday'sNewAgemovement.Aswehavealreadynoted,anuncannysenseofthebehind-the-scenesexistenceofthespiritworldissodeeplyembeddedintheconsciousnessofeveryhumanbeingthatnothingcanuprootit.Thisisjustastrueofmodern,sophisticatedWesterners,whoconsiderthemselvestooscientificallyorientedtobereligiousandwhorejectthepossibilityofpsychicexperiences.

TakeforexampleCarlRogers,who,whilestudyingfortheministry,renouncedtheconservativeProtestantChristianityofhisyouth,leftseminary,andwentontobecomeoneofthemostinfluentialandhighlyrespectedpsychologistsofthepostwarperiodandaleaderintheriseofhumanisticpsychology.Towardtheendofhislife,however,Rogersbecameconvinced,inspiteofhisearlierrejectionofthesupernatural,oftherealityofthespiritworldandthesoul'ssurvivalafterdeath.Thisremarkablechangecameaboutastheresultofhisattendingaseriesofseances,inoneofwhichhiswife,Helen,allegedlymadecontactwithherdeadsister'sdiscarnatespirit.Explainingthatthevoicespeakingthroughthemediumrevealedintimatefacts"thatthemediumcouldnotpossiblyhaveknown,"Rogersdeclared:

Themessageswereextraordinarilyconvincing.ThreeyearsagoIwouldhavethoughtthiswasstupid...Ineverusedtobelieveinimmortality,butnowalltheevidenceshowsthatthere'ssomething

toit.1

Justpriortoherdeath,accordingtoRogers,Helen(whohadalsobeen"agreatskepticaboutpsychicphenomenaandimmortality")nevertheless"'saw'evilfiguresandthedevilbyherhospitalbed...[and]hadvisionsofaninspiringwhitelightwhichcamecloser,liftedherfromthebed,andthendepositedherbackonthebed."2Inwritingabouthiswife'sexperiences,Rogersmentions"RobertMonroe,ahard-headedbusinessmanandengineer"whofoundhimselfsuddenlyoutofhisbodyand,afterrecoveringfromtheinitialfright,eventuallylearnedtoenjoyastraltravelandevenformedacompanytoinitiateothersintoitspleasures.HealsomentionsCarlosCastanedaandhisinitiationintothesorcerer'sworld"wherethe'manofknowledge'hasaspiritally,wheretheimpossibleisexperienced."HealsoalludestoCarlJung'spsychicexperiencesandthoseofothers.ThenRogerscomments:

Theseandotheraccountscannotsimplybedismissedwithcontemptorridicule.Thewitnessesaretoohonest,theirexperiencestooreal.

Alltheseaccountsindicatethatavastandmysteriousuniverse—perhapsaninnerreality,orperhapsaspiritworldofwhichweareallunknowinglyapart—seemstoexist.3

AnEpidemicofSurpriseVisitations

RogersalsoclaimedthatafterHelen'sdeathhewascontactedbyherspirit.PsychologistWilliamKirkKilpatrickwaspresentwhenRogersrelatedthisexperiencetoasmallgroup.Thefatherof"client-centered"therapyconfessedthatasHelenlaydyinghefelt"heavilyburdenedby...herneedforcare"anddecided(truetohisselfistphilosophy)toputhisownsurvivalfirstand"leadhisownlife"separatefromher.Intheprocesshe"formedanewrelationship"coincidentwithHelen'sdeath.Houndedbyguilt,RogersconsultedaOuijaboard."NowheneverbelievedinOuijaboardsbefore,mindyou,"writesKilpatrick,paraphrasingRogers,"andheknowsthiswill

soundstrange...[but]suddenlylettersbegantoform...":ItisHelen,andhermessageisoneofcompleteabsolution:"Enjoy,Carl,enjoy!Befree!Befree!"

"Wellbygosh!"saysRogers,andhewipeshishandupwardacrosshisbrow."WhatawaveofreliefsweptovermewhenIheardthat."

Fromthegroup,exclamationsofawecanbeheard:"That'sincredible!""Fantastic!"

Andnowitseemseveryoneinthegrouphashadtheirmysticalandquasi-mysticalexperiences:...premonitionaldreams,poltergeists,andencounterswithsomethingknownas"thewhitelight."Wheneverthelatterismentionedtherearenodsoffamiliarity,asthoughthewhitelightwereanoldfriendoranewG.E.product.4

Suchexperiences,fairlyrareonlyafewyearsago(oratleastseldomadmitted),arenowalmostcommonplace.Thisisnotbecausesomanymorepeopleareattendingseances.Rather,the"dead"areseeminglycomingtotheliving,surprisingthemwhenthey"appear"or"communicate"fromthespiritworld.UniversityofNorthCarolinaassociateprofessoroffamilymedicineP.RichardOlson"foundthatnearlytwo-thirds(64%)ofwidowsattwoAshevillenursinghomeshadatleast'onceortwice'feltasthoughtheywereintouchwithsomeonewhohaddied"andastartling78percentofthosereportingtheseexperiences"saidtheysawthedeadone."Moreover,Dr.OlsonreportedinGeriatricsToday,"evenpsychoactivedrugsdidn'tendthe'visits.'"5

Supportingthissurprisingtrend,arecentnationwidesurveyfoundthat"nearlyhalfofAmericanadults(42%)nowbelievetheyhavebeenincontactwithsomeonewhohasdied...."Millionsof

Americanshavehadsuchexperiences,sothatournationisnow"livingwithasplitbetweenscientificbeliefandpersonalreality."Andinsteadofdecliningwiththeadvanceofeducationandtechnology,asonemightexpect,thatsplitisgrowingratherrapidly.Thefigureof42percentrepresentsnearlya60percentincreasefromthe

previouspoll11yearsearlier.6Anydiseaseshowingstatisticslikethatwouldberecognizedasepidemic.

Oneofthemostconvincingindicationsthatthe"spiritworld,"thoughinaccessibletoourfivephysicalsenses,doesinfactexistisfoundinthestartlingfrequencywithwhichitintrudesspontaneouslyintothelivesofthosewhoneitherbelieveinnorhavesoughtsuchcontact.Manyofthosetowhom"ghosts"haveunexpectedly"appeared"hadpreviouslyvehementlydeniedtheirexistenceand,oddlyenough,continuedtodosoevenaftertheirexperience.Accordingtothelatestnationalpoll,"30%oftheAmericanswhodonotbelieveinlifeafterdeathstillsaythey'vebeeninpersonalcontactwiththedead."7Thesearenotgulliblessearchingformysticalexperiencesbutaskepticalcrosssectionofintellectualsophisticatestowhomtheseappearancescameasunbelievablesurprises.

EvencadetsattheMilitaryAcademyatWestPoint—thelastplaceonewouldexpectsuchphenomenatosurface—havereportedseeingghosts.Anumberofplebesswearthattheywitnessedseveralappearances,beginningonOctober21,1972,ofaghostlysoldieraboutfive-feet-three-inchestalldressedinfullJackson-eraregalia.The"ghost"repeatedlyappearedanddematerializedinroom4714ofthe4thDivisionbarracks.ThiswasnothingnewatWestPoint,whereanumberofsuch"appearances"havebeenreported.8

Theconsistentnatureofsuchexperiencesdownthroughhistory,evenamongvastlydifferentandwidelyscatteredculturesaroundtheworld,isastrongindicationthatsomethingmorethanhallucinationorsuperstitionisinvolved.PhilosopherImmanuelKantperceptivelyobservedover200yearsagothat"ghost"storiesarebelievedsecretlybutrejectedpubliclybecauseunbeliefisfashionableamongtheeducated.Asforhimself,heconfessedthathewasskepticalaboutanyonestory,buthad"acertainfaithinthe

wholeofthemtakentogether."9Afterdevotinghislifetotheinvestigationofthepsychicworld,CarlJungobservedthatwhileintellectualspubliclyscornbeliefinsuchthings,nevertheless:

Thesameprimitivefearofghostsisstilldeepinourbones,butitisunconscious.

...thingsarecontinuallyhappeningthathaveaccompaniedhumanlifefromtimeimmemorial:premonitions...hauntings,ghosts,returnofthedead,bewitchings,sorcery,magicspells,etc.10

RationalizationandConfusion

Junghimselfgrewupinanatmosphereofseancesandpersistentpoltergeistactivity.Hehadhisfirstpsychicvisionattheageofthree.AndatanevenearlieragethanRogers,hetoorenouncedtheaustereandformalProtestantChristianityinwhichhewasraised.Theoccult,however,wasanobsessionwhichJungcouldneverescape.Andtheodysseywhichhetookfromfirmbelievertoskeptictoreluctantbelieveronceagain(withitsmanytwistsandturnsinbetween)isafascinatingstudy.Inaseriesoflecturesin1897toastudentorganizationatBaselUniversitywhileanundergraduatethere,the22-year-oldJungsaidthat"thesouldoesexist,itisintelligentandimmortal,notsubjecttotimeandspace."Healsoaffirmed"therealityofspiritsandspiritualism,ontheevidenceoftelekinesis,messagesofdyingpeople,hypnotism,clairvoyance...andpropheticdreams."11

Asheprogressedinhisstudiesofpsychology,however,itbecameacademicallyembarrassingtoJungtoadmithispsychicexperiencesandconvictionstohisrationalisticcolleagues.Thencametheshatteringdisillusionmentofcatchinghisfavoritecousinandmediuminfraud.Formanyyearsthereafter,asNandorFodorsowellpointsout,Jungengagedin"maskinghis[occult]involvementandpassionsbehindwordsandphrasesthatwillnotbetoostartlingtotheacademicear...quicktocontradicthimself

wheneverhefeels...hemayhaveindicatedhispersonalinvolvementtoostrongly."12

Jungstruggledtofindtheanswerstolife'sultimatequestionsthroughtheexplorationofthe"psyche."Afteralifetimeofadvisingothersonthissubject,however,andmakingauthoritativepronouncementsaboutitthatarestillcherishedandquotedbymillions,Jungadmittedthat"nooneknowswhat'psyche'is."13Hewasalsorecognizedworldwideasoneoftheforemostexpertsonanallegedextensionofthepsychewhichhecalledthe"collectiveunconscious"oftherace.ThelatterbecameJung's"God,"encompassingboththesourceandsolutionofallproblems.ItwasnotuntilhenearedtheendofhislifethatJungwouldcandidlyadmitthat,farfrombeingthesciencehehadrepresentedthemtobe,everything("allmyworks,allmycreativeactivity")derivedfromhorrendousexperienceswithhauntingspiritentitiesthatnearlydrovehiminsane.

Hidingthesefactsduringmostofhislife,Jung"demythologized"hiscontinuingspiritualexperiences,nomatterhow"real"theyseemed,byidentifyingthemas"exteriorizations"ofsuppressedwishes,fears,memories,andarchetypalimagesdredgedupfromthemythical"collectiveunconscious."SuchexplanationsallowedJungtorationalizeaway,atleastforatime,thedreadimplicationsoftheincrediblypersistentvisitationsfromallmannerof"spiritentities"thatcontinuedtohaunthimthroughouthislife.Thesehorrifyingexperiences,whichledhimtothebrinkofsuicide,reachedacrescendoduringasix-yearperiodofnear-psychoticcollapsefollowingJung'straumaticbreakwithhismentorFreudin1912.Itwasduringthistimethat"Philemon"becamehis"spiritguide."

ADelusionoftheSenses?

Sorealwerethe"spiritsofthedead"thatJungfelthewasattimestravelingwiththemandhadbecometheir"parson."Itwasan

awesomeexperience,withhishouseseeminglyfilledwith"spirits,"underwhoseurgingandinspirationJungsayshisSeptemSermonesadMortuos(SevenSermonstotheDead)"begantoflowoutofme,andinthecourseofthreeeveningsthethingwaswritten."ThiswasoneofJung'skeyworks.Hisanswerstothecrucialquestionsdemandedofhimbythe"spiritsofthedead"concerningthenatureofGod,theuniverse,andmancarriedtheseedsofallofhisfutureworkinpsychology.WhenthestoryofJung'slifewasfinallytold,morethan40yearslater,theAmericanpublisherofMemories,Dreams,ReflectionsleftouttheSevenSermons,apparentlyconsideringthispartofJung'slifetoounbelievable,inspiteofthecrucialrolethatithadplayedintheformulationofhistheories.

Strugglingtoexplainpsychologicallythisapparentreality(ifdemonsexisted,thenperhapssodidthedespisedGodofProtestantism),Jungwrote:"Evenspiritsappeartobepsychicphenomenawhoseoriginslieintheunconscious....Theyare,sofarasmyexperiencegoes,theexteriorizedeffectsofunconsciouscomplexes."Couldsuchstatementsbeanythingmorethandesperaterationalizationsfromthemanwho,in1916,hadbeeninspiredbyascreechingchorusofghoststowriteoneofhismostimportantworks?Jung'sguardedandoften-contradictorypronouncementsonthissubjectbetrayedanambiguousuncertainty."IshallnotcommitthefashionablestupidityofregardingeverythingIcannotexplainasafraud,"hewrotein1919;andin1948hecautioned:"Thosewhoarenotconvincedshouldbewareofnaivelyassumingthatthewholequestionofspiritsandghostshasbeensettledandthatallmanifestationsofthiskindaremeaninglessswindles."

ThisdidnotmeanthatJungwasreadytoadmitthatpsychicphenomenahadanobjectivereality,butonlythattheywere"real"totheunconscious—thoughhecouldneverquitedefinewhatthatmeant.Hisstubbornattemptstoexplainallsuchexperiences(even

thosesovividthattheythoroughlyfrightenedhim)asthe"exteriorizations"ofthecontentsofhisunconscious,whichhad"somehoworother...manifested]themselvesoutwardly,"alwayslackedtheringoffullconviction.14Whilehenevercouldexplain"somehoworother,"thistheorypersistedinspiteofsuchfrighteningexperiencesasthefollowing,whichtookplacein1920duringtheseveralweekendshespentwithafriendatacottageinEngland.InrecountingityearslaterJungwrote:

Thenextweekend...hardlyhadIbeeninbedforhalfanhourthaneverythingwasthereasbefore:thetorpor,therepulsivesmell,thedripping...somethingbrushedalongthewalls,thefurniturecreaked...therewererustlingsinthecorners....

Thephenomenagrewstillmoreintenseduringthefollowingweekend....Icautiouslysuggestedtomyhostthatthehousemightbehaunted,andthatthismightexplainthesurprisinglylowrent....

Thefifthweekendwas...unbearable...therewererustlings,creakings,andhangings;fromoutside,blowsrainedonthewalls.Ihadthefeelingtherewassomethingnearme,andopenedmyeyes.

There,besidemeonthepillow,Isawtheheadofanoldwoman,andtherighteye,wideopen,glaredatme....Ileaptoutofbedwithonebound,litthecandle,andspenttherestofthenightinanarmchair.

...myhealthhadsufferedundertheseexperiences....Iconsideritoutofthequestionthatitwasadelusionofthesenses.15

ContradictionsandReluctantAdmissions

Eventuallynoonewouldrentorbuythehouse,anditwastorndown."Ihaveobservedasufficientnumberofsuchphenomena,"Jungwouldlaterwrite,"tobecompletelyconvincedoftheirreality.Tometheyareinexplicable,andIamthereforeunabletodecideinfavorofanyoftheusualinterpretations...thereisnotasingle

argumentthatcouldprovethatspiritsdonotexist."Yetmixedinwithsuchcautiouscommentsweremoredogmaticpronouncementssuchas:"Iseenoproofwhateveroftheexistenceofrealspirits,anduntilsuchproofisforthcomingImustregardthiswholeterritoryasanappendixofpsychology."16Towardtheendofhislife,however,Jungfootnotedthatstatementin"ThePsychologicalFoundationsofBeliefinSpirits"withthefollowingamendment—notaneasyadmissionforamanasproudasCarlJung:

Aftercollectingpsychologicalexperiencesfrommanypeopleandmanycountriesforfiftyyears,InolongerfeelascertainasIdidin1919,whenIwrotethissentence.

Toputitbluntly,Idoubtwhetheranexclusivelypsychologicalapproachcandojusticetothephenomenainquestion.17

Thatconclusionmusthavetrembledonthetipofhispenforyearsbeforehefinallyputitdownonpaper.Fromabout1946onward,accordingtoAnielaJaffe,hisprivatesecretaryoflongstanding,"Jungwasnolongerabletomaintainwithcertaintyhisoriginalthesisthatspiritsareexteriorizationsorprojectionsofautonomouspsychiccomplexes.Whattheyreallyare,wheretheycomefrom...remainedforhim...abafflingquestion...."18Whilehestillclungtohistheoryofacollectiveunconsciousinhabitedbyarchetypesthatwerelargelysymbolic,hebecameconvincedthatunderlyingitallwere"psychoid"archetypes.BythisJungmeantentitieswhich,thoughtheywerepsychic,couldmanifestthemselvesinapparentphysicalform.

Logicallytheadmissionthatpsychicphenomenainvolvedattimesphysicalmanifestationhadbeendemandedbycommonsenseallalong.ThefactthatJungwaitedsolongtoadmittheobviousisindicativeofdeepinnerturmoil.Thoughhehadbravelypreached"exteriorizations"ofunconsciousimpulsesforyears,Jungmusthavebeenawareoftheincurableflawsinthattheorylong

beforeheopenlyabandonedit.Onecanonlywonderwhyhewaitedmorethan40yearsbeforepublishingthefollowing:

Philemonrepresentedaforcewhichwasnotmyself....Itwashewhotaughtmepsychicobjectivity,therealityofthepsyche....Hewasamysteriousfiguretome.

Attimesheseemedtomequitereal,asifhewerealivingpersonality.Iwentwalkingupanddownthegardenwithhim,andtomehewaswhattheIndianscallaguru.19

Suchadmissionshardlyringtruetothecurrent"scientific"insistence(towhichJunghimselfclungdesperatelyforyears)thatpsychicphenomenaaresomehowcausedbyeruptionsinthepsycheandthusarelittlemorethanvividhallucinations.IntellingofthepoltergeistphenomenawhichhecausedinFreud'spresencewhentheyfirstmet,Jungwritesreproachfully:"Itwassomeyearsbeforehe[Freud]recognizedtheseriousnessofparapsychologyandacknowledgedthefactualityof'occult'phenomena."20Strangecomplaint,consideringthefactthatJunghimselfkepthistrueconvictionsonthesubjectsecretformuchofhislife.ReportedlyFreudsaidthat"ifhehadittodooveragain,hewoulddevotehislifetopsychicalresearch."21WehavefromFreud'sownpeninhislateryearstheadmissionthathehadatlastabandonedhisearlierskepticismonthesubject:

Itnolongerseemspossibletobrushasidethestudyofso-calledoccultfacts;ofthingswhichseemtovouchsafetherealexistenceofpsychicforces...orwhichrevealmentalfacultiesinwhich,untilnow,wedidnotbelieve.22

ChokingonaGnatWhileSwallowingaCamel

Yettodaymostpsychologistsandparapsychologistsstillclingtothetheorywhichthetwofoundersofmodernpsychology,FreudandJung,bothconsidereduntenableandwhichtheyabandoned.Inhisnewbest-selleronpsychicphenomena,BernardGittelson("Mr.

Biorhythm")echoesthepopularviewwhichattributespoltergeistactivityto"pent-upstress"or"severementaldisturbance,"usuallyinanadolescentperson,and"somehow"manifestingitselfinthemysteriousmovingorevenflyingaboutofphysicalobjects.23Parapsychologistsspendyearspainstakinglydesigninglaboratorypsychokinesisexperimentsandmeticulouslydocumentingthemodestresultsproducedbytrainedpsychicsattemptingtomovephysicalobjectssolelywithmindpower.Yetthosesameresearchers,oddlyenough,seemtoseenoinconsistencyindeclaringthatflyingobjectsinapoltergeistsituation,someofthemhugeandfollowingelaboratepatterns,arebeingthrownaboutby"psychicenergy"emanatingfromthe"unconscious"ofsomeunknownpersonwhoistotallyunawareofaccomplishingthisamazingfeat.

Thismythbornof"spiritual"skepticismdieshard.Thewell-known"PhilipExperiment"isamostincrediblecaseinpoint.SeveralmembersoftheCanadianTorontoSocietyofPsychicalResearchmadeupthehistoryofa"ghost"named"Philip,"whoeventually"communicated"withthemthroughtablerappings.(Similareffectshavebeenduplicatedbyotherexperimenters.)Eventuallythetablearoundwhichtheysatwiththeirhandsrestinguponitbegantolevitateandcouldnotbehelddownbytheirweight.Itevensailedaroundtheroomwiththemembersofthegrouphavingtoruntokeepupwithit.

Itsoundsincredible.Mostincredibleofall,however,wasthecontinuedinsistenceoftheseskepticsthatsuchamazingphysicalphenomenawerecausedbythesubconsciousreleaseofamentalforceinnatewithinthemselves—andallwithouttheirbeingawareofwhattheirmindsweredoingorhow!Confessingthatnooneknowshowitworks,theexperimentersarenowdiligentlytryingtounderstandthemysterious"force"allegedlycreatedbytheirpooledsubconsciousminds.Evensupposingthatsucha"force"couldbemeasured,amysterywouldstillremain.Howcouldthis"mind

power"betransmittedtophysicalobjects,causingthemnotonlytomovebuttodosoasthoughunderintelligentdirection,withoutthe"minds"whicharesupposedlycausingthisactivityevenbeingawareofit?24

Itwouldmakemoresensetoassumethatsome"spirit"—allowingthatsuchexist—willinglyadoptedthefictitiousidentityof"Philip"andwaspurposelycausingthephenomena.Theonlyreasonforrejectingsuchahypothesiswouldbetheveryprejudiceagainsttheexistenceofspiritswhichtheexperimentersadmitwastheirmotivation.ItwouldseemthatthesescientistshavenotheededJung'swarningto"bewareofnaivelyassumingthatthewholequestionofghostsandspiritshasbeensettled."

Inspiteofthedebunkingofsuchwidelypublicized"hauntedhouses"asthatdepictedinthebookandmovieTheAmityvilleHorror,thefullydocumentedcasesofpoltergeistactivityobservedbynumerouswitnessessimultaneously,includingpolicewhohavebeencalledtothescene,aretoonumerousandtoowell-knowntoneedfurthercommenthere.Teamsofscientistshaveevensetuptheirinstrumentsandmeticulouslyrecordedandmeasuredintensityofsoundsandtrajectoriesofflyingobjectsandthenreadtheirreportstogatheringsofexperts.25Toseektoexplainallofthisasaprojectionoftelekineticforcefromtheunconsciousmind,whichissubconsciouslydirectedbysomeunknownpersonwithouthisorhercomprehensionofwhatishappening,strainscredulity.Theevidence,asCarlJunghimselfhadtoadmit(thoughreluctantly),pointsstronglytotheinvolvementofnonphysicalintelligencesinpoltergeistactivity.Todismissthatpossibilityoutofhandandclingtothe"unconsciously-directed-mind-power"hypothesiswouldseemtobechokingonagnatwhileswallowingacamel.LawrenceLeShan,recognizedasoneoftheworld'sleadingparapsychologists,writesinhislatestbook,TheScienceoftheParanormal:

Thefeelingonegetswhenagoodmediumisintranceandtalking

asthoughshewerethespiritofsomeonebiologicallydeadisfrequentlyveryconvincing.Itcanfeelsorealthatitcurlsyourhair.

However,sincethescientificviewtodayisthatabeliefinspiritsis,atbest,ranksuperstition,andsinceparapsychologistswantverymuchtobethoughtofasscientists,theproblem[ofwhether"spirits"mightbeinvolved]hasbeenabandoned.26

TheDeepSilkHatoftheMagiciansoftheMind

Thatisasorryadmission.AndmosttragicisthefactthatLeShan,whohasbeenatirelesscrusaderfortruthinparapsychology,letsthesubjectdroptherewiththefurtherlameadmission,"Wehavesimplyacceptedthesolutionmostinlinewiththepopularmetaphysicsofourtime."Sothebandofmaterialismcontinuestoplaythesameoldtune,andtoomanyresearchersdanceinsteplikerobots.InhisrecentlypublishedESP,Hauntings,andPoltergeists:AParapsychologist'sHandbook,LoydAuerbach(whowasPublicInformationandMediaConsultanttotheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearchandnowteachesparapsychologyatJohnF.KennedyUniversity)declaresasthoughitwerescientificfact:

Poltergeistexperiences...are,bythecurrentlyheldmodel,relatedtothesubconsciousmindofaperson...inastress-relatedtense,andfrustratingsituation....

Forsomereason,thereactiontothestressisasubconsciouslydirectedpsychokineticoutburst...theapparentreactionofthesubconsciousmindtakesplaceonapsychokineticchannel.27

Herewehavetheparapsychologist'sapplicationofthemodernmythoftheall-powerfulandall-knowingUnconscious.FreudandJungsharemostofthecreditforpopularizingthisWesternizedformofEasternreligion's"All-is-One"philosophybycloakingitinscientificterminology.Yetthetheoryofthe"unconscious"solvesnoproblemsandonlyraisesmoreunanswerablequestions.Atbestitisacop-outandatworstapieceofsophistrydesignedtocoverup

ignorancewiththelanguageofacademia.AsAllanBloomsoaptlyputit:

Biologistscan'tevenaccountforconsciousnesswithintheirscience,letalonetheunconscious.SopsychologistslikeFreudareinanimpossiblehalfwayhousebetweenscience,whichdoesnotadmittheexistenceofthephenomenahewishestoexplain,andtheunconscious,whichisoutsidethejurisdictionofscience.28

Noonecouldcalculatethebillionsofhoursandtheprodigiouseffortandfortunesspentaroundtheworldinconsultingpsychologistsandpsychiatristsbytheuntoldmillionsoffaithfulbelieversinthishighlypromotedmyth.Thosehonoredhighpriestsandmediatorsoftheomnipotent/omniscientunconscioushaveundergonetheesotericinitiationthatqualifiesthemtointerpretthesymboliclanguageofthis"Godwithin"throughinkblots,dreams,Freudianslipsofthetongue,hypnotic"regression,"andanalmostendlesslistofotheringenioustechniquesinventedbyleadersofthecraftforconsultingthisinneroracle.Beholdthedeepsilkhatfromwhichthemagiciansofthemindpulloutalltheircuresandrationalizations!AsinvestigativejournalistMartinL.GrossperceptivelyobservesinThePsychologicalSociety:

OneofthemostpowerfulreligiousideasofthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcenturyistheGreatUnconscious...[emphasishis].

InthisreligionoftheUnconscious,ourconsciousmindisasecond-classbeing...amerepuppetoftheunknowntrueself....

IsthereanUnconscious?...Fromascientificpointofview,itisatheologicaldevicewhichfillsthegapinman'sbiologicalignorance....29

TheMaterialists'ParanoiaAboutSpirits

WhileGrossaccuratelyarguesthatthereisinfactnotashredofscientificevidencetosupportthemythicalpowersattributedtotheunconscious,hebetrayshisownmaterialisticbias.Noamountof

biologicalinsightwilleverexplainpsychicphenomena.SirArthurEddingtonpointedoutthatdemandingaphysicalexplanationformentalorspiritualeventsmadenomoresensethanattempting"toextractthesquarerootofasonnet."Andtoimaginethatconsciousnessisruledbythelawsofphysicsandchemistry,addedEddington,"isaspreposterousasthesuggestionthatanationcouldberuledby...thelawsofgrammar."30

WhatEddingtonsojustlyscornswaswidelytakenforgranted40yearsago,butnottoday.AttheHixonsymposiumin1948,forexample,biologistK.S.Lashleydeclared"asthecommonbeliefofalltheparticipants"thenotionthat"allmanifestationsoflifecanultimatelybeexplainedbythelawsgoverninginanimatematter."PhilosopherMichaelPolanyiindignantlycalledthatassumption"patentnonsense."ComplainingthatLashleyhadmadethisremark"withoutevenconsultinghisdistinguishedcolleagues,"Polanyilaterwrote:

Themoststrikingfeatureofourownexistenceisoursentience[consciousness].Thelawsofphysicsandchemistryincludenoconceptionofsentience,andanysystemwhollydeterminedbythese[physicallaws]mustbeinsentient[i.e.withoutconsciousness].

Itmaybetotheinterestsofsciencetoturnablindeyeonthiscentralfactoftheuniverse,butitiscertainlynotintheinterestoftruth.31

InfullagreementwithPolanyi,SirJohnEccleswrites:"...nowhereinthelawsofphysicsorinthelawsofthederivativesciences,chemistryandbiology,isthereanyreferencetoconsciousnessormind...itsemergenceisnotreconcilablewiththenaturallawsasatpresentunderstood."32Ifconsciousnesscannotbeexplainedinphysicalterms,thenitmustinvolvesomethingnonphysical.Thatis,ofcourse,whythereissuchreluctancetoabandonamaterialisticexplanationinspiteofitsincurableflaws.Themotivationmay,however,involvemorethanacademicpride

andprejudice.Coulditbethattherealskeletonintheclosetisthevery"fearofghosts"thatJungclaimedisstillinthebonesofeventhemosthighlyeducatedandskepticalamongus?

Thedenialoftheexistenceofspiritbeingscouldhaveseriousconsequences.RichardWatring'smajorconcernovertechniquesforalteringconsciousnessbeingintroducedintothebusinessworldisthefactthattheyoften,evenwhennotsointended,leadtocontactwith"spiritentities"whoinfactmayhaveevilintentions."Consciousnessresearchers,"writesWatring,"reportthatsubjectswhoreachcertainstatesofalteredconsciousnessoftenencounter'other'entities...regardlessofthemethodusedtoreachthestate."33Moreover,thecontactwith"spiritguides"isnolongerincidental,butisbeingdeliberatelycultivated.

Isittheuncannyfeelingthatnonphysicalintelligencesofsomekindmightinfactexistthatcausesthescientificcommunitytostrainsohardtofindanexplanationthatwilleliminatethispossibility?Infactitsdesignersadmitthattheentiremotivationbehindthefamous"PhilipExperiment"wasto"prove"thatspiritsarenotinvolvedatallinpsychicphenomena.Consequently,everythingthathappenedwasinterpretedinharmonywiththeoriginalprejudice.Asamemberofonegroupdeclared:"Weclearlyunderstandandhaveprovedthatthereisno'spirit'[involved]."Ofcoursetheyhadn'tprovedthatatall;butwhywasthis"proofsoimportantthattheentireexperimentwasdesignedtoproduceit?

Aswehaveseen,CarlJungspentmuchofhislifetryingtoescapehisearlierconvictionthatspiritsdoinfactexist.Itisundoubtedlytheinevitableimplicationswhichwouldfollowthatmakethispossibilitysodistastefulthatalmostanyothertheory,nomatterhowabsurd,isconsideredmoreacceptable.Revealinghisowninnerturmoilandunscientificreluctancetofacetheclearbutacademicallydemeaningevidence,Jungconfided:

Ioncediscussedtheproofofidentity[of"channeled"entities]fora

longtimewithafriendofWilliamJames,ProfessorHyslop,inNewYork.Headmittedthat,allthingsconsidered,allthesemetapsychicphenomenacouldbeexplainedbetterbythehypothesisofspiritsthanbythequalitiesandpecularitiesoftheunconscious.

Andhere,onthebasisofmyownexperience,Iamboundtoconcedeheisright.IneachindividualcaseImustofnecessitybeskeptical,butinthelongrunIhavetoadmitthatthespirithypothesisyieldsbetterresultsinpracticethananyother.34

YetpsychologistJeanHouston,whoclaimstofollowtheJungiantradition,neverthelesscannotacceptwhatJunghimselffelthewasdrivenbytheevidencetoacknowledge.Sheinsiststhattheentitiesthatspeakthroughchannelsormediumsaresomehow(noexplanationoffered)"projectionsandcreationsoftheimmensitythatisthepersonalandcollectiveunconscious...'goddings'ofthedepthsofthepsyche...personaeoftheselfthattakeonacceptableformsothatwecanhaverelationshiptothemandthusdialogue[withourselves]."WhytheGodoftheBibleisoutdatedsuperstitionand"'goddings'ofthedepthsofthepsyche"(whateverthatmaybe)ismodernscienceisnotexplainedbyHouston.Consultingsomeonewiserandmoreexperiencedthanoneselfusedtobethewaytoacquirewisdom,butnowtheultimateistotakecounselfromoneself—theso-called"HigherSelf"(thoughnoonecanexplainwhatthisactuallymeans).

FacedwithaCruelDilemma

Whythisinsistenceuponinsupportabletheories?Onesensesadeepermotivationthanmerestubbornnessorpride:somethingmoreakintofear,butafearmaskedeitherwithconsiderableblusterorwithsophisticateddenialsthatclaimtohavethesupportofscience.Itwouldbetooterrifyingtoadmittheexistenceofaspiritdimensionoverwhichsciencehasnocontrol.Consequentlythereisanattempttoexplainspiritualexperiencewithinamaterialisticframework.Theresultisamythologizedscience.

InhisclassicTheScrewtapeLetters,CambridgeandOxfordUniversitiesscholarC.S.Lewis,whoearlierinhislifederidedabeliefindemons,presentedhypotheticallywhattheirstrategytowardhumansmightbeifdemonsdidinfactexist.LewisdepictsaninterestingcharacternamedScrewtape(aseniordevil)advisinghisnephewWormwood(ajuniordevil)howtodealwithhishuman"patients.""Ifanyfaintsuspicionofyourexistencebeginstoariseinhis[yourpatient's]mind,"explainsScrewtape,"suggesttohimapictureofsomethinginredtights,andpersuadehimthatsincehecannotbelieveinthat(itisanoldtextbookmethodofconfusingthem)hethereforecannotbelieveinyou."Abitlater,divulgingthelong-rangeplansofthepowersofdarkness,ScrewtapeconfidesinWormwood:

We[demons]arereallyfacedwithacrueldilemma.Whenthehumansdisbelieveinourexistenceweloseallthepleasingresultsofdirectterrorismandwemakenomagicians.

Ontheotherhand,whentheybelieveinus,wecannotmakethemmaterialistsandskeptics.Atleastnotyet.

Ihavehopesthatweshalllearninduetimehowtoemotionaliseandmythologisetheirsciencetosuchanextentthatwhatis,ineffect,abeliefinus(thoughnotunderthatname),willcreepinwhilethehumanmindremainsclosedtobeliefintheEnemy[God].

The"LifeForce,"theworshipofsexandsomeaspectsofPsychoanalysis,mayhereproveuseful.Ifoncewecanproduceourperfectwork—theMaterialistMagician,theman,notusing,butveritablyworshipping,whathevaguelycalls"Forces"whiledenyingtheexistenceof"spirits"—thentheendofourwarwillbeinsight.35

Lewiswaspresentinginparablewhathehadcometobelieveafteranagonizingreassessmentofhisformeratheism.Thepossibilitythat"spiritentities,"evenevilones,mayexistindependentofmankindandcapableofinfluencinghumanminds,cannolongerberelegatedtoprimitivesuperstition.Inadditiontothepsychologistsandscientistsalreadymentioned,manymore

couldbequotedwhohavecometosimilarconclusions.SurelytheconcernexpressedbyJamesHyslop,ColumbiaUniversityprofessoroflogicandethicswithwhomJunghadthatimportantdiscussion,warrantsseriousconsideration:

Ifwebelieveintelepathy,webelieveinaprocesswhichmakespossibletheinvasionofapersonalitybysomeoneatadistance.

Itisnotatalllikely...thatsaneandintelligentspiritsaretheonlyonestoexert[such]influence...thereisnoreasonwhyotherscannotdosoaswell.36

[8]Psychotherapy:TheReligious"Science"Strangethoughitmayseem,theunscientifictheoryofthe

"unconscious"hasprovidedthemajor"scientificallyacceptable"explanationforNewAgeoccultphenomena—anexplanationthatitwashopedwouldtaketheplaceofthebeliefinspiritsthathasbeenthecommonunderstandinginallculturesforthousandsofyears.ThistheorythatMartinL.Grosscalls"oneofthemostpowerfulreligiousideasofthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury"hasbeenusedbythehighpriestsofpsychologytosuppressallreligionsotherthantheirown.UponthisshakyfoundationpsychologistshavebuiltwhatGrosscalls"aninternationalcolossuswhoseprofessionalminionsnumberinthehundredsofthousands...[andwhose]experimentalanimalsareanobliging,evengratefulhumanrace."1Inshort,whatFreudandJungstartedistodayamulti-billion-dollarinternationalindustrywitharecordofgrowththatfewbluechipstocksonWallStreethavematched.

Thereissomethinginsidious,however,aboutthisspectaculargrowth.Psychologyhaschangedtheworld'sthinking,lifestyles,andstandardsthroughwhatGrossagainpointsoutisa"newtruth[which]isfedtouscontinuouslyfrombirthtothegrave"—a"truth"thatiscomposedofunprovenandcontradictorytheories.InTheMythofNeurosis,BritishpsychiatristGarthWoodbluntlychargesthat"whathasbecomebigbusinessisinfactfraud.Theevidencedoesnotsupporttheclaimsofpsychoanalysisandpsychotherapy."2

TheUnscientific"Science"

AlengthystudyappointedbytheAmericanPsychological

Association(subsidizedbytheNationalScienceFoundationandinvolving80eminentscholars)concludedthatpsychologyisnotandcannotbeascience.Thisisthecaseinspiteofdecadesspentin"ritualisticendeavortoemulatetheformsofscienceinordertosustainthedelusionthatitalreadyisascience."3KarlPopper,consideredtobeoneofthegreatestphilosophersofscience,hasconcludedthatpsychologicaltheorieshave"moreincommonwithprimitivemythsthanwithscience...."4

PsychiatristLeeColemantitledhisexposéofpsychiatryTheReignofError.Havingtestifiedinmorethan130criminalandciviltrials,Colemanexplainedthathistaskwas"toeducatethejudgeorjuryaboutwhytheopinionsproducedbytheseprofessionals[psychologists/psychiatrists]havenoscientificmerit."5Unfortunately,fewofColeman'sandWood'scolleaguesarewillingtobeasforthright—itwouldmeanthedismantlingofaworldwideempirethatgrosses15billiondollarsormoreannuallyintheUnitedStatesalone.Anyfactsthatwouldendangerthefutureofthishugeindustryarekeptasprofessionalsecretsamongitsmembers.

Itwouldbetooharshtoaccusetheaveragepsychotherapistofdeliberatelyperpetratingahoax,andthatiscertainlynotourintention.Nevertheless,whatGross,Coleman,Woodandsomeothersaresayingisthatthemethodsbeingpracticedonthepublicareofdubiousvalueatbest,areharmfulatworst,andarebaseduponcontradictoryandchangingtheoriesforwhichthereisnoproofbutwhichmustbeacceptedbyfaith.

Inanarticletitled"PsychologyGoesInsane,BotchesRoleasScience,"psychologistRogerMillswrites:"Ihavepersonallyseentherapistsconvincetheirclientsthatalloftheirproblemscomefromtheirmothers,thestars,theirbiochemicalmake-up,theirdiet,theirlife-styleandeventhe'kharma'fromtheirpastlives."6Howcansuchunscientificdiagnosesbemadeandacceptedinthenameofscience?Unfortunately,withthegreatestofease.

TheAntireligiousReligion

PsychologywasenvisionedbyFreudandmanyofhissuccessorsasthemeansofdeliveringtheworldfromreligion—thatstubbornhumanderivativewhichFreudtermed"theobsessionalneurosisofhumanity"andMarxcalled"theopiateofthemasses."Instead,psychologyhasenslavedtheworldtothepriesthoodanddogmasofpsychotherapy.Farfrombeingselflesscrusadersforfreedom,FreudandJungeachhadtheirulteriormotives,whichbecamethepassionalsooftheirdisciples.Onepsychologisthaswritten,"ItappearsthatcertainofthemostinfluentialpioneersinAmericanpsychologyfoundinitanidealvehicleforrenouncingtheirownChristianupbringinginthenameofscience."7ProfessorofpsychiatryThomasSzaszdeclares:

ThepopularimageofFreudasanenlightened,emancipated,irreligiouspersonwho,withtheaidofpsychoanalysis,"discovered"thatreligionisamentalillnessispurefiction....

OneofFreud'smostpowerfulmotivesinlifewasthedesiretoinflictvengeanceonChristianity....8

Thatdesire,ofcourse,necessarilyinvolvedwhatSzaszcalled"thecleverandcynicaldestructionofthespiritualityofman,anditsreplacementbyapositivistic'scienceofmind.'"9ClinicalpsychologistBernieZilbergeldagrees:"ThosewhoseancestorstookcomfortfromthewordsofGodandworshipedatthealtarsofChristandYahwehnowtakesolacefromandworshipatthealtarsofFreud,Jung,CarlRogers...andahostofsimilarauthorities."10Rogershimself,whohadturnedsharplyagainsthisformerChristianbeliefs,admitted:"Yes,itistrue,psychotherapyissubversive....

Therapy,theoriesandtechniquespromoteanewmodelofmancontrarytothatwhichhasbeentraditionallyacceptable."11Onlyupontheruinsoftraditionalreligioncouldthetheologiansofpsychologybuildtheirnewsecularfaith.Asanotherwriterpoints

out:PsychologyTodayhas,fromtheveryfirst,takenitsreligiousresponsibilitiesseriously.Alreadyinitssecondyear(1969)theywereobservingthatpsychologymusthelpman"faceourowninnerexperienceswithouttheguidanceoftraditional...foundationstonesofJudeo-Christianexperience.

"LeftwithoutcollectivelysanctionedGod-valuesandmoralabsolutes,wearecompelledtoerectourownmorality,arriveatourownfaithandbelief,anddiscoverthemeaningofourownexistence."

In...thesameyearinPT,RolloMaydeclaredthat"wehavebidgoodbyetothetheologiansatthewakeforourdeadGod."12

ViennesejournalistKarlKraushascalledpsychoanalysis"thefaithofagenerationincapableofanyother."13JeanHoustonmakesnoapologyforpresentingpsychologyasa"scientific"religionandishighlyacclaimedfordoingso.Integratingancientocculttheoriesandpracticesintomodernpsychotherapy,Houstonpresentsanextremelypopularworkshopcalled"Therapeia,"whichsheexplainsisliterally"doingtheworkofthegods...restoring'sacrality'topsyche."ThomasSzasztitledoneofhisbooks,writtentodebunkhisownprofession,TheMythofPsychotherapy.Inithecalledpsychotherapy"notmerelyareligionthatpretendstobeascience...[but]afakereligionthatseekstodestroytruereligion."14

Intheplaceoftraditionaltheologies,anew"scientific"religionwasoffered,mediatedbyanewclassofpriests.Humanbehaviorwouldbeexplainedwithoutresortingtosoul,spirit,God,Satan,angels,demons,sin,orguilt.Paradisewouldberestoredbypointingmenandwomentotheirowninherentgoodnessandinfiniteinnerpotential.Itwasmadeperfectlyclear,however,thattheroadtoUtopiainvolvedsubmittingeveryareaofsocietytothemandateofthenewpriesthood.

TheNewIdeologyofIntervention

Thatpriesthoodconsidersitselfcompetenttoextendtotheentirepopulacethecontrolitnowexercisesoverpatientsinpsychiatricwards.Forexample,in1973PsychologyTodaypublishedtheproposalthat"parentsbelicensedtohavechildrenonlyupondemonstratingasoundunderstandingof'behaviordevelopment,''principlesofreinforcement,''stimulus-controlgeneralization,'andothertruthsdispensedbypsychologists.Itwasrecommendedthatnon-licensedcoupleswouldbesubjectto'mandatorybirth-control.'"15

Alreadyin1971thepresidentoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationhad"proposedthatpsychologistsbepermittedtoadministerbehaviormodificationdrugstothenation'selectedandmilitaryleaderstoreversetheir'nonadaptiveprimitiveaggressionimpulses.'"Althoughthatproposalmaynotyethavebeenimplemented,drugsnowplayamajorroleinpsychiatry,butfewvoicesareraisedinprotest.YetasMarylandpsychiatristPeterBregginremindsus,thedrugsused"to'torture'Russianpoliticaldissidentsareexactlythesamedrugsusedto'treat'mentalpatientsthroughouttheWesternworld.""Weareappalled,"Bregginadds,"tohearthatRussiandissidentsarehavingtheirmindsbluntedandbodiestorturedbymajortranquilizers,butwetoleratethesametreatmentofthoseofourcitizenswhohavebeenlabeledmentallyillbythepsychiatricestablishment."16Itisfrighteningtoconsiderfuturesocietycontrolledbypsychiatristsandpsychologistswhodeterminebytheirowninquisitorialreligiousstandardswhatbehavioris"normal"anddictatethefateofthosewhofailtomeasureup.

In1984,StanfordUniversity'sAlumniAssociationpublishedaninterestingcollectionofpapersbyexpertsexaminingthequestionofwhetherwehadarrivedattheyear1984aheadoforbehindGeorgeOrwell'sscenario.Theconclusionsofsomeofthewriters

weredevastating.ReferencewasmadetotheabuseofpsychiatryintheSovietUnion;anditwaspointedoutthatequallyfrighteningpossibilitiesexisteveninaso-calledfreesociety.Remarkingthat"Orwelldeservescreditforseeingthepotentialpowerofprofessionalswhomsocietysanctionstointerveneintothelivesofitscitizens'fortheirowngood,'"PhilipG.ZimbardopointedoutthatOrwellhadnevertheless"barelyhintedattheextentanddepthofthatpowerwhichissoevidentinour1984."Zimbardocontinued:

[In]thenewideologyofintervention...insteadofpunishment,torture,exile,andothertricksofthetyranttrade,weareseeingsuchtricksofthetreatmenttrade:interventionastherapy,education,socialservice,reform,retraining,andrehabilitation.

InacriticalattackontheroleofthementalhealthestablishmentasthenewPartyofour1984,investigativejournalistPeterSchragwarnsusoftheinsidiousdangerinherentintheunquestioningacceptanceofitsseeminglybenignideology.17

"TheOlympianGlibnessofPsychoanalyticThought"

Inspiteofthemessianichopeswithwhichitwasoriginallygreeted—hopesfortheredemptionoftheworldthroughscientificbehavior-modificationofthemasses—thenewpanaceaofpsychotherapyprovedtobeadismalfailure.TheattemptstodealwithhumanproblemsonthebasisofFreudian/Jungiantheoriesoftheunconscioushavespawnedmorethan250contradictorytherapiesand10,000competingtechniques.Takeyourpick,fromsexwithyourpsychologistas"therapy"toavarietyof"PrimalScreams."Inthelatter,apatientgetsintoanadult-sizecrib,sucksabottle,cuddlesadoll,andscreams,"Mommy,Daddy,Ihateyou!"inordertogetbacktothat"primalpoolofpain,"whichallegedlyholdsthekeytopresentproblems.

The"analysis"ofhumanbehaviorthroughtheallegedexplorationoftheunconscioushasinvolvedsomeofthemostincrediblemethodsimaginable.Take,forexample,theRorschachinkblottest,

whichhasbeeninuseforabout60years.Tocallthismeansofexploringthepsyche"scientific"wouldbeamacabrejoke.Yettheofficial"interpretation"isexplainedconfidently,andtheantireligiousbiasispresentedasamatteroffact.TheRorschachinstructionmanualdeclaresthatifanyonetakingthetestshouldhappentoseesomereligioussymbolisminoneoftheodd-shapedinkblotsonthetencardspresented,itisasignofschizophreniaorsexualpreoccupation.IntheMentalMeasurementsYearbook,ArthurJensenwrites:"Putfrankly,theconsensusofqualifiedjudgmentisthattheRorschach...hasnopracticalworthforanyofthepurposesforwhichitisrecommendedbyitsdevotees."18Yetthisabsurd"test,"socostlyfrombothamonetaryandemotionalstandpoint,isstillbeingadministeredtoaboutonemillionpersonsannually.

LongbeforeShirleyMacLainesawthelight,psychologistJeanHoustonwasalreadyestablishedasoneofthebrighteststarsonthehigher-consciousnessseminarcircuit.Thishighpriestessof"sacredpsychology"dazzlesheraudienceswithesotericJungianabracadabraaboutsuchimponderablesas"archetypaldimensionsofthepsyche"and"theconstellationofpsycho-physicalpotentialsandpsycho-spiritualpatterns...."19Asthoughshewererepresentinganestablishedscience,Houstoninvokesthe"physicsofconsciousness"andexpoundsupon"theecologyofinnerspace"[emphasisours].Referringtosucharrogance(sotypicaloftheentirepsychology/psychiatryprofession),GarthWoodwrites:"Theeffronteryofthesebrazenpseudoscientificposeurstakesawaythebreath."

Analyzingacrosssectionofideaspresentedatthe23rdInternationalPsychoanalyticCongressinStockholm,SirPeterMedawarfound"theself-satisfiedself-confidenceintheimportanceoftheirinsights...[tobe]sinister."Afterpresentingexamplesoftheunsupportableandwildlyimaginative"interpretations"ofdreamsandbehavior,whichrivaledtheirpatients'mostbizarrefantasies,Sir

Peterconcludes:Ihavenotchosentheseexamplestopokefunatthem,ridiculousthoughIbelievethemtobe,butsimplytoillustratetheOlympianglibnessofpsychoanalyticthought.ThecontributorstothisCongresswereconcernedwith...difficultproblems...farlesseasytograpplewithormakesenseofthananythingthatconfrontsusinthelaboratory.

Butwhereshallwefindtheevidenceofhesitancy...thatiscommonplaceinaninternationalcongressof,say,physiologistsorbiochemists?Alava-flowofadhocexplanationpoursoverandaroundalldifficulties,leavingonlyafewsmoothlyroundedprominencestomarkwheretheymighthavelain.20

AnUnparalleledInternationalScandal

Theevidencethatpsychotherapiesareharmfulismounting.Unfortunately,thedamningtruthhasbeen(andstillis)systematicallycoveredupinwhatamountstoaninternationalscandalunparalleledinhistory.Inavaliantattempttoalerthisreaders,GarthWoodpointsoutthatanewprescriptiondrugmustbethoroughlyandrepeatedlytested(notonlyonitsownmeritsbutinrelationtocompetingpills)andmustmeetstrictstandardsbeforetheFoodandDrugAdministrationwillapproveitforpublicconsumption.Yetpsychotherapyhasbeenlicensedwithanabandonthatisnothingshortofcriminal,inspiteofthefactthatadrugproducingthesameresultswouldbequicklybannedbytheFDA.Likeningpsychoanalysistoanewdrug,PsychiatristWoodasksus"todreamthenightmare":

Whatifnobodybotheredtotestmypill...[and]anarmyofsmooth-tonguedsalespeople...travelthe...worldfloggingmypillunscrupulouslytothesadandafflicted...abandofdedicatedmen,possessedofanalmostmessianicbeliefinmypill'sefficacy,wearingthecloakofscience...peddlingittothosewhosejudgmentthediseasehadweakenedinthedesperationoftheirdesiretobemadewhole.

Livethroughthenightmareandexperienceawholeindustryprofitingfromandpreyingonthegullible,thedisappointed,theweak,astheysellshamelesslytheirsnakeoilequivalent,their"guaranteed"restorer....

Now,asyouwakeinacoldsweat...considerFreudianpsychoanalysis.Itisnowwellovereightyyearssincethepsychoanalytic"pill"wasinvented,andyetin1985,ArnoldCooper,apastpresidentoftheAmericanPsychoanalyticAssociation,wasquotedintheNewYorkTimesassaying,"...thetimehascometorecastpsychoanalyticassumptionssothattheycanbetestedscientifically."...

Thesituationismind-boggling...psychoanalysis[has]...neverbeenvalidatedbythescientificmethod....Ofcourse,manyofushaveknownallalongthatpsychoanalysiswasscientificallybankrupt....

Whyshouldthedoctorswhodispensethis"therapy"beimmunefromtheattentionsofthegovernmentwatchdogswhoprotectusfromotherscientificallydisreputable"cures"?Fortheirs,Iamafraid,isthe"pill"ofthenightmare.Untestedandunproved,itisdispensedbytheunscientificfortheconsumptionoftheunhappy.21

LawrenceLeShan,pastpresidentoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychology,hassuggestedthatpsychotherapywillprobablybeknownasthehoaxofthetwentiethcentury.Yetitspopularityandinfluenceinsocietycontinuetogrowalmostexponentiallyanditsmushroomingarmyofunabashedmissionariespersistsinfoistinguponthepublicitsmessianicmyths,whichLanceLeecalls"religionhiddenbeneathscientificverbiage."22Afterinvestigatinghisownprofessionformorethan15years,clinicalpsychologistBernieZilbergeldwroteTheShrinkingofAmerica:MythsofPsychologicalChange.Inalaterinterviewheexplained:

Oneofthemostconsistentandimportanteffectsof[psychological]counselingisadesireformorecounseling...itisnolongerunusualtomeetpeoplewhoarelookingfor...atherapistto

resolveproblemscausedinaprevioustherapy....Thereisabsolutelynoevidencethatprofessionaltherapistshaveanyspecialknowledgeofhowtochangebehavior,orthattheyobtainbetterresults—withanytypeofclientorproblem—thanthosewithlittleornoformaltraining.23

Intheirbest-sellingbookPsychoheresy,educationalpsychologistMartinBobganandhiswife,Deidre,pointoutthattheCambridge-SomervilleYouthStudyof1935"iswell-knowntoresearchersbutlittleknowntothepublic,"havingbeensuppressedforobviousreasons.Itbeganwiththeselectionof650boysagedsixtotenwhowereconsideredlikelytodevelopdelinquentbehavior.Thesubjectsweredividedintotwogroupsasequalineveryrespectaspossible.Onegroupreceivednotreatment,whileeachboyintheothergroupwasprovidedallofthebenefitsavailable:academictutoring,BoyScouts,YMCA,summercamps,andaboutfiveyearsofeitherpsychoanalysisorRogeriantherapy.Abouttwo-thirdsoftheparticipants(bothcounselorsandboys)agreedthatgreatbenefitshadresulted.Itappearedcertainthatthishugeprojectwouldconclusivelydemonstratetheefficacyofpsychotherapy.

Imaginethesurprisewhenthefirstfollow-upstudiesin1948revealedslightlymoredelinquentbehaviorinthegroupthathadreceivedthetreatmentthanamongthosewhohadreceivednone.The30-yearfollow-upin197824revealedanevengreaterdisparitybetweenthetreatmentandnontreatmentgroups.Theincidenceofcriminalbehavior,mentalandworkproblems,andalcoholismwasfargreateramongthosewhohadreceivedthepsychotherapythanthosewhohadnot.Insteadofdemonstrating,ashadbeenanticipated,thebenefitsofpsychotherapy,theCambridge-SomervilleYouthStudyactuallydemonstrateditsharmfulness.Therearemanyotherskeletonsinthepsychotherapycloset—aclosetthatiskepttightlyshutlestanunsuspectingpubliclearnthetruth.

BridgetotheEast

Ratherthanabandontheirobviouslybankruptprofession,manypsychologistsandpsychiatristshavecompoundedtheirerrorbytryingtoshoreuptheircollapsinghouseofcardswithEasternmysticismofoneformoranother.Havingfailedmiserablytochangetheirclients'behavior,thepsychotherapistsreacheddeeperintotheirsilkhatandpulledoutalteredstatesofconsciousness,thesamemagiclongusedbythe"traditionalpsychologistsfromtheEast"—thegurus,Yogis,andshamans.Achangeofconsciousnessbecamethekeytoeverything,eventhoughnooneyetknewwhatitwasthatwasbeingchanged.

IncreasingnumbersofpsychologistsandpsychiatristsarebeingdrawnintoEasternmysticismbecauseoftheirdiscoverythatitofferstheverytransformationofconsciousnesswhichpsychotherapyseekstoeffect.Atthe25thAnnualMeetingofTheAssociationforHumanisticPsychology,heldonAugust5-9,1987,participantsshared"channeling,rebirthing,energyhealing,metaphysicalcounseling"aswellas"consciousnessgroupwork."The"traditionalmorningmeditation,yogaandaerobicsprograms”wereenhancedwith"someofthenewhigh-tech,whole-brainsynchronizationtechniques."

Representativeofthisgrowingtrend,PsychiatristRudolphBallentineandclinicalpsychologistAllanWeinstockhavebothstudiedundergurusinIndia.WeinstockisnowknownasSwamiAjayaafterhisordinationasaHindumonk.BallentineandAjayajoinedSwamiRamaofChicago'sHimalayanInstituteincoauthoringYogaandPsychotherapy:TheEvolutionofConsciousness.InittheyexplainedthatYoga"hasofferedforthousandsofyears"whatWesternpsychotherapists"areseeking."25AsUniversityofCaliforniaprofessorJacobNeedlemanhassaid:

AlargeandgrowingnumberofpsychotherapistsarenowconvincedthattheEasternreligionsofferanunderstandingofthemindfarmorecompletethananythingyetenvisagedbyWesternscience.

Atthesametime,theleadersofthenewreligionsthemselves—thenumerousgurusandspiritualteachersnowintheWest—arereformulatingandadaptingthetraditionalsystemsaccordingtothelanguageandatmosphereofmodernpsychology.26

Easternreligionandvariousformsofoccultismarenowpackagedinpsychologicalterminologyfortwentieth-centurypublicconsumption.AbrahamMaslow's"self-actualization"shouldhavebeeneasilyrecognizedasaWesternizedversionofYoga's"selfrealization,"butthatconnectionwasslowinbeingacknowledged.PsychologistDanielGolemanwasamongthefirsttopointoutthatEasternphilosophies"seemtobemakinggradualheadway[intheWest]aspsychologies,notasreligions."27Thattransmutationshouldhavesurprisednoone,forasLeShanexplains,"Thebasicmodelofmanthatledtothedevelopmentof[Eastern]meditationaltechniquesisthesamemodelthatledtohumanisticpsychotherapy."28"TheMedicineWomanofBeverlyHills,"LynnAndrews,recentlytoldtheLosAngelesTimes:

Shamanismisreallylikegestalttherapy.It'slikeprimaltherapy,andithasalotofJungianinit.29

AccordingtoresearchpsychiatristE.FullerTorrey,"ThetechniquesusedbyWesternpsychiatristsare,withfewexceptions,onexactlythesamescientificplaneasthetechniquesusedbywitchdoctors."30Arecenttestmeasuringpsychotherapistsagainstwitchdoctorsendedinadeadheat,themajordifferencebeingthatthewitchdoctorschargedlessandreleasedtheirpatientssooner.NobelistRichardFeynmandescribespsychotherapyas"notascience...[but]morelikewitchdoctoring."31

Havingridiculedanddebunkedfornearly80yearsmankind'suniversalandlong-standingbeliefinthingsspiritual,psychologistshavebeguntoreintroduceancientoccultbeliefsandpractices,butwiththenewlabelsoftheirownsecular"spirituality."Thesameoccultpowersarebeingsoughtthroughbasicallythesamealtered

states,butnowas"humanpotential"insteadofascomingfromindependentspiritentities.Manyofthesamewordsandritualsareused,butwithalteredmeaningsthatfitthenewreligionofpsychology.Godisnow"thecollectiveunconscious"andspiritshavebecome"splitsofthepsyche."

Witchcraftisoutofthecocoonandflying,havingmetamorphosedintoasociallyandacademicallyacceptable"therapy."Andthefollowersofthisnewreligionarevulnerabletoahorrortheyhavebeenpromisedisonlyamyth.Thebaitonthehookisthepromisethatwithinthepsycheaninfinitepotentialawaitsdiscoveryandexploration—butthetreasureisdispensedby"spirits."

TheRevolutioninHigherConsciousness

Intheprocessofsubjectinghispatientsto"dreamanalysis"andhypnotictranceinpursuitofchildhoodmemories,Freud"discovered"thattherewasanunconscioussidetoconsciousness,andheconcludedthatitwasinfactthemostimportantpart.Healsosuspectedthatitmightbegreaterinscopethantheindividual'sownexperience.Jungdecided(withencouragementfromhisspiritguide,Philemon)thatatthisunconsciouslevelallmindswereapartofsomethingwhichhecalledthecollectiveunconsciousanddescribedasthesourceofmysticalpowers.Withoutanyscientificbasis,thesetwinbeliefswereacceptedbyfaithbythedisciplesofFreudandJungandbecamethefoundationforthemanypsychologiesandtherapiesthatfollowed.Asaresult,nearlyeveryonenowacceptsasscientificfactthereligiousbeliefthatthisvastunexploredregionof"innerspace"isareservoirofmagicalpowerswhichexceedeventhewildestsciencefictionfantasy.

Ontheless-than-solidfoundationofsuchtheories—andthemysticalexperiencesthatseemedtoconfirmthem—thehuman-potentialmovementwasbuilt.Self-improvementseminarleadersassureusthatbysimplylookingwithinourselveswecandiscoveralltruth,allknowledge,andallpower.Inordertominethis

presumablyunlimitedhumanpotential,psychologistshaveattemptedtoexploreconsciousnessthroughEasternmysticism'salteredstates—statesofconsciousnessthatwerefirstexploredthroughhypnosis,thenLSD.Oddlyenough,itwasdecidedthatthefurtheroneretreatedfromnormalconsciousnessthemore"enlightened"onebecame.

Thelowestlevelwasassignedtoordinarystatesofawareness,while"higherconsciousness"requiredlosingtouchwithwhatisgenerallyconsideredtobenormalperception.Thusanybasisforobjectiveevaluationoftheexperiencemustberelinquishedinordertoreach"enlightenment,"whichinitselfshouldmakethatstatehighlysuspect.Suspicionsshouldalsoariseonanothercount.AsMacLaineandsomanyotherstellus,oneamazinglydiscoversinthis"higherstateofconsciousness"thatoneisactually"God."Interestinglyenough,ourallegedonenesswith"God,"orJung's"collectiveunconscious,"hasbeentheconstantrefrainofthechanneledentitiesdownthroughhistory.InChannelingJonKlimoremindsus:

Virtuallyallofthesourcesabovethelowerastrallevelstellusthat...weareevolving...towardaneventualreunionwiththeoneGod,whichistheunderlyingidentityofAllThatIs....

Thevariousoccult,esoteric,andmysteryschoolteachingsrepeatthetheme....

Enlightenmentinvolvesrealizing[the]illusorystateofourdailyentrancedexperience,andawakeningtothe...onenessofall.32

StephenWilliamson,directoroftheInstituteforBio-AcousticsResearch,warnsagainsttechniqueswhosegoalistobypasstheconscious,rationalmindwhereinformationisacceptedorrejected.33Yetthisispreciselyone'sconditioninthe"alteredstate"beingsoughtbymillionsfor"enlightenment."AndHerbertBenson,despitesomeambivalentwarnings,evenrecommendshis"RelaxationResponse"techniqueasameansof"pass[ing]intothe

so-calledhypnoticstate"preciselybecause,ashesays,"...inthisstateofenhancedleft-righthemisphericcommunication...'cognitivereceptivity'or'plasticityofcognition'occurs,inwhichyouactuallychangethewayyouviewtheworld."34Ithardlyseemsadvisabletomakeamajorchangeinone'sthinkinginsuchafluidmentalstate.SuchactivepromotionofdelusionaryalteredstatesbyleadingmembersofthemedicalandpsychologicalprofessionshasgiventheNewAgeconsciousnessrevolutionanundeservedauraof"scientific"credibilitythathaspersuadedmillionsofpeopletogetinvolved.

TruthorLie—Be"Positive"AboutIt

PersonneldirectorRichardL.WatringmakesclearhisreasonforobjectingtoNewAgetrainingtechniquesinvolving"astateofalteredconsciousness."AccordingtoWatring,"self-hypnosisandotherconsciousness-alteringtechniquesinduceamentalstatethatdeniestraineesanopportunitytomakereasoneddecisionsabouttheinformationtheyareaskedtoacceptastrue."35HerbertBensonrealizedthisalsoandwarnedthathis"PrincipleoftheMaximumMind"couldbe"employedinwhathasbeencalledademonicfashion...wemustalwaysbeawareofthepossibledangers."36By"demonic"hesimplymeansthatthehighsuggestabilityofthemeditativestatemayalsoopenonetobeinginfluencedtoanevilordestructiveend.

OneofWatring'smajorconcernsisthatinalteredstates,basicbeliefsystemscanbemanipulated.Bensonissuesasimilarwarning,butnotoutofconcernforthevalidityofabelief.Heapparentlyseesnorelevanceinwhetheravaluestatementistrueorfalse.Infact,thoseconceptsseemtohavenomeaningforhim.Hisonlyconcernisthathisreadersremain"positive"aboutwhateveritistheyalreadybelieve,whethertruthorlie,becausethisattitudeenhanceswhathecallsthe"faithfactor,"whichinturnelicitstheplaceboeffectthatreleasespotentialsforhealthand

happinessallegedlyhiddenwithinthebrain.

Theissue,accordingtoBenson,isnotwhetherJesus,forexample,wasaself-deludedmaniac,deliberateimpostor,orwhoheclaimedtobe(theonlythreepossibilities).NordoesitconcernBensonthatlikeningthemonotheisticandpersonalJudeo-ChristianGodtoanimpersonalpantheisticforcemayinvolveacompletecontradiction.Theonlyrealvalueinreligiousdogmasorsymbols,asBensonportraysthem,istoarousefaithinthesamemannerasaplacebodoes.Thisarousalwillthenallegedlytriggerthereleaseofchemicalsinthebrain,willinitiateglandularreactions,andwillunleashavarietyoflatenthumanpowers.Consequently,wedon'tactuallyneed"God,""Buddha,""Jesus,"orthe"StarWarsForce,"andwhethertheyreallyexistornotisimmaterial,sincetheironlyvalueisasplacebostotriggerfaithinourowninnatepowers.

GettinginTouchwithOneself

Withunderstandingoutandexperiencein,happiness(oralmostanythingelse)becamesimplyastateofconsciousnesstobesoughtasanendinitself.Byturningthefocusinward,theFreudian/Jungianobsessionwiththeunconsciousspawnedamenagerieofselfisms:self-love,self-acceptance,self-improvement,self-worth,self-confidence,self-esteem,self-adnauseam.Only40yearsago,self-centerednesswasconsideredahumanfailing,andanuglyone.Todayselfisthecenterofmostpsychotherapies,thegodatwhosealtarnearlyeveryonebowstobegfavors—forselfisnowconsideredtobethehopeofhumanity,theinexhaustiblesourceofman'ssalvation."Everythingyouneedisinsideofyou!"istheboldpromiseofthemodernhuckstersofinnumerableingenioustechniquesfortappingintotheinfiniteYou.

Lookinginsideoneselftogetintouchwithone'sfeelings,however,onlyintensifiesthelonelinessandalienationwhichcouplesfeelwhoaretryingtolearntolivewitheachotherwhileatthesametimeLookingOutforNumberOne,asthatbest-selling

bookinstructed."Dealingwithstress"hasbecomeanationalpastime,andtheoldmethodsofself-denial,self-control,andcountingtotenarenowtoolaborious.Everyonewantsaquickfix,amagicalformula—andthereareexpertsbythethousandswhoclaimtohavetheultimatetechnique.

HereisjustonemoreformtakenbytheancientnaturereligionversustheBiblescenario.Itisthesameoldpolytheism/pantheism/scientismresurrectedwithanewtwistandanevenmoreovertoppositiontosupernaturalism.Thenewwayofgettingintouchwithandworshipingnatureisgettingintouchwithandworshipingselfasnature'smosthighlyevolvedform.Thedemeaningbiblicalmythofman'srebelliousseparationfromGodhasbeenreplacedwithpsychology'smorepositivemythofalienationfromtheself.Sinisnolongertherootofmankind'stroubles;theproblemasnowperceivedissimplyignoranceofone'strueidentityandworth.Thereisnoexplanation,however,ofhowperfectbeingscouldhave"forgotten"whotheywere—noranyguaranteethatthismysteriousignorance,oncedispelledthroughreachinga"higher"stateofconsciousness,willnotariseagain.

Subjectivefeelings(andhowtomanufactureandmanipulatethem)haveinevitablybecomeall-important.Howonefeelsisnowtheonlycriterion,whilehowoneoughttofeeloracthaslostallmeaning.Sinceconsciousnessissusceptibletocontrolbyeachindividual,therearenolongeranymoralrestraintsinvolved.Injustificationofpsychology'sencouragementofhedonism,Esalenhasofferedtechniquesfor"recognizingthatyourfeelings—yourdiscoveries—areyourtruth,withoutneedingoutsidevalidation."Itwasthisrevolutionarygospel,preachedbypsychologists,sociologists,andeducators,thatcreatedthe"do-your-own-thing"MeGeneration.

ThebasictheoriesthatbuiltHaight-AshburyandWoodstock(andwerefinelytunedatEsalen)arestillbeingpromotedbyhumanisticpsychologistsasthegospeltruth.Theonce-upon-a-time"flower

children"ofthefiftiesandsixtiesarethehighlyrespecteddoctors,lawyers,politicians,schoolteachers,universityprofessors,psychologists,socialworkers,andscientistswhohavebecomeourleaders.Thedrug-spawnedconsciousnessrevolutionthatfailedinthefiftiesandsixtiesisnowbeingfedtousfromthetopdown,recycledandwrappedinthebrightribbonsofthousandsofpsychotherapiesandself-improvementtechniques.

MorePowerfulthanDrugs

The"liberatingeffects"ofthedrugsthatunitedthehippiemovement,AldousHuxleybelieved,hadtobeexperiencedbyeveryoneinordertodelivereducatedWesternersfromwhatWilliamBlakecalledthe"confidentinsolencesproutingfromsystematicreasoning."37

Thattypeofthinkinghasalonghistorythatoughttoserveasawarningtoustoday.Freudwasconvincedthatcocainewasthewonderdrugofhisday,andsomeofhistheorieswerenodoubtconjuredupwhileunderitsinfluence.Inadditiontousingithimself,heprescribeditforothers,resultinginthedeathofoneofhisfriends.EvenBayer,thehighlyregardedGermanpharmaceuticalcompany,offeredherointotheworldasapromisingnewcoughmedicinein1888,oneyearbeforeitintroducedaspirin.Itwouldbefoolishtothinkwehavegottenbeyondsuchdelusions.InPsychiatricDrugs:HazardstotheBrain,Bregginpointsout:

Allthemajorpsychiatricdrugsarehighlyneurotoxic(poisonoustonervecells),allfrequentlyproducewidespreadbraindisfunctionintheirroutinetherapeuticdoserange;andallachievetheirprimaryoverridingeffectonthepatientbyproducingsomedegreeofbraindisfunction.38

Aswehavealreadynoted,however,Easternmeditation,transcendentalmeditation,andotherformsofYoga,includingposturesandbreathing,produceasimilar(butpotentiallyevenmorepowerful)alteredstateofconsciousnessthanthatcausedby

drugs."Buddhareportedlyrecognizedonlyonemiracle—thetransformationofhumanconsciousness."Thattransformationisthemajorgoalofvirtuallyallpsychotherapiestoday.

Increasingnumbersofresearchersandex-meditatorsarewarningtheworldthatthevarioustechniquesforalteringconsciousnessarefarmorelethalthancocaineorheroin.Yethardlyanyoneseemstobelistening.NogovernmentregulatoryagencyhasrequiredwarninglabelsonYoga,TM,orthemanypsychotherapieswhicharebasedupondangerousconsciousness-alteringmethodologies.Someofthesetechniquesarespecificallydesignedtomimicdrug-inducedstates.Thesituationisstaggering.

AfterusingLSDonabout4000patients,Czech-bornpsychiatristStanislavGrof(foranumberofyearsscholar-in-residenceatEsalen)developedhis"holotropicbreathing"technique.Grofmadethediscoverythat"the[holotropic]breathingitselfhadpsychedeliceffects,triggeringamindtripthatranthegamutfromwakingdreamsandflashbackstobirthmemories,pastlifememories,andencounterswithspiritualbeings."OneobservantofaweekendworkshoputilizingtheGrofmethodandconductedbyUCLApsychiatristCurtBatisteatSkyHighRanchinPalmdale,California,reported:

Thebreatherslayonthegraypilecarpetbreathingwithpranayamicgusto.WithinminutestheroomwastransformedintothebowelsofamadhousealaHieronymousBosch...bloodcurdlingscreamsanddeepmoansemergedfrommanyofthebreathers....

[Onewoman]hadavisionofherselfinthebodyofamanwalkingdownastreetahundredyearsago,preparingtorapeaseriesofwomen.

"Iwashim,"shegasped....39

Thoseengagedinsuchocculticpracticessometimesseemto

comeoutofthebedlamwith"deeperinsights"andtoexperience"positive"changesintheirlives.However,thebenefitsgenerallydonotlast,andalltoooftennewproblemsarisetoreplacethoseoriginallydealtwith.Nevertheless,thegamegoeson.Thereseemstobenolimittothefaithplacedinthismagicalbutunexplainedrealmofconsciousnessortothegodlikepowersitsdevoteeshopetoacquirethroughenteringalteredstatesandtherebytappingintothecollectiveunconscious.Itisastonishingthatthisfaithpersistsinspiteoftheobviousabsurdities,contradictions,dangers,anddisasters.

PlayingCosmicRussianRoulettewiththeMind

Eventhemostenthusiasticpromotersoftheconsciousnessrevolutionadmitthattherearebadtrips.Ittakesonlyonedisaster—andtherehavebeenthousands—tocontradictthebasicNewAgeteachingthatwe'retappingintoabenevolentandgood"HigherSelf"through"alteredstatesofconsciousness."Whytheevilanddestructiveforcesthatsuddenlybreakoutasthoughamaskhasinadvertentlyslippedoff?WhydidParamahansaYogananda,forexample,founderoftheSelf-RealizationSocietyandoneofthegreatestYogisofall,"fallapart"towardtheendofhislife?

"Hewastakingontheevilkarmaofothers,"wastheexplanationgiven.However,whatYogananda'scloseassistant,CharyaBernard,observeddisillusionedhimcompletely.ItcausedBernardtofinallyadmittohimselfthatofthe40,000peoplehehadcounseledduringhisyearsatYogananda'sside,onlyahandfulhadreceivedanylastingbenefitwhilethousandshadactuallybeenharmedbyYoga.40

CarlJunglaidthefoundationfortheconsciousnessrevolutionwithhisownpsychicadventures.Intheprocessheencountered"thestuffofpsychosis...foundintheinsane."Jungcalledthisanalyticaljourneyunderalteredstatesofconsciousness"ariskyexperiment"andheconsideredit"aquestionableadventureto

entrustoneselftotheuncertainpaththatleadsintothedepthsoftheunconscious."Yetlikeamanwhoistornbetweenthedreadofagreatdangerandaprizehecovets,Jungcomplainedthatour"rationalage"failedtoseethevalueinhis"voyageofdiscovery."YetsinceJung'sdeath,anddespitedisastrousresultsthatareseldomadmitted,thisvoyagehasbecomeextremelypopular.

TherewassomethingalmostsinisterinJung'sdesiretoseeotherpeopleinvolvedinwhatheconfessedwasan"uncertain,riskyanddangerous"paththatcouldwellbecome"thequintessenceofhorror."ThefactthatJung,inordertoretainhissanity,hadtofighthisownalteredconsciousnessbyclingingdesperatelyto"ordinaryconsciousness"shouldbeawarningtoothers.Describingthoseyearswhenheteeteredonthebrinkofwhathecalled"totalpsychoticbreakdown,"Jungwrote:

Ineededapointofsupportin"thisworld,"andImaysaythatmyfamilyandmyprofessionalwork...remainedthebasetowhichIcouldalwaysreturn...[or]theunconsciouscontentscouldhavedrivenmeoutofmywits....

"IhaveamedicaldiplomafromaSwissuniversity,Imusthelpmypatients,Ihaveawifeandfivechildren,Iliveat228SeestrasseinKusnacht"—thesewereactualitieswhichmadedemandsuponmeandprovedtomeagainandagainthatIreallyexisted,thatIwasnotablankpagewhirlingaboutinthewindsofthespirit,likeNietzsche[whodiedinsane].41

Herewehaveastrangeparadox:Themanprimarilyresponsible,ifnotfortoday'sconsciousnessrevolutionitself,thencertainlyfortheauraofrespectabilitywhichitbears,hadtoclingdesperatelytoordinaryconsciousnessinordertoretainhissanity.Yethesuggeststhatsalvationcomesthroughattainingtheveryalteredstatethatnearlydestroyedhim.Wedarenotignorethefactthatalteredstatesofconsciousnesshavetraditionallybeencultivatedinordertoexperience"spiritpossession."Ifanymanwasever"possessed,"surelyitwasJunghimself.

Possession:Myth,Mania,orDemonic?

InHostagetotheDevil,MalachiMartinrelatesanumberofexamplesofdemonicpossessionthatgobeyondthedangersof"negativethinking"thatHerbertBensonandotherpopularizersofpsychology'sreligious"science"considertobethegreatevil.Therearethousandsofsuchwell-documentedtragedies,whichdemonstratethatpsychologicalexplanationsinvolvingthe"unconscious"forthephenomenonlongknownas"possession"arepitifullyinadequate.Manyofthesecasesinvolveintelligentandapparentlywell-meaningpersonswhobelievedandfollowedthelatestpsychologicaltheories,onlytofindthemselves"possessed"byanevilspirit—inspiteofthefactthattheyhaduntilthenconsidered"possession"tobeareligiousdelusion.

WithundergraduatedegreesinbiologyandanthropologyfromHarvardUniversityandaPh.D.inethnobotany,WadeDavisisrepresentativeoftoday'shighlyeducatedWesterner.HisparticipationinnumerousexpeditionstothejunglesofCentralandSouthAmericaandelsewhere,however,andhisexposuretospiritualistsocietieshavegivenhimanotherperspective.WithhisbackgrounditwasdifficultforDavistolayasidethesuperioritythatscientistsexudewhenanalyzing"primitive"cultures,butthenumerouscasesof"spiritpossession"whichhewitnessedforcedareevaluationofhisthinking.Daviswrote:

Forthenonbeliever,thereissomethingprofoundlydisturbingaboutspiritpossession.Itspowerisraw,immediate,andundeniablyreal....

Thepsychologistswhohaveattemptedtounderstandpossessionfromascientificperspective...[avoid]issuesthatcannotbeapproachedbytheircalculus—theexistenceornonexistenceofspirits,forexample...[and]considerpossessionabehaviorof"psychicallydisequilibratedpersonswithamytho-maniacalconstitution...."

Thesewordyexplanationsringmosthollowwhentheyareapplied

tocertainirrefutablephysicalattributesofthepossessed[immunitytofire,etc.]...[uponthese]mylogicwavered....

Intheabsenceofascientificexplanation,andinthefaceofourowncertainignorance,itseemsfoolishtodisregardtheopinionsofthosewhoknowpossessionbest.42

Suchwarningsaresmuglydisregardedbythosewhohavebuilta"scientific"mythologyfoundeduponthematerialisticassertionthataspiritdimensionisnonexistent.UpsetattheemotionalreactionsarousedinaudiencesbyTheExorcist,parapsychologistLoydAuerbachwrites:

Tosettherecordabitstraighter,letmesaythattheonlydemonswe,asscientists,dealwithareone'sown"demons"thatmaybeconjuredupbythesubconsciousandtheimagination.43

Withahealthyfearofevilspiritsneatlydebunkedbypsychologists,thebarrierthathaskeptsomanypeoplefrominvolvementwiththepowersofdarknessisnowgone.Thereisnolongeranythingtobeafraidof,fornothingisthereexceptfragmentsofone'sownpersonality.Sogoestherefrain.Allthatisnowneededistoacceptanewunderstanding.

Unfortunately,that"understanding"beginswithadenialofevidenceandisconcernednotwithtruthbutwiththedogmaticclaimofthenewreligionofpsychologythatitaloneisthetruefaithofhumanity.Wenowstandingravedangerthatpsychology'sglibpseudoscientificexplanationsofspiritualpowerareincreasinglyopeningtheWesttotheveryphenomenonpsychologistshavesoughtsolongtodeny:demonicpossession.

[9]GhostsintheMachineBeliefintheexistenceofevilspiritshasbeencommontoall

culturesandracesasfarbackashistorianscantrace—buthasbeenlargelyrejectedintheenlightenedscientificWest.Yetitwouldbepresumptuoustoassumethatthehumanracerepresentstheonlyintelligencesintheentireuniverseortheonlyformthatintelligentlifecouldtake.Thescientificcommunitytakesveryseriouslythepossibilitythatintelligentbeingsexistinotherpartsoftheuniverse;noristhereanyreasonfordenyingthepossibleexistenceofnonhumanintelligenceswithoutphysicalbodies.Consideringthepervasivenessofevilamongmankind,clearlyatleastsomeoftheseentitiesmayhaveevilintentionsand,assumingthatthebrainisindeedamachinethataghostcanoperate,couldinfluencehumans,eventotheextentthathaslongbeencalled"possession."Ofcourseitisnolongerinvoguetospeakofdemons.Eveninhisday,however,WilliamJames,HarvardUniversityProfessorofphilosophyandpsychology,decriedthisblindprejudice:

Therefusalofmodern"enlightenment"totreat"possession"asahypothesis...inspiteofthemassivehumantraditionbasedonconcretehumanexperienceinitsfavor,hasalwaysseemedtomeacuriousexampleofthepoweroffashioninthings"scientific."

Thatthedemon-theory...willhaveitsinningsagainistomymindabsolutelycertain.Onehastobe"scientific"indeedtobeblindandignorantenoughtosuspectnosuchpossibility.1

ProfessorJames'spointedreferencestotheprejudicethattoooftenblindsmenofscienceiswell-taken,especiallywhenmodernscienceitselfprovidesevidencethatwouldseemtosupporttheexistenceofnonphysicaldimensionsofrealitythatcouldbeinhabitedby"spiritentities."Someofthestrange,etherealparticles

ofmatterwhichphysicistshavebeendiscoveringinthiscenturymaketheexistenceofaspiritworldincreasinglyplausible.Onecomponentofthesubatomicworld,knownasthe"Zparticle,"issoelusivethatonlyafewdozenhavebeencaptured.TheUnitedStateshasbeeninaracewithscientistsatCERN(theEuropeanNuclearResearchCenternearGeneva,Switzerland)tobuildagiant"collider"capableofcreatingandcapturingsignificantquantitiesofthisexoticparticle.

SubatomicParticlesand"Ghosts"

Inlightofthemanyghostlycharacteristicsofourownphysicaluniversenowacceptedbythescientificcommunity,itseemsatleastreasonablethatotherworldscouldexistwhichmanifestintheirentiretythequalitiesofelusivesubatomicparticles.Suchworlds,byourstandards,wouldhavetobelabeled"nonphysical"or"spiritual,"becauseevenphysicalobjectsthereinwouldbeundetectablebyourmostadvancedinstruments."Spirits"mightnotseemghostlyatallintheirowndimension;norwouldtheybeanymoremysteriousthansomeofthequalitieswenowrecognizeinourfamiliarspace-time-matteruniverse.Referringtotheexistenceofaspiritualdimension,SirArthurEddingtonwrote:

Theschemeof[thenew]physicsisnowformulatedinsuchawayastomakeitalmostself-evidentthatitisapartialaspectofsomethingwider.2

Thatthis"somethingwider"couldbenonphysicalis,asEddingtonbelieved,suggestedbytheveryqualitiesoftheuniverseasweknowit.Thediscoveryofghostlyparticlessuchastheneutrinomakestheexistenceofdiscarnatespiritsorothernonphysicalintelligencesmuchmoreplausibleinascientificcontext.Withvirtuallynophysicalproperties—nomass,noelectricalcharge,nomagneticfield—theneutrinobehavesverymuchlikea"ghost."Neithergravitationnorelectromagneticforcehaveanyeffectupontheneutrino,eithertoattractortorepelit.

Consequently,aneutrinozoominginfromintergalacticspaceatnearthespeedoflightwouldalmostinstantaneouslypassthroughtheentireearthwithouthittinganything.Thisfactmakesthesuggestionthat"ghosts"canpassthroughwallsseemlessfantastic.AstronomerV.A.Firsoffsaid:

Theuniverseasseenbyaneutrinoeyewouldwearaveryunfamiliarlook.Ourearthandotherplanetssimplywouldnotbethere....

Aneutrinobrainmightsuspectourexistencefromcertainsecondaryeffects,butwouldfinditverydifficulttoprove,aswewouldeludetheneutrinoinstrumentsathisdisposal.3

Itisclearthatneutrino-bodiedbeingswouldbeunabletoseeuswiththeirneutrinoeyes,justaswewouldbeunableto"see"them.Itwouldbefolly,ofcourse,foreitherofustodenytheexistenceoftheotheronthatbasis.Thereisnoscientificreasontodoubtthatnonphysicalbeingsundetectablebyourmostsophisticatedinstrumentscouldexist.Itisequallyreasonabletoassumethatsinceourmindsarenonphysical,somekindof"telepathic"communicationcouldbeestablishedwith"spiritbeings"withoutvisibleorothertangiblecontacttakingplace.ArthurKoestler,"areluctantconvert"toabeliefinpsychicphenomena,4declared:

Theunthinkablephenomenaofextrasensoryperceptionappearsomewhatlesspreposterousinthelightoftheunthinkablepropositionsofphysics.5

TheKeyRoleofConsciousness

Havingsaidalloftheabove,wemustnotexpectsciencetoguideusintoaverificationandunderstandingofthe"spiritworld."Itcantakeusonlyasfarasthephysical,mechanicalphenomenaitdescribes,butnotintotheworldofspiritwithitsfreewillandethics.Wehavealreadynotedthatevenourawarenessofphysicalphenomenaisdependentuponconsciousness,and,asthe

evidenceseemstoindicate,liesoutsidetherealmofphysicalscience.Consequently,thatthereshouldbeanonphysicaldimensionofexistenceisnomerechancedevelopment;itisdemandedbytheverynatureofconsciousawarenessandthepowertochoose.

Consciousnessgivesusanawarenessofmatter;itisnotapropertyofmatter,sincethereisnothingphysicalaboutit.ThisunderstandingisreflectedinthatfamousstatementthatSirJamesJeanssooftenrepeated:"Godisamathematician,andtheuniversebeginstolookmorelikeagreatthoughtthanagreatmachine."Elaboratingfurther,Jeanswrote:

Mindnolongerappearsasanaccidentalintruderintotherealmofmatter;wearebeginningtosuspectthatweoughttohailitasthecreatorandgovernoroftherealmofmatter—not,ofcourse,ourindividualminds....

Itdoesnotmatterwhetherobjects"existinmymindorthatofanyothercreatedspirit"ornot;theirobjectivityarisesfromtheirsubsisting[toparaphraseBerkeley]"inthemindofsomeEternalSpirit."...

Timeandspace,whichformthesettingforthethought[thatcreatedtheuniverse],musthavecomeintobeingaspartofthis[creative]act.Primitivecosmologiespicturedacreatorworkinginspaceandtime,forgingsun,moon,andstarsoutofalreadyexistentrawmaterial.Modernscientifictheorycompelsustothinkofthecreatorworkingoutsidetimeandspace—whicharepartofhiscreation—justasanartistisoutsidehiscanvas.6

WiththeobservationthattheCreatormustbeseparatefromhiscreation,Jeanshaseliminatedpantheism/naturalismasaviabletheory.ThecapabilityofmantoformconceptualideasandtocreateexoticnewtechnologywouldseemtoindicatehiscreationintheimageoftheOnewhoJeansdeclarescreatedeverythingoutofnothing.Moreover,itseemsevidentthathumanminds,reflectingtheimageoftheirCreator,likewiseexistoutsidethephysical

universe.

Whileourmindsareconsciousofanobjectiveworldwhichimpressesitselfuponoursenses,consciousnessitselfisnotdependentuponthephysicalworld.Weknowthistobethecasebecausethoughtsthemselvesarenotphysical,nordotheydependuponanyphysicalstimulation.Thisisevidentfromthefactthatwecanhavethoughtsaboutabstractions,suchaspurposeandmeaning.Inattemptingtomaintainthepositionthatmanisonlyalumpofmatterrespondingtostimulifromthephysicalworldabouthim,thematerialisteliminatesethics,truth,esthetics,honor,andallthequalitiesthatmakelifemeaningfulanddistinguishhumansfromanimals.Asphilosopher-historianHerbertSchlossberghaspointedout:

Whatmodernmancannotknowthroughthesenses,hefeelssafeindismissingfromfurtherconsideration.

Oneofthefirstandmostnotablecasualtiesofthisreasoningistheideaofpurpose.Thesensesaresilentonsuchtopics.7

Thefallacyofmaterialismcanfutherbeshownbythefactthatmathematicalprocessescanbecarriedonentirelyinthemind.Thenumericalanswerthatresultsissimplyanumberwithnorelationshiptoanyobjectinthephysicaldimension.Yetmathematicalequations,forreasonswhichsciencecanneitherdiscovernorexplain,perfectlydescribeeveryobjectandmotioninthephysicaluniverse—andinlimitlessdimensionsbeyondevenourwildestimagination.Infact,reflectingtheconclusionofmanyotherscientists,Jeanswentsofarastosay:

Thefinal[scientificallyknowable]truthaboutaphenomenonresidesinthemathematicaldescriptionofit....Wegobeyondthemathematicalformulaatourownrisk....

Themakingofmodelsorpicturestoexplainmathematicalformulaeandthephenomenatheydescribeisnotasteptowards,butastepawayfromreality;itislikemakinggravenimagesofaspirit.8

Jeans'srationalegivessomeinsightintothebiblicalprohibitionagainstidolatry—apracticeuniversallyacceptedbyotherreligionsbutabhorredbyMoslems,Jews,andChristians.Infact,theBiblefurtherexplainsthisprohibitionbydeclaringthatidolsprovidedemonicentitieswithidentitiesthroughwhichtheycaninfluencemankind.9Againweseethecleardistinctionbetweennaturalism/pantheism/polytheismandsupernaturalism,andamajorconsequencethereof.

Inagreementwiththebeliefthatthebrainisoperatedbythenonphysicalmind,itisquiteclearthatthoughtsprecedeandcauseneuralactivityinthebrain.Theydonotresultfromanythinghappeninginthephysicalbrain,norcanthinkingbeexplainedonthatbasis.Thoughtsabouttruthorjustice,forexample,couldnotoriginatethroughanyphysicalstimulus(andthuscouldnotresultfromanyevolutionaryprocess),becausetheyaretotallyunrelatedtoanyphysicalqualitysuchasweight,texture,taste,orsmell.

Ontheotherhand,thefearofpainorillness,beginninginthenon-physicalmindasapurelymentalevent(arousedperhapsbysuggestionorbysomephysicalthreat),canaffectthephysicalbodypsychosomatically.Itiserroneous,however,toimaginethathumanthoughtprocessescancreatematterandthustosuggestthatwehaveanunlimitedpotentialforharmingorhealingourselvesorotherswithourminds.Nevertheless,withinreasonablelimits,eventhecourtsrecognizetherealityof"mentalcruelty"andawarddamagesforsuchsuffering.Anguishisnotphysical,yetitcancausephysicalproblemsinthebody.

TheBrainDoesn'tThinkatAll

Becauseofthepredominanceofmaterialism,thehumanbrainhasgenerallybeenstudiedasthoughconsciousnessandthoughtcouldeventuallybeexplainedintermsoftheelectricalimpulsesandchemicalreactionsofneuralactivity.Atleastsomeresearchers,however,areacceptingtheevidencethatinsteadofproducing

thought,brainactivityisaresultofthought,andmustthereforeoriginateindependentlyofthebrainandapparentlyoutsidethephysicaldimension.Thescientificmaterialistisnaturallyreluctanttoacceptsuchaconclusion,inspiteoftheevidence,becauseitundermineshisentireworldview.EvensomeonelikeHarvardMedicalSchool'sHerbertBenson,whoattimesseemstogiveanoddingassenttothenonphysicalnatureofmind,persistsinattributingtheoriginofthoughtstothephysicalsubstanceofthebrain.Inhislatestbook,Bensonwrites:

Ahealthybraincellstoresandtransmitsinformationwhichultimatelybecomeswhatweknowasthoughts.It'sverydifficulttodescribeexactlywhathappensinthisprocessbecausethewholeactofthinkingissocomplex,withenormousnumbersofbraincellsinteractinginourmentalprocesses.10

Yetamere20pagesfurtherinthesamebook,BensoncontradictshimselfbyreferringtoSirJohnEccles'sexperimentsasthoughheagreeswithhisconclusionsthatthebrainisamachineoperatedbyanonphysicalentity,themind.HealsofavorablyquotesfamedneurosurgeonandbrainresearcherWilderPenfield:"Themindisindependentofthebrain.Thebrainisacomputer,butitisprogrammedbysomethingthatisoutsideitself,themind."11NotonlytheexperimentsofsuchresearchersasEcclesandPenfield,butlogicitself,compelustoconcludethatthehumanbrain,whileofamuchhigherorderthanthatofanimals,doesn'tthinkatall.

Acomputerdoesnotthink;thethinkingisdonebytheoperatorandprogrammer,whichinthecaseofthebrainisthemind.Thehumanbrainsimplyprovidesthemechanismnecessaryforthenonphysicalentityoperatingittointerfacewiththematerialworld.Consequently,thecurrentfadoftryingtodevelopthe"rightbrain"inordertocounterWesternculture'sallegedbiastoward"leftbrained"thinkingisindeedthe"whole-brainedhalf-wittedness"thatsomehavelabeledit.

Whetherapersonseemstobepredominantlymoralorimmoral,aestheticorvulgar,artisticorpracticaldoesnotoriginatewithandcannotbeblameduponacertainhemisphereofthebrain,eventhoughthatpartmaybeusedbythebrain'sghostlyoperatorwhenexpressingthesecharacteristics.YetthismodernmythpersistsunderthepromotionofsuchhighlyregardedexpertsasHerbertBenson(whogoessofarastosay,"Wehavebecomeprisonersoftheleftsidesofourbrains")12andeveninsuchbastionsofadvancedthinkingasStanfordUniversity,nowrecognizedasthetopacademicinstitutioninthecountry.

Thefollowing"exerciseincreativity"taughtinthehighlytouted"CreativityInBusiness"courseatStanford'sGraduateSchoolofBusinessmayatleastpartiallyexplainwhyLeeIaccoca,themanagementgeniuswhoturnedChryslerCorporationaround,hassaidthatMBA's(MasterofBusinessAdministrationgraduates)beingturnedoutbyouruniversities"knoweverythingandunderstandnothing."MostofthecourseinvolvesfarmoreovertEasternmysticismthanthisparticularexercise,whichembodiesoneofthemore"structured"techniques:

Ifyoudon'tknowyetwhatyourownkeyquestionis,askyourEssence[whichthecoursedefinesas"thedivinespark,theSelf,theDivineEgo,theGreatIAm,God,etc.withinusall]....

[Ina]morestructuredapproach...youaskaquestionwithyourleftbrainandansweritwithyourrightasademonstrationofyourunusedresourceswithin....

Askyourselfaquestionbywritingitdownwithyourusualwritinghand.Thenemptyyourmind.Don'ttrytothinkoutananswer.Remindyourselfthattheanswerliveswithinyou,andthatallyouhavetodoisrecorditwithyourotherhand....Andhavefunseeingwhatyouhavetosaytoyourself.

Didyousurpriseyourself?...Ofcoursethisisjustademonstrationofopposite-brainfunctions.Useanymethodthatworksforyou.Youdon'tneedapenciltogethometoyourEssence.13

Theabilitytoformthoughtsinthemindbyanactofthewill,aswehavealreadynoted,arguesagainstthe"All-is-One"maximofnaturalism/pantheism,andinfavorofsupernaturalism.Humanthoughts,containingastheydomuchevilanderror,couldnotoriginatewithGod.ThisfactalonewouldseemtodemonstratethathumanbeingsarenotpartofGod,astheStanfordcourseimplies.Ontheotherhand,ourthoughtsinvolveconceptsthatcannotbeexplainedascomingfromthenaturalworld.Thoughourthoughtscanbeaffectedbythephysicalworldaroundus,ourwillsalsoenterintoandcancontroltheprocess.Certainlyhumansarenotthestimulus-responsemechanismsthatB.F.Skinner'sBehaviorism—andtosomeextentallofpsychology—makethemouttobe.AsC.S.Lewisputit:

Ifmindsarewhollydependentonbrainsandbrainsonbiochemistry,andbiochemistry(inthelongrun)onthemeaninglessfluxoftheatoms,Icannotunderstandhowthethoughtofthosemindsshouldhaveanymoresignificancethanthesoundofthewindinthetrees.14

Inviewofthenonphysicalnatureofconsciousness,itisintriguingthatthosewhopracticedivinationtechniquesforinitiatingcontactwiththe"spirit"dimensionallagreethatthesecretisinachievingtherequisitestateofconsciousnessthroughdrugs,Yoga(andotherformsofEasternmeditation),hypnosis,andmediumistictrance.Itisnotsurprising,then,thatthis"alteredstateofconsciousness"andthecontactitbringswith"spiritguides"hasalwaysbeenthetraditionalshamanisticmethodofachievingparanormalorpsychicpowers.Ithasalsooftenopenedthedoortowhathasbecomeknownas"possession."Thisalteredstateisaconditionwhichnumerouscourses,fromtheSilvaMethodto"CreativityInBusiness,"arespecificallydesignedtopromote.Whilesomewould-besorcerersseek"possession"voluntarilyfortheparanormalpowerandknowledgeitbrings,othershavefallenintoitunintentionallyandwithdisastrousresults.

IntheStanfordGraduateSchoolofBusiness"Creativity"course,TheIChingWorkbookisrecommendedfor"peer[ing]intoyourfuture...throughdivination...anddiscoveringyourself."Meditationisthemajortechniqueusedforachievingthe"trance"statethatissocriticaltothe"creativity"processtaughtinthecourse.Amajorpurposeistocontactthe"innerguide."Othermethodsarerecommendedaswell,includingdancingoneselfintoatrance,aspracticedbyfollowersofSufism,Santeria,voodoo,andotheroccultreligions.Intheirbookbasedonthecourse,ProfessorMichaelRayandRochelleMyerswrite:

Whenwedotrancedancinginourclass,everyoneputsonblindfoldstogiveeachothercompleteprivacy....

Getsomemusicthathasinterestingandrepetitiverhythms...somethingexoticfromanotherculture...itsmysteriousqualityallowsyoutomovemoreeasilyintoatrancelikemovement....

Becomeonewiththemusic....Then,whenthemusicstops,lieonyourbackonthefloor.Collapseintothecorpsepose....

Ourstudentsgeteverythingfromrushesofenergyandtremendousconfidencetoout-of-bodyexperiences.Somefindittheonlywaytheycanreallymeditateandgetintothatblankbutenergizingstatebetweensleepandwakefulness.Theyveryoftenhavespontaneousinsightsofwhattheyconsidertobeahigherorder.15

Alargepartofthematerialsandmethodspresentedinthecourseareofthisnature.ItisEasternreligiondressedupinWesternpoppsychologicaltermsandpassedoffasapseudoscientificrecipeforgainingtheinspirationneededtoguidecorporatepolicyinthecompetitiveworldoftwentieth-centurycomputerizedbusiness.Thetechniquesandthetheoriesbehindthemcomerightoutofshamanism,andthegoalisthesame:tomeetone's"innerguide."Thereisthereforegoodreasontosuspectthatthe"creativity"whichthiscourseandotherslikeitproducecomesfromthesame"spiritentities"thatmankindhasconsultedformillenniathroughvariousocculttechniques.ThatmajoruniversitiessuchasStanfordarenow

presentingsuchreligiouspracticesaspartofthenewbusinesstechnologyisastonishing.Andthatthesemethodscouldwellleadto"possession"mustbeatleaststronglysuspected.

InspirationandEvil

UniversityofCaliforniapsychologistandpioneerconsciousness-researcherCharlesTartadmitsreluctantly,"There'senoughevidencethatcomesintomakemetaketheideaofdisembodiedintelligenceseriously."16StanislavGrofreportsthatsomeoftheLSDsubjectshehasstudiedhavehadencounterswith"astralbodies,"andinsomecasesthishasledto"thecharacteristicsofspiritpossession."FriedrichNietzscheindicatedthattheinspirationforThusSpakeZarathustra(hisBibleofanewmankind"loyaltotheearth")cameasaformofpossession."Itinvadedme,"hewrote."Onecanhardlyrejectcompletelytheideathatoneisthemereincarnation,ormouthpiece,ormediumofsomealmightypower."FamedarchitectBuckminsterFuller,afterstayinguphalfthenightreadingMarilynFerguson's"NewAgeBible,"TheAquarianConspiracy,suggestedthat"thespiritsofthedead"hadhelpedhertowriteit.Fergusonlaughedandsaid,"Well,Isometimesthoughtso,butIwasn'tabouttotellanybody."17

TheNewAgeVaticanofFindhornwasfoundeduponthespecificinstructionsofalleged"spiritguides."EileenCaddywasapparentlythefirsttoreceivethisguidancethroughan"innervoice"thatsaid:"Bestill...andknowthatIamGod....ListentoMe,andallwillbewell....Iamcloserthanyourbreath,thanyourhandsandfeet.TrustinMe."Alloftheoriginaladultmembersofthisremarkablecommunity(SheenaGovan,DorothyMaclean,DavidSpangler,etal)were"channels"foravarietyofentitiesthathadbroughtthemalltogetherbysimilar"guidance,"andsomeofwhichclaimedtobetheirown"higherSelves."Harmonywithnaturewasthecommontheme.Eventheallegedspiritsof"transformed"RussianprisonersthatchanneledthroughAnneEdwardspreachedthefamiliargospel

ofnaturalism/pantheism:thateverythingis"God"andthateachperson's"HigherSelf,"asapartof"God,"cancreateitsownreality.18

Thismessageisbeingrepeatedthroughliterallythousandsof"channels"asthephenomenonofcontactwith"spiritguides"explodesaroundtheworld.Whoevertheseentitiesbehind"channeling"are,theevangelizationoftheworldwiththeir"truth"seemstobethemajorpurpose.However,theyalsoseemtohaveapenchantforpossessinghumanbodies;andwhenthatoccurs,eventsoftentakeafrighteningturn.Possessioncanoccurbecauseoftheverynatureoftherelationshipthatoneentersintoinordertoreceivethepowerorknowledgethatisoffered,andinspiteofthegoodintentionsortheapparentlyinnocentinvolvementoftheunsuspecting.

Are"evilspirits"reallyinvolved?Considerthesecases.ATMinstructorsenttoaSouthAmericancountrytoinauguratetranscendentalmeditationtherebegantosee"Satan"everytimeshelookedatthepictureofitsfounder,MaharishiMaheshYogi.Attemptingsuicide,sheendedupinaninsaneasylum.AfterbeinginitiatedintoYogabySwamiRama(oneoftheprizesubjectsofElmerandAlyceGreenintheirbiofeedbackresearchattheMenningerClinic),aChicagohousewifewastormentedbypsychicvisitationsfromSwamiandcommittedtoahospitalpsychiatricward.UsingtheSilvaMindControltechniquesshehadbeentaught,aschoolteacherbegantovisualizehermentallyhandicappedpupilsimprovingandseemingtoachieveremarkableresults.Thenonenightherbrotherreceivedafranticcallatabout2A.M."MyGod,George!Something'sinmyapartment—somethingevil,andit'safterme!Pleasecomeandhelpme!"Acarefulstudyoftheseandnumerousothercasesofthiskindwouldsuggesttheveryrealpossibilitythatalienandevilintelligenceswereinvolved.

TheExorcistandtheOuijaBoard

Inthe1970'sTheExorcist,WilliamBlatty'srunawaybest-sellerandmovie,caughttheattentionofAmericaandtheworld.Tomanypeopleitwasmerelyahorrorstory,frighteningbutentertaining.Toothersitwasmuchmore.AcrossAmerica,admissionsforemergencypsychiatriccareincreaseddramatically,someofthepatientsarrivinginstraitjacketsdirectlyfromtheaterswheretheyhadflippedoutwhileviewingthefilm.

BlattylateracknowledgedthatTheExorcistwasbaseduponatruestory.Infact,thecircumstancesofthecasewereinvestigatedbyJ.B.Rhine,founderanddirectoroftheparapsychologicallaboratoryatDukeUniversity,whocalledit"themostimpressive"poltergeistphenomenonhehadevercomeacross.19BlattyalsorevealedthattheinvolvementwithdemonpossessioncamethroughaOuijaboard.ItisthereforemorethaninterestingthattheOuijaboard,whichhasbeenimplicatedbyexpertsinnumerouscasesofapparentdemonpossession,overtookMonopolytobecomeAmerica'smostpopularparlorgamein1967.20

PubliclibrariescontainmanyvolumesdictatedbyallegednonphysicalentitieswhichfirstmadecontactthroughaOuijaboardwiththosewhobecametheirspokespersons.JaneRobertsisoneofmanyexamples.LikeCarlRogersandsomanyothers,itwaswhileskepticallyexperimentingwithaOuijaboardthatRobertsbegantoreceivemessagesfromanextraordinaryintelligence.Soonshewasabletodiscardtheboardandthereafterspeakintrancefor"Seth,"whofromthattimeonseemedto"possess"her.Outofthisencountercameliterallythousandsofpagesofwhatbecameknownasthefamous"Sethmaterial,"someofitpublishedintheseriesavailableinbookstoresacrossAmerica.TheSethwritingsareaningeniousinterpretation,inpsychologicalterminology,ofnaturalism's"perennialphilosophy"andpresentanextremelycomplexexplanationofallegedmultidimensionalpsychicexistence.

OfcourseOuijaboardskepticsinsisteitherthatthoseontheboardaremakingtheplanchettemoveorthatthemessages(asthePhilipgroupclaimed)arecomingfromtheirsubconscious.Testshavebeenmade,however,whicheliminatebothofthosepossibilities.SirWilliamF.Barrettconductedexperimentsinwhichtheoperatorswerethoroughlyblindfoldedandthealphabetaroundtheboardwasscrambledwithouttheirknowledge,sothateventheir"subconsciousminds"couldnotknowthepositionoftheletters.Inaddition,anopaquescreenwasheldbetweenthesittersandtheOuijatomakedoublysurethatthoseusingtheboardcouldnotseetheletters.Undertheserigorouslycontrolledconditionstheplanchettemovedfasterthanever.InhisreporttotheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,Barrettsaid:

Forwehavehere,inadditiontotheblindfoldingofthesitters,theamazingswiftness,precisionandaccuracyofthemovementsoftheindicatorspellingoutlongandintelligentmessages...withouthaltingorerror...messagesoftencontrarytoandbeyondtheknowledgeofthesitters....

Reviewingtheresultsasawhole,Iamconvincedoftheirsupernormalcharacter,andthatwehavehereanexhibitionofsomeintelligentdiscarnateagency...guiding[thesitters']muscularmovements.21

ItwasthroughaOuijaboardthatPearlQuran,aSt.Louishousewife,firstcontactedaspiritentitywhichcalledherselfPatienceWorth.PatienceclaimedtohavelivedinDorsetshire,England,intheseventeenthcentury,andduringa20-yearperiodshegaveeighth-grade-educatedPearlCurran"morethanone-and-a-halfmillionwordsinpoemsandhistoricalnovels."ThesehighlyacclaimedwritingshadreligiousthemesandweremostlysetinthetimeofJesus.Acompositionof350,000wordsentitledTheSorryTalewasconsideredbyaleadinghistoricalauthorityofthetime"thegreateststorypennedofthelifeandtimesofChristsincetheGospels."22Anotherliterarypieceof70,000wordsbyCurranwas

analyzedbyProfessorC.H.S.SchillerofLondonUniversity,whofound"thevocabularycontainednotasinglewordtohaveoriginatedafter1600."Hestated:

WhenweconsiderthattheauthorizedversionoftheBiblehasonly70%AngloSaxon,anditisnecessarytogobacktoLyomenin1205toequalPatience'spercentage(over90%),werealizewearefacingaphilologicalmiracle.23

ThiswouldindeedhavebeenamiracleforCurran'smindtohaveproduced,butnotforanothermindwithsuchcapabilitiesworkingthroughher,whichisapossibilitythatmustnotbeoverlooked.Mostpsychologists,however,persistinthetheorythatOuijaboardorother"spirit"communicationsmerelyrepresentaninterplaybetweentheleftandrighthemispheresofthebrainand/orthetherapeuticreleaseofunconsciousrepressions.Thiswasthethesis,forexample,ofpsychiatristAnitaM.Muhl,formerchiefofthedivisionofspecialeducationfortheCaliforniaStateDepartmentofEducation.SheconsideredtheOuijaboardandotherformsof"automaticwriting,"though"dangerousfortheamateur"ifunsupervised,tobeexcellenttoolsforplumbingapatient'sunconscious.Andthedangerwhichconcernedherwasnot"possession"byevilspirits,butpossible"fragmentationofthepersonality."24

BarbaraHonegger,formerWhiteHousepolicyanalystandpastpresidentoftheParapsychologyResearchGroup,considersMuhl'sAutomaticWriting:AnApproachtotheUnconscioustobetheauthoritativepsychologicalworkonthesubject.YetHonegger,whoalsospeaksofOuijaboardcommunicationasaninterplaybetweenbrainhemispheres,neverthelessseemstoacknowledgetheexistenceofdiscarnatespirits.Someofthese,shesuggests,arestill"earthbound"andneedto"possess"livingbodieslongenoughto"worktheirproblemsout,finishuptheirunfinishedbusiness."Thiswouldseemtobeadangerousassumptiontomake,particularlyinviewofthehorrifyingexperiences,includinginsanity,

murder,andsuicide,thathaveresultedfrom"possession."

ClearlythefearthatWilliamJamesdecriedas"acuriousexampleofthepoweroffashioninthings'scientific'"—thefearofadmittingthepossibilityofdemonicpossession—stillpersists.Theevidencethatindependentintelligencesofgreatevilareindeedtakingoverthebodiesofmanywhodabbleinsorceryseemsundeniable.

EvidencesofDemonicPossession

Inspiteoftheoverwhelmingskepticismamongtheircolleagues,thereareincreasingnumbersofpsychologistsandpsychiatrists—formerdoubtersconcerningtheexistenceofindependentnonphysicalintelligences—whonowfranklyaffirmtheirbeliefintherealityofevilspirits.Inhisclassic,Channeling,JonKlimoreferstopsychiatristRalphB.Allison,whosays,"Ihavecometobelieveinthepossibilityofspiritpossession...bydemonicspiritsfromsatanicrealms,andthat'sanareaIdon'tcaretodiscussorbepartof—it'satheoreticalpossibility."25Ahostofpsychologistsandresearcherscouldbequotedwhohavecometothesameconclusion.InTheUnquietDead,psychologistandauthorEdithFioretellshowthefailureofpsychotherapytotreatandpsychologicaltheorytoexplaincertainbehaviorsledheronasearchthatresultedinherbeliefindemonicpossession.InMayaDeren'sDivineHorsemen:VoodooGodsofHaiti,thestarkterrorofpossessionisdepicted,notonlyfromtheviewpointofanobserverbutfromonewhohasexperienceditaswell.Derenwrites:

Ihaveleftpossessionuntiltheend,foritisthecentertowardwhichalltheroadsofVoudounconverge....Toknowthisarea,onemust,finallyenter....

NeverhaveIseenthefaceofsuchanguish,ordealandblindterrorasatthemomentwhentheloa[spirit]comes.26

PopularauthorandpsychiatristM.ScottPeckrelatessomeofhis

experiencesingraphictermsthatrevealwhythesubjectofpossessionarousessuchfear,andwhyhewentfromskeptictofirmbeliever.SincePeckhashadmorethanordinaryacquaintancewithevilandhasmadeitaspecialstudy,hedidnotcometohisconclusionslightly.WhilehewasAssistantChiefofPsychiatryundertheArmySurgeonGeneral,PeckalsoservedaschairmanofaspecialcommitteeofthreepsychiatristsappointedbytheArmyChiefofStafftostudythe"psychologicalcausesof[themassacreat]MyLai,soastohelppreventsuchatrocitiesinthefuture."Inhisbestsellingbooks,TheRoadLessTravelledandPeopleoftheLie,Peckchronicleshisodysseyfrom"vagueidentificationwithBuddhistandIslamicmysticism"tobeliefinboth"God"and"Satan."

Peckreferstotwospecificcasesthatconvincedhimoftherealityofdemonpossession.Afterparticipatinginthe"unscientific"procedureofexorcism,whichhecalls"psychotherapybymassiveassault,"Peckdeclaredwithawethathehad"personallymetSatanfacetoface."27Hewentontoexplain:

Whenthedemonicfinallyspokeclearlyinonecase,anexpressionappearedonthepatient'sfacethatcouldbedescribedonlyasSatanic.Itwasanincrediblycontemptuousgrinofutterhostilemalevolence.Ihavespentmanyhoursbeforeamirrortryingtoimitateitwithouttheslightestsuccess.

...whenthedemonicfinallyrevealeditselfintheexorcismof[another]patient,itwaswithastillmoreghastlyexpression.Thepatientsuddenlyresembledawrithingsnakeofgreatstrength,viciouslyattemptingtobitetheteammembers.

Morefrighteningthanthewrithingbody,however,wastheface.Theeyeswerehoodedwithlazyreptiliantorpor—exceptwhenthereptiledartedoutinattack,atwhichmomenttheeyeswouldopenwidewithblazinghatred.Despitethesefrequentdartingmoments,whatupsetmethemostwastheextraordinarysenseofafifty-million-year-oldheavinessIreceivedfromthisserpentinebeing.

Almostalltheteammembersatbothexorcismswereconvincedtheywereatthesetimesinthepresenceofsomethingabsolutely

alienandinhuman.TheendofeachexorcismproperwassignaledbythedepartureofthisPresencefromthepatientandtheroom.28

TheconclusionPeckarrivedatisnotamatterof"scientificproof,"butaconvictionofhumanconsciousnessandconscience.Norcoulditbeotherwisewhenoneconfrontsthespiritualrealm.Eddingtonpointsoutthatifaphysicistshouldtrytoapplyscientificmethodstothestudyofthoughtbyexaminingthebrain,"Allthathediscoversisacollectionofatomsandelectronsandfieldsofforcearrangedinspaceandtime,apparentlysimilartothosefoundininorganicobjects."Fromthephysicalevidencealone,"Hemightsetdownthoughtasanillusion—someperverseinterpretationoftheinterplayofthephysicalentitiesthathehasfound."29

Whilehumanpersonalitycannotbedefinedordemonstratedscientifically,butisneverthelessuniversallyrecognized,soitiswiththemanifestationofdemonicpower.Unfortunately,eventhoughPeckacknowledgestherealityandhorrorofdemonicpossession,hisrelianceuponpsychologyundermineshisunderstandingofevil.Psychologypretendstoprovideascientificexplanationofhumanbehavior,yetthatisclearlyimpossible.

Pecklamentsthe"lackofscientificknowledge"relativetoevil,andhopesforthedaywhenwewillatlasthavedeveloped,"throughscientificresearch,abodyofknowledgethatconstitutesagenuinepsychologyofevil."30Ifthereisapsychologicalexplanationforevil,however,thenmoralchoiceandpersonalresponsibilityarenolongerinvolved.Moreover,ifevilcanbeexplainedaspsychologicallyprogrammedbehavior,thenwhatisthePresencethatPecksayscanbepalpably"felt"bythosepresentatanexorcism,andwhoseexitalwayssignalsthevictoryfortheexorcist?

GhostsintheMachine

Whiledisagreeingonthedetails,thegreatestphilosophersprior

tothetwentiethcenturyandtheworld'sreligionsasfarbackashistorianscantracehaveaffirmedthatthehumansoul(mind/consciousness)isnotonlyasrealastheflesh-and-bloodbodyitinhabitsbutthatitalsosurvivesphysicaldeath.Whereandinwhatformisstilldebated.TheexperimentsofSirJohnEccles,towhichwereferredbrieflyearlier,seemtorequiretheexistenceofthesoulasthenecessary"ghostinthemachine,"withoutwhichthebrainwouldbemerelyanincrediblepieceofhardware.ToCarlRogers,anonphysicaldimensionofhumanexistenceopenedenticingpossibilitiesbeyondanythingknowntophysicalscience.Hewrote:

Awholenewperceptionofhumanpotentialisthreateninganycomplacencywestillmightfeel...[leading]totheconclusionthatmindisanentityfargreaterthanbrain...capableofincrediblefeats....31

Atthesametime,Rogersseemedblindtotheequallygreatpotentialforevilmadepossiblethrough"spiritpossession."Eccles'sresearchuncoveredinsightsthatarenotonlyfascinatingbutcarryanoteofwarningaswell.Muchofhisworkfocusedupontheproblemofhowthe"soul"(theGreekscalleditthepsyche)operatesthebody.Ecclesdevisedameansofwiringthesubjectsofhisexperimentsinsuchawaythathisinstrumentscouldfollowtheneuralactivityintheirbrainsastheyperformed,underhisdirection,simpletasksthatrequiredpurposefulthoughtontheirpart.Henotedthatvaryingtasksutilizeddifferentpartsofthebrain,butthatregardlessofthetaskperformed,theneuralactivityalwaysbeganatacertainpointinthebrainandmovedoutfromthere.WhenthosewhohadParkinson'sdiseaseorhadsufferedastrokeandwereincapableofperformingtheassignedtaskattemptedtodoit,thatsamepointinthebrainfirednormally,butwithoutanyfurtherneuralactivity.EcclescalledthisspottheSupplementaryMotorArea.Hebelievedthiswaswherethe"ghost"(orhumanspirit)inalivingpersonmadeitsconnectionwiththebrainandbody.

Eccles'sdiscoverypointingtotheprobableexistenceofaghostinthemachineconfirmedintuition,religioustradition,andmodernscienceinplacinghumanconsciousnessoutsidethephysicaluniverseandthusbeyondthereachofscienceandpsychology.Italsoopenedsomefrighteningpossibilities.Woulditnotbepossibleforspiritstoexistwithoutbodies?Andcouldnotsuchentitiesoperatethehumanbrainifgivenaccess,perhapsthroughanalteredstateofconsciousness?Iftheremustbeone"ghost"inthemachine,whycouldtherenotbemorethanone?ItwasthispossibilitythatcausedJungtoquestionhispsychologicaltheoriesandtorefertowhathecalled"elementaldemonswhoaresupposednevertohavebeenhumansoulsorsoul-parts."32AsKlimopointsout,whathaslongbeenknownasdemonpossessionhasalogicalexplanation:

Ifyourownmindcanaffectyourownbrain,thenthesimilarnonphysicalnatureofanothermindmightalsobeabletoaffectyourbrain,givingrisetoyourhearingavoice,seeingavision,orhavingtheothermindspeakorwritebycontrollingyourbodythesamewayyounormallycontrolyourownbody.33

[10]InSearchofSpiritEntitiesItisnotsurprisingthatoneofmankind'smostcompelling

fascinationsineveryculturethroughouthistoryhasbeentocommunicatewiththedead.Mediumshipisoneoftheworld'soldestprofessionsandhasalwaysbeenanintegralpartofnaturereligioninitsmanyforms.Instarkcontrast,theOldTestament,claimedastheirHolyScripturesbyJews,Moslems,andChristians,condemnsthosewho"haveafamiliarspirit."Necromancy(orwizardry),thepracticeofconsultingdiscarnatespirits(commonamongthenationsaroundIsrael),wasforbiddentoIsraelbyGod.1Consequently,intheWesternworld,mediumshipwasgenerallypracticedinsecretuntilthepredominantJudeo-Christianinfluencebegantodecline.

Sinceitsmodernrevivalintheearly1800's,spiritualismhasattractedmanyprominentpeople.ThefieryabolitionistoratorWilliamLloydGarrison,writersJamesFenimoreCooperandWilliamCullenBryant,andjournalist-publisherHoraceGreeleywereamongtheearlyconvertstospiritualism.FormerAirMarshalLordHughDowding,herooftheBattleofBritain,andMme.AdrienneBoland,thefamousFrenchaviatrix(whocreditedaspiritmessagewithsavingherlifebyguidingherovertheAndesmountains),wereleadersinthespiritualistmovement.ThomasEdisonspentyearstryingtodeviseanelectronicmeansofcommunicationwiththespiritsofthedead.QueenVictoria,whosereignof63yearswasthelongestofanymonarchinBritishhistory,routinelyconsultedmediums.Herfavoritewashermanservant,JohnBrown,throughwhomtheQueenallegedlymaintainedcontactwithherhusband,PrinceAlbert,afterhisdeathin1861.

PrinceCharlesisapparentlycontinuingthetraditionandhasreportedlyhadsomeindicationthathisdeceaseduncleLord

Mountbattenmaybeguidinghimfromthespiritworld.SirLaurensvanderPost,confidantofthePrinceandhismentorinpsychicresearch,believeshehashadcommunicationfromhisclosefriendCarlJungsincethelatter'sdeath.EventheQueenmotherhasreportedlyattendedseancesinanefforttocontactherdeadhusband,KingGeorgeVI.

Communingwiththe"OtherSide"

SeancesinwhichcontactwasmadewithallegeddiscarnateswereheldintheWhiteHousewhileAbrahamLincolnwasPresident.BothLincolnandhiswifebelievedinspiritsurvivalandcommunicationwiththedead,andinfactmadeanumberofattemptstocontacttheirtwodeadsons.PowerfulmanifestationsofpoltergeistactivitywerewitnessedbyLincolnandCabinetmembersduringtheseseances.

AfterQueenVictoria'sdeath,in1901,herspiritallegedlycommunicatedregularlyfromthe"otherside"throughaMrs.EttaWriedtofDetroit,whosemediumshipwasthesubjectoftwobooksbyAdmiralMoore.CanadianPrimeMinisterMacKenzieKingwasintroducedtoMrs.WriedtbytheMarchionessofAberdeen,anditwasthroughherseancesthatKingbecameaconverttospiritualism.WheneverhewasinLondon,England,Kingwouldconsultseveralmediumsthere,amongthemHelenHughes,whoallegedlyputKingintouchwithhisdeadmother.Duringhis22yearsasprimeminister,MacKenzieKingkepthiscontactwithmediumsacloselyguardedsecret.Thefactswererevealedonlyafterhisdeath,in1950.

UnlikeKing,twoofEngland'sprimeministers,thefamousW.E.GladstoneandthefirstEarlofBalfour,wereveryopenabouttheirspiritualistbeliefsandfrequentattendanceatseances.Balfour'ssisterwasmarriedtoProfessorHenrySidgwick,thefirstPresidentoftheBritishSocietyforPsychicalResearch,ofwhichBalfourhimselflaterbecamepresident.Morerecently,inperhapsoneofthe

mostsensationalandwidelypublicizeddevelopmentsinthisancientpractice,JamesPike,formerEpiscopalianBishopofCalifornia,becameinvolvedinanattempttocontacthisson'sspiritafterthelatterhadcommittedsuicide.Repeatedpoltergeistactivityofaveryspecificnatureatthebishop'sapartmentinLondon(witnessedalsobytwofriends)seemedtoindicatethatJim,Jr.,wasstillaliveandwantedtocommunicatefromthe"otherside."Aftermuchinnerturmoil,intensifiedbythefearthathewasbecomingmentallyunbalanced,PikesoughtoutthefamousmediumEnnaTwigg.

AtthatfirstsessioninMrs.Twigg'smodesthomeinWestLondon,Jim,Jr.'s,voicespoketohisfatherinthefirstpersonthroughtheentrancedmedium.Alwaystheskeptic,Pikelistenedcarefullyandwithgrowingamazement,whilethetwofriendswhohadaccompaniedhimtookcarefulnotes.Althoughthisfamiliarvoicespeakingthroughthemediummentioneddetailsfromthepastthatonlysonandfatherknew,PikesuspectedthatTwiggmightbepullingthesefactsfromhissubconsciousmindbysomeformofESPandremainedunconvinced."IwantedtobeverysureIwasn'tbeingtakenin,"recalledthebishop.

HavingbeentrainedasalawyerandhavingspenttimeduringWorldWarIIinNavalIntelligence,BishopPikecouldhardlybeclassifiedasgullibleoreasilydeceived.Yethegraduallybecameconvinced,inspiteofhisinitialskepticism,thathisdeadsonwasindeedcommunicatingwithhim.Intheprocessofspeakingthroughthemedium,thevoiceofJim,Jr.,mentionedanumberofintimatepersonaldetailsthatcouldnothavebeenpulledfromthebishop'ssubconsciousbecausehehadnoknowledgeofthematthetime.Itwasonlylater,afterpersistentinvestigation,thatPikewasabletoverifytheiraccuracy.Moreover,everythingthatcamethroughTwiggreflectedJim,Jr.'s,uniquepersonality.Pikehadthedistinctfeelingthathewasindeedtalkingtohisson.Thereweremannerisms,idiosyncrasiesofexpression,andpersonalityquirksthatwere

uniquelyhis.YetMrs.TwigghadnevermetJim.

Havingauthenticateditself,the"spirit"speakingthroughthemediumproceededtoexplainthatitspurposewasto"prove"thattherewasnodeath.IfPikewasatallawarethatthisdeclaration,accordingtotheBible,wasoneofthemostbasiclies,heapparentlysawnosignificanceinthatfact.TheallegedspiritofhissonJimrevealedathinlyveiledcontemptforChristianity,thefaithwhichtheBishophadsworntouphold,butwhichhehadalreadyabandonedintheprocessofhisdeepeninginvolvementinoccultism.

"Don'tyoueverbelievethatGodcanbepersonalized...heisthecentralForce,"saidthevoicespeakingthroughTwigg.ItwentontoexplainthatJesuswasmerelyahighlyevolvedmanandnottheSavior,onlyoneofmanyenlightenedbeingswhoexistonahigherplane.ThisdeliberatedilutionofChristianity'sexclusiveclaimswithHinduism'sbasicthemesistheconsistentaimofalmostevery"channeled"communication,regardlessofhowtheentitiesidentifythemselves.

ModernMediumshipandChanneling

AccompanyingthegrowinginfluenceofEasternmysticismintheWesthasbeenarenewedandsometimessurprisinginterestinmediumship.Forexample,ithasbeenreportedfromvariousinsidesourcesthattheCIAhasonoccasiontried,throughmediums,tocontactthespiritsofitsdeadagents.Thepurpose,ofcourse,wastofindouthowandwhytheyhaddied,whohadbetrayedthem,andwhatsecretstheymayhavelearnedordivulgedundertorturethathadnotbeenreportedpriortotheirdeaths.

SinceCarlJungrestoredrespectabilitytospiritismbysuggestingthatmediumswerecontactingdeeperlevelsoftheirownpsychesorthecollectiveunconscious,manypsychologistsandpsychiatristshavebeenintheforefrontofthemodernrevivalofmediumship.In1973,forexample,RobertR.Leichtman,apsychiatristwhowas

alsoapsychicandmedium,decidedthathisstudyof"thenatureofgenius"couldbeimplementedbycontactingthespiritsofpastgeniuses.Infact,thisideahadbeensuggestedtohim"bythespooksthemselves,"asheaffectionatelycallsthediscarnates.2Someofthedeadgeniuseswhosespiritshe"interviewed"throughmediumDavidKendrickJohnsonincludedWilliamShakespeare,SigmundFreud,ThomasJefferson,SirOliverLodge,H.P.Blavatsky,EdgarCayce,andofcourseCarlJung.

Inthemid-1980'saninterestinmediumshiponceagainexploded,butunderthepopularnewtermof"channeling."Inthepast,mediumshipwaslargelyconfinedtocommunicatingwith"AuntMay"or"UncleGeorge,"whohadbeendeadonlyashortwhile.Today's"channeling,"however,purportstoinvolvecommunicationsfrom"ascendedmasters"whohavebeendeadforthousandsofyearsandhavereachedthestatusofspecialgurusorevengods,orexoticentitiesfrom"higherdimensionsofexistence,"orextraterrestrialsfromdistantgalaxies.Aswithpastspiritistrevivals,channelingisattractingalargefollowingamongtherichandthefamous.HarvardUniversityprofessorHarveyCoxsuggeststhattheentitiescontactedinthenewfadof"channeling"seemtobe"yuppifiedversionsofthedemonsandspiritsofanothertime."3Mostmediumsdownthroughhistoryhavebeenfraudswhoplayeduponthesentimentalityandsuperstitiousfearsoftheirclients,forwhomtheypretended(foraprice)tomakecontactwiththespiritsofdeadrelatives.InthefifthcenturyB.C.theGreekplaywrightEuripidesdeclared,"Iperceivedhowseer'scraftisrottenandfulloffalsehood."Notmuchhaschangedsincethen,butmostofthefollowersoftoday'spopularchannelersseemtobeunawareofthemassiveamountofdeliberatefraudthathastraditionallybeenpartofthisscene.Ithasbeenparticularlyprevalentamongtheprofessionalpsychicsofallkindswhohirethemselvesouttothepublicforafee:theastrologers,palmreaders,fortunetellers,andmediums.Theexistenceoforganized,mediumisticfraudhasbeen

documentedinThePsychicMafia.

Ex-spiritualistM.LamarKeeneconfessedthatfor13yearshewaspartofanationwidenetworkof2000phonymediumswho"tradedinformationaboutclients,conspiringtocheatcountlesspeopleoutofmillionsofdollars."Heclaimedthatmassivecardfileson"believers"werekeptatCampChesterfield,Indiana—describedinbrochuresas"thehubofworldSpiritualism"—fortheuseofmediums"ontheinside."Thoughastaunchbelieverinallegedcommunicationswiththedead,psychicinvestigatorAllanSpraggettwrotethathisvisittoCampChesterfield,whichatthetimeattracted50,000ormoreeagerpilgrimseachsummer,exposedhimtoseanceswherethefraudwas"socrudethatitwasaninsulttotheintelligence."4

InOutOnABrokenLimb,F.LaGardSmithtellshowhetestedKevinRyerson,oneofShirleyMacLaine'sfavorite"channelers."InapersonalsessionwithRyerson,Smithaskedabouthis"dead"mother,whoinfactwasverymuchalive."TomMcPherson,"theentityallegedlyspeakingatthetimethroughRyerson(whomSmithjudgednottobeinatrance)proceededtogive"information"aboutSmith'smotherasthoughshereallyweredeceased.5Eitherthe"entities"speakingthroughRyersonwerebadlymisinformedorRyersonwasputtingonanact.Mostofthecommunicationsbeingreceivedthroughtoday'snumerous"channelers"seemtobeofthesamequestionablenature.

Nevertheless,therehavebeenthosefewmediumswhohaveproducedconvincingevidenceofcontactwithintelligencesnotofthisworld.Thisevidence(containedincountlessvolumesofdetailedreportsaccumulatedoverthepasthundredyears)haswithstoodallattemptsatrefutation.Onepreliminaryindicationthatamediummaybegenuineishisorherwillingnesstobetestedscientifically.AmongthegreatestmediumsofmoderntimeswasafascinatingwomannamedEileenGarrett,wholiterallybegged

sciencetoexplainherincredibleexperiencesandpowers.Tothatend,Mrs.Garrettsubmittedherselftoeverytestthatpsychicinvestigatorscoulddevise.

OneoftheGreatestMediums

Beforeherdeath,in1970,EileenGarrettwascalled"thegreatestlivingmedium."TheNewYorkPostsaidofher,"Inthearistocracyofthepsychicworld,Mrs.Garrettremainsthemostfascinating."Thehighregardinwhichshewasheldisindicatedbythenamesofthosewhomshenumberedamongherclosefriendsandassociates:GeorgeBernardShaw,D.H.Lawrence,JamesJoyce,H.G.Wells,CarlJung,AldousHuxley,WilliamButlerYeats,andSirArthurConanDoyle.Likemostpsychics,Garrett'sparanormalpowerswerefirstexhibitedinearlychildhood.

Formorethan30yearsavarietyofentitiesspokethroughEileen,mostclaimingtobediscarnatespiritsofthedead.These"spirits"eachexhibitedindividualvoicesandpersonalitiesthatwereobviouslynotMrs.Garrett's.Theirprimarymissionseemedtobetoprovethesurvivalofhumanconsciousnessbeyonddeath.ManifestingknowledgeandanindependentawarenessoverwhichMrs.Garrettherselfhadnocontrol,thesediscarnatebeingsrevealedinformationthatwasclearlyunknowntoher.Moreover,theyevidencedclairvoyantperceptionsandotherpsychicpowerswhichshedidnotpossesswithoutthese"spirits"incontrol.

Twoprincipalentities,UvaniandAbdulLatif,knowninspiritualismas"controls,"consistentlydominatedEileenGarrett'strancesessions.UvanidescribedhimselfasanArabsoldierwhohaddiedinbattlehundredsofyearsbefore,whileLatifclaimedtohavebeenborninBaghdadin1162andtohavediedtherein1231afterextensivetravelsandatimeofserviceasagreatMoslemphysicianinthecourtofSaladin,SultanofEgypt.

"Latif"waswellknowninspiritualistcircles,havingcommunicatedthroughanumberofothermediumsoveraperiodofseveral

centuries.Whileunderhiscontrol,EileenGarrett(likeothermediumsbeforeher)wasabletospeakfluentlyandwriteinascholarlyandphilosophicalmannerinArabic,Hebrew,Hindi,Greek,Latin,Coptic,French,German,andItalianonawiderangeofsubjects.Thesedisciplinesincludedmedicine,history,theology,physics,music,mineralogy,andanatomy.SirArthurConanDoyle,creatorofSherlockHolmes(andaclosefriendandadmirerofMrs.Garrett),hadhisstenographerstakedownanentirebookdictatedbyAbdulLatifthroughGarrettintrance.ItwaspublishedasHealth:ItsRecoveryandMaintenance.

Unlikemostmediums,however,Mrs.Garrettwasskepticalofherstrangepowersandunabletoaccepttheidentityoftheentitiesthatspokethroughher.Inanefforttodiscoverthetruth,sheeagerlycooperatedwithinvestigatorsofpsychicphenomenaandeveninvestedsubstantiallywithherownfundsinpsychicresearch.Shewas,infact,thefounderandmajorsponsorofthehighlyregardedParapsychologyFoundation.

When,asayoungwomaninLondon,EileenGarretthadawakenedfromthatfirsthypnoticallyinducedtrancetolearnthatamalevoiceidentifyingitselfas"Uvani"had"spokenthroughhermouth,"shehadnotonlybeendumbfoundedbutbadlyfrightened.6Unabletoacceptwhatwashappeningtoher,evenwhenitwasrepeatedagainandagain,Mrs.Garrettinstead"agreedwithherhusbandthatshemustbecrazy."7ThatseemedpreferabletoadmittingthatshehadbeeninvadedagainstherwillbythediscarnatespiritofanArabsoldierwhohadbeendeadforcenturies.TheonlywayshecouldretainhersanitywastobelievethatUvaniandtheotherentitieswhofollowedhim,oncethedoorhadbeenopenedthroughhypnosis,wereinfactmerepsychologicalphenomenaratherthantheliteralandrealbeingstheyclaimedtobe.InherautobiographyEileenGarrettrecalledthoseearlydaysofmediumship:

Ifoundmyselfextremelyunreadytoacceptthesuggestionthatany

personalityoutsideofmyselfcoulduseanypartofmybeing.SuddenlyIfoundapartofmelost...andthisisthepartthatissobafflingandwhichIhavetakentosomanyinthescientificworldforstudy....

Forweeks...IneversleptwithoutalightburninginmyroomandwonderedallthetimeifthisUvanisawandheardeverythingIdidinmydailylife.8

CompellingPhysiologicalEvidence

HinduYogisareoftenable,whileindeeptrance,toexhibitastonishingalterationsintheirbasicbodilyfunctionsandmetabolism.ThisabilityissimilartothetransformationoffeatureswhichM.ScottPecksayshewitnessedinthetwocasesofdemonicpossession/exorcisminwhichheparticipated.Sincemediumshipisaformof"voluntarypossession,"itisnotsurprisingthatthesameincrediblephysiologicaltransformationsarealsoexhibitedbygenuinespiritualistmediums.EileenGarrettwasnoexception.Testsconductedonherwhileinmediumistictranceproducedresultsthatastonishedtheexaminingphysiciansandmadeitseemveryunlikelythattheentitiesspeakingthroughhercouldbearchetypalsymbolsfromthecollectiveunconsciousorsplitsofherownpsyche.Forexample,whenAbdulLatifwasincontrol,Mrs.Garrettbecameadiabetic,althoughthatwasnothernormalcondition,norwasitmanifestwhenshewasunderthecontrolofanyotherentity.

Take,forexample,oneseriesofrigorousmedicalteststhatwasconductedinNewYorkbyDr.CorneliumH.Traeger,aspecialistinarthritisandheartdisease.Whenhebeganthetests,Dr.TraegerheldfirmlytothecommonopinionofpsychologiststhatUvani,Latif,etalhadtobesplitsofGarrett'spsycheandnotdistinctalienentitieswiththeirownminds.Eileenherselfwanteddesperatelytobelievethis.WhileGarrettwaspossessedbydifferent"control"spirits,Traegertestedher"bloodcount,bleedingtime,clottingtime,respiration,pulse,heartpressureandcardiac

reactionbyanelectricalcardiograph,aswellasbytheinjectionofvariousdrugs."9Accordingtoanassociate,Dr.ElmerLindsay:

Theresultswere...sosurprisingthatDr.Traegerhesitatedtoshowthemtohiscolleagues.Nohumanheartcouldshowrecordssodiametricallyopposedanddivergent....

ThetestswerecarriedoutwiththefullcooperationofMrs.Garrett'stwochiefguides,UvaniandAbdulLatif....Whenthebleedingtime...bloodcounts[etc.]werecheckedtheresultssuggestedanactualchangeinthephysicalcompositionofthemedium'sbloodwhenshewasentranced[anddifferentforeachcontrolentity].10

Otherelaboratetests,bothinwakingandtrancestates,wereadministeredtoMrs.Garrettandher"controls"byHerewardCarrington,directoroftheAmericanPsychicalInstitute.Againtheresultswerestartling.BernreuterPersonalityInventorytestsandthePage'sBehaviorAnalysisindicatedthatthevariousvoicesspeakingthroughGarrettintrancewerenotsplitsofherpsycheatallbutindependentpersonalities.WhenCarringtontestedMrs.Garrettandthevariousentitiesspeakingthroughherwithaliedetector,thepolygraphconfirmedthateachentitydifferedfundamentallyfromthemediumandfromeachother.Referringtocasesofalleged"multiplepersonality"thatarenowrecognizedasverysimilartothe"possession"experiencedbymediums,WillisHarmanpointsout:

Thecurrentsurgeofinterestinthistopichascomeaboutpartlybecauseofthediscoverythatinthesecasesofpersonalityshift,physiologicalandbio-chemicalchangesmaybeobservedaswell.Thesecanincludebrainwavepatterns,chemicalcompositionofbodilyfluids,immunestatus,allergies,skinelectricalresponses,andothers.

Thisdevelopmentleaveslittledoubtthatinsomeimportantsensethealternatepersonality"reallyexists"assurelyasdoestheusual

personality.11

StrangeMixtureofFraud,Nonsense,andtheParanormal

Thoughshewasamediumherself,Mrs.Garrettgrantednocredibilitytotheseancesessionsofherday.Shefoundthatmostofthe"communications"thatcamethroughallegedmediumsfromthoseonthe"otherside"weretrivialandboring,andwonderedwhyitshouldbeso.T.H.Huxleyrefusedtowastehistimelisteningtothesenselessprattleof"ghosts."Confusion,misinformation,trivia,anddouble-talkmadeupmostofthe"messages"thatcameoutofthemouthsofprofessionalmediumsinseances.Thesameislargelytrueoftoday's"channelers."Yetmixedinwiththenonsense(oroutrightfraud)ismuchthatisclearlybeyondthenormalpowersofthemediumstoproduceandthusseemstocomefromsomeindependentintelligentsource.Afteryearsspentinvestigatingnumerousmediums,CambridgephilosophyProfessorC.D.Broadsummeduphisfindingsinthesewords:

Thereisnodoubtthat,amongstthatfloodofdrearyirrelevanceandhigh-falutintwaddlewhichispouredoutbytrancemediums,thereisakindofresiduumofgenuinelyparanormalmaterial...insomeofthemoststrikingcasesthesurvivingperson[discarnatespirit]seems...tospeakinitsowncharacteristicvoiceandmannerthroughthemedium'slips.12

Thereisastrangemixtureoffactandfraudthathasbeennotedbyeveryinvestigatorofthecraft,goingallthewaybacktoWilliamJames.Aftermuchinvestigation,thateminentpsychologistconsideredLenorePipertobethemostimpressivetrancemediumofhisday.Yetshehada"control"thatclaimedtobethespiritofadeadFrenchphysiciannamedDr.PhinuitwhowasunabletospeakFrench."Phinuit"couldnotexplainthatcuriousfact.

Inspiteofoccasionalmisinformation,the"spirits"communicatedmuchparanormaldatathroughMrs.Piperinmany"readings"thatJamesandhiscolleaguesfoundinexplicable.Therewere

numerousphenomenathatwereunquestionablynotcoincidence;butifgenuine,thengenuinewhat?Thequestioncontinuestoplaguetheinvestigators.NewYorkCityclinicianArmandDiMeledeclares:

Ihavespokento"spiritvoices"whohave...toldmethingsaboutmychildhood.Specifics,likethingsthathunginthehouse.There'ssomeundeniableevidencethatsomethinghappens,somethingwedon'tunderstandandcan'tmeasure.

YetIdon'tthinkthatmostofthepeoplewhoclaimtobechannelsarechannels.13

AMostImpressiveSeance

HarryPrice,world-famous"ghosthunter"andexposeroffraudulentmediums,hadcarefullytestedMrs.Garrettonnumerousoccasionsandwasthoroughlyconvincedofhergenuineness.OneexampleofwhatPricecalledGarrett's"brilliantsuccesses"occurredinhislaboratorywhileEileenwasattemptingtomake"contact"withthediscarnatespiritofSirArthurConanDoylethreemonthsafterhisdeath.UvaniwasspeakingthroughEileen,givingsomeroutineinformationaboutafriendofPrice'swhohaddiedayearearlier.SuddenlyUvani'svoicetransmuted,andinextremelyagitatedspeechanothermalevoicebrokein.FlightLieutenantIrwin,commandingofficerofanewlyconstructedBritishexperimentalairship,theR101,asthevoiceidentifieditself,hadbeenkilledtwodaysbeforewhenthedirigiblehadcrashedinFranceonitswaytoIndia.EileenGarretthadalready"seen"thecrashinthreeseparatevisionswhichshehadreportedovertheprecedingmonths.

Irwin'svoiceproceededtogivealengthyandhighlytechnicalanalysisofdesignweaknessesandadetailedaccountofexactlyhowandwhytheairshiphadgonedown.Price'sstenographerrecordedeverything.Althoughnewsofthecatastrophehadappearedinthepapers,itscauseswerestillunknown.SubsequentseanceswereattendedbyMajorOliverG.Villier,seniorassistant

intelligenceofficerintheAirMinistry,whohadbeenintimatelyinvolvedwiththeR101andwasable(throughGarrettandUvani)toaskIrwinpointedquestions.TheanswersthatcamethroughinIrwin'sunmistakablevoicecontainedsomanydetailsofnamesandconversationsofthoseinvolvedintheconstructionandsomanyhighlytechnicaldetails(includingmorethan40specificmilitarysecrets)thatEileenGarrettwasnearlyarrestedasaspy.

WillCharltonhadbeenchiefsupplyofficeroftheR101duringitsconstructionattheRoyalAirshipoverthetranscriptoftheseances,Charltoncalledit"anastoundingdocument"becauseofitsmassofbothsecretandhighlytechnicaldetailunderstandableonlytoanexpertwithfirsthandknowledgeofthisparticularairship.Thisundeniableevidence,Charltonsaid,forcedhimtotheconclusionthatthespiritofFlightLieutenantH.CarmichaelIrwin,captainoftheshatteredcraft,"didactuallycommunicatewiththosepresentattheseanceafterhisphysicaldeath."14AfterreadingTheAirmenWhoWouldNotDie,byJohnG.Fuller(latercondensedinReader'sDigest),whichdocumentsthisincidentandfillsinsomeastonishingfurtherthreadsofthestory,CharlesH.Gibbs-Smith,formerlyLindberghProfessorofAerospaceHistory,NationalAirandSpaceMuseumattheSmithsonianInstitute,declared:

Thisbookhadtobewritten;andI,forone,amprofoundlygrateful....Itwillbecomeaprimesourceforevidenceofhumansurvivalafterdeath.

TodenythebasicevidenceofFuller'sexcellentworkwouldbeasfoolishastodenytheexistenceoftheBattleofWaterloo.15

PsychoanalyzingtheEntities

Theimpressiveevidenceofapparentcommunicationwithspiritsofthedead,whichEileenGarrettrepeatedlyproduced,hasbeenthesubjectofnumerousstudiesandbooks.Yettothedayofherdeath,in1970,Garrettherselfremaineduncertainofthetrueidentityofthesemysteriousentities.Therecouldbenodoubtthat

manydifferentvoicesspeakingthroughherhadconsistentlyrevealedinformationwhichshecouldnotpossiblyhaveacquiredbyanynormalmeans.Eileenremainedunwilling,however,tobelievethatshewasactuallypossessedbymindsotherthanherown—yetthefearneverleftherthatthismightinfactbethecase.Searchinganxiouslyforproofthatthephenomenacouldbeexplainedintermsofherownsubconsciousmindoracollectiveunconscious,Garrettgaveherselftirelesslyandunreservedlytoscientificresearch.ForthisreasonalonethecaseofEileenGarrettholdssuchimportanceforresearcherstoday.ShesubmittedtotestsbyscientistsinParisandRome,atCambridgeandOxford,atColumbiaUniversityandJohnsHopkinsMedicalSchool,andbyJ.B.RhineatDukeUniversity—desperatelyhopingallthewhileforproofthattheseentitieswerenothingmorethansplitsofherownpsyche.

EventuallyEileenpersuadedthecelebratedpsychotherapistIraProgofftopsychoanalyzetheentitiesthatspokethroughher.Perhapshecouldestablishthattheywerenotindependentpersonalitieswhichhadinvadedherconsciousness,astheyclaimedtobe.ProgoffconversedatlengthwiththeentityUvani,whohadbeenthefirsttotakepossessionofGarrett.Hehaddonesowithoutherpermissionwhileshewasunderhypnosisandhadcontinuedtospeakthroughheragainstherwill.InadditiontopsychoanalyzingUvaniandAbdulLatif,Progoffalsocarriedonlengthydialoguewithtwo"godfigures,"TahotehandRamah,whoalsopossessedGarrett.Progoffwrote:

Itisclear...thatthefigureofTahotehwishestopresenthimselfasagod...innosensecomparabletotheWesternunderstandingofwhatGodis[but]...amemberofapantheonofgods,aswouldbethecaseinGreeceorIndia....

Tahoteh[seemstobe]presentinghimselfasapersonificationofabasicprincipleoflife,andthusasagodlikefigurebutnotasanultimateGod.16

Asaresultofin-depthdiscussionswithRamah,Progoffdecided

thathehadreached"theGodprinciplewhichiswithinusall."Progoff'sconclusionpresentsonceagainthepantheism/polytheism/naturalismwhichtheseentitiesconsistentlypreach.ItisbasicHinduismdressedinthelanguageofpsychology.Interminologyreminiscentofwhat"Philemon"taughtCarlJung,Progoffrefersto"theprincipleoflifeenergyinthecosmosembodiedasapersonalityinthesymbolicformofRamah"residinginthedepthsofthe"collectiveunconscious."RamahspokesoconvincinglythatProgofffeltthatthelanguageandconceptscouldhardlybecomingfromMrs.Garrett'ssubconscious.Nevertheless,heclungtothattheorybecause,likeGarrettherself,hefoundtheideaofoutsidespiritentitiesinvadingahumanpersonalityscientificallyunacceptable.Somuchfortheobjectivityof"science."

PossibleEvidenceofIdentity

MuchofthecommunicationstillbeingreceivedthroughtheentitiestodayreflectsthesamepsychologicallyinterpretedpantheisticphilosophythattheGarrettentitiespreached.AclassiccaseinpointisTheStarseedTransmissions,channeledby"Raphael"throughKenCarey17andcalledbyJeanHouston"perhapsthefinestexampleof'channeledknowledge'Ieverencountered."18Houston,infact,couldhavewrittentheirscript,socloselydoesitresembleherownbeliefs."Weareyou,yourself,"declaretheentities,"inthedistantpastanddistantfuture.Weexistinaparalleluniverseofnon-form,experiencingwhatyouwouldhaveexperiencedhadyounotbecomeassociatedwiththematerializingprocesses."

AsinACourseinMiracles,thecommunicatingentityattimesclaimstobeChrist.WhetheronebelievestheBibleornot,thefollowingrepresentative"transmission"isclearlyadiabolicallycleverperversionofwhatthebiblicalChristtaught:

IamChrist.Iamcomingthisdaythroughtheatmosphereofyourconsciousness.Iamaskingyoutoopenthedoorofyourreason,to

allowmeintoyourheart....

IcametoyoufirstthroughamannamedJesus...[andnow]thebridegroomreturns.Whoeverwillcomeaftermewillhavetodietoalldefinitionsofself,takeupmyspirit,andfollowalongthelinesofmyvibrationalfield.19

ManyChristianswouldconsidertoday'sproliferationofsuchcommunicationstobeafulfillmentofthebiblicalwarning:"God'sSpiritspecificallytellsusthatinlaterdaystherewillbemenwhoabandonthetruefaithandallowthemselvestobespirituallyseducedbyteachingsofdemons...."20Thosewhorejectthatpossibilitymustexplainwhythephilosophywhichtheentitiespreachissoconsistentlyantibiblical.Certainlythecontentoftheirmessagestronglysuggeststhattheycouldwellbethe"teachingdemons"referredtointhebiblicalwarning.Ifthisisnotwhotheyare,thenwhatistheiridentity?Wecannotsimplydismissthequestionofthesourceofthemessagebysayingthatitisnotimportant.

Iftheentitiesarelyingtousabouttheiridentity,thatwouldcastashadowovereverythingelsetheysay,eventhoughmuchofitmaybe"true"inageneralsense.Andifinfact(assomesuggest)the"truth"iscomingfromthesubconscious(orthecollectiveunconscious),thenwhydoestheunconsciousmindfinditnecessarytoconcoctfictitiousentitiesinordertocommunicatewithitself?Thereissomethingbasicallywrongaboutpresenting"highertruth"bymeansofmisinformationandsymbolsthataredeceptive.

Coulditbethatthe"entities"hopetomaketheirfantasticclaimsofbeing"Christ"and"God"orbeingsfroma"highervibrationalplane"morepalatablebyinsistingatthesametime,astheysooftendo,thattheiridentityisn'timportant?PsychiatristRalphB.Allison,whohascometobelievethattheevidencesupportstheexistenceofdisembodiedminds,neverthelesstoldJonKlimoinaninterview:

WhenItalktotheallegedspirits,theysay,"Don'tworryaboutwherewecomefromorwhat'souraddress,orwherewe'velivedbefore."...

WhoamItoargue?Idon'tknowwhotheyare.SoI'mjusttellingyouwhattheytellme.Theydon'tcomewithIDcards....

I'minthebusinessofhelpingpeople,andIcouldcarelesswheretheinformationcomesfrom.21

EvidenceofaNonhumanSource

Somepsychologistshaveattemptedtoexplainchannelingormediumshipbyresortingtoasuper-ESPtheory,whichsuggeststhatthemediumissomehowtappingintoalloftheknowledgeintheuniversecontainedinJung'scollectiveunconscious.Onceagainitseemstobeacaseofstrainingatagnatandswallowingacamel.Theproposalofsuchanincredibletheorywouldnotbenecessaryiftheexistenceofnonhumanintelligences,towhichtheevidenceseemsmostobviouslytopoint,wereaccepted.Recognizingtheextremeirony,paranormaldebunkerMarcelloTruzzipointsoutthatthis"super-ESP"theory"isn'tanylessextraordinarythanthethingit'stryingtoexplainaway—channeling."22

InarecentbulletinfromtheInstituteofNoeticSciences(foundedbyex-astronautEdgarMitchell),InstitutepresidentWillisHarmanreferstosomeveryremarkabledata.Whileitdoesnothelptoidentifytheentitiesinvolved,itdoeseliminatethepossibilitythatthecommunicationiscomingfromanyhumanagencyeitherthroughtheunconsciousorESPofanykind.Thisparticularevidencepointsconclusivelytotheexistenceofdistinctentitiesastherealexplanationofmediumshipandchanneling.

Harmanlikensthereluctanceoftoday'sscientificcommunitytoaccepttheexistenceofspiritentitiestotheattitudetowardmeteoritesonthepartoftheFrenchAcademyofScienceintheeighteenthcentury.Theyinsistedthatthosewhoclaimedtohave

seen"flamingstones"fallingoutoftheskyhadtobehallucinating,because"therearenostonesintheskytofall."Pointingoutthattheoriesofthemedium'sESPabilitiesorsubconsciousmindoracollectiveunconscioushavenopossibleconnectiontocommunicationscomingoutofnonhumanelectronicdevices,Harmanwrites:

Verybriefly,the"electronicvoicephenomenon"whichMr.[George]Meek[ofFranklin,NorthCarolina]hasexploredisthefollowing.Undercertainconditionsatapeonanaudiotaperecorder,seton"record"butwithnosignalinputoftheusualsort,hasbeenfoundwhenreplayedtocontainanintelligiblevoicerecordingthatpurportstobeacommunicationfromapersonsometimedeceased.

Thephenomenonhasbeenrepeatedmanytimes,withmanyassortmentsofwitnesses....

OnlythisyearagroupofresearchersinLuxemburgwascarryingoutsimilarexperimentationwhentheyreceived"instructions"tohaveaTVcamerasetuponatripodandfocusonthepicturetubeofanoldTVset.Inamannersimilartothe"electronicvoicephenomenon,"thevideotaperecordedanumberofstillpictures,eachlastingafractionofasecond.

Someoftheseappearedtobephotographsofidentifiablepersons,nowdead,typicallythewaytheylookedasyoungadults.Otherpicturesappearedtobelandscapes,whicha"spiritguide"explainedas"testsignals."23

Topresentfurtherevidenceherewouldservenopurpose.Whatisnowneededistoestablishtheoriginandidentityofthesemysterious"mindsfrombeyond."

[11]MindsfromBeyondNoonefindstheexistenceof"spiritentities"andthesuggestion

thattheymightbeinfluencinghumanbeliefsandbehaviormorerepugnantthantheCommitteefortheScientificInvestigationofClaimsoftheParanormal(CSICOP).ItisheadedbyStateUniversityofNewYorkphilosophyprofessorandtirelessantisupernaturalcrusaderPaulKurtz.EventhoughitsmembershipincludessuchluminariesasCarlSagan,IsaacAsimov,andB.F.Skinner,CSICOPseemstobelosingitsstubbornbattletoeducatethepublicagainstwhatitconsiderstobeamodernrevivalofsuperstition.Organizedin1976,CSICOPhelditsfourthworldconferenceinApril1986inBoulder,Colorado(which,ironicallyenough,althoughauniversitycity,isoverwhelminglyNewAge)!CSICOP'smembersarefrustrated"thatthemosttechnologicallyadvancedsocietyinhistorystillfavorstabloidheadlinesaboutESP,UFOs,andpoltergeiststothestudiedopinionsofscientificjournals."1

Creditmustbegiven,nevertheless,toKurtz'sorganization,andinparticulartoRandallZwinge(betterknownasthe"AmazingRandi")andhiscolleagues,forexposingdeceptivetechniquesusedbysometelevisionevangelists.ItwasRandiwhofirstdisclosedthatflamboyant"faithhealer"PeterPopoff's"revelations"ofnames,addresses,andailmentsoftheillwereactuallybeingtransmittedfromhiswifebackstageintoatinyradioreceiverhiddeninhisear.Inspiteofsuchexposes,however,thereisgrowingconcernthatCSICOPisfosteringanantisupernaturalhysteria,whichUniversityofOregonpsychologistRayHyman,thoughhimselfacriticofpsychicresearch,describesas"a'witch-hunting'mentalitythathasnothingtodowithscience."InfactsociologistMarcelloTruzzi,acofounderofCSICOP,"lefttheorganizationwhenhegrew

concernedthatitwasbecomingan'inquisitionalbody.'"2

PrejudicePosingasScience

Kurtzinsiststhat"psychicsareeitherdeludingthemselvesorthepublic,orboth."3Whilethatmaybetrueinmanycases,theprofessionalskepticswhospeakforCSICOPseemtocometothisblanketconclusionmorefromabiasagainstthesupernaturalthanfromathoroughexaminationofalloftheevidence.Ironically,Kurtzandhisfellowantisupernaturaldogmatistsmayunwittinglybecontributingtotheverydelusiontheyseektoexposeanddispel.Thosewhodenytheexistenceofadiseasebecausetheviruscausingithasneverbeenidentifiedonlyhelptospreadtheplague.C.S.Lewis's"seniordevil"Screwtape,atleast,seemedtohavethisuphissleeveasanoptionalstrategy.

Thosewhoworshipatthealtarsofscientificmaterialismareexceedinglyjealousofanyrivalreligionthatseemstochallengetheirrevereddogmas.Thepopularimageoftheimpartialscientistonaquestfortruthisnotalwaysvalid.ItwasnotonlythechurchthathoundedGalileo,buthisfellowscientistsaswell.TheclassiccaseofIgnazSemmelweisisonlyrepresentativeofsimilartravestiesperpetrateddownthroughhistorybyscientistsdefendingtheirprejudices.In1847,asayoungphysicianinchargeofanobstetricalwardinVienna'sfamousAllegemeineKrankenhaus,Semmelweisbegantorequiredoctorstowashtheirhandsafterdissectingcorpsesandbeforeexaminingtheliving,andalsobetweenexaminationsofindividualpatients.Themortalityratedroppeddramaticallyfromoneinsixwomentooneinfifty.

Insteadofbeingacclaimed,Semmelweiswasscorned,belittled,andhoundedfromthehospitalbyhiscolleagues.Needlesstosay,themortalityrateshotbackupassoonasheleft.UnabletofindemploymentinVienna,hewasforcedtogoasfarasBudapesttoobtainapositioninanotherhospital.Thereheaccomplishedthesamedramaticreductioninmortalityinhiswing;yetagainhewas

ridiculedandshunnedforhishygienicregime,inspiteoftheliveshesaved.Hauntedbythecriesofdyingmothersandthecontemptwithwhichhislifesavingmethodswereviewedbyhisfellowdoctors,Semmelweisdiedinamentalinstitution,abrokenman.

Isitpossiblethatdisbeliefininvisiblegermsinthe1850'sisanalogoustothedisbeliefininvisibleentitiesandpsychicpowers(orpsi)today?Itiseasytoseewhytheideaofextrasensoryperceptionissodistastefultothematerialist.Forallofhisprotestationsofobjectivityinexaminingthepossibilityofpsi,thedyed-in-the-woolskeptichaspredeterminedtheonlyconclusionhecanreachbydenyingtheexistenceoftheverythingheclaimstobescientificallytesting.Itisobviouslywrongtodemanda.physicalexplanationforspiritualexperiences.Thatislikedenyingtherealityofsmellbecauseitcan'tbefeltorinsistingthatbecausehonestyandjusticehavenotastetheyshouldthereforebedisallowed.AsLeslieShepardpointsoutinTheEncyclopediaofOccultismandParapsychology:

Itisdifficulttocombineanattitudeofimpartialinquirywithastanceofscientificauthoritywhenthereisanimplicitinitialassumptionthatallclaimsoftheparanormalareerroneousandfraudulent.

DefendingitsdogmasseemstohavebecomemoreimportanttoCSICOPthanrespectingtruth.KeithHararydismissesCSICOPas"acultofbelieversintheabsenceofpsychicfunctioning,"andpointsoutthatCSICOPaudaciouslyclaimstorepresentthescientificcommunity,wheninfactitdoesn't.AnothercriticofCSICOPsays,"Weknowit[psi]worksandiftheywanttositbacktherewiththeFlatEarthSocietyandsay,'Itcan'texistbecauseitthreatensmyworldview,'that'sfine."4Referringtothetraditional"scientificskepticismtowardvarious'supernatural'and'paranormal'phenomena,"RobertAntonWilsondeclaresinTheNewInquisition:

Todenydogmaticallyistosaythatsomethingisimpossible.Inacenturyinwhicheverydecadehasbroughtnewandastonishingscientificshocks,thatisahuge,braveandaudaciousfaith

indeed.5

TheBirthofParapsychology

Itwasoutofadesiretounderstandpsychicphenomenaonarationallevelthatanewbranchofpsychologyknownasparapsychologywasformed.6Parapsychologyhasbeendefinedas"theattempttoapplyscientificmethodand/orcriticalinvestigationtophenomenawhichare'paranormal'...[i.e.]outsidethenormalparadigmsofscienceandcriticalreasoning."7Itisthereforenotsurprisingthatparapsychologistshaveexperiencedmuchdifficultyinattemptingtoestablishscientificverificationforpsychicphenomena,andmuchskepticismfromthescientificcommunityaswell.Nevertheless,amongtheearlyinvestigatorsintopsychicphenomenaweresomeofthemostrenownedscientistsandpsychologistsinhistory.8

HarvardprofessorWilliamJameswasoneofthepioneersinthisnewfieldofinvestigation.Turningawayfromhisearlierbeliefthathumanpersonalityandbehaviorcouldbeexplainedinmaterialistic/deterministicterms,Jamesbecameasupporterofreligiousandmysticalexperiencesandembracedthebeliefthat"higherpowersexistandareatworktosavetheworld...."Aftermuchinvestigation,Jamesalsobecame,likeFreudandJung,afirmbelieverinpsychicphenomena.Hiswritingsgrowingoutofhismonumentalworkinthisfieldwereeditedandpublishedin1960underthetitleWilliamJamesandPsychicalResearch.

AnotherdistinguishedHarvardUniversityprofessorofpsychology,WilliamMcDougall,whobecamechairmanofthepsychologydepartmentatDukeUniversity,wasalsooneofthepioneersinpsychicalresearch.ItwasatDukeunderMcDougall'sdirectionthatJ.B.Rhineestablishedhisworld-famousParapsychologyLaboratory,wherepsychokinesis(mindovermatter,orPK)wasfirstscientificallydemonstrated.AfterRhine's

death,in1980,hisworkwascarriedonbyhiswife,Louisa,whowasalsoarespectedparapsychologist.

TheQuestionofSurvival

Ineveryculturedownthroughhistory,paranormalpowershavealwaysbeenassociatedwithspiritentitiesvariouslybelievedtobegods,ascendedmasters,orspiritsofthedead.Theideathathuman"mindpower"couldberesponsibleisanewinventionthatwasrequiredwhentheformerbeliefinspiritsbecameunacceptable.WhilethescientificstudyofESP,PK,andotherpsychicpowersmayseemunrelatedtomediumship,parapsychologyactuallybeganasanattempttoexaminethequestionofthesoul'ssurvivalbeyondthebody'sdeath.Thefirstsubjectsofearlyexperimentswere"spiritmediums"(alsoknownas"trancemediums"),someofwhomhave,duringthelasthundredyears,producedconvincingevidenceofparanormalpowers,whichtheygenerallycreditedtospiritsofthedead.

TheBritishSocietyforPsychicalResearch(SPR)wasformedin1882withdistinguishedCambridgeprofessorHenrySidgwickasitsfirstpresident.TheSPRwasdeterminedtotakea"scientific"approachinexaminingwhetherthesouland/orspiritcouldsurvivebodilydeath.FredericW.H.Myers,oneoftheSPR'searlyleaders,declared:"Wemustexperimentunweariedly;wemustcontinuetodemolishfictionaswellastoaccumulatetruth;wemustmakenotermswithanyhollowmysticism,anyhalf-consciousdeceit."9Afterhisdeath,anentityclaimingtobethespiritofMyersproduced,asMyershadpromisedhewould,oneofthemostconvincingpiecesofevidenceformediumshiponrecord.Intheso-called"cross-correspondences,"fragmentarycommunications,meaninglessinthemselves,werereceivedbymediumswidelyseparatedaroundtheworld,which,whenputtogether,fitlikepiecesofapuzzletoprovideacoherentseriesofmessages.

ToalargeextenttheSPRgrewoutoftheCambridgeUniversity

GhostClub.InitsearlydaystheSPRattractedanumberofyoungintellectualswho,havingturned"topsychicresearchasasubstitutefortheirlostEvangelicalfaith,"10weretobecomefamousasleadersintheFabianSociety.In1885theAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearchwasformedinNewYork,withWilliamJamesasoneofitsearlymembers.Researchersinbothsocietiesdevisedelaborateexperimentsandspentdecadesworkingwithtrancemediumsinanattempttoverifywhetherdiscarnatespiritsofthedeadwereinfactspeakingthroughthemastheyclaimed.Thereareexhaustivepublishedreportsofthisresearch.

Inthefinalanalysistheevidencedidnotestablishtheprooffor"survival"thathadbeensought.Itdidseemclearthatintelligencesotherthanthemediums'ownmindswereinvolved,butwhethertheseentitiescorrectlyidentifiedthemselveswhenspeakingthroughthemediumsintranceremainedapuzzlingdilemma.Researcherstothisdayhavenotbeenabletoanswerthatquestionon"scientific"grounds.Theexperimentsaddedfurthersupport,however,tothebeliefthatmanhasasouland/orspiritthatprobablysurvivesdeath.Moreover,thenonphysicalnatureofthemindseemedtoopenthepossibilitytotheexerciseofpsychicpowers.

GrowingScientificAcceptance

FormerpresidentoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychologyandconsideredbymanytobethesuccessortoMargaretMead,JeanHoustondeclaresthat"weareabouttoacquirethepowersofGenesis....Wearelivinginmythictimesandwearegettingmythicpowers."11By"mythicpowers"Houstonmeanssomethingbeyondthephysicalproductsoftechnologyandreachingoutintothespiritualdimension.Researchintopsychokinesis(PK)byDukeUniversityprofessorJ.B.Rhine,thefatherofAmericanparapsychology,uncoveredpersuasiveevidencefortheexistenceofmindasanonphysicalentitycapableofinfluencingthematerialworld.Commentinguponhisdiscovery,Rhinedeclared:

Itstaggersmyimaginationtoconceivealltheimplicationsthatfollownowthatithasbeenshownthat...energiesoperateinPK[thatinvolve]amentalforcethatisasyetentirelyunrecognizedinanyofthephysicalsciences....

TheevidenceofPKalongwiththatofESPestablishesthecasefortherealityofmind....Nowforthefirsttimemindiswhatthemaninthestreetthoughtitwasallalong....

Themaninthepulpittoowasrightinpreachingthatthehumanspiritissomethingmorethanthematerialofhisbodyandbrain.Forthefirsttime,scienceofferedalittlesupporttohisview...ofman'snature...theresultofprincipleshithertooverlookedbythesciences.12

TheresearchofRhineandotherswhofollowedinhisfootstepswasdisregardedorderidedbythescientificestablishmentformanyyears.Parapsychologywastheunwantedstepchildwhichnoneofthescienceswaswillingtotakeinandnourish.Morerecently,however,onthebasisofincreasingevidence,manyleadingscientistsareconvertingfromskepticismtofirmbeliefintheparanormal.OneexampleisBrianJosephson,recipientoftheNobelprizeinphysicsin1973andaprofessoratCambridgeUniversity(which,liketheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,awardeditsfirstdoctorateinparapsychologyinthelate1970's).He"describeshimselfas'99percentconvinced'oftherealityofparanormalevents...[and]thatthecaseforpsychokinesisisparticularlystrong."13WillisW.Harmanisanotherpersonwhoseimpressivecredentialswouldseemtomarkhimasanunlikelycandidateforthemysticismhenowespouses.AStanfordUniversityprofessorofengineering-economicsystems,HarmanisalsoaseniorscientistatSRIandoneoftheearlyorganizersandanexecutiveboardmemberoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychology.Aslongagoas1975,inhisspecialaddresstotheAnnualParapsychologicalAssociationConvention,ProfessorHarmanstated:

Theparamountfactthathasemerged[frompsychicresearch]isthedualityofhis[man's]experience.Heisfoundtobebothphysicalandspiritual,bothaspectsbeing'real'andneitherfullydescribableintermsoftheother."Scientific"and"religious"metaphorsarecomplementary;neithercontradictstheother.14

SuchaconcessionfromascientistasinfluentialasHarmanunderstandablyraisestheanxietylevelofthematerialistswhohadhopedthatsciencewouldbynowhavelaid"religiousmyths"torest.Someofthereasonswhysciencecouldneverreplacereligionhavealreadybeenaddressed.InhiskeynotespeechattheAugust1979annualconventionoftheInstituteforTranspersonalPsychology,Harmanpointedout:

Acoupleofgenerationsagomosteducatedpeoplewerequitecertainthatmaterialisticsciencehadclearlywonthe"warfarebetweenscienceandreligion,"andthatsuchimprobableideasas"mindovermatter"werebanishedonceandforall.

Itnowappearsthat...mindcanremotely[i.e.atadistance]exertinfluenceinthephysicalworld.15

PracticalApplicationsofPsychicPowers

Perhapsoneofthemostincrediblethingsaboutpsychicpoweristhatitstillhasitsbelieversinspiteoftheabysmalfailureofitspopularseerstopredictaccurately.AsskepticAlSeckelpointedoutearlyin1988,one-thirdofJeaneDixon'spredictionsfor1987werehardlypsychic("theIRSandthepublicwillbeconfusedbythenewtaxlaws,"etc.),thesecondthird"weresovaguethatitisimpossibletosayiftheycametrueornot,"andtheremainderwerelaughable."Intheone-thirdofherpredictionsthatmostclearlycallfor'psychic'powers,theonlycorrectonewasthatElizabethTaylorwouldnotremarryagainin1987."Notonlydidthesensationalpredictionsofnumerouspopularpsychics(marriageforSenatorEdwardKennedy,spoon-bendingTVappearancesbyPrinceCharles,anassassinationattemptuponSovietleaderGorbachev,etc.)not

happen,but,asSeckelpointedoutunderthefacetiousheading"TabloidPsychicsFailedtoPredict'87WouldBeaBadYearforThem":

...notoneofthetabloidpsychicspredictedanyofthegenuinelysurprisingnewsstoriesof1987:theDowJonesIndustrialAveragefallingmorethan500pointsinasingleday...thedowningofajetlinerbyarevengefulex-employeebelievedtohaveshottheflightcrew...theunexpectedwithdrawalofGaryHartfromthepresidentialraceoverasexscandalandhisequallyunexpectedreentryintotherace...[etc.]16

Inspiteofthemanyfailures,however,thefactthatpsychicpowershaveoftenbeenputtopracticaluseisnowamatterofindisputablerecord.Innumerouscriminalcasespsychicshaveprovidedkeyinformationwhichtheyunquestionablyderivedbysomeunknownmeansbeyondnormalhumancapabilities.Inonewell-knowncase,LosAltos,California,psychicM.KathlynRheawascalledinbypolicewhohadbeenunabletolocatetwomissingpersons.Rheanotonlypinpointedwithastonishingaccuracythelocations(inroughterrain)ofthevictims'twowidelyseparatedbodies,butcorrectlygavethecauseandmannerofdeathineachcase(onehaddiedofnaturalcausesandtheotherhadbeenmurderedbyheavyblowstothehead).WithoutthepsychicinformationsuppliedbyRhea,policedoubtedthatoneofthebodieswouldeverhavebeenfound.17

Similarcasesarenumerousandwell-documented.MorerecentlyEttaLouiseSmithofPacoima,California,was"jailedforfourdaysaftersayingthata'psychicvision'enabledhertoleadLosAngelespolicetothebodyofaslainnurse."AfterquestioningSmithfortenhours,thepolicearrestedher,unabletobelievethatshecouldhaveknownthelocationofthebodybytheincrediblemeanssheclaimed.Fourdayslater,however,whenthemurdererconfessedandimplicatedtwootherpeople,noneofwhomhadanyconnectiontoSmith,shewasreleased.OnMarch30,1987,aVanNuys

SuperiorCourtJuryawardedSmith$26,184forfalsearrestandimprisonment.AstheLosAngelesTimesreported:

JuryforemanJanetFowlerofBurbanksaidthatmostjurorsbelievedSmith'sstorythatshehadapsychicvisionandtheyfeltthatanawardequivalenttoayear'ssalaryforSmithwasfair.18

NoonehasputpsychicpowertomorepracticalusethanexperimentalpsychologistKeithHarary,SRIphysicistRussellTarg,andbusinessmanAnthonyWhite,whohaveteamedtogethertoformDelphiAssociates.LocatedinSanMateo,California,theunusualpartnershipoffersclients"psi-derivedprognosticationsforbusinessdecisions.Andtheyareturninganiceprofit."19TheprojectswhichDelphihasdoneforclientshaveincludedsuchwidelyvariedservicesaspredictingsilverfuturesandpsychicallysurveyingoilcompanylandby"remoteviewing"inordertochoosebetweengeologicallyestablisheddrillingsites,"assessundergroundconditionsandgivearoughestimateofwhatthewell'soutputwillbe."Withanunderstandableairofsatisfaction,RussellTargdeclares:

AndifthereisanythingDelphiAssociateshasalreadyshown,itisthat"psychicfunctioningisaliveandwell."

Peoplearemakingmoneywithpsi,andDelphiissupportingitself.20

APsychicWar?

Periodicreportsfromthescientificcommunityarestillbeingissueddenyingtheexistenceofpsychicpowers.ThelatestcamewiththeannouncementinDecember1987thatatwo-year,425,000dollarstudybytheNationalAcademyofScienceshadconcludedthat"130yearsofresearchhasproduced'noscientificjustification'tosupportwidespreadbeliefintheexistenceofextrasensoryperception,mentaltelepathyorsimilarphenomena."21Infact,onlyabout65,000dollarswasallocatedforthestudyofwhat

wasdescribedas"theso-called'incredibletechnologies,’includingparapsychology[psychicresearch],"sotheoutcomewasnotsurprising.

Nevertheless,insideinformantscontinuetoinsistthattheUnitedStatesgovernmentistakingpsychicpowerseriouslyenoughtospendmillionsonsecretresearch,andthattheSovietsaredoinglikewise.Neithersidecanaffordtolettheothergettoofaraheadinthisarea.Itisnolongersciencefictiontoimagineafutureconfrontationbetweentheworld'ssuperpowersinvolvingnotonlyreadingthemindsofenemyleadersandpredictingstrategicevents,butmentallyjammingcomputersanderasingmagnetictapeatadistance,andevencreatingconfusionorcausingkeypersonneltoactagainsttheirowninterests.RepresentativeCharlesRose(D-NC),amemberoftheHouseSelectCommitteeonIntelligence,"callsthepossibilityof'psychicwar'alltooreal."CharlesWallach,oneofthemostvisibleexpertsinthisarea,hasproposedtheestablishmentofa"non-speculative,scientific,investigatoryJournalofPsychicWarfare."22

Ithasbeenestimatedthat"theSovietUnionhasaboutthirtygovernment-runparapsychologicallaboratories,"whileofficiallytheU.S.hasnone.23Rosefavorsincreasedexpendituresfor"researchonthenationalsecurityimplicationsofPSI,"24arguinglogicallythat"iftheRussianshaveitandwedon't,weareinserioustrouble."HavingdonepsychicresearchfortheU.S.governmentandhavingalsospenttimeindiscussionwithSovietparapsychologistsintheUSSR,25KeithHarary(whohasprofitedbytakinghisownadvice)declaresimpatiently:

It'stimetostoparguingaboutwhetherpsychicfunctioningexistsandtostartusingit.26

Thedangerouspossibilitiescannolongerbedismissedbysmugskepticism.Brooklyn'sMaimonidesMedicalCenter

parapsychologistCharlesHonortonsays,"Thelikelihoodofnegativeapplication[ofpsi]frightensmegreatly."27HararyandTargareconvincedthatSovietparapsychologistsareinvolvedinexperimentsfor"behaviormanipulationfromadistance."28

Duetoitstop-secretstatus,itisdifficulttoobtainaccurateinformationaboutmilitaryorothergovernmentexperimentsinvolvingpsychicpower.However,bitsofinformationareperiodicallyleakedtothepress,suchasthefollowingnewsbriefearlyin1987inU.S.News&WorldReport:"ForeignRelationsChairmanClaibornePelllastweekreservedavaultintheatticoftheCapitol—aroomoftenusedtoexaminetop-secretdocuments.Purpose:toassemblegovernmentofficialstohearIsraelipsychicUriGellerrevealwhathehasdivinedofSovietstrategicintentions.Geller,whoclaimstobeabletobendspoonswithmindpower,oncebriefedformerPresidentJimmyCarter."29

MindsfromBeyond?

Gellerhasbornethebruntofmuchoftheridiculecomingfromthecriticsofpsychicresearch.Alongwithanumberofotherprofessionalmagicians,the"AmazingRandi"hasboastedthathecanreproducemostofUriGeller'sfeatswithacombinationofsleightofhand,misdirectedattention,andpatentedparaphernalia.30Theatricalmagicianscomplainthatthescientistswhotestpsychicsarenotcompetenttodetectfraudbecausetheyknownothingofstagemagic.InfactacloudofskepticismhangsoverGellerandhe"hasnotbeenacceptedbymostparapsychologicalinvestigators."31

YetoneofthosewhotestedGellerwasW.E.Cox,formerlyonJ.B.Rhine'sstaffatDukeUniversityandhimselfamagicianwhohasservedaschairmanoftheSocietyofAmericanMagiciansNationalOccultCommittee.UripassedthethreetestswhichCoximposed,themostimpressiveinvolvingawatchintowhichCoxhad

previouslyinsertedastripoftinfoiltojamthebalancewheel.YetUristartedthewatchbyconcentratinguponit.WhenCoxlateropenedithefoundthatthetinfoilhadbeenbrokenandmovedoutofthewayinamannerthatcouldnotbeexplainednaturally.ThisisonlyoneofmanysimilarfeatsproducedbyGellerandotherpsychicsthatcouldnotpossiblybedismissedassomekindofmagician'ssleightofhand.SaidCox:

InsofarasthequestionofdeceptionbyGellerisconcerned,Ibelieve...thatithasbeenruledoutastheexplanationofthesethreeeffects.32

WhileStanfordResearchInstitute(nowcalledSRI)waspreparingtoputhimthroughtestsofhispsychicpowersforadocumentaryfilm,UriGellercomplainedthatmostparapsychologistsmisunderstoodthetruesourceofthismysteriousforce."Theykeeptalkingaboutmymind,"hesaid.Urithenexplainedthatinhisopinionpsychicpowerdidn'temanatefromhismindatallbutfromotherminds—entitiesfromanotherplanetwhoweretelepathicallychannelingthepowerthroughhimfortheirownpurposes,andthathehadtoobey.

"Ihavenochoice,"Uritoldex-astronautEdgarMitchellandseveralSRIscientists,"becausetheydirectme.Ican'tgoagainst[them]."

NoneoftheSRIscientistsbrushedUri'sastonishingstatementasideasparanoia.RussellTargreplied:"ThethingsyouaretellingusagreeverywellwiththingsthatHal[SRIcolleagueHaroldPuthoff]andIbelieve,butwecan'tprove."AddedMitchell:"Uri,you'renotsayinganythingtouswedon'tinsomewayalreadysenseorunderstand."33

TheBurningIssue

Uri'scomments,ratherthanreflectingsomethingnew,solelycompatiblewithmodernscience,andrelatedtothespaceageand

extraterrestrialintelligences,areinfactrightinlinewithancientocculttradition.Attheheartofalloccultismareritualsembodyingsecretwords,symbols,potions,movements,etc.whicharecarriedoutwiththehopeofsecuringfrominvisibleentitieseitherspecialknowledgeorsupernaturalpower.Whethertheentitiesarecalled"ETI's"byUriGelleror"MastersoftheGreatSchool"byNapoleonHillor"innerguides"byStanfordUniversity'sGraduateSchoolofBusinessseemstobeimmaterial.Thisisclassicalsorcery(orshamanism),inwhichtherelianceuponnonphysicalentitieshasalwaysbeenthecornerstone.AnthropologistMichaelHarnerremindsus:

Toperformhiswork,theshamandependsonspecial,personalpower,whichisusuallysuppliedbyhisguardianandhelpingspirits.

Eachshamangenerallyhasatleastoneguardianspiritinhisservice...[and]withoutaguardianspirititisvirtuallyimpossibletobeashaman....34

Afteralloftheresearch,weareleftwithtwopossibilitiesforexplainingthepsychicpowersandparanormalknowledgedisplayedattimesbysuchpersonsasaUriGelleroranEileenGarrett:1)humanminds,or2)nonhumanminds.Clearlynoindividualhumanmindhaseitherthepowerortheknowledgetoproducetheverifiedparanormalphenomena.Theweightofevidencepointstotheinvolvementofnonhumanminds.

Itisatthispoint,however,justasitwouldseemthatwecouldidentifytheseentities,thatwenoticesomethingpeculiar.Themessagewhichtheymostconsistentlypreachdeniestheirindividualexistenceasseparatefrommankind.Inspiteofthevariousidentitiestheyassume,fromdeadrelativestospacebrotherstoascendedmasters,thereistheclaimofbeingthevariedexpressionsofauniversalconsciousness,ofwhichallthingsareapart.Ifthisistrue,itwouldmeanthathumanminds,beingthemselvespartoftheoneUniversalMind,wouldhaveunlimited

potential—eventheabilityocreatetheirownreality.Thatpossibilitymustbeexplored.

[12]CreatingOne'sOwnRealityItisimportanttoremindourselvesofwhatwehaveestablishedto

thispoint.Whetheroneisinvolvedinpsychotherapy,witchcraft,channeling,orself-improvementtechniques,theunderlyingphilosophyisthesame.TheentireNewAgemovementembodiesancientoccultideasrepackagedinpseudoscientificlanguageformodernconsumption.Itisnaturalism/pantheism/polytheisminoppositiontosupernaturalism/monotheism.Inthisschemeofthings,manisacreatureoftheimpersonalanduncreatedcosmosratherthanofapersonalCreator,andcontainswithinhimself(byvirtueofhisonenesswiththecosmos)allwisdom,knowledge,andpower.Thisisnotordinarilyapparentbecausewehave"forgotten"ourtrueidentity;andtheselimitlessresources,whicharenowknownonlytothealleged"higherself,"lieburiedinJung's"collectiveunconscious."Inordertotapthisinnerpotential,NewAgemethodologieshaveborrowedfromEasternreligionsthedubiousconceptofgaininginsight("enlightenment")andeffectingchangesinbehaviorandwell-beingthrough"altering"consciousness.

Inalteredstatesofconsciousnessanew"reality"isexperienced,oftenaccompaniedbytheconvictionthattheentireuniverseissimplyaprojectionofone'smind.Fromthisitfollowsthattochangeourawareness(thebasicelementofconsciousness)istochangeouruniverse.Inhisnewbook,GlobalMindChange,WillisHarmanexplainsthat"bydeliberatelychangingtheirinternalimageofreality,peoplearechangingtheworld."Ofcoursethisisnotanewbelief,buthasbeenthebasicelementofEasternmysticismforthousandsofyears.Thefactthatthecountrieswhichhavebeenpracticingthisphilosophythelongest,notablyIndiaandTibet,areamongthemostdeprivedareasoftheworldshouldbeevidenceenoughthatsomethingiswrong.Inspiteofthatfact,however,Westernersare

lookingtotheEasterngurusfor"enlightenment."

IfWishesWereHorses

Andnowwehaveanexplosionofmessagesfromalleged"higherbeings"promotingthisperennialphilosophy.The"channeledentities,"nomatterhowtheyrepresentthemselves,consistentlyteachthatwecreateourownrealitywithourminds."Seth,"forexample,declares,"Youaregiventhegiftofthegods;youcreateyourrealityaccordingtoyourbeliefs...."1JonKlimocallsthisteaching"Seth'schiefcontribution."2Ramtha,whotellsus,"Loveyourself,youareGod,"alsodeclaresthat"wecreateourownrealitieswithinwhichtoexpressourselves,againstwhichtoreact,fromwhichtolearn,andinwhichtoevolve."AgainKlimoremindsusthatthisview"isvirtuallyidenticalwith...manyotherchanneledmaterials."3

FormanyyearsRosicrucianadsinmagazinesandnewspapershavebeenofferinginitiationintothe"psychicfacultiesofman[which]knownobarriersofspaceortime,"yetweseenoonedisplayingthepowersalludedto.Inspiteofthatobviousfailure,anynumberofpopularself-improvementseminarleadersandmind-dynamicscoursesarenowpromotingthissamedelusionthatwasoncetheexclusivestockintradeofsmallesotericorganizationsandwitchcovens.TheSilvaMethodteachesthatwhatevertheindividualcanvisualizeinhisorhermindcanbebroughtintoexistenceinthephysicalworldbythatsamementalpower."GetWhatYouWantThroughSelf-DirectedMindPower"declaresacompetingtechnique'sbrochure,soundinganappealthatisveryhardtoresistforthosewhowanttoimposetheirwillupontheuniverse.MarilynZdenek,highlyacclaimedbyuniversityprofessors,businessleadersandcelebrities,teachesaseminartitled"InventingtheFuture:AdvancesinImageryThatCanChangeYourLife."Foretellingthefutureisnolongergoodenough;nowwearegoingtomakeitallturnoutourway.

Hereisthestuffoffairytales,ofthedreamsofCamelot,ofthephilosophytowhichthesimpleresponseremains:"Ifwisheswerehorses,everyonewouldride."Nomatterhowsincerebothteachersandpupilsmaybe,theyhavelefttherealworldofverifiabledataandcommonsensetocreatetheirownfantasyland.YetNewAgewritersclaimthatnotonlythe"channeled"spiritentitiesbutalsothenewphysicsconfirmstheHindubeliefthatthereisnoobjectiveuniverse;itisallmaya,anillusionthatwehavecreatedwithourminds.Supposedlywecanbe"liberated"fromthiscollectivedelusionthroughchangingourawareness.Inaclassicflimflam,wearebeingpersuadedtobelievethatthenormalobjectiverealityexperiencedinordinaryconsciousnessisunrealandthattheillusionexperiencedondrugs,inYoga,orinotheralteredstatesofconsciousnessisthetruereality.

Thatthesis,however,ratherthanbeingsupportedbyscienceasclaimed,isinfactdeniedbyitaccordingtothescientistswhogaveusthenewphysics.ItistruethatSirJamesJeans,SirArthurEddington,ErwinSchroedinger,andothersamongthegreatestscientistsofthiscenturyspokeofthestuffoftheuniverseas"mindstuff."Bythatstatementtheydidnotmean,however(astoday'spopularizersofEasternmysticismwouldhaveusbelieve),thatwecreaterealitywithourmindsandthatthereisthereforenorealworldoutthereforustoperceive.Theysimplymeantthatwecannothaveadirectexperienceoftheobjectiveworldaroundus,butthatallwecanknowofitisamentalsensationorimage.

Thereader,forexample,hasnodirectexperienceofthebookpresentlybeingread.Lightphotonsbouncingoffthepagecauseavisualimageintheeyes,whichiscarriedtoandinterpretedbythebrain.Nervesinthefingersconnecttoaneuralnetwork,whichcarriesasensationoftouch(texture,weight,etc.)tothebrain—andthatmentalimpressionisallthereadercanknowofthephysicalsubstanceoftheobjectbeingheldandread.

Innocasedowehaveadirectexperienceofthethingitself,but

onlywhatismediatedbythefivesensesandinterpretedbythebrain.Infactthenewphysics,ratherthansupportingmysticism,tellsusthatwecannotknowanythingofthephysicaluniversearoundusexceptthroughthismentalimage,andasrepresentedbymathematicalsymbols.Yetmysticismclaimstogiveanunmediatedexperienceofthecosmositself.Thusthemysticalexperience,contrarytopopularclaims,isnotsupportedbyscienceandinvolvesdelusionratherthanenlightenment.

Certainwritersassureusthatthenewphysicssomehowdemonstratesthattheveryactofobservinganeventinthephysicalworldmysteriouslyinterfereswithit—andthatthisprovesthatwedocreaterealitywithourminds.By"faith"theaveragepersonacceptsthisassertionas"scientificfact,"eventhoughitquiteclearlycontradictsthedailyexperiencesofalifetime.Whatisgenerallynotexplainedisthatthis"interference"occursonlyinaveryspecialsituationandforobviousreasons.

Radarbeams(radiowaves)mustbecontinuouslybouncedoffaplaneflyingacrosstheskyinordertocalculateitsspeed,direction,andpositionatanytime.Ofcourseradarorlightbouncingoffaplanehasonlyaninfinitesimaleffectuponit.Whenobservingatinysubatomicparticle,however,itisnecessarytobounceoffofitaparticleofitssamesize.Obviouslythat"interferes"withtheparticlebeingobserved.Theresultinginterferenceshouldbenomoresurprisingormysteriousthanthefactthatbouncinganairplaneoffofanairplanewouldalso"interfere"withitsflight.Inneithercase,however,doessuchinterferencecomefromthemindoftheobserver,andthereforeitcannotbeusedtosupportthebeliefthatweinfluence,muchlesscreate,theworldaboutusbyourthoughts.

HinduismandModernScience

EncouragedbyNewAgeapostlessuchasFritjofCapra(TheTaoofPhysicsandTheTurningPoint)andGaryZukav(TheDancingWuLiMasters),thebeliefisgrowingthatmodernphysicsand

ancientmysticaltraditionshavestrikingparallelsthatleadtosimilarviewsofrealityandthusjustifyamergerbetweenthetwo.Thefactsarequitetheopposite.RatherthansupportingEasternmysticismbecauseitissosimilar,modernphysicsactuallyhaslittleincommonwithit.

Inadditiontohisclaimthathehasadirectexperienceoftheessenceoftheuniverse(whichsciencedeniesispossible,aswehavejustseen),themysticalsoclaimsto"experience"theunityofallthings,includinghisown"oneness"withthecosmos,asthoughtheuniversewerehisownbodyandtheexpressionofhismind.Incontrastagain,thephysicistdeclaresthattheuniverseisaseparaterealityandthereforethisexperienceof"oneness"withtheAllisadeception.Mysticismdeniesanyrealityexternaltothemind,whilethephysicistdeclaresthattheexternalworldisinfactrealandthatwehavenowayofcomparingourmentalimpressionsoftheuniversewithitstruecharacterandessence.ForthesereasonsKenWilberdeclares:"Whatanabsolute,radical,irredeemabledifference[separatesscience]frommysticism!"4

MostphysicistsdisagreewiththethesisofCapraandZukav,whichwouldnotbethecaseifitfollowedfromtheevidence.Infact,Capraadmitsthathistheory(whichissopopularamongNewAgers)didnotresultfrominsightgainedthroughscientificobservation,butactuallycameaboutthroughapowerfulmysticalexperiencehehadin1969"onabeachinSantaCruz[California]."5InTheTaoofPhysicshewrites:

Fiveyearsago,Ihadabeautifulexperiencewhichsetmeonaroadthathasledtothewritingofthisbook.Iwassittingbytheoceanonelatesummerafternoon...whenIsuddenlybecameawareofmywholeenvironmentasbeingengagedinagiganticcosmicdance....

I"saw"theatomsoftheelementsandthoseofmybodyparticipatinginthiscosmicdanceofenergy,Ifeltitsrhythmand"heard"itssound,andatthatmomentIknewthatthiswasthe

DanceofShiva,theLordofDancersworshippedbytheHindus.6

Presumablythisreligiousexperienceof"cosmicconsciousness,"orthe"onenessofall,"thatisattainedinanalteredstateprovidesaninsightintotheactualrealityunderlyingtheuniverse—arealitythatwedonotordinarilyrecognizebecauseourperceptionisflawed.Beforeacceptingsuchathesis,however,onecannothelpwonderinghowandwhy,ifallisperfect,ourperceptioncouldbeimperfect.FromwhatsourcedidthisimperfectionarisetomartheperfectionoftheAll?Ifallisindeedone,thenhowcouldweevenhavetheillusionofseparationfromtheuniversalconsciousnessandunifiedwhole,ofwhichweareallegedlyanintimatepart?Andwhyistheresomuchconflictwithintheindividualhumanheartandsomuchjealousy,hatred,greed,andantagonismexhibitedtowardfellowmembersoftherace?

Whetherthealteredstateofconsciousnessthatbrought"enlightenment"cameaboutthroughdrugsorEasternmeditation,thefactremainsthatCapra'spresentobsessionisnottheresultofscientificinvestigationorevidencebutofaclassicHindumysticalexperience.InTheTaoofPhysicsandTheTurningPoint,CapraarguesforanintegrationofEasternandWesternthoughtinordertobringaboutwhatheperceivesasanecessary"revolutioninallthesciencesandatransformationofourworldviewandvalues."Itwouldnotseemadvisable,however,tobasesucha"revolution"inscientificthinkinguponareligiousinsightsuchasCapraexperiencedinanalteredstateofconsciousness.

IntheMindofSomeEternalSpirit

SirJamesJeansdemolishedtheviewofCapra,Zukav,etallongbeforeitbecamepopular.Jeansdemonstratedthatthereisinfactanobjectiveworldandthatthiswouldnotbethecaseifrealitywerethecreationofindividualminds.Hedidthisverysimplybypresentingthreecriteriawhichareessentialforobjectivereality:surprise,continuity,andchange.Whathemeantiseasily

illustrated.

TwentymillionpeoplearesuddenlyawakenedfromasoundsleepbyanearthquakeinMexicoCity,anearthquakewhichkillsmanyofthembycollapsingthehomesandapartmentstheyoccupy.Thefactthatsomanypeopleweresurprisedbythisevent,indeedawakenedbytheshakingandroaringofanearthquakethattheycertainlywerenotevendreamingof,isevidenceenoughthatanobjectiverealityimposeditselfuponitsvictims.Itwouldbemadnesstosuggestthatahurricaneorafirethatgutsahotelwascreatedinthemindsofthosewhoexperiencedit.Yetnew-consciousnessguruscontinuetopromoteandsellvarioustechniquesforcreatingone'sownreality,andthecustomersarestilleagerlypayingforseminarsthatwillsupposedlyteachthemtodevelopthisamazinghumanpotential.

Suchideasarebeingtakenseriouslyevenbyourtopgovernmentofficials.Consider,forexample,thestatementsofex-astronautEdgarD.MitchellinanaddresstomembersofCongressandCongressionalstaffonbehalfoftheCongressionalClearinghouseontheFuture:

Withintenyears,psychokineticfunctioningwillbereasonablywellaccepted.Itknocksdownthepreviousmodelofthehuman;thereissomethingmorefundamentalthanthematerialwearemadeof.

Wecancontrol,externaltoourbodies,thematterthatisaroundus,andcontrolinternallythefunctioningofourbodies,bythewaywethink.7

ThereareonlytwoyearsleftofMitchell'sprojectedtenyearsforthisnewparadigmtobeinoperation,andwearenocloserthanwewere3000yearsagowhenthesameideaswerebeingtaughtbyYogisinIndia.ConsiderJeans'ssecondreasonwhythisdreammustforeverremainadelusion:thecontinuityofobjectivereality.Aftera20-yearabsenceyoureturntoyourhighschoolforareunion.Thesameroomsinwhichyouonceattendedclassare

there,completewithdesks,blackboards,andcracksintheceiling—everythingthatyouhadnevergivenathoughttoduringthe20-yearinterval.Everythinghasremainedinplacewithoutyourmindsupportingitsexistence.

Suchcontinuityprovestheobjectivityoftheworldindependentofhumanminds,acontinuitywithoutwhichlifewouldbeimpossible.Imaginethechaosifrealitywereinfacttheproductofbillionsofindividualmindsofindependentandforgetful(oreveninsane)nature.Whose"reality"wouldbedominant,andhowoftenwouldoneperson'sself-created"reality"suddenlybeoverturnedbyanother'simposingitself?

Therehavealsobeenmanychangesatyourhighschoolduringyourabsence.Theoldgymnasiumhasbeentorndownandanewandmuchlargeronestandsinitsplace.Changesuchasthis,comingwithoutourknowledgeinplaceswehaveforgotten,clearlyhasoccurredwithoutourmindscreatingit.Thistoodemonstratestheobjectivityofthephysicaluniverseaboutus.SoJeansarguesthatthesethreeelements—surprise,continuity,andchange—provethattheworldaboutusisnotcreatedbyourmindsbuthasinfactanobjectiverealityofitsownindependentofanythingwemaythinkordo.

Nevertheless,theuniverseseemsmorelikeagreatthoughtthanagreatmachine.Consequently,Jeansconcludedthatitmustsubsist"inthemindofsomeEternalSpirit,"whoisinfactitsCreator.Farfrommentallycreatingreality,mankindhasbeenstrugglingtodiscovertheincrediblesecretsofauniversewhichisatoncesoawesomeinsizeandyetsointricateinminutestdetailthatitreflectsthegeniusofaDesignerwhosemindisinfinitelybeyondhumancapabilities.ThetheorythatwecancreateourownrealitywouldseemtorepresenttheenvyandrebellionoflittlemindswithdelusionsofgrandeurwhohaveaninsatiabledesiretoplayGod.

Nevertheless,thebeliefthatwehavealreadyconspiredtocreatethedelusionwenowcallreality,andfromwhichourimaginingscandeliverus,growsevermorepopular.InShiftingWorlds,ChangingMinds:WheretheSciencesandBuddhismMeet,JeremyW.Haywardarguesthateverythingweseeandexperienceintheworldaboutusismereillusion:"Ourbeliefthatwearelikethatcreateseachother."Themerefactthattheuniverseobviouslyexistedbeforehomosapienscamealongto"create"realitywithhisimaginationoughttobesufficienttoendsuchtheories,yettheypersist.InaMarch,1988LosAngelesTimesreviewofShiftingWorlds,JonathanKirschwrites:

Inotherwords,Haywardinsists,mywife'sbeautyandgraceandkindness,herengagementinourfamilyandhercommitment...areessentiallyanillusion,afabricationofmyconsciousness,whichisitselfanillusion.

"Tothinkthatthereisareal,objectiveandexternalUniverse,independentofmindandobservation,"writesHayward,"isnolongeranacceptableattitudewithwhichtoapproach...reality."...

Ipersistinbelievingthat...thefactthatthestuffofachaoticuniversecantaketheformofahumanbeing—withallofourmarvelousgiftsofpassionandintellect,ourfascinationfortheworldaroundus,ourcommitmenttolifeandlove—isnothinglessthanmiraculous,andperhapsthebestargumentthatweare,afterall,thehandiworkoftheAlmighty.

TheMostWonderfulTruth—ortheCrudestHoax

Inspiteofitsobviousfollyandimpossibility,thedelusionarydreamofplayingGodissoappealingthatfewpeoplecanresistthetemptationwhenthiscarrotisdangledinfrontofthem.IneachissueonemajorNewAgemagazineboldlyofferstoitslargecirculationofreaders:"Tools&TeachingsToCreateYourOwnReality."8Seminarsofferingtechniquesfordevelopingone'sallegedinfinite"potential"are,aswehavealreadymentioned,proliferating.

Typicalofthecoursesbeingpresentedtoapubliconlytooeagertobelieveany"positive"messageisthefollowingfromafull-pageadintheJanuary-February1988NewRealities:

ContactyourHigher-Self.DiscovertheInnerPowertocreateyourIdealReality.

Asyoulisten[tothespecialtapes]...instantlythepowerfullearning,cognitive,andcreativepotentialsof[your]brainopenwide.Themind'sfullpowercomesaliveatlast....

[On]side2...youconsciouslyhear[the]soothingvoicewhichleadsyouthroughapleasantguidedstateofrelaxationtothereceptive"AlphaState."

Aswehavealreadyindicated,highlyeducatedWesternersareembracing,asscience,aHindugospelthatmusttakemuchoftheresponsibilityformakingIndiaoneofthepoorest,mostsuperstition-boundcountriesintheworld.ThisgospelofferstoCalcutta'sonemillionbeggarswhohavebeenbornandliveandwilldieinitsstreetsthegoodnewsthattheirrunningsores,gnawinghunger,andpovertydonotreallyexist,buthavebeencreatedbytheirown"negative"thinking.Thereisnosuffering,disease,ordeath;onemerelymisperceiveswhatisactuallythere.Alloneneedstodotochangeone'sexperienceoflifeistochangethewayoneperceivesit.InthatsameaddresstoCongressionalleaders,EdgarMitchelldeclared:

Ourphysicalandemotionalwell-beingistotallyunderourcontrolandwecantrainourselvestocontrolourselves.Itputsresponsibilityforhealthandwell-beingontheindividual.

Iamnotavictim.Ichooseonsomelevel,whateverhappenstome.Withintenyears,theAMAwillendorsethisviewpoint.9

AsNormanVincentPeale,DenisWaitley,andmanyothermotivationalspeakerswouldpersuadeusiftheycould,anyonecanchangehisentireworldbychanginghisthoughts.Nowthisiseitherthemostwonderfultruthorelseitisthecrudesthoaximaginable.

Whocouldreasonablydoubtthatitisthelatter?Yetthisdelusion,surprisingly,continuestogrowinpopularityinspiteoftheobviousfactthatnoone(notevenapatientinamentalhospital)livesinhisownmentally-createdrealityseparatefromtherestoftheworld.

Whowalksinsunshinewhileothersallaroundhimareintherain?Orwhocontinuestoflysafelythroughtheaironaplanethattheotherpassengersandcrew,becauseoftheirnegativethinking,"imagine"hassustainedapowerfulexplosionandisfallingfromthesky?Orwhocan(bypositivethinking)causeastockthatheorsheownstomaintainitsvalue,whentoeveryoneelse'sperceptionandaccordingtothefigurescomingoutoftheNewYorkStockExchangethatparticularstockhasdrasticallyfalleninvalue?Nevertheless,millionsarepersuadedbygurusofthenewconsciousnessthattheyhavesuch"potential,"andarepurchasingandpracticingvarioustechniquesforcultivatingalteredstatesinpursuitofthispotofgoldattheendoftheNewAgerainbow.

Mysticalfantasiesinalteredstatesaside,thedailyexperienceofallmankindhasalwaysdemonstratedthatthereisacommonrealitysharedbyallhumanbeingsuponplanetEarthregardlessofwhethertheyarepositiveornegativethinkers.Ecologicaldisasterornuclearwar,forexample,donotthreatenonlythosenegativepeoplewhoarepessimisticenoughtobelieveinsuchhorrors.ThepossibilityofWorldWarIIIisjustasmuchathreattothosewhodisplay"VisualizePeace"stickersontheircarbumpers,practicetranscendentalmeditationfaithfully,andthinknothingbutpositivethoughtsdayandnightasitistoanyoneelse.

Norcanitbearguedthatthemajoritybeliefisimposedupontheminority.Thisideaformsthebasisfortheattempttomobilizehundredsofmillionsofpeopletomeditateforpeaceinthehopethata"criticalmass"ofpeacefulthinkingwillbereachedandwillthustipthescalesintheUniversalMinditselfandbringaboutpeaceuponearth.Ifitrequiresmillionsorevenbillionsofpersonsthinkingthesamethoughttogethertoeffectsuchchanges,then

obviouslyonepersoncouldnotpossiblycreatehisorherownindividualrealityincompetitionwithbillionsoreventhousandsofotherminds.

Thestoryistoldoftwooverweightmenwhoseholisticphysicianprescribed18holesofgolfeachweek,butwithoutballsorclubs.Thegamewastobeplayedbyvisualization.Swingingimaginaryclubsatimaginaryballsthefirsttimeseemedabitodd,butrightoffthefirstteeeachplayermanageda280-yardvisualized"drive"straightdownthefairway.Asonemightimagine,itwasaveryclosematch.Infact,bythetimetheyreachedthe18thhole,a450-yard,par-4dogleg,thegamewastied.

"I'veneverparredthisholebefore,"saidoneofthemen,"butI'vegotafeelingthattodayismyday!"Whereuponhe"drove"hisimaginaryballthe300yardstowherethefairwayangledofftothegreen.Thesecondmandidlikewise.

Withhisimaginarysix-ironthefirstmantookaimand"swung"forthepin,followingtheinvisibleballinhismind."It'sbouncingontothegreen!"heexclaimedexcitedly."It'sheadingforthepin!It'sinthecup!Aneagle!Beatthat!"

"Idon'thavetobeatit,"saidthesecondman."Iwin,youlose!Youhitmyball!"

ACruelandEvilPhilosophy

Beyondtheproblemofwhoserealitywouldprevailliesanothercontradiction.MostofthosewhoteachthatwecaneachcreateourownrealityalsotheorizeaUniversalMindasthesourceofinfinitepowerandknowledge—aMindwhich,oddlyenough,hasnomindofitsown,butdependsuponwhatwethink.Moreover,tomakevisualizedfantasiesinourmindsthekeytowarorpeace,famineorplenty,andthestateofindividuallivesistodeludeandinhibitthechoicesandeffortrequiredforgenuinesolutions.YetthisisfundamentalNewAgeteaching.ErnestHolmes,oneoftheearly

NewAgegurusandfounderoftheChurchofReligiousScience,wrote:

ScienceofMindteachesthattheoriginating,supreme,creativePoweroftheUniverse...isacosmicRealityPrinciplewhichispresentthroughouttheUniverseandineveryoneofus.

ScienceofMindteachesthat...weareallcreatingourownday-to-dayexperiences...bytheformandprocessionofourthoughts.

Man,bythinking,canbringintohisexperiencewhatsoeverhedesires....10

Whatthepopularandgrowingdelusionthatweeachcreateourownrealityactuallycreatesisdisappointmentanddepressionwhenitprovesnottobetrue.Moreover,itpromotestheunrealisticattitudethat,ratherthanfaceaproblemintherealworld,thesolutionistofantasizeadifferentillusion,whichbecomesone'snew"reality."Insteadofcorrectingthismadness,manypsychologistsencourageit.Infact,agrowingnumberoftoday'spsychotherapiesarebaseduponthisverytheory.Suchtherapiesincorporatevisualizationandtheactingoutoffantasies,aprocesswhichencouragestheideaofescapingfromproblemsratherthanconfrontingthemandworkingoutarealsolution.

Theperennialphilosophy(commontoallnaturereligions)teachesthattheUniversalMindhasdivideditselfintofragmentsinordertohaveexperienceson"differentlevels."Thechanneledentitieswithonevoiceproclaimthat"wearethewayGodhasindividuateditselftoexperienceitselfandexploreitscreativepossibilities.Alllifeisanexplorationoftheinfinitepossibilitieswithinandoftheone'houseofmanymansions.'"11Itisastonishingthatanyonecouldbeblindtothebasicevilinsuchaphilosophy.

ThedesireoftheNewAge"God"to"haveexperienceson'differentlevels'"inorderto"exploreitscreativepossibilities"ishardlyanacceptableexcuseforrape,murder,famine,andwar.Thelitanyofevilandsorrowthatissorealtothemultitudessufferingin

theworldtodayisalmostendless,andnoneofitiswrongbythenewconsciousnessstandards.Thesenseofoutragethatthispantheistictheoryarousesinanyonewithanormalconsciencewasexpressedinarecentarticlein,ofallplaces,NewAgeJournal.IncriticismofguruShirleyMacLaine,itdeclared:

Ifoundtheimplicationsofherphilosophybasicallycruelandcallous....MacLaine'sbasictruthisthatwecreateourownreality....

Areyoupoor?Youchosepovertybecauseyouneedtolearncertainlessons....Doyouhavecancer?...Didyoulosealovedone?...Youparticipatedincreatingthatreality...nobodyisavictim...evilisjustamatterofyourpointofview.

Itsoundsliketheperfectyuppiereligion,amodernprime-timererunofnineteenth-centurySocialDarwinism.Bothblamethevictim.Onlynow,thepoorarenotpoorbecausetheyare"unfit"...[butbecause]theywanttobepoor....

IfIwereadictator,IcouldthinkofnothingbetterthantohaveanationdedicatedtofollowingMacLaine'sagenda.12

The"UniversalMind"isaveryconvenient"God"whowon'tholditsdevoteesaccountabletoanymoralstandards,butwillhelpthosewhoknowthe"laws"tocreatetheirownrealityanddotheirownthing.WilliamA.Tiller,StanfordUniversityphysicistandaleaderintheNewAgemovement,declares:"Ourintentionsinfluencethelevelofmindoftheuniverseandbringforthmanifestationsinourenvironment."13Infactthisconceptseemstoprovideacoverforman'sdesiretoplayGod.Thishasbeenthegoalofsorceryforthousandsofyearsandistheaimofmodernsorcerers,whooftencalltheirbeliefsystem"ReligiousScience."AgainErnestHolmeslaiditoutclearly:

MindasLawishelplesswithoutdirection[fromman].Weareco-partnerswiththeInfiniteinthemanagementofourownaffairs...wearesurroundedbyaUniversalCreativeMindwhichreceivestheimpressofourthoughtandactsuponit.

ButbecauseofItsverynature,thisMind[God]cannotactwithoutanimageofthought[suppliedbyman].14

ADelusionFueledbytheBlindestofPride

Asamatteroffact,naturaleventsproceedontheircoursequiteindependentlyofthethoughtsorabsenceofthoughtsbeingsuppliedbymankind.Tothinkotherwiseissuchfollythatitspersistencecanonlybetheproductofadelusionfueledbytheblindestofpride.Trytoimaginetheincredibleprocessesinvolvedwithintrillionsupontrillionsofatoms,molecules,andcellswithinourownbodiesandenvironmentorindistantsunsandgalaxies—alloftheactivityinthemicrocosmormacrocosmhiddenfromtheeyesandcompletelyunknowntothethoughtsofman.Thenstandinequalaweattheperversionthatcouldsuggestthatitisouruniversecreatedbyourminds,andthattheMindwhoconceivedandcreateditallbeforeweexistedissubjecttoourcommandandcandonothingwithoutthecompelling"impressofourthoughts"!

Considerthespontaneouseasewithwhichlightningblacksoutacity,asnowstormclosesroadsandairports,atornadotearsoffrooftops—allofthisnotonlywithoutanyhelpfromhumanminds,butinspiteofbothcursesandpositiveaffirmations.Thencontrastthiswiththehoursofseminarsandself-hypnosis/subliminal-suggestiontapes,themeditationandYoga,thepositivedeclarationsrepeatedendlessly—allofthisintenseeffortaimedat"creatinganewreality,"yetwithsolittlevisibleeffect.WhenapowerfailureblackedoutoneofherseminarsinDallasinmid-1987,ShirleyMacLaineledheraudienceofabout1000invisualizingtheproblembeingclearedup.TheattemptfailedtoproduceademonstrationofwhatShirleyteaches,andthecrowdofeagerlearnershadtogohome.15

Howdothosewhoreceivepaymentforteachingotherpeopletechniquesforreleasingfromwithinanalleged"infinitepotential"explainthepuninessnotonlyoftheirdisciples'"mindpowers"butof

theirowninrelationtotheincredibleforcessurroundingus?Theanswertothatquestionandtherecoveryoftheseallegedly"forgotten"naturalpowersthroughEasternmysticalpracticeshasbeenthepromiseofmostofthecultsformedduringthepast20yearsintheWesternworld.

ScientologyistypicalandpresentsaclearpictureofthegeneralNewAgethesis.Blendingpsychotherapy,Easternmysticism,andsciencefiction,Scientologyproposesthatallhumansareeternal,omnipotent,omniscientbeingscalledThetans.Aftercreatingtheuniverse,weThetansincarnatedthecreatureswehadmade.Aslowerformsoflifeevolvedeverhigher,wereincarnatedrepeatedly.Bythetimewehadevolvedintohumans,sothetheorygoes,wehad"forgotten"whowewere.

Scientologyoffersapsychotherapeuticprocessforbreakingthroughthe"engrams"pickedupfromtraumasinpriorlives,sowecan"realize"onceagainourtrueidentityasan"operatingThetan"(orGod)beyondthelimitationsofspace,time,andmatter.Oddlyenough,thosewhoachievethisfantasticbreakthroughcontinuetobumbletheirwaythroughlifeliketherestofus,mysteriouslyunabletodisplaytheir"god-powers."Thekeyelementsinvolved(whichrevealthecloselinkbetweenEasternmysticism,cultssuchasScientologyortranscendentalmeditation,andthemorerespectedandmuchlargercultofpsychotherapy)arethetwintheoriesofevolutionandreincarnation.

Infact,evolutionhasalwaysbeenrecognizedasthevehiclethatmakesreincarnationseemcredible.Thereisnopointinbeingreincarnatedbacktoearthcountlesstimesunlessoneisevolvinghigher.Ofcourseonecould,astheresultof"badkarma"(sothetheorygoes),droploweronthescaleaswell.Asevolutiongainedofficialstatusastheonlyreligiousviewsponsoredbythegovernmentinpublicschools,itwasonlynaturalthatitsreligioustwin,reincarnation,wouldenjoyarenaissanceintheWest,andsoithas.

Amoral,Senseless,andHopeless

Sincereincarnationisabeliefbasictowitchcraft,itisnotsurprisingthatitisamoral.Insteadofsolvingtheproblemofevil,itperpetuatesit.Ifahusbandbeatshiswife,thecause-and-effectlawofkarmadecreesthathemustbereincarnatedasawifewhoisbeatenbyherhusband.Thathusband(whowillhavebeenpreparedbyhiskarmatobeawife-beater)willinturnhavetocomebackasawifebeatenbyherhusband,andsoforthendlessly.Theperpetratorofeachcrimemustbecomethevictimofthesamecrime,whichnecessitatesanotherperpetrator,whointurnmustbecomeasubsequentvictimatthehandsofanother,adinfinitum,adabsurdum.Ratherthansolvingtheproblemofevil,karmaandreincarnationperpetuateit.ThinkoftheevilthatmustyetbeperpetrateduponfuturereincarnationsofHitlerinorderto"pay"forhiscrimes!

Withfewallegedexceptions,theaveragepersonhasnorecollectionofthemanypastlivesthatheorshehassupposedlylived.Withoutanymemoryofpreviousmistakesandlessonslearned,whatisthepointoflivingagainandagain,onlytobeartheburdenofbadkarmaandthedireconsequencesofdeedsonecannotremember?Itisarguedthatsubconsciouslywehavesuchmemories(whichcanbeinducedanddealtwiththroughhypnotherapy)andarethusbenefitingatanunconsciouslevel.Ifthatweretrue,weshouldseeevidencethathumans,individuallyandcollectively,arelivingbetter,moredivinelives.Thatispatentlynotthecase.Reincarnationisthusasenselessphilosophy.

Thatreincarnationisalsohopelessfollowslogically.Thekarmabuiltupinthepresentlifemustbeworkedoffinafuturereincarnation.Butintheprocessofworkingitoff,morekarmaisaccumulated,whichmustinturnbeworkedoffinthenextlife,andsoforthendlessly.ThisiswhytheHinduspeaksofthewheelofreincarnation,andwhyGandhicalledreincarnation"aburdentoogreattobear."Thereisnorelease;itgoesonforever.Yogawas

developedasameansofescapefromthisendlesswheelofdeathandrebirth,butwhetheritactuallyisornotmustbetakenbyfaith.Andfaithintheefficacyofamoralandsenselesslawswhoseexistenceisnotsupportedbythefactswouldappeartobemisplaced.

Whathappensinthislifeispresumablydecreedbythekarmaofthelastlife,whichinturnwasdeterminedbythekarmabuiltupinthelifeprevioustothatone,andsoonendlessly.Whenwetracethepathofkarmabacktothebeginning,wearriveatastagewhen,accordingtoHindutradition,thethreegunas(orqualities)ofthegodheadwereinperfectbalanceinthevoid,thenothingnessfromwhichallcomesandtowhichallreturns.Somethinghappenedtocauseanimbalanceinthegodhead,andtheprakriti(manifestation)began,bringingabouttheillusionwhichweexperienceastheuniversetoday.Consequently,badkarmaactuallybeganwithanimbalanceinthegodheaditselfandisbuiltintotheveryfabricoftheuniverse.Thereisindeednoescape,YogaornoYoga.Itisthushopeless.

InmostBuddhismthereisnoreincarnationofindividualsouls,butasurvivalofconsciousness.Upondeaththeindividualconsciousness,likeadropofwaterjoiningtheoceanandbecominganunidentifiableandundividedpartofthewhole,onceagainentersandmergesintothepoolofuniversalconsciousnessorworldsoul,fromwhenceitsomehowatsomeunknowntimeseparated.(TheStarWarsfilmseriespromotesGeorgeLucas'sbeliefthatthis"poolofconsciousness"constitutesthe"Force"thatcanbetappedintobyinitiatesformysticalpowers.)InHinduismtheindividualidentitythatwastakenonforatimeisthesourceofallpainandmustberetainedthroughcountlessreincarnations("transmigrationsofsoul").Escape(moksha)from"time,sense,andtheelements"—orSelf-realization—comeswhentheindividualsoul(atman)recognizesthattheappearanceofseparationisanillusionand"realizes,"throughthestateofconsciousnessreachedinYoga,that

itisinfactidenticalwiththeuniversalsoul,orBrahman.

Amoral,senseless,hopeless—reincarnationisneverthelesswinningadherentsbythemillionsintheWest.Andalthoughconsciousnessisclearlyoutsidetherealmofphysicalscience,therehasbeenanongoingefforttoconnectwhatisundeniablyamysticalreligiousbeliefwithwhathasbeengenerallyacceptedasscientific.Thisishappeninginmanyareas,butaswehavealreadynoted,muchoftheleadershipinthismovementtotheEastandtheundeservedauraofrespectabilityareclearlycomingfrompsychology.

Psychiatristsutilizinghypnotherapyare"regressing"theirpatientsbacktomemoriesofchildhoodorevenofthewomb,inspiteofthefactthatthemyelinsheathinginthebrainoftheprenatal,natal,andearlypostnatalinfantisnotsufficientlydevelopedtocarrymemories.Theyareregressingtheirpatientstopriorlivesaswell.And,offeringtheultimateescapefrompresentmoralresponsibility,sometherapistsareeven"regressing"patientsinto"earlierstagesofevolution"inordertohelpthemfindthecauseofpresentproblemsburiedwithinthe"deepermemories"oftheirexperiencesasapes,salamanders,orpolliwogs.

Suchtherapies,whicharenomorescientificthanreadingtealeaves,blendtwoofthegreatesthoaxesthathaveeverbeenfoisteduponmankind:psychotherapyandevolution.Wehavegivenconsiderableattentiontotheformer,andwemustnowtakeatleastabrieflookatthelatterinoursearchfortheidentityoftheentitieswhichdownthroughthecenturieshavefosteredbothbeliefs.

[13]FromSlimetoDivineAlthoughFreudridiculedallreligion,muchofhisthinkingwas

neverthelesscloselyrelatedtoancientmysticalandoccultbeliefsandpractices.Histwintheoriesoftheunconsciousandpsychicdeterminismfollowedhisdiscoverythatunderhypnosispatientscouldapparently"remember"earlychildhoodincidentsofwhichtheyhadnoconsciousmemory.Heconcludedthatthesehiddentraumas,particularlythoseoccurringpriortotheageofsix,werethedrivingforceindeterminingone'spresentpersonalityandreactiontocircumstances.TherelationshipbetweentheFreudianbeliefthatthepresentisdeterminedbytheprioryearsofone'slifeandtheteachingofreincarnationthatthepresentisdeterminedbyone'spriorlivesisnocoincidence,assubsequentdevelopmentsinpsychotherapyhavedemonstrated.

ItwasCarlJung'stheoryofthecollectiveunconsciousthatsuppliedtheconnection.Inspiredbyhisspiritguide,Philemon,Jungsetthestageforapplyingreincarnationdirectlytopsychotherapybytheproposalthathis"depthanalysis"couldpeelofflayeruponlayerofconsciousnessinordertouncoverprimevalarchetypeswhereoneliterallyreachedthelevelofthe"consciousness"ofsimplerlifeforms,suchastheamoeba.Thisnecessitatedtheproposalthat"memory"residesnotonlyinthebrainbutinthegenesthemselves,andthattheentirecosmos,includingeachelectron,isthus"conscious."Buildinguponthatfoundation,manypsychotherapieshaveattemptedtoputthetwintheoriesofevolutionandreincarnationtopracticaluseforchanginglives.

"RememberWhenYouWereaFish"

JeanHouston,whohasadoctorateinpsychologyandreligion,travelsabout250,000milesayearonthenewconsciousness/self

improvementcircuit.Insomeofherworkshopssheleadsparticipantstoawakenancientprehuman"memories"asameansofgaininginsightintotheirpersonalitiesandworkingthrough"emotionalblocks."Thefollowingexcerptisfromareporter'saccountofonesuchsession:

"Rememberwhenyouwereafish,"HoustonsuggestedinSacramento.Nearlyathousandpeople...droppedtothefloorandbeganmovingtheir"fins"asiftopropelthemselvesthroughwater.

"Noticeyourperceptionasyourolllikeafish.Howdoesyourworldlook,feel,sound,smell,taste?"

"Thenyoucameuponland,"Houstonrecalled,takingusthroughtheamphibianstage....

ThenHoustonsuggested,"Allowyourselftofullyrememberbeingareptile....Thensomeofyouflew.Othersclimbedtrees."...

Webecameazooofsoundsandmovementsmadebyearlymammals,monkeys,andapes.

Houstonthencalledustorememberbeing"theearlyhuman"wholoseshis/herprotectivefurrycovering"and...evolvesintomodernhuman.1

WhereareRanditheMagicianandCSICOPwhenweneedthem?Weappreciatethewhistlebeingblownonphonytelevisionhealers—buttheyarenottheonlycharlatans.Falselyclaimingtohealsomeone'sphysicalailmentswithGod'spowerisadmittedlyreligiousfraud,butwhyispretendingtohealemotionalproblemsbyconjuringupnonexistentmemoriesofapastlifeasafishoralizardacceptedasvalidscience?

This"exerciseinevolutionarymemory,"asHoustoncallsit,ispatentlynonsense.Thefactisthatnoonehassuch"memories,"butparticipantsfantasizeinordertoplayalongwiththeregressivetherapygameandnotappeartobeoutofstep.Onesuspectsthatthisexerciseinfutilitywouldbeuniversallyrecognizedasfollyifitdidnotofferthecarrotofescapefrommoralaccountability—an

escapewhichissodesirablethatagreatdealiswillinglyoverlookedinreachingforit.

Houstonissupportedinher"evolutionarymemorytherapy"bysuchtheoristsasPaulMacLean,whoheadsuptheLaboratoryofBrainEvolutionandBehaviorattheNationalInstitutesofMentalHealth(NIMH).Thebasictheoryisthatourbrainsarecomprisedofthreedistinctparts—reptilian,mammalian,andneomammalian—witheachpartstillcontainingtheneurologicalandchemicalpatternsofouranimalancestors.Suchfancifulideas,thoughlackinganyscientificevidence,havehadagreatdealofinfluenceinthiscountryandabroad.Involvedforyearsingovernmentalconferences,Houstonchairedandorganized"asymposiumforleadingU.S.governmentpolicymakersentitled'ThePossibleSociety:AnExplorationofPracticalPolicyAlternativesfortheDecadeAhead.'"Shetellsofguiding"about150extremelyhigh-rankinggovernmentofficialsforaboutthreedays...wehadtheseofficialsonthefloor,guidingthemintointernaljourneys,lookingforthepossiblesociety."

Ifitseemsoddthat"higherconsciousness"takesusbacktolifeasanamoeba,Houstonassuresusthatthisalteredstatealsoopensusto"memories"ofthefutureaswell.Onceagainitisnaturalism/pantheism.ThedeifiedcollectiveunconsciousisasubstituteforthesupernaturalGodoftheBible.AndouridentificationwiththisallegeduniversalSourceofwisdomandpowereffectivelymakesgodsoutofusaswell.TheobservationoftheparticipatingreporterattheSacramentoconferencecontinues:

Theclimaxofthealreadyintenseexercisethathadtakenusmorethananhourfollowed:"NowIwantyoutoextendyourselvesevenfurther—into...thenextstageofyourownevolution."

Webecamearoomofleaping,joyous,sometimesalone,oftentogetherhumanbeingswhoeventuallyjoinedhandsandvoices.Theimpactwaselectric....

Wehadbecomeawrigglingseaofbodies—nearlyathousand

housewives,therapists,artists,socialworkers,clergy,educators,healthprofessionals...[who]hadcrawledoverandundereachother,enjoyingourselvesandre-learningwhatwasdeepwithinour[pastandfuture]memories.

Mysticismor"Science,"MathematicsDoesn'tLie

Perhapsnootherideawithinthelastfewcenturieshashadmoreimpactupontwentieth-centurymankindthanthetheoryofevolution.Ithasdirectlyorindirectlyinfluencednearlyeveryaspectofourmodernculture.EvolutionwasanestablishedreligiousbeliefattheheartofoccultismandmysticismthousandsofyearsbeforetheGreeksgaveit"scientific"status.AsTheodoreRoszakhaspointedout,mysticismis"theparentstockfromwhichthetheoryofbiologicalevolutionsprings."2ItisthecorebeliefofHinduismandwitchcraft,andisatleastasoldasthetheoriesofreincarnationandkarma,inwhichitisakeyelement.MichaelHarnerremindsusthat"millenniabeforeCharlesDarwin,peopleinshamaniccultureswereconvincedthathumansandanimalswererelated."3Thisbeliefisreflectedintheideaof"werewolves"and"vampires"aswellas"poweranimals"withhumancharacteristicswhoserveas"spiritguides."Occultliterature,ancientandmodern,containsrepeatedreferencestoevolution,asdocommunicationsthroughpastmediumsandpresent-daychannelers.

Evenasa"scientific"theory,evolutionpredatesDarwinbymanycenturies.InEvolution:ATheoryinCrisis,medicaldoctorandmolecularscientistMichaelDentonpointsoutthatmaterialistphilosopherEmpedoclesproposedatheorysimilartoDarwin'sinabout450B.C.OnehundredyearsearlierAnaximanderwassaidtohavepostulatedthatseaslimewastheenvironmentfromwhichlifeformshadtheirbeginnings.Outofthisprimevalsoup,hetheorized,emergedsealife,whichthenevolvedintomorecomplexformssuitableforterrestrialliving.

After2500years,thisancientnaturalisticspeculationremainsthe

foundationformostmodernevolutionarytheory,inspiteofthefactthatwithtoday'smathematicsweknow(whatAnaximanderandEmpedoclesmaybeexcusedfornotknowing)thatthisimaginativeideaispatentlyabsurd.EminentBritishastronomerSirFredHoyleremindsusofthewell-knownfactthat"evenifthewholeuniverseconsistedoforganicsoup"thechanceofproducingthebasicenzymesoflifebyrandomprocesseswithoutintelligentdirectionwouldbeapproximatelyonein10with40,000zerosafterit.

Itisimpossibleeventocomprehendsuchanumber,butacomparisoncanbemade.Thelikelihoodofreachingoutandbychancepluckingaparticularatomoutoftheuniversewouldbeabout1in10with80zerosafterit.Andifeveryatombecameanotheruniverse,thechanceofreachingoutatrandomandpluckingaparticularatomoutofallofthoseuniverseswouldthenbe1in10with160zerosafterit.Hoyleconcludesthat"Darwinianevolutionismostunlikelytogetevenonepolypeptide[sequence]right,letalonethethousandsonwhichlivingcellsdependforsurvival."Whythenisthiscompletelyimpossibletheorystillhonored?Hoyleaccusestheevolutionistsofself-interest,unfairpressure,anddishonesty:

Thissituation[mathematicalimpossibility]iswellknowntogeneticistsandyetnobodyseemstoblowthewhistledecisivelyonthetheory.IfDarwinismwerenotconsideredsociallydesirable...itwouldofcoursebeotherwise.

MostscientistsstillclingtoDarwinismbecauseofitsgripontheeducationalsystem....Youeitherhavetobelievetheconcepts,oryouwillbebrandedaheretic.4

Darwinism:TheUnbelievableReligionThatPersists

"Heretic"isanappropriateterm,becauseevolution,likepsychotherapy,isactuallyareligion—areligiontowhichHoylehimselfremainsstrangelycommitted.WhilehehasdefectedfromtheDarwiniancamp,Hoylehassimplyswitchedhismembershipto

another"denomination"ofevolutionistswithanevenmorebizarrebelief:thatlifecameinfromouterspace.Ofcoursethistheoryonlyraisesafurtherquestion:Whereandhowdidthatlifeoriginate?Weareobviouslybackwherewestarted.Hoyledoesadmitthatperhaps"God"istheOnewhosentlifeinfromspace,butthatbeliefputsallevolutionistscompletelyoutofbusinessandisthereforenotlikelytogainmanyadherents.

InChanceandNecessity,NobelistmolecularbiologistJacquesMonodgivesadozenormorereasonswhyevolutioncouldnotpossiblyoccur.Heexplains,forexample,thattheessentialcharacteristicofDNAisitsperfectreplicationofitself;thatevolutioncouldonlyhappenifsomethingwentawryinthatmechanism;andthatitisabsurdtoimaginedevelopingevenasinglecell,muchlessthehumanbrain,fromaseriesofrandomandharmfulmistakesintheDNAmechanism.Yetaftergivingreasonafterreasonwhylifecouldnotpossiblybetheproductofchance,Monodconcludesthatitmust,nevertheless,havehappenedthatway.

DoesMonodhaveanyscientificreasonforthisconclusion?No.Hesimplyrefusestoaccepttheonlyotheralternative—creationbyGod—anddeclareswithashrug,"OurnumbercameupintheMonteCarlogame."Bycontrast,professedagnosticRobertJastrowshockedmanyofhisfellowscientistswhenheimpliedatthe144thnationalconferenceoftheAssociationfortheAdvancementofSciencethattheevidenceseemstodemandanintelligentCreatorfortheuniverse.Mostofhiscolleagueswerenothappywiththisinference.Jastrowhaswritten:

Astronomersarecuriouslyupsetby...proofthattheuniversehadabeginning.Theirreactionsprovideaninterestingdemonstrationoftheresponseofthescientificmind—supposedlyaveryobjectivemind—whenevidenceuncoveredbyscienceitselfleadstoaconflictwiththearticlesoffaithintheirprofession...thereisakindofreligioninscience....5

BritishMuseumofNaturalHistoryseniorpaleontologistColin

Pattersonhaspointedout:"Evolutionists—likethecreationiststheyperiodicallydobattlewith—arenothingmorethanbelieversthemselves.Ihadbeenworkingonthisstuff[evolution]formorethantwentyyears,andtherewasnotone[factual]thingIknewaboutit.It'squiteashocktolearnthatonecanbesomisledforsolong."6Speakingbeforeagroupofhisfellowbiologists,D.M.S.Watson,popularizerofevolutiononBritishtelevision(asCarlSaganhasbeenonAmericanTV),remindedthemofthecommonreligiousfaiththeyallshared:

Evolutionitselfisacceptedbyzoologistsnotbecauseithasbeenobservedtooccuror...canbeprovedbylogicallycoherentevidencetobetrue,butbecausetheonlyalternative,specialcreation,isclearlyincredible.7

Apparentlyunawareofthereligiousrootsoftheirtheoryinoccultismandmysticism,theearly"scientific"evolutionistsofthenineteenthcenturywerematerialistswhoattemptedtouseevolutiontodisproveChristianity.Theyrecognizedthatiflifeevolvedbychance,thenbeliefintheGodoftheBiblewouldhavebeenprovenunnecessary.Roszaksuggeststhat"somanyscientistsralliedtoDarwin'sbanner"becausehedrove"everylasttraceofanincredibleGodfrombiology."Hegoesontoadmit,however,thatDarwinism"replacestheoldGodwithanevenmoreincredibledeity—omnipotentchance."8

Certainlytheembarrassingabsurdityoughttobecleartotoday'sengineerwhosebeliefinevolutionforceshimtoacceptthathismostsophisticateddesignwillprovetobedrasticallyprimitiveincomparisonwiththesimplestorganismsupposedlyproducedbychance.MichaelDentonwrites:

Itisthesheeruniversalityofperfection,thefactthateverywherewelook,towhateverdepthwelook,wefindaneleganceandingenuityofanabsolutelytranscendingquality,whichsomitigatesagainsttheideaofchance.

Isitreallycrediblethatrandomprocessescouldhaveconstructedareality,thesmallestelementofwhich—afunctionalproteinorgene—iscomplexbeyondourowncreativecapacities,arealitywhichistheveryantithesisofchance,whichexcelsineverysenseanythingproducedbytheintelligenceofman?

Alongsidethelevelofingenuityandcomplexityexhibitedbythemolecularmachineryoflife,evenourmostadvancedartifactsappearclumsy.Wefeelhumbled,asneolithicmanwouldinthepresenceoftwentieth-centurytechnology.9

Theirrefutableverdictofironcladmathematicsmakesitabsolutelyclearthatevolution,asPoppersaysinhisautobiography,isnotsciencebut"ametaphysicalresearchprogramme."Hadthisplainfactbeenheeded,thefamousLeakeyfamilyandotherseekersaftermissinglinkswouldhavebeensavedentirelifetimesdevotedtothesearchfornonexistentevidence.Fanaticalreligiousfaith,however,seldomyieldstofactsorreason.EvenPopperstillclingstovestigesofevolutioninspiteofmathematicsandlogic.

TheFactsofNature

Ifevolutionisthetrueprocessoflife,weshouldexpecttofindagreatdealofsupportingevidenceinnature.Amongtheliterallymillionsoffossilizedlifeformsunearthedbypaleontologistsweoughttohaveanextraordinaryamountofevidenceshowingtheintermediarystagesbetweenspecies.But,infact,notoneexamplehaseverbeenfoundinthefossilrecordforanyoftheliterallybillionsof"links"demandedbyevolutionarytheory.AstheAssociatedPressreported:

Darwin'smissinglinksarestillmissingafter120years.Fossilhuntershavenotfoundthefossilsneededtoexplaintheglaringdifferencesbetweenmajorspecies....

Sosomerespectedpaleontologistsarenowbackingthehypothesisthatnewspeciescomeabout...insuddenburstsofevolution.Thebigbanginbiologywhichagainsmackssuspiciouslyofcreationandgivescomforttothetheologians....

Science,thereligionoftheintelligentsia,isfacedwithclamorousapostasy.10

ColinPatterson,editoroftheprestigiousmagazineofLondon'sMuseumofNaturalHistory,haswrittenthathedidn'tknowof"anyrealevidenceofevolutionarytransitionseitheramonglivingorfossilizedorganisms."11RobertBarneswritesinPaleobiology:"Intermediateformsarenon-existent,undiscovered,ornotrecognized."AfterinterviewingAmericanpaleontologistNilesEldredge,whoseworkcriticallyaddressesthelackoftransitionalformsinthefossilrecord,aBritishnewspaperreported:

Iflifehadevolvedintoitswondrousprofusionofcreatureslittlebylittle,Dr.Eldredgeargues,thenonewouldexpecttofindfossilsoftransitionalcreatureswhichwereabitlikewhatwentbeforethemandabitlikewhatcameafter.Butnoonehasyetfoundanyevidenceofsuchtransitionalcreatures.

Thisoddityhasbeenattributedtogapsinthefossilrecordwhichgradualistsexpectedtofillwhenrockstrataoftheproperagehadbeenfound.Inthelastdecade,however,geologistshavefoundrocklayersofalldivisionsofthelast500millionyearsandnotransitionalformswerecontainedinthem."12

IftheDarwinianviewweretrue,thereshouldbesuchanabundanceoftransitionallifeformsinthefossilrecordthatdistinguishingoneclassoforganismfromanotherwouldbenearlyimpossible.Thereshouldbesomanypart-reptile/part-birdforms,forexample,thatanyattemptsatclassificationwouldbeanexerciseinfrustration.Yet,asDentonpointsout,youdon'thavetobeabiologisttorecognizeabird,whetherit'sacanaryoranostrich.Formorethanacenturythecryfromtheevolutionarycamphasbeen,"TorejectDarwinismistorejectscienceinfavorofdogma."YetscientistsnowfindthemselvesforcedtoadmitthatDarwin'stheorydoesn'tfitthefacts.InDenton'swordsagain:

IfanyonewaschasingaphantomorretreatingfromempiricismitwassurelyDarwin,whohimselffreelyadmittedthathehad

absolutelynohardempiricalevidencethatanyofthemajorevolutionarytransformationsheproposedhadeveractuallyoccurred.13

ThefollowersofDarwinweresoconfidentthattheywouldfindtheevidencethattheytreatedaspeculativetheoryasthoughitwerefact.Intheirunscientificanddishonestbehaviortheydeceivednotonlythemselvesbutgenerationswhoreliedupontheirword.Textbooksatalllevelsofeducationaroundtheworldperpetuatethisfraud,andtoday'sstudentsarestillbeingdeniedthefactsintheinterestsofmaintainingthereputationsandcareersofafew.

WhiletherehavealwaysbeendissenterstotheDarwinianview,theimpressionhasbeengiventhatabiblicalChristianbiasmotivateditsdetractors.However,manyofthegreatestmenofscienceopposedDarwinismrightfromthestart.TheseincludedFaraday,Maxwell,andLordKelvin,alongwithleadingbiologistsandanatomistsofthetime(includingLouisAgassizandRichardOwen).Allofthemrejectedthetheoryofevolutionsimplybecausethefactsofnaturedidnotsupportit.

EvenAlfredWallace,thecodiscovererwithCharlesDarwinoftheprincipleofnaturalselection,hadhisproblemswiththetheory.Hisconcernwentbeyondthephysicalconsiderationstotheobviousspiritualshortcomings.TherewasclearlynowaytoaccountforconsciousnessintheDarwiniantheory.Wallacerecognizedthisandrepeatedlyinsistedthatapurelymaterialisticexplanationofbiologicalevolutionfailedtoaccountforthespiritualnatureofman."Andforthisorigin,"hedeclared,"wecanonlyfindacauseintheunseenuniverseofspirit."14Bythat,however,hedidnotmeantheGodoftheBible,whohadbeenthrownoutofhisuniverse,but"intelligences[that]veryprobablyexistinagraduatedseriesaboveus."15Infact,Wallacewasheavilyinvolvedinthespiritualistmovementofhisday.

Evolutionisnotsciencebutareligion,whichitssupportershave

clungtoinspiteoftheevidence.Theyaresimplyunwillingtoaccepttheonlyotheralternative,whichismoralaccountabilitytoaCreator.Havingbeenthecorebeliefofoccultismforthousandsofyears,evolutionhaslatelybeendressedinthelanguageofscienceanddeliberatelypassedoffonagulliblepublicasfact.Theperpetratorsofthismassivedeceptionhavetakenmillionsofdollarsingrantsfromfoundationstopursueaphantomthatmathematicsconclusivelysaysdoesnotexist.Theyneedtoadmitthattheyareworkingonamathematicallyimpossibletheoryanddesistfrompretendingthatitissupportedbyscientificevidence.

TherewasonlyonewaytoavoidreturningtotheGodthattheEnlightenmenthaddeclareddead.MaterialistswereforcedtoattributeGodlikequalitiestonatureandthusfellintothetrapofnaturalism/pantheism.InsteadofacceptingtheoverwhelmingevidenceofintelligentdesignasproofthatagreatMindhadplannedandcreatedtheuniverse,itwastakentomeanthatthecosmositselfwasagreatMindwithauniversalconsciousnessofwhichweallpartakeatsomedeeplevelbeyondordinaryawareness.Thegoalofevolution,asportrayedforthousandsofyearsbeforeDarwin,hasalwaysbeentojourneythroughendlessreincarnationsuntilwehaveonceagainachievedunionwiththeUniversalMind,orAll.

EvolutionofConsciousness—SlimetoDivine

Thenextstageinevolutionisbelievednottoinvolvefurtherphysicaldevelopmentbutaquantumleaptoahigherstateofconsciousness.BarbaraBrown,associatedwithUCLAMedicalCenterandcalledbyMiltonGreenblatt,presidentoftheAmericanBoardofPsychiatryandNeurology,"themostcommandingpersoninthe[biofeedback]field,"declaresthatweare"evolvingtoahigherlevelofmind...[called]'supermind'."16AtEsalen,MichaelMurphyandGeorgeLeonardhaveofferedaseminaron"TheEvolutionofConsciousness,"inwhichitissuggestedthat"atransformationof

humanconsciousnessasmomentousastheemergenceofcivilizationisunderway."MarilynFergusonagrees:"Thehumanmindmayhavereachedanewstateinitsevolution,anunlockingofpotentialcomparabletotheemergenceoflanguage."17Theattainmentofthisfabled"higher"stateofconsciousness,whichhasbeenthecommondoorwaytomagicpowersforsorcerers,istodaythemeansofsalvationofferedbytheecumenicalunionofthetworeligionsofevolutionandpsychotherapy.AsTheodoreRoszakputit:

Anevolutionaryleapinconsciousness:theidea...thattheworldshallberedeemedbyacontagiouspsychicmutationhatchedinthegreymatterofachosenfew.18

Darwinhimselfseemedtorecognizethespiritualimplicationsofhistheory.InTheDescentofManhewrote:"Manmaybeexcusedforfeelingsomeprideathavingrisen,thoughnotthroughhisownexertions,totheverysummitoftheorganicscale;andthefactofhishavingthusrisen,insteadofhavingbeenaboriginallyplacedthere,maygivehimhopesforastillhigherdestinyinthedistantfuture."WhetherDarwinfullyrealizeditornot,themysticalgoalofthetheoryofevolutionhenowchampionedhadalwaysbeentobecome"God."InTheAtmanProjectKenWilberlaysitoutclearly:"Ifmenandwomenhaveultimatelycomeupfromamoebas,thentheyareultimatelyontheirwaytowardsGod."InUpFromEdenWilberidentifiesthisbeliefinman'sascensiontoGodhoodastheheartofwhathasbeen"knownasthe'perennialphilosophy'...theesotericcoreofHinduism,Buddhism,Taoism,Sufism...."AsKlimosummarizesit,the"truthoftruths"ofthechanneledmaterialis"thatweareGod,"andonlyneedto"realize"it.Asonebrochureoffering"AWeekendExplorationandReclaimingofyourownDivine,Innocent,andInfinitePower"explains,"TheGodPowersExperience"isforthosewhoare"WillingToBeGodAgain."

Certainlythefactthatonemusttakeleaveofone'snormalsensesandreason,andjourneyintoinnerspaceinanalteredstate

ofconsciousnessinorderto"experience"thisgreattruth,oughttobecauseforconsiderablecaution.NeverthelessJohnWhitetriumphantlyproclaimsthat"scienceconfirms"theHinduaxiom:"Iamtheuniverse;IamUniversalMind!"Evenifthatwereinsomemetaphysicalsensetrue,itwouldhardlybeworthgettingexcitedabout.Imagineapositive-thinkingatomproclaimingitselftobetheuniverse,orasinglecellintheintestinesproclaimingitselftobeman,andwehavesomeideaofwhatitmeansforoneofustoclaimtobetheuniverseor"God."Suchaclaimchantedrepeatedlyinthemost"positive"frameofmindchangesnoneoftheobviousfactsoflife:painandsorrow,deathandtaxes,andthenecessitytoworkforandeatanddigestone'sdailybread.

Scientism'sdemythologizedfulfillmentisnobetter.CarlSaganwouldhaveusthrilltothethoughtthattherearehydrogenatomsinourbodiesthatwereoncepartofadistantstarsystem—andmayevenresumethathonoredplaceinthefuture.Itallhasahollowring.

Alloftheobjectiveevidencedeniesthis"scientificpantheism."Yetinherseminarstopackedaudiences,ShirleyMacLaineblithelytellshereagerfollowers:"JustrememberthatyouareGod,andactaccordingly."Commonsenseprotests.Isn'tittheheightoffollytourgemerehumansto"act"like"God"?IfwereallyareGod,asShirleywantsustobelieve,thenwhyaren'twealreadyactingthepart?AndwhymustweattendaMacLaineweekendseminarandpayher300dollarstotelluswhatwealreadyoughttoknowifthat'swhowereallyare?Themagnitudeofthedelusionismatchedonlybythepridethatfeedsit.

ASeductivePromise

ItcanhardlybeacoincidencethatsomanyvoicesontheAmericanscenearepreachingthissamegospeltoday.WernerErhard,founderoftheForum(formerlyest),declares,"You'regodinyouruniverse."BenjaminCreme'sLordMaitreya("TheChrist"who

"isnowhere"accordingtofull-pageadsaroundtheworld)states,"ManisanemergingGod....Myplanandmydutyistorevealtoyouanewway...whichwillpermitthedivineinmantoshineforth."SunMyungMoonhaswritten,"Godandmanareone.ManisincarnateGod."MaharishiMaheshYogi,founderofTM,pervertsthebiblicalGod'sstatement,"BestillandknowthatIAMGod,"bytellinghisfollowersthatthepurposeofTMisto"BestillandknowthatyouareGod...."Haiti'sfollowersofvoodoo,whoknowthe"alteredstate"well,haveasaying:"TheCatholicgoestochurchtospeakaboutGod,thevodounistdancesinthehounfour[temple]tobecomeGod."Infullagreement,ErnestHolmesdeclared,"Allmenarespirituallyevolvinguntil...eachwillfullyexpresshisdivinity...."TotheChristian,Moslem,orJew,thisistheultimateblasphemy.AlanWatts,EpiscopalpriestturnedZenBuddhistMaster,fullydemonstratedhisrenunciationofhisformerfaithwhenhedeclared:

TheappealofZen,asofotherEasternphilosophy,isthatitunveils...avastregion...whereatlasttheselfisindistinguishablefromGod.19

IfweclaimthatweareGod,wehavedemeanedtheveryconceptofGod.Wehaven'tliftedourselvesuptoGod'slevel,buthavedraggedGoddowntoourlevel.IfeverythingisGod,asHinduismteaches,thennothingisGodbecausetheveryword"God"haslostitsmeaning.AndiftheNewAgeleaderswhoarebringingthisenlightenmentaredemonstratingwhatitmeansto"actlikeGod,"thentheyhaveclearlydemeanedthelong-acceptedconceptoftheSupremeBeing.

Thespiritguideshavebeenpushingthis"Yearegods"ideaforthousandsofyearsandithasnotimprovedhumanlifeoneiota.AccordingtotheBible,thisseductivepromiseoriginatedwithSatanandisinfactthecauseofallhumanproblems.Therearemanyastuteobserversofthecurrentscenewho,whethertheyagreewiththeBibleornot,considerthisdeification-of-manphilosophytobethemajorcauseofsociety'sgrowingethicalandspiritual

decadence.InhisfamousHarvardcommencementaddressonJune9,1978,AleksandrSolzhenitsynidentifiedtherootcauseofmoraldeclineintheWesternworldas"self-deificationofmanassupreme...arationalistichumanism...[thatmakesman]thecenterofeverything."HistorianHerbertSchlossberg,inwarningoftheconsequencesofthisgrowingbelief,addsthisominousnote:

Exaltingmankindtothestatusofdeitydatesfromthefurthestreachesofantiquity,butitsdevelopmentintoanideologyembracingthemassesisacharacteristictraitofmodernity.20

ItisoddthatpsychiatristM.ScottPeckclaimstohaveembracedChristianitywhilestillpromotingitsveryantithesis,theperennialphilosophy—whichheadmitscontradictstheevidence.Hewrites:"Everywherethereiswar,corruptionandpollution.Howcouldonereasonablysuggestthatthehumanraceisspirituallyprogressing?YetthatisexactlywhatIsuggest....ToexplainthemiraclesofgraceandevolutionwehypothesizetheexistenceofaGodwho...wantsustobecomeHimself(orHerselforItself).Wearegrowingtowardgodhood."HeisclearlynotreferringtotheGodoftheBible.Infacthetellsusthat,likeJung,hemeansthecollectiveunconscious:

Butwestillhavenotexplainedhowitisthattheunconsciouspossessesallthisknowledgewhichwehavenotyetconsciouslylearned...wecanonlyhypothesize...[that]ourunconsciousisGod....

IamindebtedforthisanalogytoJung,whodescribed]himselfas"asplinteroftheinfinitedeity...."

SincetheunconsciousisGodallalong,wemayfurtherdefinethegoalofspiritualgrowthtobetheattainmentofgodhoodbytheconsciousself.Itisfortheindividualtobecometotally,whollyGod...thenGodwillhaveassumed...throughourconsciousegoanewandpotentlifeform.21

WhilealloftheabovemaysoundexcitingtotheNewAge

neopantheist,tothesupernaturalistitisbothpreposterousandevil.Infact,theOldTestamentacceptedbyJew,Christian,andMoslemidentifiesthepromisethatmancouldbecomeGodastheidenticalliewithwhichtheserpentdeceivedthehumanraceattheverybeginning.InUpFromEdenKenWilbertracestheserpentthroughmanyreligionsandcultures.Hepointsoutthat,incontrasttothebiblicalcharacterizationoftheserpentasevilpersonified,ithasinotherreligionsaroundtheworldbeenthesymbolofwisdomandeternallifeandhasalwaysbeenidentifiedwiththe"perennialphilosophy."

DavidSpangler,cofounderofFindhorn,declares:"Thebeingthathelpsmantoreachthispoint[ofbecomingagod]isLucifer...theangelofman'sevolution...."22AgaintheBibleidentifiesLucifer,theserpent,asSatan,themasterofevil.Andthechanneledspiritentitiesinturnwouldseemtobetraytheirownidentitybytheirunanimousandconsistentproclamationofthepromiseofgodhood.Knowingfullwelltheremarkablecorrelation,WilbercommendstootherspreciselywhattheBibleidentifiesastheserpent'spromise,"YeshallbeasGod."Magnanimouslyhedeclaresthathehas"noquarrel"withthebiblicalview,butthat"itsimplyformsnopartoftheperennialphilosophywhatsoever,andthusisnotaviewIamhereadvancing."23Acontradictionofsuchcosmicproportions,however,canhardlybedismissedinsuchacavaliermanner.

Thereisnoescapingthechoicethatmustbemade.Weareinfactconfrontedwiththegreatconflictoftheages.TimothyLearyknewwhereofhespokewheninhisaddressatthe22ndAnnualConferenceoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychologyhedeclared:

Youcouldarguethathumanhistoryistheexcitingandinvigoratingtensionbetweenthehumanists—thosewhobelieveininnerpotentialandthedivinesparkwithin—andthosewhodon't.24

Ofcourse,bytheword"divine"atheistichumanistssuchasLeary

andthosewhocheeredthisstatementattheAHPconferencearenotreferringtoanySupremeBeing.Itispantheism/naturalismagain,thedeificationoftheentireuniverse—includingman.AsNewHaven,Connecticut,surgeonandYaleUniversityprofessorBernieSiegelexpressesit:"Withineachofusisaspark.Callitadivinesparkifyouwill,butitisthere...."25

Thisinner"spark"isthecosmicforceallegedtobeinnateinallthings,butwhichinmankind,weareassured,hasevolvedtothepointofself-consciousness.Onthatbasisitisabletoreachfornewheights—tobeattainedthroughthefabledquantumleap.

If,astheBibledeclares,thepromiseofgodhoodisasatanicploy,thenonewouldexpecttofinditattheheartofSatanistreligion.Infactthatisthecase,anditprovidesanunderlyingrelationshipbetweenthegrowingSatanistmovementandbasicNewAgephilosophy—aconnectionthatmostNewAgersfindsurprising.

[14]Satanism,Rock,andRebellionMichaelAquinoisbothaself-proclaimedSatanistanda

LieutenantColonelintheUnitedStatesArmy."TheArmyhasknownaboutmyreligionfortheentirespanofmyArmycareer,whichbeganin1968,"saysAquino,"[and]haspaidverylittleattentiontoit,asitwould...anyotherslightlyunusualreligiontoday."1

ThatstatementwaspartofAquino'sdefenseofhis"slightlyunusual"religionwhenheandhiswife,Lilith(thename,inoccultmythology,ofAdam'sdemon-wifebeforeEve),appearedFebruary17,1988,onAmerica'smostpopulartelevisiondaytimetalkprogram,the"OprahWinfreyShow."WinfreywasclearlysurprisedbytheAquinos'descriptionofSatanistsas"verydecent,verylaw-abidingpeople[with]...averyhighsetofpersonalethics...[whohave]nothingtodowithevil."

"It'sjustdifficultformetounderstandthatthedevilisagoodthing...thatSatanisn'tevil,whichistheoppositeofwhateverybodyinthisworldhasbeentaught,"respondedOprahWinfrey,obviouslyperplexed."Ineverystateofthenationauthoritiesareinvestigatingsomeformofwhattheycallsatanicactivity....Childrenaretellingthesamestoriesaboutinfantsbeingmurderedbeforetheireyesinstrangedevilrituals.Thelistofbizarrestoriesgoesonandon."

OpennessAstheOnlyVirtue

Oprah'ssurprisereflectedabasicinconsistencyinpopularthinking.If,astoday'sculturegenerallyaccepts,therearenomoralabsolutes,thencallingSatanismjustasmoralasanyotherbeliefsystemisnotsurprisingatall.InvainonesearchestheNewAge"states-of-consciousness"clichésandhypeabout"spiritualvalues"foranybasisofevaluation.Infactthemeresuggestionthatthere

oughttobesomedefinitestandardofrightandwrongisrejectedoutofhandasnarrow-minded.AsJeanHoustonpersuadesthosewhomshehasledintoalteredstatesspecificallydesignedforreceptivitytosuggestion:"Andnoonehasanyright...toimposeguilt...youareboundonlybyyourownethicsandauthenticresponsibilities."2

Surely,then,Satanismcouldnotbewrong,becausenothingiswrong.TheSatanist's"ownethicsandauthenticresponsibilities"arejustasvalidasthoseofanyoneelse.ThosewhonolongerbelieveinthepersonalGodoftheBiblehaven'tcometobelieveinnothing,butmustinfactaccepteverything,becausetheynolongerhaveanylegitimatebasisforrejectinganything.AsAllanBloomremindsusinTheClosingoftheAmericanMind,intoday'srelativistssociety,"Thereisnoenemyotherthanthemanwhoisnotopentoeverything."3

NewAgersareespeciallyvulnerabletothepopularbeliefthathasdominatedAmericanuniversitiesfordecades:thattheonevirtueisopennesstoeverythingandtherefusaltobeagainstanything.ItisthisveryopennesswhichmakestheNewAgesoappealing.Amongconsumersofthewidevarietyofproductsofferedintheburgeoningmysticalsupermart,thereisanaiveanddangeroustendencytoembraceanythingsolongassomespiritualshibbolethispronounced."NewAgers...nevertackleissues;theyhugthem,"RichardBlowpointsoutinTheNewRepublic."TheNewAgewayisnottodenydifferencesbetweenpeople,buttodenythattheymatter."ThisunwillingnesstodistinguishbetweenrightandwrongwascarriedtoitslogicalextremeinaneditorialinthetranspersonalpsychologyjournalTheCommonBoundary:

Itisn'ttoodifficulttodifferentiatebetweenthedevilsandtheangels,butitrequiresafairlysophisticateddiscriminationtoseethatanangelisjusttheflip-sideofadevil,andthattrueharmonydemandsa"holymarriage"betweenthetwo:aunionwhichresultsinthebirthofanentirelynewprinciplethattranscendsthewhole

devil/angelduality.4

Bythis"sophisticatednewprinciple"ofopennesstoeverything,whichisgenerallytaughtinmostuniversitiestoday,"God,"ifyouchoosetobelieveinsome"higherpower,"iswhateveryouwanttocallit(orhimorher),fromMotherEarthtoKrishnatotheAllorsomeevolutionaryForce—orSatan.Nodifferenceisallowedamongthesedeities,becausetodosowouldbediscrimination.Moreover,itreallymakesnodifferencewhatlabelsareattached,becauseinthefinalanalysis"God"iseveryone's"HigherSelf."ItwouldbeinconsistentwithNewAgephilosophytocriticizeSatanism,evenifitincludedmolestationofchildren,suicide,murder,andhumansacrifices—whichitdoes(butallofwhichbothAquinosvehementlydenied).

Therewasreallynoneedforthemtodenyanything.Onwhatbasiscananybehavior,nomatterhowhorrifying,be"discriminated"against?Themurdererisonlyfulfillingkarma.AsEdgarMitchell,ShirleyMacLaine,etaltellus,thereare"neveranyvictims."Ifthisistrue,thenHitler,Himmler,andcompanywereonlyassistinginthe"reality"whichtheirsixmillionJewishvictimshadcreatedforthemselves.

Whyshouldsuchanassertioncausethosewhodenymoralabsolutestocringe?Aquino,atleast,isconsistent.Ifwehavenobetterreasonthanpublicopinionforprohibitinghumansacrifices,childmolestation,pornography,orhomosexuality,thentheNurembergtrialsof"warcriminals"wereafarce.Hitler'ssystematicexterminationofJewswasnotaquestionofrightorwrongbutofwhetherthemajorityofGermanswereinfavorofitatthetime.Today,however,wehavegoneevenbeyondthatpoint:Behaviorisnolongeracceptablebecauseofitsapprovalbythemajority(muchlessonthebasisofmoralconsiderations),butnowminorityrightsaretheall-importantfactor,evenwhenthemajorityofpeopleareopposed.AndSatanists,seeingthemselvesasan"oppressedminority,"arenowreadytopressfortheir"rights"onthatbasis.And

onwhatbasiscouldtheyberefused?

Ifone'schildissacrificedonaSatanistaltarthereisthegreatconsolationofknowingthatkarmaisbeingfulfilled,andthatthechildhasactuallychosenthisfateinordertolearnsomeessentiallessoninitscosmicadvancetowardgodhood.AsShirleyMacLainesaidonanearlierOprahWinfreyShow,inresponsetoamother'squestionconcerningtherecentdeathofher20-month-oldbaby,"Whensomeonedies,respecttheirneedtodoit...."5OprahhadagreedwithShirley'sNewAgeideas.Sheknewsheshouldn'tagreewithAquino's.Yetitwastheclearconnectionbetweenthetwothatshefounddisturbing.

TheNewAgeConnection

The"perverted"ideaofSatanasevilwasagrossmisconceptionwhichLieutenantColonelAquinoindignantlysaidhewould"layatthedoorstepoftheChristianvaluesystem...."Hisformermentor,however,AntonLaVey,founderofSanFrancisco'sFirstChurchofSatan,hasnotbeensoreluctanttorevealwhatSatanistsactuallybelieve.Onits20/20NewsSpecial,ABChadalreadyshownLaVeyoncamerastating,whilenotthewholetruth,atleastmorethanAquinowaswillingtoadmit:

Weperformhumansacrifices,byproxyyoumightsay—thedestructionofhumanbeingswhowould,let'ssay,createanantagonisticsituationtowardsus—intheformofcursesandhexes,notinactualbloodritualsbecausecertainlythedestructionofahumanbeingphysicallyisillegal.6

AquinoexplainedthatSatanisminvolvestherecognitionanddevelopmentofan"innerqualityofsoul"whichgivesmankindtherightandpowertoopposealllawsofnatureandtoconquerorusetoone'sownendsallnaturalforces.Thisanarchyagainstnaturegoesfarbeyondthelegitimatedefensemountedbyscienceandtechnologyagainsttheoftenharmfulanddestructiveforcesofnature.AquinoelaboratedfurtheruponSatanismintermshardly

distinguishablefromHuxley'sexplanationoftheperennialphilosophyand(asWinfreymusthaverecognized)uncomfortablysimilartothebasicbeliefsoftheNewAgemovement,withwhichshehasexpressedstrongsympathyandagreement.

"WearenotservantsofsomeGod,"declaredAquino;"weareourowngods!"ThisistheveryheartofNewAgeteaching,yetAquinostateditasSatanistdoctrine.

Winfreyseemedsurprised."Well,thewayyouexplainthis,"shesaid,"isverymuchthewayalotofpeoplewhoareintometaphysicsnowandtheNewAgemovementandNewAgethinking,theysaytheverysamething.Areyousayingthatit'sthesame?"

TherewasnohesitationinAquino'sresponse."Yes,exceptthatIwouldsaywe[Satanists]haveamoreprecisegraspof...thisqualityofthehumanpsycheorthehumansoul....Wewouldsaythatweunderstandwhat'sactuallyhappeningalittlebetterthanmanyNewAgers."

"Howdoyouexplainacrossthiscountry,"shepersisted,apparentlytryingtocleartheconfusion,"childrenwhoarelisteningtoheavyrockmetalmusicandsupposedlytalkingtothedevil?RecentlyinNewJerseya14-year-oldboywho'dbeengettingstraightA'sdidapaperonSatanism...andintwoweekshadturnedhisentirelifearound,endedupstabbinghismother12times,andkilledhimself—allinthenameofSatan!"

Aquinodismissedsuchhappeningsastheactivityof"misguidedkooksoryoungchildrenwithaverydisturbedfamilybackground"whoweregivingSatananundeservedlybadname.HecomplainedthatSatanistswerebeingaccusedofcrimes"onvirtuallynoevidenceatall."Ridiculingthechargesofritualmurder,Lilithsaid,"Youcan'tfindanybodies...theconstantansweris,'Wehaven'tfoundanybodies,butweknowthisisgoingon.'"MichaelAquinovowedthatSatanistsweregoingtofightdiscriminationand

persecution."WehaveseenquiteenoughofthiskindofthinggoingonintheUnitedStateswithregardtoourreligion,andwearenotabouttositsilentandwatchitproceedfurther."

Laterintheprogram,thesecondmemberoftheaudiencetogainthemicrophoneturnedouttobealaw-enforcementofficer.Afteridentifyinghimself,hesaid:"Tosaythattherearenobodiesandthatthese|Satanists]arenotcommittingcrimesisthefarthestfromthetruth...ineverycasethatI'veinvestigated,nowextendingover200,Ihavefoundthisparticularbook...."Heheldupawell-worncopyofAntonLaVey'sSatanicBible,whichAquinohadinsistedcontainedonlygooddoctrines.

Inthenewconsciousness,ofcourse,"good"dependsuponindividualtaste,soaSatanist'sdefinitionisas"good"asanyone's.Andwhenitcomestoactualpractice,SatanistssuchastheAquinosaremoreconsistentintheirbeliefsthanNewAgers.Thelattertalkofsurrendertonature,MotherEarth,orthecosmos;yetatthesametimetheyattempttodeveloppowersofthemindforcreatingtheirownreality,theirownnature,ortheirowncosmos.AsMacLainehadsaidtoWinfrey,"Youhaveultimate...freedom.Soyou'recreatingyourownrealityjustlikeyouwanttodoit."AtleastAquinoadmittedthatSatanistsseethemselvesasalientotheuniverse,outsidetheestablishedrealityandoverthrowingitwithmagicalpower—andhecorrectlyidentifiedthisasthesamepowerwhichtheNewAgersseektotapintoandusetotheirownends.

Ontheotherhand,itishardlyconsistentforAquinotopretendtochildishinnocenceandvirtue,andtodescribeSatanistsas"decent,verylaw-abidingpeople,"whenatthesametimehestatesthattheessenceofSatanismisanarrogantandhostilerebellionagainstuniversallaw.ItisequallydeceitfultoclaimthatthegenerallyacceptedviewofSatanasevilisfalse,andpreposteroustolaythis"misconception"atthedoorofChristianity.Infact,thebiblicaldepictionofSatanasthearchenemyofGodandmanisveryconsistentwiththeviewthatAquinohimselfexpressed.

TheHebrewprophetsdeclaredthatSatanwasthemostbeautiful,wise,andpowerfulbeingthatGodhadcreated;but,deludedbypride,hehadaspiredtobecomea"God"himself.Itwastheultimaterebellion,inwhichamultitudeofangels-turned-demonsapparentlyfollowedhim.MankindalsochosetojoininthishightreasonagainsttheLordoftheuniverse.Satan'sall-consumingpursuitofthisambitionhasmadehimthepersonificationofevilandperversion.ThatthebiblicalSatanandthegodofSatanistsareoneandthesame,evenastotheirinfluenceuponmankind,isclearfromwhatAquinotoldthetelevisionaudience:

Webelievethatthisquality[togoagainstGod'snaturalorder]inthehumansoulthatmakesitdifferentfromallotherlifeforms...wasdeliberatelyinculcatedinhumanityinitsdistantevolutionarypastbyanactiveagencythatisoperatingindefianceoftheuniversalnorm[God'slaws].

AndthatagencyhasbeencaricaturedandthatagencyhasbeenmythologizedasPrometheus,asLucifer,asSatan,andinthegreatestantiquitybytheancientEgyptiansasSet.

Satanism,RockMusic,and"Inspiration"

InadditiontothesimilaritiesbetweentheNewAgeandAquino'sphilosophy,OprahWinfreyalsopointedtoaconnectionbetweenSatanismandrockmusic.Sucharelationshipshouldbeobvious.YettheextenttowhichsomepopularmusichasbecomethevehiclefordeliberatelyandsuccessfullyinfluencingmillionsofAmerica'syouthwithSatanismseemstohavearousedlittlepublicconcern.

Manyofthebig-timerockstarshavebeenheavilyinvolvednotonlyintheoccultbutalsoinovertSatanism.Evensincehisdeath,in1971attheageof27,JimMorrison(leaderofoneofthemostpopularAmericanrockbandsofthe1960's,TheDoors)continuestohaveapowerfulinfluence.IntermsstrikinglysimilartoAquino'sdescriptionoftheforcebehindSatanism,theeulogyonthebackcoverofMorrison'sbiographydescribeshimasthe"obsesseddiscipleofdarknesswhorejectedauthorityinanyform,theexplorer

whoprobed'theboundsofrealitytoseewhatwouldhappen'...."7

JohnLennontoldofmysticalexperiencesasayoungteenager:"Iusedtoliterallytranceoutintoalpha...seeingthesehallucinatoryimagesofmyfacechanging,becomingcosmicandcomplete."8HecalledYokoOnohis"donJuan,"referringtotheYaquiIndiansorcererwhoinitiatedCarlosCastanedaintothesorcerer'sworld.9Tryingtodescribehisown"inspiration"process,Lennonsaid:"It'slikebeingpossessed:likeapsychicoramedium."10AccordingtoKeithRichardsoftheRollingStones:"TheStones'songscamespontaneouslylikeaninspirationataseance.Thetunesarrived'enmasse'asiftheStonesassongwriterswereonlyawillingandopenmedium."11OftheBeatles,YokoOnohassaid,"Theywerelikemediums.Theyweren'tconsciousofalltheyweresaying,butitwascomingthroughthem."12Manyotherstellofsimilarinspiration.MarcStorace,vocalistwiththeheavy-metalbandKrokus,toldCircusmagazine:

Youcan'tdescribeitexcepttosayit'slikeamysteriousenergythatcomesfromthemetaphysicalplaneandintomybody.It'salmostlikebeingamedium....13

"LittleRichard"hadsimilarexperiencesandidentifiedSatanasthesourceofhisinspiration:"Iwasdirectedandcommandedbyanotherpower.Thepowerofdarkness...thatalotofpeopledon'tbelieveexists.ThepoweroftheDevil.Satan."14JimMorrisoncalledthespiritsthatattimespossessedhim"TheLords,"andwroteabookofpoetryaboutthem.15FolkrockartistJoniMitchell'screativitycamefromherspiritguide"Art."Sodependentwassheupon"Art"thatnothingcoulddetainherwhenhe"called."16Theprevalenceofsuch"spirits"amongmanytoprockstarsseemstogobeyondtherealmofcoincidence.SuperstarJimiHendrix,called"rock'sgreatestguitarist"andknownastheVoodooChileofTheAquarianAge,"believedhewaspossessedbysomespirit,"

accordingtoAlanDouglas.Hendrix'sformergirlfriend,FaynePridgon,hassaid:

Heusedtoalwaystalkaboutsomedevilorsomethingwasinhim,youknow,andhedidn'thaveanycontroloverit,hedidn'tknowwhatmadehimactthewayheactedandwhatmadehimsaythethingshesaid,andsongs...justcameoutofhim....

Hewassotormentedandjusttornapart...andIusedtotalkaboutmygrandmotherandallherweirdstuff,youknow,andheusedtotalkaboutusgoingdownthereandhavingsomerootladyorsomebodyseeifshecoulddrivethisdemonoutofhim.17

Thepowerofmusictomoldthethinkingofgenerationshasbeenfullydemonstrated.ItwasElvisPresley,admiredandhighlyhonoredbymillionsinspiteofhisthoroughinvolvementindrugsandoccultism,who.starteditall.HisswinginghipswereamildexpressionoftherebellionagainstallauthoritytowhichAquinoreferred—arebellionthatreachednewheightsasitsinfluenceacceleratedthroughgroupssuchastheBeatlesandRollingStones.Thatrevoltofyouthhasnowblossomedintoaflagrantglorificationoftheuglyandperverted,andabrutalassaultagainstwhathaslongbeenconsidereddecentandmoral.

Aquino's"activeagency[Satan]thatisoperatingindefianceoftheuniversalnorm"appearstobelargelyincontrol.Themotivationseemssoadmirable:deliverancefromnarrow-mindedjudgmentalismandanopennesstonewtruth—andallforthegoodcauseofbuildingtheyouthfulidealists'"newworld."JimiHendrix,talentedbuttormented"voodoochild,"wasoneofthecrusadersofthisseeminglyworthycause.Whythendidhepleadfordeliverancefromdemonsthatpossessedanddestroyedhim?Theopenness—the"explorationandimagination"heespoused—stillseduceshisadmirerstoday.Aspartofhislegacyhesaid:

Thingslikewitchcraft,whichisaformofexploration,andimagination,havebeenbannedbytheestablishmentandcalledevil.

It'sbecausepeoplearefrightenedtofindoutthefullpowerofthemind.18

ItisnotonlySatanistswhoflaunttheirrebellionandineffectthumbtheirnosesattheCreator.CallingtheJehovahoftheOldTestament"amean,nasty,paranoid,mafio,coppo,condominiumowner,"TimothyLearysays,"IsubmitthatEve'sagoodplacetostartifyou'relookingforahumanistpsychologisthero.HowaboutaroundofapplauseforEve!"Therewerecheersandlaughterfromthepsychologists'conventionaudience.InTheCourageToCreate,RolloMay,whohasanundergraduatedegreefromUnionTheologicalSeminary,praisesEveforherindependentspiritinrebellingagainstGod'scommandnottoeattheforbiddenfruit.WhattheBiblecallssinMaycallsthe"felixculpa"or"fortunatefall."ThoughhimselfoneofthefoundersoftheAssociationforHumanisticPsychology,Stanford'sWillisHarmanhassaid:

Itisnotanaccidentthatthisvalueconfusionofmodernsocietyfollowssocloselyaftertheperiod,ahalfcenturyorsoago,ofthe"greatdebunking"ofreligionbypositivisticreductionistscience—theperiodRogerSperry[has]referredtoasdominatedbythe"materialistandbehavioristdoctrine."

TheweakeningofJudeo-ChristianvaluesinWesternsocietywasadirectconsequenceofthe"scientific"erosionofbeliefinthetranscendentalnatureofthehumanspirit.19

ItisinterestingthatHarmanidentifies"valueconfusion"(i.e.,rejectionofmoralstandards)withantagonismtowardJudeo-Christianbeliefs.TheBible,whichpresentsthesenow-largely-rejectedvalues,prophesiesthatinthe"lastdays"the"spiritofdisobedience"thathasbeenatworkinmankindsinceitjoinedtheserpent'srebellionwillbeembodiedintheAntichrist,rulerofaworldunitedagainstGod.Heiscalled"themanoflawlessness"who,inhisrejectionofGod'sauthority,declaresthathehimselfisGod.20Theultimaterebellion,ofcourse,istheNewAger'sclaimtobeGod.Thecloakofimmunitywhichsuchaclaimprovidesrendersonefree

fromaccountabilitytoanyauthorityhigherthanself.

Writtennearly2000yearsago,thebiblicalprophecythatthisrebellionwouldgathermomentumuntilitengulfedvirtuallythewholeworldisanamazinglyaccuratedescriptionofcurrentdevelopments.MuchofthecreditfortwogenerationsofyouthinaninternationalrebellionagainstallauthorityandmoralvaluesmustbegiventoentertainerssuchastheBeatlesandtheRollingStones,whose"opennesstoeverything"ischaracterizedbybitterhostilitytowardaJudeo-Christianvaluesystem.DerekTaylor,theBeatles'pressagent,said:

They'recompletelyanti-Christ.Imean,Iamanti-Christaswell,butthey'resoanti-Christtheyshockme,whichisn'taneasything.21

TheSeductiveCallof"Freedom"

ItwasapparentlytoolatewhenJimiHendrixdiscoveredthathewascontrolledbymindsotherthanhisown.Muchoftoday'srockmusic,likeAquino'sSatanism,representsanangryandarrogantlyself-centeredrevolutionaimedatoverthrowingallmoralsandtheveryorderunderlyingtheuniverse,andfillingthevacuumbyadeifiedself.Thepromisedfreedom,however,hasproventobedestructivenotonlyofvaluesbutoftheindividualaswell.Thatsamefreedomfromtherestrictionsofconscienceisaby-productofabeliefintheabilitytocreateone'sownreality.ItsurfacesonceagaininacontextseeminglyfarremovedfromSatanismortherockmusicscene:StanfordUniversity'sGraduateSchoolofBusiness.

Intheir"CreativityInBusinessCourse,"MichaelRayandRochelleMyershaveadaptedfromtheSiddhaYogaofRay'sguru,SwamiMuktananda,exercisesfordevelopingmindpowers.Oneofthetechniquesinvolvesthedestructionofgenerallyacceptedmoralvaluesandwhatiscalledthevoiceofjudgment(VOJ),whichofcourseincludesconscience:

Dotheforbidden[inyourimagination].Sassaparent,disobeya

boss,throwyourhandatabridgepartner—anythingyou'vealwayswantedtodo.Luxuriateintheemotionalaftermath,thenpickupthepieces.22

NewAgeeducatorssuchasRayandMyersmightobjecttohavingtheirgoalslikenedtotheanarchythatcharacterizesSatanismandrockmusic.Afterall,MBA'sarehardlyyouraveragehard-rockenthusiasts.Afundamentalrebelliousness,however,isthecommondenominatorinallattemptsatmentallycreatingone'sownreality,whetherornotthosewhoespousethisbeliefseethemselvesasdoingitforloveandgoodorforhateandevil.If"AllisOne,"thensuchdistinctionsaremeaningless,andeachindividualishisownultimateauthority.WilliamC.Miller,oneofRay'scolleaguesatStanford'sGraduateSchoolofBusinessandan1800-dollar-per-dayconsultanttomanyFortune500companies,dedicateshisbookTheCreativeEdgeto"thedivinespiritweallshare."HeadvocatesthesameEasternmeditationinordertocontact"yourinnermostintuitiveself...[partof]thespiritualcoreofallhumanity"astheultimatesourceofwisdomforbusinessdecisions.Thereisnohigherauthority.23Ray'scalculateddestructionofconscienceresultsinthissamedeificationofselfasthesupremeauthority:

Theanswerstoallyourquestions...arewithinyou.YourbiggestjobinlifeistolearntotrustyourEssencetoprovidealltheanswersyoucaneveruse.

[Quoting,asanexample,abusinessman]:"Themoralcodeisimposedfromoutsidewhenoneistooyoungtodiscernoneself....Liketrainingwheelsonabicycle,theysupportuswhenweareyoungandclumsy...butthengetintheway....24

Thatmayseemattractive,butitleavesuswithoutanymoraldirection.Fivebillionlittlemake-believe"gods"eachfollowinghisowndictatesdoesn'tmakeforpeaceuponearth.Expressingthisappealingbutdeceptivepseudofreedom,graduatesofHarvard'sSchoolofPublicHealth(Classof'87)defiantly"tossedintotheair

hundredsofcondomsencasedinenvelopesthatboretheLatinmessageADVENEREMSECURIOREM('forsafesex')."Incontrast,ABCNightlineModeratorTedKoppeldeliveredthissoberstatementinhiscommencementaddressto1987graduatesofDukeUniversity:

Wehaveactuallyconvincedourselvesthatsloganswillsaveus.Shootupifyoumust,butuseacleanneedle.Enjoysexwheneverandwithwhomeveryouwish,butwearacondom.No!Theanswerisno.Notbecauseitisn'tcoolorsmartorbecauseyoumightendupinjailordyinginanAIDSward,butnobecauseit'swrong,becausewehavespent5,000yearsasaraceofrationalhumanbeings,tryingtodragourselvesoutoftheprimevalslimebysearchingfortruthandmoralabsolutes.

Initspurestform,truthisnotapolitetapontheshoulder.Itisahowlingreproach.WhatMosesbroughtdownfromMountSinaiwerenottheTenSuggestions.25

Koppel'scallfortherecognitionofahigherauthoritythanselfishdesiresisnotapopularone.AntonLaVeyspeaksnotonlyforSatanists,butfortoday'srelativisticsocietyaswellwhenhedeclares:"ThehighestofallholidaysinSatanismisthedateofone'sownbirth,forweworshiptheindividualandcelebrateself-love.”Oneobserveroftoday'sscenewrites:"AcurrentadforCalvinKlein'sObsessionForMenperfumeshowsayoung,attractiveman—hairslickedback,suitpressed,andinloveinthewayonlyan'80smancanbe:he'sstaringstraightintoamirror."26ThisisactuallyanancientHindumethodofworshipingthe"Godwithin."ItwaslookingintoamirrorthatgaveLennonthevisionofhiscosmicSelf,apracticethatJohnDenverpickedupfromMuktananda(whowasalsohisguru),whoadvocatedbowingdownandworshipingoneselfinfrontofamirror.

The"ElectricShamans"

Thesamespiritthatisinspiringmuchoftherockmusicscene

seemstobeexertingitsinfluenceineveryareaofsociety.Whilerockmusicmakesitsappealtothelatentrebelliousnessofyouth,thevariouspsychotherapies,meditation,andothernewconsciousnesstechniquesappealtotheyuppiesandmoreestablishedcitizenry.All,however,aresimplydifferentpiecescutoutofthesamecloth.WhenaskedtodescribeaVanHalenconcert,DavidLeeRoth(atthattimethegroup'sleadvocalist)replied:"It'sliketherapy."CarlJungwouldhaveagreed;somanyofthesestarshavetheir"Philemons."Intheworldofrock,however,theentitiesnolongerseemtofeelitnecessarytowearamasktohidetheiridentity.

Thesatanicconnectionisnowsomethingaboutwhichtoboast.NolongerisanyoneshockedbyalbumsandlyricshonoringSatan.AC-DC's"HighwaytoHell,"theRollingStones'"TheirSatanicMajesty'sRequest"(puttogetherbythesuicidalBrianJones),andDavidLeeRoth's"RunningWiththeDevil"aretypicalofthisgenreofrock.Thesourceofsuchartisticexpressionisclear:MarcStoraceofKrokustalksabout"meditat[ing]withthedarkpowers"and"allow[ing]thementrance"tothesoul.27Roth,whocalledhimself"toastmasterfortheimmoralmajority,"wasveryawarethattheultimategoalwastoconjureupevilspiritsandsurrendertothem.Hetoldaninterviewer:

I'mgonnaabandonmyspirittothem,whichisactuallywhatIattempttodo.Youworkyourselfintothatstateandyoufallinsupplicationofthedemongods....28

Strangelyenough,nomatterhowmuchthevariousmeansmayseemtobeatodds,theunderlyingperennialphilosophyisinvariablythesame.Thoughleddownthesamepath,eachstratumofsocietyisconvincedthatitisinvolvedinbuildinganewworldthatmeetsitsownideals.AsitiswiththeNewAge,thereisnothingnewaboutthisdream.Itis,infact,aregressiontoearlierculturesthatweredominatedbywitchdoctors,voodoopriests,andother

shamans.Laudingtheconnectionbetweenrockmusicandvoodoo("drumbeatbydrumbeat,movementbymovement—aforcewhichcompelsamanforward...againstthatfinalterror...thedarksenseofdeath"),29RayManzarek,keyboardplayerforTheDoors,relates:

Yousee,whentheSiberianshamangetsreadytogointohistrance,allthevillagersgettogetherandshakerattlesandblowwhistlesandplaywhateverinstrumentstheyhavetosendhimoff[intotranceandpossession].Thereisaconstantpounding,pounding,pounding.Andthosesessionslastforhoursandhours.

ItwasthesamewaywithTheDoorswhenweplayedinconcert.Thesets[concerts]didn'tlastthatlong,butIthinkthatourdrugexperiencesletusgetintoitthatmuchquicker.Weknewthesymptomsofthe[altered]state,sothatwecouldtrytoapproximateit.

ItwaslikeJim[Morrison]wasanelectricshamanandweweretheelectricshaman'sband,poundingawaybehindhim.Sometimeshewouldn'tfeellikegettingintothestate,butthebandwouldkeeponpoundingandpounding,andlittlebylittleitwouldtakehimover.

God,Icouldsendanelectricshockthroughhimwiththeorgan.Johncoulddoitwithhisdrumbeats.Youcouldseeeveryonceinawhile—twitch!—Icouldhitachordandmakehimtwitch.Andhe'dbeoffagain.

Sometimeshewasjustincredible.Justamazing.Andtheaudiencefeltit,too!30

FromWallStreettoHaitiandBack

OneisremindedofWadeDavis'sdescriptionofthevodounceremonyleadingtopossession:"Thedrumpoundedrelentlessly,deepsolidblowsthatseemedtostrikedirectlytothewoman'sspine.Shecringedwitheachbeat....Anduponthiswaveofsound,thespiritarrived...slowlysheliftedherfacetothesky.Shehadbeenmountedbythedivinehorseman;shehadbecomethe

spirit....Apparentlythespiritscouldbegreedy,forsoontwootherhounsiswerepossessed....Thedrumsbeatceaselessly.Then,assuddenlyasthespiritsarrived,theyleft...."31SuchpracticeshaveplayedanimportantpartinmanyculturesaroundtheworldinthepastandarebeingrevivedinvariousformsthroughoutawiderangeofAmericansocietytoday.

Theconnectionbetweenvoodooandrockrepresentationsofshamanismandthe"trancedancing"exerciseinthe"CreativityInBusiness"courseisclearlymorethancoincidental.Thesimilarityisnotonlyinthemusic("repetitiverhythms...exotic...mysterious")butinthetrance("collapseintothecorpsepose"),the"rushesofenergy,"andthe"out-of-body-experiences"whichMichaelRaydescribesandrecommends.Moreover,thealteredstateisspecificallyenterednotmerelyto"loosenupanalytictypes"(asRaywouldsay)butinorderfortheshamans-in-trainingofthebusinessworldtomakecontactwitha"spiritguide...towhomyoucanturnforguidance."32

Likesomanyotherpopularpromotersofcontactwith"spiritguides"inanacademicorpsychotherapeuticsetting,however,Rayagainsuggeststhatsuchentitiesarecreaturesofourimagination.Yettheyhavesomeveryrealpowersandpersonalitiesoftheirown.Wecanhardlyignorethefactthatthosewhopresenttoday'smostpopularformofthisancientpractice,rock's"electricshamans,"generallyagree,liketheirancientpredecessors,thatthespiritsinvolvedaredemonsintheserviceofSatan.Moreover,thefanaticallyrebelliousconductonandoffstage,andthetragicandprematuredeathsofsomanyrockstars,seemtoconfirmthisidentification.HaitiprovidesacurrentexampleofwhatAmerica'sfuturesocietyofsorcererscouldbeifwecontinueinthepresentdirection.Daviswrites:

Vodounisnotanisolatedcult;itisacomplexmysticalworldview,asystemofbeliefsconcerningtherelationshipbetweenman,nature,andthesupernaturalforcesoftheuniverse....

InHaiti,asinAfrica,thereisnoseparationbetweenthesacredandthesecular...vodounnotonlyembodiesasetofspiritualconcepts,itprescribesawayoflife....Eachbelievernotonlyhasdirectcontactwiththespirits,heactuallyreceivesthemintohisbody....

"Haitiwillteachyouthatgoodandevilareone....Forthevodounistthereseemtobenoabsolutes.33

BuildingtheSorcerer'sWorld

SothedestructionofabsolutesinwhichAmericanpubliceducationhasplayedsuchalargerolesincethedaysofJohnDewey,andwhichtoday'suniversitystudentsimagineisamodernconcept,hasbeenattheheartofsorceryfromtimeimmemorial.Aswehavealreadyseen,thepowertocreateone'sownrealitymustincludethepowertocreateone'sownvaluesaswell.WhilemostAmericanshavenotyetbecomeconvincedthattheformerispossible,itisnowthegeneralconsensusthatthelatteriseveryone'sright.

Witness,forexample,thehueandcrythatwentupincertainquarterswhenitwassuggestedthatinconjunctionwithalloftheinformationbeingmadeavailabletoteenagersaboutsexandbirthcontrolandaccesstoclinicsdispensingcontraceptives,sexualabstinencemightberecommendedaswell.Civillibertarianspresumablyfearedthat,whilecondoms,IUD's,andbirthcontrolpillsaremerelyneutral,value-freetechniques,abstinencemightreflectamoral(or,evenworse,areligious)valuejudgment.Whenseveralstatespassedlawsrequiringparentalconsentbeforeundergoingabortion,itwasvirtuallyaforegoneconclusionthatanumberofcourtswouldrulethemunconstitutional.SomewhereintheConstitutionaphrasewasfoundfromwhichcouldbewrenchedtheopinionthatchildren—whoneedparentalconsentinordertohavetheirearspierced—couldnotberequiredtohaveparentalconsentforabortions.

Parentalvaluesmustnotbeallowedtoinfluencechildren'srightstosettheirownstandards.Itisthevery"freedom"fromanyauthorityhigherthanselfwhichSatanistsimagineistheirpeculiartrademark,butwhichthegovernmentitselfchampions.Thisrampantrelativism,whichisnowtakenforgrantedbythegeneralpublic,isonemoreevidenceoftheoverwhelminginfluenceofEasternmysticismupontheWest.InHinduismtherearenoabsolutesandnosin;eachperson'sdharmaisunique.The"AllIsOne...youaretheuniverse"messageofcosmicconsciousnesshasprovidedrelativismanditstwin,rebellion,withajustificationpreviouslyunknownintheWesternworld.Wisdom,knowledge,truth,andmoralstandardsarenolongertobesoughtinparentalcounsel,greatliterature,orsacredwritings.Theyaretobefoundbylookingdeepwithinone'sownsoul.Eachgenerationimaginesitselftobetheauthorofthisbelief,andisseducedonceagainbythedelusionofafreedomthatultimatelyfailstodeliveronitspromises.

Theexaltationofselfalwaysespousesatfirstanopennesstoalltruthandequalityamongall.Inevitably,however,asinOrwell'sAnimalFarm,"weareallequal"becomes"someofusaremoreequalthanothers."Mankindcannotdowithoutitsheroes.Theyouthwhoseemtodefyallauthorityareatthesametimeobedienttothosewhohavepersuadedthemtodisobey.Eventhosewhoaretryingdesperatelytobelievethattheyareautonomousgodsand"OnewiththeAll"standatthesametimeinaweofthevariousguruswhohavebroughtthemthisliberating"truth."Oddlyenough,"liberation"frombeliefintheGodoftheBibleanditsmoralcodeseemstoproduceafanaticalallegiancetoanothergod,whetherarockstar,aguru,oraHitler.

SomeDisturbingSimilarities

Thesenseofdéjàvuissostrongastobealmostnauseating.ThroughouttheWesternworldweareseeingarepetitionoftheconditionsinGermanythatcontributedtothefoundingoftheNaziregime.SomeofthemoreperceptiveNewAgershavenoticedthe

similaritiesbetweentheirmovementandtheGermanyofthe1920'sand'30's,andittroublesthemgreatly.OnewriterinNewAgeJournaltellsofreading"alittlebookpublishedin1923—TheRevoltofYouth,byStanleyHigh."Hesays,"Itisadisturbingbook...aneyewitnessaccount,glowinglyrecorded,oftheyouthculturethatfollowedthehorrorsofWorldWarI...[that]couldwellhavebeenentitledTheGreeningofGermany.Readingit,oneisunsurewhetherthisisGermanyofthetwentiesorAmericaofthesixtiesthatHighisdescribing."Thearticlecontinues:

Backtonaturegothehippiesoftheday,theWandervogel...ledbyabatteredassortmentofguitars...the"hopeforthefutureofGermany."

Naturalcamaraderieprevails,withfreedomofsexualcompanionship...."Nothingissoroundlyhatedasthesuperimpositionofconventionalauthority,andnothingsolovedasnature."...

Thepoliticalinterestsaretendingtodisappear,thegreatspiritualforcesareontheascendency...thereisaninexplicablereactionagainstconventionalChristianity....

Ihadbeenprivilegedtowalkwiththeyouthofanotherworld...theapostlesofawhollynewlifeforyoungandoldalike...withtheirspirittheoldheavenandtheoldearth—suspicionandselfishnessandhate—willpassaway."

ThisisnotCharlesReichpraisinghippiedom,thisisGermanyof1923!

Thereareothersimilarities,evenmoredisturbingandominous.TherewastherevivalofEasternmysticism,yoga,Zen,Taoism,meditation,astrology,vegetarianism,theawakeningbeliefinreincarnationandkarma—andofcoursetheemphasisupon"enlightenment"throughtappingintotheinfinite"sourceofwisdom"withinthepsyche.Therealizationthat"AllisOne"andthateachpersonis"God"was,ofcourse,theunderlyingbelief.Hitlerhimselfwasdeeplyinvolvedinmysticismandpursuedthedreamofoccultic

powerwithapassion,sendingexpeditionstoIndiaandTibetinsearchofHinduandBuddhistsecrets.HermanRauschning,GovernorofDanzig,whoknewtheFuehrerintimately,claimedthatHitlerconfidedinhim:"Iwilltellyouasecret.IamfoundinganOrder....theMan-God,thatsplendidBeing,willbeanobjectofworship...."

ThereisnonormalexplanationforthestaggeringmysterythatwasHitler:asmall-timeex-corporalwithobsessivedelusionswhoroseoutofobscuritytomaketheentireworldtremble.Bewilderedhistorianshaveaskedhowamansonarrowinview,soenslavedbystultifyingdogmas,couldhaveachievedsuchincrediblesuccess.Yetthiscomicfigurewiththebobbingmustacheandfranticgesturesoutmaneuveredtheworld'sleaderstimeandagainwithhisinsaneboldness,conqueredEuropewithterrifyingswiftness,andheldthedestinyofnationsinhismadgrip.ThereisnoordinaryanswertotheenigmathatwasHitler.ReflectinguponhisexperienceswiththeNazidictator,Rauschningdeclaredwithawe:

Onecannothelpthinkingofhimasamedium...themediumispossessed...beyondanydoubt,Hitlerwaspossessedbyforcesoutsidehimself...ofwhichtheindividualnamedHitlerwasonlythetemporaryvehicle.34

NolessobsessedwiththeoccultwasHeinrichHimmler,headoftheinfamousSS,whichwasnotonlyamilitaryorganizationbutasecretorderofblackmagicians.Himmlerreportedlyspentmoremoneyonoccultinvestigationsandgenealogicalresearch,tracingthemysticaloriginsofAryansupermenbacktoIndiaandTibet,thantheAmericansspentupontheinitialdevelopmentoftheatomicbomb.TheultimatemissionoftheSSwastousherinaNewAge,aNewWorldinhabitedbyaNewMan.Inthededicatedfulfillmentofthistask,giventoHitlerbythe"invisibles"thatinspiredhim,theSSmurdered14millionmen,women,andchildren.WorldWarIIitselfclaimedthelivesofalmost50millionpeople.YettheNazileaderssawthemselvesmuchasAquinodescribedSatanistsonthe

WinfreyShow—decent,sensitive,andaffectionatefamilymenwhoappreciatedgoodmusicanddidn'tevenliketoseeanimalssuffer.

DefectorsfromtheTempleofSettellofthevisitofAquino,atthattimeaMajorintheU.S.Army,totheSScastleatWewelsburg,Germany.NicholasGoodrick-ClarkegivesadescriptionandbriefhistoryofWewelsburginTheOccultRootsofNazism.HereattheheightofNazipowerHimmlerpresidedovermagicalritualsverymuchlikethoseengagedinnotonlybySataniststodaybutbymanyNewAgers.OntheWinfreyShow,AquinodeniedanysympathyforHitler'spoliticsandclaimedhewasonlyinterestedinthe"occultpracticesoftheThirdReich."UponvisitingWewelsburg,Aquinoreportedlyobtainedaccesstotheinnersanctum,wherehewentintodeepmeditation,madecontactwith"theforcethatempoweredHitler,"andlooseditupontheworldonceagain.

Whetherthis"contact"wassomethingrealorimaginary,itishighlydisturbingthatsimilarmeditationisbeingpromotedandpracticedacrossAmericaasweunwittinglycreateasocietyofsorcerer'sapprentices.

[15]ShamanismontheRiseTheVIIIInternationalConferenceoftheInternational

TranspersonalAssociation,heldinDavos,Switzerland,broughttogetherparticipantsfromnumerouscountriesconcernedforthefutureofplanetEarth.Speakersweremostlymedicaldoctorsandpsychologistsofinternationalreputation.Theworkshopswereallhard-coreoccultismandmysticismdressedinaflimsydisguiseofscienceorpsychology.Thefollowingdescription,fromtheconferencebrochure,ofatypicalworkshoppresentssomeideaofwhattheseinfluentialleadersfromaroundtheworldconsideredessentialforworkingoutabetterfutureforthisplanet:

TheShamanicJourney,PowerandHealing

TheShamanicJourneyisoneofmankind'smostancientvisionarymethodsofenteringnon-ordinaryrealityandexploringthehiddenuniverseusuallyglimpsedonlythroughmythanddream.

Participantswillundergoanexperientialinitiationintothejourney,aidedbytraditionaldrumminganddancingtechniquesdesignedtoachievetheShamanicStateofConsciousness.

Participantswilllearnhowtousetheshaman'sjourneytohealandmaintainhealth,acquireknowledge,andsolvedailyproblems.1

Healthisauniversalconcern.Whensufferingfromseriousillness,especiallyifdiagnosedasterminal,theillarelikelytoreachoutindesperationandgraspatanystraw.Thefieldofholisticmedicine,ofwhichfamedmysticEdgarCaycehasbeencalledtheAmericanfounder,offersanewhopetothosewhommedicalsciencehasfailed.Themajordistinctiveofholistic(orwholistic)medicineisthatitdealswiththewholeperson:"mind,body,andspirit,"astheadsgenerallydeclare.Oneimmediatelywonderswhatqualifiesmedicaldoctors,dentists,chiropractors,psychiatrists,and

otherholisticpractitionersto"treat"aspirit.Ofcourse,thathasalwaysbeentheprovinceofreligion,andparticularlyofwitchdoctorsandothershamans.

Itiscertainthattheaveragephysiciannevertookasinglecourseinmedicalschoolthatevendefinedspirit,muchlesstaughthowtodiagnoseandcureinthatrealm.Whilegreatcareistakenwithtraining,testing,andlicensingthosewhotreatthebody,therearenocriteriaforthosewhoclaimtotreatthespirit.Thisisbecausespirithasalwaysbeenrecognizedasareligiousterm,andthegovernment'sregulatoryagenciesaresupposedtoallowcompletefreedominthatarea.Itisamazingthatmostpeopleflockingtoholistichealthpractitionersseemtooverlookthecriticalquestionthatoughttoconcerneveryone:Whatreligionisbeingpassedoffasmedicalscienceunderthelabelofholistichealth?

ShamanismandHolisticMedicine

Theanswertothatquestionisobvious,yetitssignificanceseemstoeludeus:Onceagainitisnaturalism/pantheism/polytheism'sancientmetaphysicaloroccultbeliefs(generallywithaheavyHinduorBuddhistflavor)beingpresentedinnewpackagesfortheWest.

AnthropologistMichaelHarner,whoisoneoftheworld'sleadingexpertsonshamanism,haspointedoutthatholisticmedicineissimplyshamanismbeingpracticedinourcultureundernewlabels.Harnerwrites:

Theburgeoningfieldofholisticmedicineshowsatremendousamountofexperimentation[with]...techniqueslongpracticedinshamanism,suchasvisualization,alteredstatesofconsciousness,aspectsofpsychoanalysis,hypnotherapy,meditation,positiveattitude,stress-reduction,andmentalandemotionalexpressionofwillforhealthandhealing.

Inasense,shamanismisbeingreinventedintheWestpreciselybecauseitisneeded.2

Thefactthattherearenoregulations,standards,orgovernmentalagenciestoassurethatcertainspiritualcriteriaaremetandsafeguardsobservedpresentsbothpractitionersandtheirpatientswithdangersthatfewpeopleevenconsider.ArecenteditorialinShaman'sDrumwarnsthatWesternerswhoarenowjumpingintothepracticeofshamanismbecauseofitsgrowingpopularity"tendtodownplayordenyshamanism'sinherentdangerousaspects...."Aswehavealreadymentioned,shamanisminvolvesthedevelopmentofallegedmindpowers,whicharealwaysconnectedwitha"spiritguide"contactedthroughanalteredstateofconsciousness.Harnergoesontoexplain:

Ashamanisamanorawomanwhoentersanalteredstateofconsciousness—atwill—tocontactandutilizeanordinarilyhiddenrealityinordertoacquireknowledge,power,andtohelpotherpersons.

The[shaman's]guardianspiritisoftenapoweranimal,aspiritualbeingthatnotonlyprotectsandservestheshaman,butbecomesanotheridentityoralteregoforhim.

Theshamanfrequentlyseesandconsultswithhisguardianspirit,travelswithitontheshamanicjourney,hasithelphimandusesittohelpotherstorecoverfromillnessandinjury....

Theshamanmovesbetweenrealities,amagicalathleteofstatesofconsciousness...a"power-broker"inthesenseofmanipulatingspiritualpowertohelppeople,toputthemintoahealthyequilibrium.3

Asinpsychotherapy,soalsointhemedicalprofession:Thepracticeofshamanismisliterallyexploding.InVisualization:TheUsesofImageryintheHealthProfessions,ErrolR.KornandKarenJohnson(medicaldirectorandadministrativedirector,respectively,ofapainrehabilitationcenternearSanDiego,California)takeshamanictechniqueslongusedbymedicinemenandpresentthemasthelatestmedicalscience.Theyconcludethat"theuseofalteredstatesofconsciousnessaloneonaregularbasis...is

sufficienttoleadtowellnessandactualization."

LosAngelesphysicianArtUlene,apopulartelevisionmedicalconsultantandaTMgraduate,suggeststhatthealteredstatesreachedthroughEasternmeditationinvolve"morethanthephysiologicalchangesthatDr.[Herbert]Bensoncalled'therelaxationresponse.'"SaysUlene,"You'llknowwhenithappenstoyou...somepeoplesayit'slikesmokingmarijuana....Yourmindreverberateswithemptiness."4Inagreement,YaleUniversitymedicalprofessorBernieSiegelwritesinhisNewYorkTimesbest-seller,Love,Medicine&Miracles:

Thegoalistoreachalighttrancestate,sometimescalledthealphastate...[which]isthefirststepinhypnosis,biofeedback,yogicmeditation,andmostrelatedformsofmindexploration.

Withguidanceandpractice,meditationcanleadtobreath-takingexperiencesofcosmicat-onenessandenlightenment....

Amongmanypsychologicaltechniquesappliedtophysicalillness,themostwidelyusedandsuccessfulhasbeentheonecalledimagingorvisualization.5

TheHeartofShamanism:The"InnerGuide"

Itshouldbeunderstoodthattheseideasarenotcomingoutofcarefulmedicalresearch,buthavebeenadoptedbythedoctorspresentingthembecausethis"newtruth"hasbeenreceivedasatransformingrevelationinanalteredstateofconsciousness.Andinnearlyeverycasetherehasalsobeenanexperienceofthemostpowerfuluseofshamanicvisualization:contactwithandusageofthe"innerguide,"whichisoftena"poweranimal."BernieSiegel,forexample,writes:"Justashealersinprimitivetribestellpeopletoutilizepoweranimals,Isuggestthatpatientsusesimilaranimatedsymbols."6Explainingthata"safeplace"mustfirstofallbevisualizedintheimaginationinordertomeetthisguide,KornandJohnsonwrite:

Withyouinthissafeplaceisalivingbeingthatisverymuchconcernedwithyourwelfare....Whenyoubecomeawareandnoticethisguide,establishcontact...andthisyoucandobyactuallytalkingwiththecreature...andthentellingtheanimalorpersonjustexactlywhatyouwishtogetoutofthisencounter....

Itisimportantthattheclinicianrealizethattheguidecanbeusedtogiveadvicetotheclient...[to]providesupportandprotection...messagesthatwillsolvetheproblemsthattheclientishaving...andtoprovidetotalsymptomremovalforbriefperiods....7

Dr.ArtUlenehasaninnerguidewhichhecontactedwhileinanalteredstate,arabbitthatcallsitself"Corky.""Don'taskmewherethatnamecamefrom,"saysUlene."Healsosaidhewasaboy."Whilehardlya"poweranimal,"Ulene'sbunnyservesthesameshamanicfunction."Iwasfirstintroducedtoguidedimagery,"Ulenetellsus,"whilemakingafilmofrelaxationtechniqueswithDr.DavidBresler,apsychologistatUCLA."Tohelpreadersofhisbook,FeelingFine,experienceasimilarlife-changingtransformation,Uleneexplainsthesametechniquewearehearingnowfromhundredsofsources:

Slowlylookaroundyourrelaxingsceneuntilyouspotalivingcreature.Don'tbesurprisedbywhatyoufind....Moveincloseronthecreature.Askittomovealittleclosertoyou.(Bearwithme;Ihaven'tlostmysenses.)...

Nowthatthecreatureisupclose,it'stimeforthetwoofyoutogetacquainted....Talktoyourcreature.Tellityourname.Askitsname.Believeitornot,you'llgetananswer....

Whenyouandyourcreaturehavesaidallthereistosay,it'stimetoreturntothisworldagain.Saygoodbyeandpromiseyou'llreturnagain.Thenslowlyopenyoureyes....

Inthedaystocomewe'llshowyouhowtousethistechniqueforpainreliefandproblemsolving.Weallhavethisinnerdiagnostician,acreatureadvisorwhocancometousintimeofneed.Ourcreaturesmaynothavetheproperdegrees,buttheirbrandofmedicineworks....8

Lestwefearthatcontactisbeingmadewithactualspiritentities,Uleneprovidesuswiththefamiliarpsychologicalassurance:"Theanimal,ofcourse,isnothingmorethanasymbolforyourinnerself,andtalkingtotheanimalamountstotalkingtoyourself,butonabrainwavelengthyoudon'toftenuse."LikeUleneandmanyotherswhosharethisfaithintheinfinitewisdomandpowerofthe"HigherSelf,"cancerresearcherO.CarlSimontondeclaresthatthe"innerguide"issimply"asymbolicrepresentationofaspectsofthepersonalitynotnormallyavailableduringconsciousawareness."9RichardL.Watringargues,however,thatsuchanexplanation,inthefaceofthewealthofconvincingevidencetothecontrary,betraysamaterialisticbiasthat"deniestheexistenceofasupernaturalrealm."10

KornandJohnsonalsoinsistthatthe"guide"representsthepowerandwisdomofone'sownunconscious.Yetitisclaimedthatthe"spiritguide"canprovidetheanswertoeveryquestion,whichisclearlybeyondthecapabilityofindividualconsciousness.Andtoexplaintheseentitiesasrepresentingacollectiveunconsciousfailsforreasonsalreadydiscussed.Moreover,wehavealsodemonstratedthatthe"AllisOne"philosophywhichtheypreachisfalse.

ConfrontedbyInescapableConclusions

Itisaffirmedbyalmosteveryonewhohasexperiencedcontactwiththemthattheseentitiesseemtohavearealexistenceoftheirown.CertainlythefollowersofvoodooorSanteria,whohaveexperiencedpossession,testifythatsomeseparateentityhastakencontrol.Moreover,notallpsychologistsseethesespiritguidesassimplygamesplayedbytheunconscious.ClinicalpsychologistandchannelerJoseStevensofBerkeley,California,isconvincedthattheentitiesthatspeakthroughhimhaveanindependentexistenceoftheirown.11WadeDavisbelievesintheirpower,havingexperienceditnotonlythroughwitnessingthephenomenonof

possessionbutbypersonalcontactwithhisowninnerguide.

MichaelHarnersuggeststhattheshamanictechniqueofvisualizingaspiritguideactuallyopensthedoorforanindependententitytorevealitself.Onemustnot"dismisssuchvisionsashallucinations,"Harnerwrites."Itisamentalformationvisualizedandexternalized,whichmayevenexistforatimeindependentofitscreator."12MedicalscientistAndrijaPuharich,holderofmorethan50patents,concludedafterextensiveresearchthatincreasingnumbersofpersonstodayaregettingintouch"withsomesourceoutsideofthemselves."Puharichconsiderstheseentitiestohavepowersfarbeyondhumancapabilities.Hewrites:

Iampersonallyconvincedthatsuperiorbeingsfromotherspacesandothertimeshaveinitiatedareneweddialoguewithhumanity....

WhileIdonotdoubt[theirexistence]...Idonotknowwhattheylooklike,howtheyliveorevenwhattheirgoalsarewithrespecttohumankind.13

Forthousandsofyearsshamansandmediumshavebeenconvincedoftherealexistenceoftheentitiescommunicatingwiththem.Onwhatbasisdothepsychologists,physicians,self-improvemententrepreneurs,andbusinessleaderswhohaveadoptedandpromotedthelong-establishedshamanictechniquesforcontactingthesesameentitiesdenytheirseparatereality?ThereisnoreasonotherthanwhatWilliamJamescalled"thepoweroffashioninthings'scientific'."ItisnolongerinvoguetoadmittheexistenceofpersonaldemonsorangelsorSatanorevenapersonalGod.However,aswehavealreadyseen,itistheheightofbothnaivetéandvanitytopretendthathumansaretheonlyintelligentlifeintheuniverse,orthatitwouldbeimpossibleforintelligencestoexistwithoutphysicalbodies—orthatnoneofthesebeingscouldpossiblybeevil.

Regardlessofdifferingspiritualorientations,weseemtobe

confrontedbycertaininescapableconclusions:1)Theentitiescommunicatingwithmankindareindependentnonhumanintelligenceswithnotonlyanexistenceoftheirown,butaparticularagenda;2)theylierepeatedlybothabouttheirownidentityandabouthumanpotential,tryingtoattributetheiractivitytosomepowerresidentwithinthehumanpsycheorwithinanallegedbutnonexistentuniversalmindorcollectiveunconscious.Thereismorethanenoughevidencetodemonstratethatthesebeingsaredeliberatelyseducingthosewithwhomtheymakecontact.Moreover,theirploy,aswehaveseen,issimplyacontinualreenactmentdownthroughhistoryoftheoriginalseductionofEvebySatan.

EveryoneisfreetoscoffatthestoryofEveandtheserpentpresentedintheBible.Nohonestperson,however,candenythattheidenticalofferofequalitywithGodistheveryheartofNewAgephilosophyandthegospelwhichtheentitiespreach.Clearlyeachofusfacestodaythesamedecisivechoiceofwhethertoacceptthisoffer(whichistheultimaterebellion)ortorejectit.

Ontheonehand,foranyhumantoimaginethatheorsheisorcouldbecomeGodwouldseemtobetrayitselfasaliebytheverymonstrosityofsuchanimposture.Yettheseductionisverydifficulttoresist.Thisisparticularlytrueofthosewhohaveactuallymadecontact.Theexperienceofmeetingtheseentitiesissoreal,andwhattheyofferinmanycasesseemssoinlinewiththegoodofhumanity,that,onceinitiated,apersonisconvincedthatheispartofasuperiorconsciousnessandfeelscompelledtoconvinceotherstoopenthemselvestothesamelife-changingtransformation.

Initiation:OpeningtheDoor

WadeDavistellsushow,asayoungmaninCanadaonaNorthAmericanIndianshamanic"visionquest,"hehadacquiredapoweranimalthatgainedforhimtherespectof"amalevolentsorcerer,"oneofHaiti'smostpowerfulandfearedbokors:

IexplainedtoMarcelthatIhadmy[power]animal,andthatwasthereasonIwasnotafraidofhim.ThatwaswhyIfearednoman.

OncethiscamecleartoMarcel,hebecamevisiblyexcited....LaterthatdayRacheloverheardhimexplainingtoseveralofhispeoplethatthisblancwasunliketheothersbecausehehadbeeninitiated.14

Theexperiencesevenofthosewhoclaimthatsuchentitiesaremerelysplitsoftheirownpsychesneverthelesssoundveryreal,andcontainSirJamesJeans'sthreecriteriaforrealitywhichwehavealreadydiscussed.Moreover,thereisaconsistentpatterninthewaythatnearlyallinitiatesarebroughtintothispantheisticworldview,whichthenbecomesthebasisfortheirnewholisticapproachtomedicine,psychotherapy,business,science,andlifeingeneral.BernieSiegellearnedhowtomakecontactfromoncologistO.CarlSimontonandpsychologistStephanieMatthews,whoachievedrenownthroughtheiruseofvisualizationinresearchwithcancerpatients.SiegeltellshowtheSimontons(wholearnedthetechniquefromJoseSilva,whointurnlearneditfromhisspiritguide)ledhim"inadirectedmeditationtofindandmeetaninnerguide":

Iapproachedthisexercisewithalltheskepticismoneexpectsfromamechanisticdoctor.Still,Isatdown,closedmyeyes,andfolloweddirections.

Ididn'tbelieveitwouldwork,butifitdidIexpectedtoseeJesusorMoses.Whoelsewoulddareappearinsideasurgeon'shead?

InsteadImetGeorge,abearded,long-hairedyoungmanwearinganimmaculateflowingwhitegownandaskullcap.Itwasanincredibleawakeningforme,becauseIhadn'texpectedanythingtohappen....

Georgewasspontaneous,awareofmyfeelings,andanexcellentadvisor.15

ProfessorMichaelRaytellsofhisinitiationintothemysticalrealm

thatbecametheframeworkforthebeliefshepresentsinthe"CreativityinBusiness"course.LikeFritjofCapra,whoembracedanewviewofphysicsthroughaHindumysticalexperience,Raycametoanewviewofbusinessinasimilarmanner.AfterbeingintroducedbyhispsychotherapisttotheSiddhaYogaofSwamiMuktananda(gurutomanyotherbusinessleadersandstarsoftheentertainmentindustry),Rayhadamind-blowingexperience.HetellswhathappenedwhenanassistanttoMuktanandaranapeacockfeatheracrossthe"thirdeye"inthecenterofhisforehead:

Isawaboltoflightning,likeapyramidoflight.Ibeganliterallybouncingoffthefloorandtrembling.Icried.Ifelttremendousenergy,love,andjoy.

WhatIhadexperienced,Ilaterlearned,hadbeenshaktipat,orspiritualawakeningofkundalinienergyinsideme[theserpentforcecoiledatthebaseofthespineawaitingreleasethroughanalteredstate].16

OnecouldeasilyequateRay'sexperiencewithwhatCastanedaandHuxleydescribeasoccurringthroughdrugs.HerbertBensonsaysthathisRelaxationResponse"acts,inaratherextraordinaryfashion,askindofadoortoarenewedmindandchangedlife."17Wehavealreadypointedoutthatthisalteredstateremovesallbasisforobjectiveevaluation,renderstheparticipantvulnerabletosuggestion,andisnottheconditioninwhichtoadoptnewworldviews.YetsuchmysticalexperiencesarethegluethatholdstheNewAgemovementtogether.

ItisonthebasisofsuchritesofinitiationthattheSeigels,Capras,Bensons,Korns,andSimontonshavebecomeevangelistsdedicatedtotransformingAmericaintoahigh-techshamanicsociety.Best-sellingauthorGeraldJampolskyhasbecomefamousforhisuseofACourseInMiraclesinhispsychiatricpracticeandinhisbooksandlecturesaroundtheworld.HetellshowhewaspreparedforthemessageoftheCoursethroughhisowninitiationwhenguruMuktanandaadministeredtheshaktipat:

...itseemedasthoughIhadsteppedoutofmybodyandwaslookingdownuponit.IsawcolorswhosedepthandbrilliancewerebeyondanythingIhadeverimagined.

Ibegantotalkintongues.AbeautifulbeamoflightcameintotheroomandIdecidedatthatmomenttostopevaluatingwhatwashappeningandsimplybeonewiththeexperience,tojoinitcompletely...IwasfilledwithanawarenessofloveunlikeanythingIhadknownbefore.

AndwhenIstartedreadingtheCourse,Iheardavoicewithinsay,"Physician,healthyself;thisisyourwayhome,"andtherewasacompletefeelingofonenesswithGodandtheUniverse.18

TheNewEvangelists

Therecanbenodoubtthatincreasingnumbersofleadersineveryareaofsocietyarehavingpowerfulreligiousexperiencesandthatasaresulttheyhaveacquiredapantheisticworldview.Theirliveshaveundoubtedlyundergonearemarkabletransformation.Suchindividualsarecertainlyentitledtohavewhateverexperiencestheydesire;andtheyarealsoentitled,intheirenthusiasm,tosharewithotherswhathashappenedtothem,andeventodoalltheycantopersuadeotherstoundergothesameshamanicriteofinitiationintotheworldofsorcery.Wewouldnotquestionthesincerityoftheseevangelists.Theyshouldnot,however,deceptivelypresenttheperennialocculticreligionofthespiritguidesasmedicine,psychology,self-improvementmethods,science,orsomethingotherthanwhatitactuallyis.Muchlessshouldtheyusehighlysuggestiblealteredstatesofconsciousnessforpersuadingotherstojointheirfaith.

Door-to-doorsalesmencouldmakeasaleineveryhouseontheblockifthepotentialcustomerswouldconsenttobeingledintoanalteredstateofconsciousness,aformofhypnosiswheretheyarehighlyvulnerabletosuggestion.Itisthroughtheinductionintosuchmentalstates,however,thatAmericaisbeingsubtlyconvertedtothereligionofshamanism—andbytheverypeoplewhoenjoythe

highestdegreeofpublicconfidence:itsphysicians,scientists,educators,psychotherapists,andclergymen.IncreasingnumbersofthesehighlyregardedprofessionalsareviolatingthepublictrustbydeliberatelyevangelizingwithEasternmysticismthosewholooktothemforhelpandguidance.Moreover,intheprocess,theseevangelistsofabasicallyHindugospeldenythattheyarepresentingreligiousbeliefsandassuretheirconvertsthattheycanembracethisnewfaithwithoutinanywaychangingtheirpresentbeliefsystem.HereishowBernieSiegd'sspiritguide,"George,"convincedhimtobecomesuchamissionary:

Iwasstilltoyingwiththeideaofacareerchange.WhenItoldhim["George"],heexplainedthat...Icoulddomorebyremainingasurgeonbutchangingmyselftohelpmypatientsmobilizetheirmentalpowersagainstdisease.

Icouldcombinethesupportandguidanceofaministerorpsychiatristwiththeresourcesandexpertiseofaphysician.Icouldpractice"clergery,"atermmywifecoined....

Georgesaid,"Youcangoanywhereinthehospital.Aclergymanortherapistcan't.Youarefreetosupplementmedicaltreatmentwithloveordeath-and-dyingcounseling,inawaythatnonphysiciansarenot."...

["George"]hasbeenaninvaluablecompanioneversincehisfirstappearance.19

TheeditorialintheWinter1987-88issueofShaman'sDrumdeclared:"Therearesignsthatcoreshamanismmaynowbetakingrootinmodernsociety...[including]modernmedicalsettings...[andeven]intheSovietUnion'sscientificcircles."Itmentionedinparticular"percussiveinstrumentsliketherattleanddrum,"whichareusedintrancedancing(aswehavealreadydiscussed)and"theemploymentofanimalalliesdiscoveredthroughjourneyinginalternaterealmsofconsciousness."WhythisgrowingacceptanceofanancientreligiouspracticeinsecularWesternsociety?Theeditorialexplainedthatshamanism"isnotconsideredareligion...

butamethod,empiricalinnatureratherthan'mystical,'andthereforemoreappealingtoasecular-orientedaudience."

Thiseditorialcanhardlybedismissedasshamansblowingtheirownhorn.AtarecentconferenceMarilynFergusontoldofhowtheNewAge"seemstobeeverywhere—kidsaretalkingabouttheirpastlives...publishersarehiringchannelerstoaidthemintheirbusinesses."AtthesameconferenceufologistKennethRinggaveanumberofreasonswhyhebelieveswearewitnessingthebeginningsof"theshamanizingofhumanity."20Manyotherastuteobserversofthecontemporaryscenearecomingtosimilarconclusions.InthelatestInstituteofNoeticSciencesbulletin,WillisHarmandeclares:

Wearelivingthroughoneofthemostfundamentalshiftsinhistory—achangeintheactualbeliefstructureofWesternindustrialsociety...allowingustorecapturetheinsightsofthousandsofyearsofexplorationofhumanconsciousness[i.e.shamanism]....

GuidancefromaSource"TooHightoQuestion"

ThesincereNewAgeevangelistsarepresentingtheoriesthatcan'tbesubstantiatedmedicallyorscientifically.Instead,weareassuredthatbyenteringanalteredstateofhighsuggestibility,cutofffromallobjectivecriteriaforevaluation,wewillexperiencethisnewtruthforourselves.Moreover,ourtrustedleaderswhopreachthisgospellearneditfrom"spiritguides"whoseidentityandallegedlypuremotivestheyhaveacceptedbyfaith.AsKlimopointsout,allofthechanneledentitiesinsistthattheinnerguidancetheyprovideiscomingfromasourcetoohighforustocheckout,andthereforewemustsimplyacceptwhatissaid,believethatitisforourowngood,andobeyit.

ItisamazinghowmanypersonswhowereraisedintheMoslem,Jewish,Catholic,orProtestantfaithandrebelledagainstauthoritativeordogmaticpronouncementsoftheirreligionneverthelessacceptunquestioninglyamessagefromthe"collective

unconscious"throughsomeexoticentitywithincredibleclaims(orevenfromtheallegedspiritofarelativerecentlydeceasedwhowaslessthaninfallibleuponearth).Brilliantmanthatheis,Puharichseems(likeSiegel,Jampolsky,Benson,Capra,etal)tohaveboughtthefarm.Hewrites:

ConsideringthatIhavehadtwoyearsofintermittentexperience[ofcontactwiththem],Iamremarkablyignorantaboutthesebeings.

OntheotherhandIhavecompletefaithintheirwisdomandbenevolentintentionstowardmanandlivingthingsonearth.Mylackofhardknowledgeaboutthemisthekindofdeficiencythatdoesnoterodemyfaithintheiressentialpursuitofthegood,thetrue,thebeautiful,andthejust.21

Unfortunately,somuchoftheinfluenceofthephilosophythattheseentitiespromotehasnotprovenouttobe"good,true,beautifulandjust."Therearemanypeoplewhohavebeendestroyed,orhavebarelyescapeddestruction,byapowerwhichatfirstseemedsobenevolent.Theyfoundthatthe"mindpower"theyworkedsohardtocultivatecouldnotberelieduponwhenneededmost,andthatiteventuallysoughttodestroythem.Inoneofhundredsofsimilarlettersreceivedbytheauthorsasaresultoftheirresearch,ayoungwomanwrites:

Irecallhowexcitingitseemedtobepartofaglobalfederationofyouth,givenanewvision,ofpeace,love,andbrotherhood,bondedbydrugsandmusic.

Itallseemedsonewandwonderfulgoingin.Comingoutwasanotherstory.Iwasfortunatetogetoutwithmymindintact,thoughittookmeyearstorecognizeandbefreedofthespiritualbondageI'dentered.

Otherfriendswerenotsolucky.Deaths,brokenmindsandspiritsweretheorderoftheday.IwasjustastraightBaptistkiddabblinginfunlikedrugsandformsofSatanismIdidn'trecognizethenbutdonow....

TodayIseeitforwhatitisandamamazedathowIwasdeceived

earlier.I'vetalkedwithotherfriendsandwehavelookedbackonitindisbelief,asifwe'dbeenhypnotizedforatime.

DougGloverisanotherofthethousandsofpeoplewhohavehadsimilarexperiences.AttheheightofhisinvolvementintheNewAgemovement,DougwasoneofAmerica'sleadingrebirthers.Hisstoryistoolongtorelate,withitsapparentlyunstoppablesuccessthatdisintegratedintoanightmareworldoffearandconfusion.Lookingback,Dougsays:

Rebirthingisapowerfulocculttechniquethatsomehavecalled"YogafortheWest."ItisinfactcloselyrelatedtoParamahansaYogananda'sKriyaYoga,andoneofthemostpopularbooksamongrebirthershasbeenYogananda'sAutobiographyofaYogi.

SomewhatlikeJungiandepthanalysis,rebirthingmakesitpossibletoseeminglypeelofflayersofconsciousnessmuchlikepeelinganonion,toeventuallygettothecoreofone'sbeingandreachthecovetedstateofSelf-realizationasagod.

Ithastobedoneagainandagain.Ibegantoseethatadeceptionwasinvolved,thatIwasbeingdrawneverdeeperintoconfusionandcontrolbyotherbeings.

InthefiveyearssinceIleftthemovementIhavestruggledtoregaintheabilitytothinkclearlyandbeunafraid.Iknowofotherswho,likemyself,havebeenleftdrainedandmentallyfoggedforyearsevenaftertheystoppedrebirthing.

AfterlengthyobservationoftheentireNewAgescene,Iamconvincedthatthesetechniques(rebirthing,Yoga,TM,visualizationofinnerguides,etc.)haveanintrinsicpowerinthemselves.TheyworkbecausetheyaredesignedspecificallytoblowopendoorsandknockdownbarriersthatGodhasplacedinthehumanspirittopreventatakeoverbydemonicbeingsthatIcametorealizearerealandverydestructive.22

GettingEveryonetoPlaytheMindGames

NooneisbetteratknockingdownthesebarriersandopeningthedoorsofperceptionthanJeanHouston.SheandRobertMasters

wrotetheclassicMindGamesin1972.Itisabooksodangerousthatbymerelyfollowingitsdirectionsonecaninduceanalteredstateofconsciousness.Consequentlyitcontains,throughoutitspages,periodiceye-catchingpatternswiththelargecaptionunderneath:WAKEUP!Thatwill,saytheauthors,"...takeyoubackintoyourordinarystate,yourculturaltrance,orwhatisdescribedsometimesasan'alert,normalwakingconsciousness'...thestateinwhichwealldreamthesamedream,moreorless,andcallit:reality."Theultimategoalistodelivertheentireworldfromthisdream,"untilwewillonedaylookbackastoundedattheimpoverishedworldofconsciousnessweonceshared,andsupposedtobetherealworld—ourofficiallydefinedanddefended'reality.'"23

ThechantingoftheHinduOMisaroutinepartofthepreparationprocessforplayingthemindgames.Theconnectiontoancientshamanismisbothadmittedandcultivatedthroughouttheexercises.Playersareeventakenbackindeeptrancetoexperiencereal-as-lifevisitationstotemplesinIndia,Tibet,andNepal,joiningthemonksintheirchantingandrituals.Inanothertrancethefollowingexperienceisorchestrated:

Andyou'regoingtocometoaclearing,whereaverypowerfulritualinvolvingchantinganddrummingisbeingperformedbyprimitivepeople.Thisisanextremelywildandelementalrite.

Youwillperceiveitfirstasaspectator,seeingthefireinthecenteroftheclearing,thenaked,glisteningbodiesdancing,hearing,resonatingtotheever-more-compellingbeatingofthedrumsuntilyourownbodyisthrobbingwiththatbeat,untilyouarecaughtupintheritual,feelinginyourbodywhatthoseprimitivepeoplearedoing,feelingjusteverythingtheyarefeeling,knowingeverythingtheyareknowing,astheydissolvetheindividualconsciousnessoftheparticipantsintheritual,creatingonecollectiveconsciousness.24

Thesearebutsamplesofthe"advancedstateofconsciousness"

thatMastersandHoustonwantustoadoptasawayoflifetoreplacetheordinaryconsciousnesswhichtheyconsiderinferior.Andifthoseofuswhoaretoooldandconservativetogoalongwiththenewgameoflifecan'tbeconverted,theyareconfidentthataspsychologiststheyhaveaccesstochildrenandyouththroughthepublicschoolsandcanaccomplishtheirgoalbythatmeans."Thereshouldandmustbemindgamesforpersonsofallages,"MastersandHoustondeclarewithmissionaryzeal,"includingsmallchildren,andinthefuturesuchmindgameswillberoutineineducationatalllevels."Thefulfillmentofthatambitionhasallbutbecomehistory.

Similargamesarenow,infact,routineatalllevelsofpubliceducation."Wizards"isarepresentativegameinuseinSouthernCaliforniapublicschools.Itissupposedtoteachspelling.Thevocabularyisunusual,tosaytheleast."Wizards"promotesdemonologyandsorceryandhumorouslyportraysSatanasagreatachieverandleader.MuchofthecreditforsuchinfiltrationofAmericanschoolswithmysticismandoccultismmustgotodedicatededucatorssuchasDeborahRozman,"apsychologyinstructorfortheSanLorenzoValley[California]adultschoolprogram[and]aneducationconsultanttomanyschooldistricts."Rozman'smethodsarepresentedinherbookMeditatingWithChildren:AWorkbookonNewAgeEducationalMethods,whichhasreceivedwidepraise.TheSanJoseMercurynewspaperdeclaredenthusiastically,"EducatorswhoonceturnedtoRitalinandotherdrugsforhyperactivechildren...arenowturningtodailymeditationexercisesinstead—withpositiveresults."

MeditatingWithChildrenisdedicatedto"theUniversalMotherofCompassionfoundinallnature"andto"ParamahansaYoganandaforsomeoftheexercisesandmuchoftheinspirationforwritingthisbook[and]aboveall...toTheOne...."Itsbasicpremiseis"theDivineNatureofChildhood,"anditsstatedpurposeistohelp"Childreneverywhere...evolvetowardstheirspiritualdestiny."ThebookisacompendiumofblatantHindureligioussymbolsand

practices,fromchantingtheOMandYogaexercisestoSelf-realization.YetEast-WestJournalnotonlypraisesRozman'sbookas"amongthemostenlighteningofthenewteachingbooks...awell-illustratedtoolofpracticalpsychology,"butastonishinglydeclares:"...theabsenceofareligiouspointofviewinthebookmakesthisvolumeanexcellentlearningvehicle."25

AcomparableworkbookdedicatedtoJesusChristandfilledwithChristiandoctrineandprayerswouldbeexcluded(andrightlyso)frompublicschools.YetRozman'sHinduhandbook(andmanylikeit)isacceptedandpraisedasnonreligious.Wearetoldthattheseparationofchurchandstateforbidscreationismtobetaughtevenasanalternatetheorytoevolution,yetpantheism'sAll-is-Oneiswelcomedbecauseitsupportsevolution.Itisastrangefactthat,particularlyintheWesternworld,orthodoxIslam,Judaism,andChristianityarereadilyidentifiableasreligion,whileHinduismandBuddhismmasqueradeasscience.

TheAmericanCivilLibertiesUnionwouldquicklyfilesuitagainstanypublicschool,governmentagency,ormajorcorporationthatpushedSouthernBaptistorCatholicorJewishbeliefsandritualsonitsstudentsoremployees.Thiswatchdogorganizationremainsstrangelysilent,however,whenHinduandBuddhistoccultismandotherformsofEasternmysticismorAmericanIndianshamanismarepromotedinthenameofsciencebypublicinstitutions.Nordoesthepublicatlargeseemtorecognizetheheavydosesofmysticismitisreceivingthroughthemedia.Asaresult,anEasternworldviewisnowalmosttakenforgrantedintheWesternworld.

Childrenarebeingbrainwashedintoashamanicworldviewnotonlyinourpublicschoolsbutthroughtelevisioncartoons,movies,comicbooks,toys,andgames.SciencefictionexertsapowerfulinfluenceforEasternmysticism.Oncelookeduponaspurefantasy,sci-finowhasalongtrackrecordofaccuratelyforetellingwhatlegitimatesciencewouldeventuallyaccomplish.Thusitsfantasticstoriesholdoutthepromise,particularlytoyouth,thatsimilar

exploitscanbeaccomplishedbyallthosewholearnthesecretofthe"Force."Thisinfluencebeginsataveryearlyage.ArecentissueofShaman'sDrumannouncedtriumphantly:

EverySaturdaymorningmillionsofkidsofallagesaretreatedtolessonsinshamanicpracticeonthe"Ewoks"cartoonshow,producedbyGeorgeLucasofStarWarsandRaidersoftheLostArkfame.

NearlyeveryshowinvolvesgoodEwokshamanLograydoingbattlewithhisarchenemyMorag,andthewordshamanisuseddirectly.Clairvoyantdreams,talkingtrees,magicalspells,amulets,andwisdomteachingsaregentlywovenintothisentertainingandpopularseries.26

Don'tDroptheShield

Thereisafascinatingcorrelationbetweenmanyofthetelevisionandcomicbookcharactersandthegodsanddemonsinclassicreligiousmythologyofthepast.UnlikeGrimm'sfairytales,however,today'smagicalfantasyisplacedinthecontextofscience,whichmakesitverybelievabletochildrengrowingupinaneraofspacetravelandcomputers,wheretheskyisnolongerthelimitandthedreamthatanythingispossibleseemstobeintheprocessofliteralfulfillment.Theseductionispowerfulandthevulnerablechildhasnosuspicionofwhatishappening.

Itshouldbeunderstoodthatwearenotreferringmerelytoideasorbeliefs,buttothecontactwithindependentanddeceitfulspiritualentitiesthatcomesasaresultofparticularpracticesbeingtaughtonalllevels.TheultimateparlorgamepresentedbyMastersandHoustoninvolvesthematerializationofanentitywhichtheycallthe"GroupSpirit."Itiscreated,theyinformus,bya"methodknownandpracticedforthousandsofyearsinTibet,wheresuchentitiesareknownasthought-forms,ortulpas."Whileitisdescribedas"anexpressionofthecollectiveconsciousnessofalloftheplayers,"theGroupSpiritcannotbeexplainedinthatmanner.Itcanbeseen,

heard,andtouchedbymembersofthegroupandinresponsetoquestionspresentsanswersfromasourceofknowledge"inaccessibleto[theplayers]byanyothermeans."

Whilepushingthepsychological"collectiveunconscious"explanation,MastersandHoustonsuggestthepossibilityofsomethingmorethanthat.Theyremindusthat"manyofthebestscientificmindsofourtime...holdittobecompletelyreasonabletosupposethatintelligentlifeexistsinmanyplacesthroughouttheuniverseatthispresenttime...[perhaps]indimensionswhichoverlapourownspace-time,and...insomewaysandplaceswehavenoteventhoughtabout.Moreover,itisalsoquitepossiblethatsomeoftheselifeforms...cancommunicatewithus...."Infact,theyagreewithDougGlover'sstatementthatshamanictechniquesarespecificallydesignedtoknockdownnaturalbarrierstotheinvasionofhumanpersonalitybytheseentities.Theywrite:

...theverybestwayandperhapsforthepresenttheonlyway[ofcontactwiththeseentities]iswithinthecontextofanalteredstateofconsciousness.

Andthismaybetrueforthereasonthatwithinthatrangeofstateswethinkofasnormal,consciouscontactwiththeseotherlifeformshasbeenmadeimpossiblebysomekindofshieldingagainstit....

Byalteringconsciousnesswesometimesdroptheshield,andthecontactsbecomepossible.27

Itisourcontentionthatratherthanbeingrepresentationsofthecollectiveunconscious,thepreponderanceofevidencedemandstherecognitionthattheentitiesproducedbyshamanictechniques(fromUlene's"Corky"toSiegel's"George"),areformstakenbydemonicspiritsthatexistintheirownrightandindependentlyfromhumanconsciousness.Wealsobelievethatbecauseofwhotheseentitiesactuallyare,nooneshouldever"droptheshield."YetMastersandHouston(likesomanyothers)promisethatifyou"trusttheguideandhaveconfidenceintheabilityoftheguidetoprotectyou,thenyouwillbesafefromharm."Itsoundshauntinglylike

somethingthedisguisedwolfmightreassuringlywhispertoLittleRedRidinghood.

[16]ImportantDistinctionsKarlMarxpredictedthatreligionwouldsoondie.Marxisdead,

andreligionismorealivethaneverbeforeeventhoughMarx'sfollowershaveimprisonedandmurderedmillionsofpeopleintheprocessofliberatingthemassesfromtheharmful"opiate"ofreligion.Ineverycorneroftheworld—ineverycultureandateverylevelofsociety—onecomesface-to-facewiththecompellingpowerofbeliefinsomehigherpowercontrollinghumandestinyandthecompulsiontostrikeaself-servingbargainwiththatforce.Inspiteofcomputersandspaceexplorationandcommunicationsatellites,neitherthegodsnortheritualshavechanged.

OntheroofgardenofafashionableIstanbulhotel,wealthybusinessmen(whoalsoregularlyprayinIslam'stime-honoredway)consultaspiritualistattheirmonthlymeeting,whileathometheirwives"read"thecoffeegroundsleftintheircups.BotharepracticesforbiddenbyIslam.InRomania,topCommunistofficials,inspiteoftheofficialstanceagainstfortune-telling,secretlyconsultantIndianYogi,whomtheyhavebroughtintothecountryaspartofacircus.InBeverlyHills,anattorneyandhiscollegeprofessorguestandtheirwivesrestfingerslightlyonanempty,overturnedwineglassafterdinnerandwatchexpectantlyasitisimpelledacrossthetablebysomeunseenpower,inresponsetotheirearnestquestions.InNewYork,drivenbythesamecompulsion,asuccessfulWallStreettraderconsultshisastrologertodeterminewhentobuyorsell.

Aftertheritualdancinganddrumbeatinghavestopped,aLuotribewitchdoctorinKenya,withtheapprovaloftheUnitedNationsWorldHealthOrganization,listenscarefullyasancestralspiritsspeakthroughthemouthsofpatientsindeeptrance.Atthesametime,onLongIslandanEpiscopalpriestandseveralofhisparishionersholdaseancetocommunicatewithdeadrelativesin

ordertoseekadvicefromthosewhohadlittlewisdomuponearthbuthavesomehowbecomeall-knowingsincereachingthe"otherside."InthesteamytownofRecifeinnorthernBrazil,Orishagodsandgoddesses,importedfromNigeriaandDahomey,andnowcalledbythenamesofCatholicsaints,takeviolent"possession"ofparticipantsinaMacumbaceremony.Faraway,atMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,aPh.D.candidateinsolidstateelectronicswithanopenIChingbookonhislapsolemnlydrops12yarrowsticksandstudiestheresultantpattern.Heisseekingguidanceforamajordecisioninhislife.NearbyatHarvard,achemistryprofessormeditatesbeneathamail-orderpyramid.AnddeepintheAmazonjungle,nativesdrinkingyagepreparedfromthebanisteriacaapivineslipintoanalteredstateofconsciousnessandbegintodescribeeventstakingplaceatthatverymomentinadistantvillage.

InTibet,lamascarryon,insecret,ancientpracticesnowforbiddenbytheChinese:Spiritmediumstransmitthemessagesofgods,demons,andthedead,whilethenaljorpafeastoncorpsesoftheenlightenedinordertoincreasetheirownpsychicpowers,orengagedeadbodiesinamysticdanceclimaxedbysexualintercoursewiththespirit-animatedcorpses.OntheIslandofHawaii,akahunaengagesinasecrethunaritualtogaincontrolover"lifeenergy"forawealthyclientwhocarefullykeepshisconnectionwithnativereligionhiddenfromhisbusinessassociates.AndinHollywood,California,inanoccultbookstore,apairofteenagegirls,whoseparentstakethemeachSundaytofundamentalistChristianchurches,browsethroughtheparentallyforbiddenshelvesonwitchcraft,eagertodiscoverforthemselvesthepromisedpowers.

TwoSourcesof"Revelation"

Recognizableinalltheexamplescitedaboveisacommonphilosophicalfoundation:thepantheistic/naturalisticworldview.Thepersistenceofsuchbeliefsinthismodernageisremarkable

enough.Evenmoresignificant,however,istheconsistencyofbeliefandpracticethathasprevailedforthousandsofyearsineverycorneroftheearthwithout,inmanyinstances,anycontactbetweenisolatedorhostilepeoplesandwithinotherwisecompletelydissimilarcultures.Thatfactpointsinescapablytoacommon,intelligentsourcethattranscendstimeanddistance,andwhichhasthroughouthistorybeenuniversallyascribedtoancestralspiritsorgods,butwhichtheBibleidentifiesasSatanandhisminions.

Consideringalloftheevidencethatwehavereviewedtothispoint,thereareonlytwopossibleworldviews:chanceordesign,naturalismorsupernaturalism,pantheism/polytheismormonotheism.Neithercanbe"provedbyscience"anymorethancanloveortruthorconsciousness.Bothviewscomebyrevelationandmustbeacceptedorrejectedbyfaith.Thedifferingmanner,however,inwhichthesetwoopposingrevelationsarereceivedissignificant.

Theperennialphilosophyisarevelationthatconsistentlycomesinalteredstatesofconsciousness,whenoneiscutofffromanybasisformakinganobjectiveevaluation.Itoftencomesondrugsorindeepmeditationorunderhypnosisorasasuddeninsightwhilerevelinginnature.Italsocomesasdirectteachingfromthechanneledentities,whethertheycallthemselvesspiritguides,spiritsofthedead,ascendedmasters,spacebrothersinUFO's,orarchetypalsymbolsfromthecollectiveunconscious.Thereisnowaytochecktheidentityandreliabilityofthesource,andthereisconsiderableevidencethatatleastonoccasionitlies.

Supernaturalism/monotheismcomesthrougharevelationwhichiscontainedintheBible.Ithasexistedasawrittenrecordforthousandsofyearsandhasbeensubjecttocarefulscrutinyandcriticismbybothbelieversandcritics.Incontrasttothescripturesofotherreligions,theBiblespeaksofverifiablehistoricevents,places,peoples,andnations.Italsocontainspropheciesinvolvingrealplacesandevents,manyofwhichhavealreadybeenfulfilledand

allofwhichcanbechecked.Incontrast,otherscriptures,suchastheHinduVedas,theBaghavad-Gita,orRamayana,areclearlymythologicalaccounts,ofwhichthereareconflictingversions.

ThepromiseofacomingJewishMessiahisaprimeexampleofabiblicalprophecy.Therearemorethan300referencesintheOldTestamentgivingtheplaceandmannerofhisbirth,life,anddeath.EventhedaytheMessiahwouldtriumphantlyenterJerusalem,hailedbytumultuouscrowds(nowcelebratedbyChristiansasPalmSunday),andhiscrucifixionafewdayslater,wereprophesiedhundredsofyearsinadvance.1MillionsofformerskepticshavebeenconvincedthattheseprophecieswereliterallyfulfilledinJesusofNazareth.

TheJewishpeoplethemselvespresentanastonishingevidenceofthevalidityoftheBible.WhentheyfirstenteredthelandofPalestine,Mosesmadearemarkableanddetailedprophecy:IftheIsraelitesfellintothesameoccultpracticesasthenationstheyweredisplacing(sorcery,mediumship,hypnosis,anddivination,whichwereanabominationtoGod),theywouldbescatteredacrosstheearthinjudgment.Mosesalsoforetold,asdidnumeroussubsequentHebrewprophets,thatin.the"lastdays"priortotheMessiah'ssecondcomingIsraelwouldbegatheredonceagainintoherland.2TheseeventsarehistoryandstandaspowerfulevidencetothevalidityoftheBible—evidencethatanyonetodaymayexamineforoneself.

Neverhasanyothernationremainedidentifiableafter2500yearsofdispersiontothefourcornersoftheworld,muchlessreturnedtoitsformerhomelandtobecomeanationonceagain.Moreover,thatthisseeminglyworthlesspieceofdesertandswamp,abandonedforcenturies,shouldnotonlybeinhabitedagainbythedescendantsoftheancientIsraelitesandbecomefruitfulandprosperous,butthatthistinynationshouldbecomethefocusoftheentireworld'sattention,isagainincredible.Yetthisisexactlywhatprophecyafter

prophecyintheBibleboldlydeclared,andinourdayithascometopass.

ThestaggeringfulfillmentofsuchpropheciesauthenticatestheBibleasthewritingsofnootherreligionhaveeverbeenauthenticated.Onewouldexpectthatthehumanracewouldchoosetobelievetherevelationthatissupportedbysuchevidence,ratherthanthegrandiosepromisesofgodhoodcomingfromdeceitfulspirits.Itseemsclear,however,thatrevelationisacceptedorrejectedmoreonthebasisofitsappealthanbyitsfactuality.ThebiblicalgospelthatcallsmankindintoaccountforitsrebellionagainstGodhasneverbeenpopular.Theopposingrevelationofpantheism/naturalism,however,hasalwaysheldastrongappeal.Itpanderstoournaturaldesiretocreateourownrealityandtherebycontrolourowndestinyandbeaccountabletonoonebutourselves.

Israelwaswarnednottoattempttocontactthe"spirits"thatspokethroughmediumsandmanifestedthemselvesintrance(nomatterhowinduced).AccordingtotheBible,theseentities,whichstillseduceinourday,areevilspiritsbentupondeception,whethertheymasqueradeasspiritsofdeadrelativesorascendedmastersorwhateverelse.Whetheronewishestoheeditornot,thecounselofthegreatHebrewprophetIsaiahandthewarningofcomingjudgmentspokentoIsrael2700yearsagoseemremarkablyrelevanttoday:

Sowhyareyoutryingtofindoutthefuturebyconsultingwitchesandmediums?Don'tlistentotheirwhisperingsandmutterings.Canthelivingfindoutthefuturefromthedead?WhynotaskyourGod?

"Checkthesewitches'wordsagainsttheWordofGod!"he[God]says."Iftheirmessagesaredifferentthanmine,itisbecauseIhavenotsentthem;fortheyhavenolightortruthinthem."

Opleasure-madkingdom,livingatease,braggingasthegreatestintheworld—listentothesentenceofmycourtuponyoursins.You

say,"IaloneamGod!..."Thatiswhydisastershallovertakeyousuddenly—sosuddenlythatyouwon'tknowwhereitcomesfrom.Andtherewillbenoatonementthentocleanseawayyoursins.

Calloutthedemonhordesyou'veworshipedalltheseyears....Youhaveadvisorsbytheton—yourastrologersandstargazers,whotrytotellyouwhatthefutureholds.Buttheyareasuselessasdriedgrassburninginthefire.Theycannotevendeliverthemselves!You'llgetnohelpfromthematall.3

ASocietyofSorcerers

Forthepast200years,scientificmaterialismhassoughttodiscreditrevelationsfromeitherGodorspiritentitiesbydenyingtheexistenceofaspiritworld.Yetbeliefinspiritualpowerandthevarioussorceriesfosteredbythatbeliefhaspersisted.Andnowthereisanexplosiverevivalofancientoccultbeliefsandpracticesinthenewwrappingsofanthropologicalandpsychologicaleuphemisms,whichhavegivensorcerythepseudoscientificrespectabilityrequiredforpopularacceptanceinourday.

ThepossibilityofpossessingthegodlikemindpowerspromisedbyNewAgehuman-potentialgurusisaveryseductiveidea,butonlysolongasoneimagineshavingthispowerexclusivelyforoneself.Therealization,however,thatthesamemindpowerwouldbeavailabletoothersaswellturnsthisdreamintoanightmare.Lifewouldbecomeaterrifyingstruggleofanentiresocietyofsorcererscompetingwitheachothertoseewhosepowerwasthestrongest.InsteadofGodbeinginchargeofhisuniverse,therewouldbebillionsoflittlegodsshufflingaroundrealitybythepowerofbelieftosuitindividualtastes.Insteadofthepromisedparadise—chaos.

Imaginethescenario:everymindopentobereadorinfluencedbyothers,andafreeflowofclairvoyantimageswithnobarriers.Nophysicalormentalprivacy.Psychicmightmakesright,andmindpoweristheonlylaw.Nomoralconscience,norightorwrong.Andevenifsuchconceptswereacknowledged,therewouldbeanutter

impossibilitytoplaceresponsibility.Forexample,anautorunsuponthesidewalkandkillsseveralpeople.Thedriver'sdefenseisthathiscarhadcomeunderthecontrolofanenemywhosesorceriesweremorepowerfulthanhisown.Aninvestmentadvisororcorporatepresidentmakesdisastrousdecisions,butheclaimsthatarivalhadputahexonhim.Howcoulditbeprovedotherwise?

Forapracticalexampleofwhatsuchasocietyproduces,oneneedonlylookattheterrorwhichgripsthemembersofthoroughlyshamanizedprimitivecultures.TheseexistnotonlyintheAmazonjunglestoday,butin"civilized"countriessuchasHaiti,wherevoodooisanever-presentterrorinspiteoftheclaimthatitisusedonlyforgood.Theabilityofnaturalism/pantheismtodominateapresumablymonotheisticsocietyisseeninthecommonexpressionthat"Haitiis85percentCatholicand110percentvodoun."ThefutilityofoppositionfromtheCatholicChurchcanbeseeninthefactthateveryvoodooceremonybeginswithaCatholicprayer—thenproceedsinamannerthatunderminesChristianity.

IfitseemsfarfetchedthatsimilarconditionscouldexistinAmerica,rememberthatmillionsofeagerNewAgersareinvolvedinthepursuitofthesameshamanicpowersthroughscoresofself-improvementcoursessuchaswehavediscussed,andthroughthepopularizationofwitchcraftbyvariousothermeansinmodernaswellasancientform.ConsiderwhatishappeningnowinthesophisticatedandveryAmericanHawaiianIslands.Thecurrentrevivalofnativereligion,whichisbeinghailedastherecoveryoflosttradition,hasbroughtintotheopenwitchcraftpracticesthatsurvivedinsecretunderathinveneerofprofessedChristianityandnowthreatentoexplode.Inarecentinterview,afollowerofnativeHawaiianreligion(whohadbeenspeakingfreelyuptothatpoint)wasaskedtogiveanexampleofthereviveduseof"evilspells."Therewasalong,uncomfortablehesitation.Atlasttheworshipercriedout:

Icannot!I'mterrifiedofit.Nobodytalksaboutthereligion.

HawaiiansarestillbeingprayedtodeathbyotherHawaiians.4

DeeperintotheMaelstrom

Somethingsimilar,thoughundermanydifferentnames,ishappeningacrossAmerica,particularlyinhermajorcities.Thereareanestimated500,000followersofvoodooinNewYorkalone.TheLosAngelesTimesMagazinerecentlydidafeaturestoryontheriseofSanteriainSouthernCalifornia,whereasocietyofsorcerersisemergingandplayinganincreasinglyvisiblerole.ThestatementofMonifeBalewa,afollowerofSanteria,wastypicalandgaveafrighteninginsight:

IhavebeenpossessedbyOshun,andI'veprayedthatitnothappenagain.It'susuallythedrumthatbringsiton.Thelasttime,Idon'trememberwhathappened,butI'vebeentoldIjumpedoutasecond-storywindow.Ilosta$250watch,andmadeastatementthatapersonwoulddiebecauseofdisrespect.Oshuncanbeverysternandcorrect.Aweeklater,thatpersondied.5

AnotherfollowerofSanteriadeclaredwithconsiderablefear,"I'mafraidofwhatwouldhappenifImessedup.Amistakecankillyou."Givingsomeindicationofthegrowinginfluenceofthisreligionaroundtheworld,thearticlereportedthat"thewinneroftheNobelPrizeforLiteraturein1986,WoleSoyinkaofNigeria,isabelieverintheYorubagods.Mostofhisworksareabouttheorishas[Santeriaspirits]....ItisthemajorityreligioninBrazil,inHaiti,inCuba."

ASanteriapriestnumbersamonghisclientsintheLosAngelesSouthBayarea"doctors,lawyers,businessexecutivesaswellaslaborers."Hesays,"Therearehundredsandhundredsofpeoplewholivearoundherethatareintothis.Youwouldbesurprised,typical,blondhair,blue-eyedAmericans....ThereareSanterosallover."6Onepoliceofficersaidthathepersonallyknewof"policeofficersinMiami,Chicago,NewYorkandLosAngeleswhopracticesomeformofSanteria."7

Thecriminals,too,aretappingthesamesourceofpowertotheiradvantage.DrugdealerspaySanteriapriestshugesumstoobtaintheprotectionofthegods.SergeantRichardValdemaroftheLosAngelesSheriff'sDepartment,whoworkswithgangsinEastLosAngelesandcallsSanteria"asataniccult,"declares:

IbelieveoccultreligionslikeSanteriahelpcertaingangmemberscommitcriminalacts....Theybelievetheirdemongodprotectsthemfromanyharmthatcouldpossiblyhappen,evenfrombullets.Withthatkindofbelief,theydothingstheywouldn'tnormallydo.8

Evenwithouttheactualacquisitionofthepowersofsorcery,theproblemscanbeextremewhereitisonlyimaginedthatsuchpowersarepossessed.Thereisagrowingnumberofvictimsofminddynamicsandotherself-improvementcourseswhothoughttheyweregaining"personalempowerment"butlostcontrol.WiththeacceleratingshamanizationofAmericathatnumberwillcontinuetoincrease.AttorneyGeraldRagland,whorecentlywonan800,000dollarjudgmentforclientDeborahBinghamagainstLifespring(aderivativeofWernerErhard'sest),hasanumberofothercasespending.Amongthemarethefollowing,whichgivesomeinsightintotheseriousproblemsthatariseunderthedelusionthataparanormal"power"isavailableforustotapintoandusetoourownends:

Awomanwho,drivinghomefromthe[Lifespring]training,believedshecouldcontrolthetrafficlights;amanwhoshowedupforthelastdayofbasicconvincedthatLifespringwantedhimtotakeoverthetraining;andamanwho,afewdaysafterthetraining,thoughtGodwastellinghimtosacrificehisbabyson.9

ItshouldbecleartoeventhemostskepticalobserverthatasweepingmovementistakingAmericansocietyintoanever-deeperinvolvementinshamanismandmysticism.Whatisnotgenerallyrecognized,however,isthatthistransformationofWesternbeliefsandcultureundertheinfluenceofEasternreligions(principallyHinduismandBuddhism)hasnotcomeaboutbychance,butby

deliberateplanninganddiligenteffort.

EvangelistsfromtheEast

Therehasbeenmuchcriticism,someofitnodoubtjustified,oftheWesternmissionarieswhowenttoAfrica,China,andIndiatospreadthemessageofChristianityandintheprocessWesternizedothercultures.Instrangecontrast,therehasbeenlittleornocriticismofBuddhistandHindumissionarieswhohaveaggressivelypushedtheirreligionuponanunsuspectingWesternworld.Inournaivetéweimaginethattheinvadinggurus,Yogis,swamis,andlamasarenotmissionariesatallandhavenointerestinconvertingotherstotheirfaith.

ItcomesasagreatsurprisetomostWesternerstolearnthatthelargestmissionaryorganizationintheworldisIndia'sVishvaHinduParishad(VHP).Itsconstitutionstatesthatitsprimarypurposeis"toestablishanorderofmissionaries,bothlayandinitiate,[for]thepurposeofpropagatingdynamicHinduism[represented]...byvariousfaithsanddenominations,includingBuddhists,Jains,Sikhs,Lingayatsetc.[andtospread]...spiritualprinciplesandpracticesofHinduism...inallpartsoftheworld...."NoneoftheVHPpublications,thoughproducedinmassivequantity,areavailableinbookstoresorlibrarieseveninIndia.TheVishva'soperationsaresosecretthatevenmostIndiansarenotawareofitsexistence.

TheVishva-sponsored1979WorldHinduConferenceinAllahabad,India,waschairedbytheDalaiLamaofTibetanBuddhism.AgainmostWesternerswouldbesurprisedbythiscloseconnectionbetweensuchseeminglyrivalreligionsasHinduismandBuddhism.Theconference's60,000participantsweretoldthattheVHP'sgoalofthedestructionofChristianityandtheestablishmentofHinduismastheworldreligionwasmovingforwardsuccessfully.

WhyisChristianitysingledoutastheenemy,whenwehavenotedallalongthattheBibleofJews,Moslems,andChristiansopposesthepantheistic/naturalisticworldview?Theanswerno

doubtliesinthefactthattheJewishandIslamicviewofthesescripturesputstheburdenuponmankindtosaveitself—whichinthatrespectisinagreementwiththeperennialphilosophy.Christianity,ontheotherhand,isbaseduponthebeliefthatChristhadtodosomethingforusthatweourselvescouldnotaccomplish.AstheonlyviablealternativetoNewAgeshamanism/pantheism,Christianitymeritsacarefulandunbiasedevaluation.

Aspartofthemostmassivemissionaryeffortinhistory—aimeddirectlyagainstChristianity—everyguruwhohascometotheWest(fromMaharishiMaheshYogitoBhagwanShriRajneeshtoBabaMuktananda)wassentherebyhisguruspecificallytowinconvertstotheHindu/Buddhistpantheisticfaith.Yogananda,forexample,whowasoneoftheforerunnersofthismassevangelismcampaign,personallyinitiatedmorethan100,000disciplesintoKriyaYoga.MaharishiMaheshYogihasinitiatedmillions.YettheHindu/BuddhistmissionariesallprotestthattheyarenotteachingreligionbutthescienceofYoga,health,andhigherstatesofconsciousness.Thatthissubterfugeisacceptedanddefendedshouldstretchthethinkingindividual'scredulitytoitsouterlimits.

Wecanregisternolegitimatecomplaintagainstthosewhoseektosharewithotherswhattheysincerelybelievetobeimportanttruth.However,thoseclaimingtorepresenttruthshouldnotmisrepresenttheirpurposeortheirproduct.WehavealreadymentionedtheploysoftheMaharishi,includingthesolemnavowalthattranscendentalmeditationhasnothingtodowithreligion,wheninfactitisunadulteratedHinduismfrombeginningtoend.TheotherrepresentativesofEasternreligionshavebeensimilarlyguilty.AcomparabledeceptionwouldbefortheCatholicPopeinhistravelsaroundtheworldtopretendthatherepresentedanorganizationofgreatscientistsinsteadofachurch,andtodenyspecificallythathismissionhadanythingwhatevertodowithreligion.Hewouldbesoundlycondemned—yettheYogisandlamasarelaudedinspiteofsuchdeceit.

TheHindu/BuddhistworldviewisnowtakenforgrantedatalmosteverylevelofWesternsociety.OnecanonlyimaginethehueandcrythatwouldberaisedifChristianmissionariesattemptedasimilarfeatinIndia.Itsimplywouldnotbeallowed.Infact,thatcountryhasexcludedforeignmissionariesfromenteringitsborderssinceshortlyafteritgainedindependence.YetIndia'smissionariesarebeingsentouttothewholeworld,protestingtheirtoleranceforallreligionsanddeliberatelydenyingtheirtruemission.ThisabsoluteintoleranceposingasthemostgeneroustoleranceisoneofthemostfrustratingfeaturesofNewAgeshamanism.

TheEmbraceThatSmothers

The"opennesstoeverything"thatresultsinanunacknowledgedclosed-mindedness(which,asAllanBloomsoablypointsout,isthebaneoftoday'srelativisticsociety)hasitsrootsinHindudoctrine.If"AllisOne,"andifeventheAllisanillusionofthemind,thennothingreallymatters.Oppositesareidenticalandevencontradictorybeliefshavethesamemeaning.ThisattitudeisendemictoEasternphilosophyandrevealsitselfinmanyways.Forexample,WilliamDivine,chairmanoftheCaliforniaAcupunctureAssociation,recentlydeclared:

Orientalmedicineislikethat.Youcouldbringonepatientin,fivedifferentpractitionerscouldlookathimandcomeupwithfivedifferentdiagnoses,andnobody'swrong.10

InEasternreligionstherecanbenorightorwrong,andaswehaveseen,thisisthemessageofthespiritentities.Onthebasisofwhat"Ramtha"hassaid,J.Z.KnightdeclaresthatwecanbedeliveredfromtheideaofajudgmentalGodbyunderstandingthat"thereisnosin,thereforenoreasonforguilt."11Ofcourse,ifnooneiswrong,thennooneisrighteither.Indeed,theverythoughtthatsomeonemightclaimtoberightisanathemaintoday's"anythinggoes"society.AsWadeDavisinsistedduringaninterviewonthenationallysyndicatedGeraldotalkshowofMarch22,1988:"...

thereisnosuchthingasrightorwronginreligion...that'swherewarscomefrom."Sothosewhodenyany"rightorwrong"neverthelessself-righteouslycondemnaswrongthosewhodisagreewiththem.

OnApril18,1988thefrontcoverofTimefoldedouttorevealatwo-pageVolkswagenadvertisement.Alongwiththeadwereanothertwopagescontainingthe"Secondinaseries"ofVW-sponsoredstatementsfrom"prominentfiguresinAmericanculture."Itwastitled,"ALETTERTOTHENEXTGENERATIONFROMGENERODDENBERRY,thecreatorofStarTrek."Describingtheuniverseasa"giganticlife-andintelligence-creatingmachine,"Roddenberrypresentedthesamenaturalism/pantheism/scientismwehavediscussed.Thefollowingsentencewastheclimaxofhismessage:

ThosewhoinsisttheirsistheonlycorrectgovernmentoreconomicsystemdeservethesamecontemptasthosewhoinsistthattheyhavetheonlytrueGod.

Posingasananti-bigot,Roddenberrypromotestheultimatebigotry.Heisverytolerantofanyreligionsolongasitdoesnotclaimtoberight,aqualitywhichhisbrandofbroad-mindednessrefusestoallow,eventodenyinganydistinctioninfallibilitybetweenpoliticaloreconomicsystemsandGod.Asforthelatter,Roddenberrygenerouslytoleratesbeliefinfalsedeities,butallowsnoonetobelieveinthetrueGod,forhisliberalismexcludestheverypossibilityoftheexistenceofaSupremeBeing.

Thisdenialofdistinctionsistheworstkindofnarrow-mindednessbecauseitmasqueradesasbroad-mindedness.Itisfurtherexemplifiedinthepersonwhopurportstoagreewitheveryoneandinsiststhateventhewidestdifferencesareonlyamatterof"semantics."Ironically,suchprofessedtoleranceofotherviewpointsdestroysthem,notbyafrontalassault,butsimplybyrefusingtoacknowledgethoseviewpointsforwhattheyare.Anantagonistwhodisagreesandiswillingtodiscusstheissuesisworthyofmore

respectthantheonewho,inhisbroad-mindeddesiretoembraceeverythingandrejectnothing,deniesthatthereareanyissues.

Imaginethechaosifpharmacistsormedicaldoctorstooktheattitudethat"AllisOne,"thatthereisnodifferencebetweencyanideandaspirin,thatapersonwhoneededhistonsilsremovedwouldbejustaswellservedbyhavinghisheartorlungsremoved.Yetthisistheprevailingattitudetodaywhenitcomestoethicsormoralsorreligion,asthoughinthefleshlymattersoflifewemustinsistupontruth,butwhenitcomestothesoulandourrelationshiptoGod,anythinggoes.

Tomanypeoplesuchan"everybody-wins"attitudeistheonlydecentwaytogo.Butif"loser"istobedroppedfromourvocabulary,then"winner"mustgoaswell.Frustratedwithprogramsputforthbythepsychologyprofessiontosolvesocialproblems,butwhichatthesametimeholdnooneaccountableforbeingwrong,T.H.FitzgeraldwroteinanAHPPerspectivearticle:"...ifpeoplearenotresponsiblefortheiracts,whatimplicationsdoesthathaveforallourothervalues?"Ofcoursetherecanbenovalues.Fitzgeraldstatedtheproblemclearly:

ThesenseIstillgetaroundAHPis...thateverybodyissomehowright"fromtheirperspective"becausetherecanbenoultimatearbiter.DennisJaffewrites…abouttheSearchforExcellence,butifthereistobeExcellence,musttherenotalsobeNon-Excellence,andwhatdowesaywhenwemeetitontheroad?...Eventhelanguageforthediscussionofmoralissueshasbeencorruptedbypsychologicalcantandthevocabularyofpositivistscientism.12

Oneofthemostcommonexamplesofthisabsoluteintolerancethatposesastotaltoleranceisfoundinthewell-knownaphorism,mostoftenusedinreferencetoreligion:"We'realltakingdifferentroadstogettothesameplace."Whilethatdeclarationsoundsbroad-mindedtoafault,itclearlyrepresentstheultimateinnarrow-mindedness.Although"differentroads"areseeminglytolerated,theyarenotallowedtoleadtodifferentplaces—everyonemustgo

tothe"sameplace."Somuchforthetoleranceembodiedinthisallegedlybroad-mindedprinciple.

ItisbysuchsophistrythatHinduismhasgaineditsreputationfortolerancetowardallreligions.Hinduismdoesindeedembraceallfaiths,butintheprocesstheyareabsorbedintoHinduismthroughthe"embracethatsmothers."WhatevertheHinduinhisproverbialbroad-mindednessseemstoacceptlosesitsformeridentityandisrecastinaHindumold.Thisnewconceptisthenpassedoffasanimprovement.Thusanacceptancebecomes,ineffect,adestructivemetamorphosis.

Hinduismisquitewilling,forexample,toembraceChrist.Afterall,with330milliongods,addingonemorechangesnothing.Ofcourse,Jesusisnotacceptedforwhoheclaimedtobe—theoneandonly"way,truth,andlife."HebecomesmerelyanotherHinduavatar,anotherincarnationofVishnu.ThusinembracinghimHinduismdestroystheJesusoftheBibleandcreatesitsown"Christ."Certainlyeveryoneisfreetorejecthim,butHinduismpervertsChrist'sclaimsunderthepretenseofembracinghim.ThisfalseembraceisnomorehonestthantherecentcynicalstatementattributedtoCubandictatorFidelCastro:"IneversawacontradictionbetweentheideasthatsustainmeandtheideasofJesus."

ConfusionandPerversion

NewAgeleaderBarbaraMarxHubbardprovidesafurtherexampleofthe"embracethatsmothers."Hubbardclaimstohavehadapowerful"born-again"experience,evenincludinganoverwhelmingsenseofthepresenceoftheresurrected"Jesus."Thewordshespoketoher,however,likethoseofthe"Jesus"whodictatedtheCourseInMiraclestoHelenShucman,areaverycleverperversionofwhatthebiblicalJesushadtosay.ThereisareinterpretationofmeaningswhicheffectivelydestroyshistoricChristianityandreplacesitwithaHindu/Buddhistpseudo-

Christianity.13

Thisiscynicismoftheworstsort.

AccordingtoHubbard,the"Christ"whospeakstoheris:"anevolutionarymutation...sprungoutofthegeneticpatternofHomosapienswithanenhancedcapabilitytoattunetotheGod-force."This"Jesus"communicatedtoHubbardapseudoscientificrehashinginmodernevolutionarytermsofthesamepantheism/polytheismthatthespiritguidesconsistentlypreach:"God"isauniversal,evolutionary"Force"thatis"notkind[and]doesnotcareforthefeelingsofindividuals."14

Arewenotjustifiedinconcludingthatthe"Jesus"whichHubbardandShucmanencounteredisnottheJesusChristoftheBibleatall,butaseducingspiritonlytooeagertoposeas"Jesus"whilepreachingtheHindu/pantheisticgospel?

InMindGames,MastersandHoustonequatetheChristianexperienceofbeing"bornagain"with"satori,""samadhi,""nirvana,"and"cosmicconsciousness."Theycertainlyareentitledtobelieveinandoffersuchexperiencestoothers,buttoassociatethemwithChristianityistobeguiltyofthemostflagrantperversion.JesusChristdeclaredthatthosewhoreceivedhimastheirSaviorandLord,believingthathehaddiedfortheirsins,wouldbe"bornoftheSpirit"intothefamilyofGod,becomingthechildrenofGodandreceivingeternallifeasafreegiftofGod'sgrace.Itisonthisbasisalonethatonecanbe"bornagain"intheChristianmeaningofthatterm.Certainly"satori,""samadhi,"etc.havenothingwhatevertodowithbelievinginJesusChrist,butaremysticalexperiencesachievedinalteredstatesofconsciousness.

HereonceagainChristianterminologyisadopted,butitsmeaningisimmediatelydestroyedbyequatingitwithHindu/BuddhistexperiencesthatareintheclearestoppositiontoChristianconcepts.Thisbroad-mindednessamountstoa

declarationthatthepeculiarlyChristiansignificanceofthesetermsisinsignificant,thattheycanbetakentomeananythingandthatanyothersubstitutewilldojustaswell.Tothinkotherwise,itisimplied,wouldbenarrow-mindedandunacceptabledogmatism.

Somehowthefreedomtochooseone'sownreligiousorspiritualremedy(whichcertainlyoughttobegranted)hasbecomeconfusedwiththeinsistencethatallremediesmustbeequal.Butifalltheoptionsofferedarethesame,thenthe"freedomtochoose"betweenthemismeaningless.Clearlythechoiceofremedyshoulddependuponthediagnosisoftheproblem;andinbothofthesenaturalismandsupernaturalismdifferradically—soradically,infact,thatareconciliationbetweenthemisimpossible.Foranyonetoattempttoglossoverthesedeepdifferencesasthoughtheyareofnoconsequenceisfundamentallydishonest.YetthisistheattitudeofmostNewAgers,anditresultsinconfusionandperversion.

TheBroad-MindedOppositiontoChristianity

ThemajorcomplaintleveledagainstChristianitybyNewAgersisthatitclaimstoberight,whichbyimplicationmeansthatotherreligionswhichdisagreearewrong.Christianity'svalidityoughttobedeterminedonthebasisofitstruthorfalsehood.Instead,however,itisrejectedforbeing"narrow-minded."Thatisanoddaccusation.CertainlythosewhoclaimthatnooneiseitherrightorwrongcannotlegitimatelyaccuseChristianityof"narrow-mindedness,"sincetheythemselves,byinsistingthatallroadsleadtothesameplace,arethemostdogmaticofall.Jesuswasnotsonarrow-mindedastoinsistthateveryone,thoughtakingdifferentroads,mustinevitablyarriveatthesamedestination.Hedeclaredthatthereweretwodestinations—heavenorhell—andthatnoonewasforcedtogotoeither.Eachone'sultimatedestinationisamatteroffreechoice.Foradecisionofsuchmagnitude,oneoughttobeascertainaspossibleofthefacts.

ChristianityisbasedupontheclaimsChristmadeabouthimself

andtheeyewitnessaccountsofhislife,death,andresurrectionasrecordedintheNewTestamentandverifiedbyOldTestamentprophecies—claimswhichJewsandMoslemsreject,therebyfurtheridentifyingtheirparticularoppositiontoChristianity.CertainlytheclaimsofChristareunique:thathewasGodcomeasaman(theonlysinless,perfectman)inordertodieforthesinsoftheworld,andthusthathewastheonlySaviorofmankind.NeitherBuddha,Mohammed,Confucius,noranyotherreligiousleadermadesuchclaims.Hisresurrection(notreincarnation)alsomarksChristasuniqueandisfoundationaltoChristianity.

OnemayjourneytoMeccatovisitthegraveofMohammed,orelsewheretovisitthetombsofothergreatsaintsandfoundersofreligions.ThegraveofJesusChrist,however,unlikeanyother,standsempty.Jesusclaimedtobemorethanateacherwhocametoshowthewaybyexampleandinstruction;heclaimedtobe"theway,thetruth,andthelife."Thusitisessentialnotjustthathisteachingsliveonbutthathehimselfbealiveandabletoimparteternallifetothosewhoreceivehim.

CertainlyChrist'sclaimsthatheisthetruthandtheonlywaytoGodnotonlystandalone,butindictallotherwaysasfalse.Everyoneisentitledtorejectsuchclaims,butitisacynicalperversiontosuggestthatJesuswasjustanotherguruteachingbasicallythesamethingasalltherest.CertainlyanyonefamiliarwiththeNewTestamentwouldimmediatelyrecognizesuchasuggestionaspreposterous.Ithas,however,gainedsomecredibilitythroughreportsthatChriststudiedinIndiaunderthegurusinordertoprepareforhismission.Thistheory,whichrepresentsthestrongestattackagainstChrist'suniqueclaims,isconsistentlytaughtbythechanneledentitiesandhasbeenpopularizedinvariousspeculativebookssuchasTheAquarianGospel.

JesusandtheGurus

Howdidsuchanideasurface?AcertainNicholasNotovitch,whiletravelinginTibetinthelate1800's,wasallegedlytoldbyTibetanlamasthatarecordexistedinaHimalayanmonasteryreportingthevisitofJesus.Intheearly1900'sanothervisitortoTibetwasallegedlytoldthesamething.However,noonecapableofreadingandtranslatingsuch"records"eversawthem,nocopywasbroughttotheWestforexamination,andnowthestoryisthatthe"records"havebeendestroyed.15

IftheBiblewerebaseduponnobetterevidencethanthat,thecriticswouldjustifiablyhaverippedittoshredslongago.

NotonlyistherenotaparticleofhistoricalevidencethatJesusevervisitedIndia,muchlessstudiedthere,butthistheoryisrefutedbyeverythingthatJesussaidanddidduringhisministry.TheNewTestamentaccount,whichholdstogetherconsistently,isnotcompatiblewithJesuseverbeingabsentfromIsraelforanyextendedperiodoftime.ThepeopleinhishometownofNazarethknewhimonlyas"thecarpenter,"notasaJewishMarcoPolo,andtheywereastonishedwhenhesuddenlybegantopreachandtravelaboutGalilee,accompaniedbygreatcrowds.TofamilyandneighborsitwasascandalforJesustotaketheguiseofareligiousteacher.Theytreatedhimwithacontemptbornoffamiliarity,notwiththeawetheysurelywouldhavegivenonewhohadtraveledwidelyandstudiedinsuchexoticlandsasIndiaandTibet.

Aswehavealreadynoted,everyguruwhocomestotheWestlaudsandhonorshisMaster,foreveryHindumusthaveaguru,includingthegurusthemselves.YetJesusneverreferredtohisguruortoanyreligiouswritingsexcepttheJewishScriptures,whichhequotedrepeatedly.Heclaimedtohavebeensentfromhis"Fatherinheaven,"atermunknowntothegurusandhatedbytherabbis.Thegurusclaimtobemenwho,throughYogaandasceticpractices,havebecome"Self-realized"gods.Jesus,incontrast,didnotclaimtobeamanstrugglingupwardtogodhood,butGodwhohadstoopeddowntobecomeaman.Thegurusdenytheexistence

ofsin,whereasJesussaidhehadcometocallsinnerstorepentandtosavethemfrometernaljudgmentbyhimselfdyingforthesinsofthewholeworld.

Thegurusareallvegetarians,whereasJesuswasnot.HeatethePassoverlamb,fedthemultitudeswithfish,andevenafterhisresurrectionatefishasademonstrationtohisdoubtingdisciplesthathewasbodilyresurrectedandnota"ghost"astheysupposed.Therehavebeenthousandsofgurus,butJesusclaimedtobetheoneandonlySonofGod.ThegurusteachthattherearemanywaystoGod,butJesusdeclared:"Iamthewayandthetruthandthelife;noonecomestotheFatherexceptthroughme."16

TheRequirementsofMoralLaw

TorejectChristiseveryperson'sright,butitisintellectualdishonestyoftheworstsorttoinsistthathisteachingsareperfectlycompatiblewithHindu-Buddhistpantheisticphilosophies.Thismustbeso,concludesonewriter,because"alltheNewAgersI'vemetloveJesusandBuddhaandKrishnaandanyone,regardlessofraceorlanguageorreligiouspreference...."17

TheideathatlovesomehowrendersthequestionoftruthandrightandwrongirrelevantisabasicfallacyunderlyingmuchoftheNewAge.Onthecontrary,genuinelovemotivatesonetocorrectafellowhumanbeingwhomoneperceivestobeinseriousandlife-threateningerror.

Oneofthemajorfallaciesinpantheismisthatits"AllisOne"philosophydoesnotallowforanydifferencebetweenaphysicallawandamorallaw.Yetthatdistinctionisextremelyimportant.Amorallaw,forexample,cannotbeusedforone'sownends,thoughaphysicallawcouldbeusedinthatway.Morallawscannotbecomethesourceofpersonalempowerment,whichisthebiggoalintheNewAgemovement.UniversalmorallawswhicharebindinguponallcanonlybeprescribedbytheSupremeGodofsupernatural

monotheism,whohimselfinhisowncharactersetsthestandardofrighteousness,love,purity,andgoodness.

Inspiteoftheattempttoeducatemodernmantobelievethattherearenomoralabsolutes,everymemberoftheracehasaconscienceandknowsthatheorshehasviolatedmorallaws.Moreover,werecognizethatapenaltyisrequiredandthatthesolutionsofferedbyEasternmysticismsimplydonotsatisfytheclaimsofjustice.Everyoneknowsthateventhesimplestviolationoflaw,suchasaparkingticket,cannotbemaderightbypracticingYogaormeditationorchantingOMinanalteredstateofconsciousness.NorwoulditseemreasonabletosatisfyInfiniteJusticebysuchtechniques—whichiswhyEasternmysticismbyverydefinitiondeniesmoraljustice.

Norcantheviolationofmorallawberectifiedbykeepingthelaw.Itwouldbeabsurdtoexpectajudgetowaiveaspeedingfinebecausetheoffenderhadobeyedthespeedlimitmoreoftenthanhehadexceededit.Yetthepopularideapersiststhatallwillbewellifone's"gooddeedsoutweighthebad."Andtothosewhowouldplead,"PleaseletmeoffthistimeandIpromisenevertobreakthelawagain,"thejudgewouldsimplyreply:"Ifyouneverbreakthelawagain,youwillonlybedoingwhatthelawrequires,andyougetnoextracreditforthat,fromwhichtopayforhavingbrokenthelawinthepast."

IncontrasttoEasternmysticism,ChristianityteachesthatthemorallawsofGod'sinfinitejusticehavebeenviolated.Thereisnowaythatfinitemancanpaytheinfinitepenalty.ByhisownchoicemanhasconsignedhimselftoeternalseparationfromtheGodwhocreatedhim.God,beinginfinite,couldpaythepenalty,butitwouldnotbejust,becausehewasnotoneofus.Inthesupremeactoflove,Godbecameamaninordertosatisfytheclaimsofhisownlawanddiedthedeathwhichhisjusticedemandedforoursin.

ThetriumphantcryofJesusjustbeforeheexpireduponthe

cross—"Itisfinished"—isanaccountingtermintheoriginalNewTestamentGreek(teleo,todischargeadebt).Theinfinitepenaltyforsinhadbeenpaid.AccordingtotheBible,allmanneedstodoishumblehimselftoadmitthatheasasinnerdeservedwhatChristsufferedinhisplace,andtoreceivethepardonthatisofferedasafreegiftofGod'sgraceandlove—apardonhecouldnevermeritorearn.Certainlythestaggeringnatureofsuchclaims(therecouldbenobetternewsiftheseclaimsaretrue)woulddemandacarefulinvestigation.FamedHarvardUniversitylawprofessorSimonGreenleaf(inhisdaythehighestauthorityonlegalevidenceandaconfirmedskepticwhoacceptedtheclaimsofChristonlyaftercarefulresearch)declaredinanappealtohiscolleaguestomakeasimilarinvestigation:

Thesearenoordinaryclaims;anditseemshardlypossibleforarationalbeingto...treatthemwithmereindifferenceorcontempt.18

Incontrast,thereisapalpableemptinesstotheNewAgegospel.Notonlydoesn'titringtrueeithertologicorordinaryexperience,butitlacksthosequalitieswhichthehumanheartaspiresafter.Righteousnessandtrutharemissingaltogether—yetsurelythequestionoftruthoughttofaroutweighfeelings,personalpreference,ormysticalexperience.Ofwhatvalueisthemostecstaticexperience,ifitismerefantasy,orworseyet,afraud?Tobarterawaytheeternalbenefitsoftruthforthefeelingsofthemomentisabadbargainindeed.

Moreover,intheHindu/BuddhistNewAgephilosophytheforgivenessisabsentforwhicheveryhonestheartyearns.Nowrongisadmitted,eventhoughourconsciencestellusotherwiseandlongforrelease.ThusthereisnothankfulnessorgratitudetoGodforforgivingandsavingus,forweareourowngodsandsaviors—yetforgivenessandgratitudeareuniversallyrecognizedtobeamongthenoblesthumanqualitiesandgreatestblessings.Noristhereatasteofmercyorgrace,forthesamereason.

Asananswertoman'sdeepestlongingsandneed,naturalism/pantheismoffersanimpersonalcosmicForcewithdarkandlightsides.Insteadoflove,thegreatestvirtueandhighestexperience,weareleftwithavoid.

America:TheSorcerer'sNewApprentice

WiththeUtopianbutemptyslogan,"Loveistheultimatefirst-strikecapability,"thePentagonMeditationClubispromotingtheerectionofa"peaceshield"—anallegedforcefieldgeneratedbymeditationandprayer.Itishopedthatfuturewarwillbepreventedthroughenoughmeditatorstuningintomankind'slatentinnerpotentialforpeace,andvisualizingtheworld'sleaders"joiningtogetherinfellowshiptoresolveissues"19SimilarideaswerepromotedbyaFebruary1988American/Sovietconferenceco-hostedbyBarbaraMarxHubbardandRamaVernonoftheCenterforSoviet-AmericanDialogue,atwhichdelegatesexploredshamanictechniquesforcreatingpeace.MuchoftheinspirationfortheconferencegrewoutofthemysticalexperiencesofHubbard,whosepseudo-Christianpantheism/naturalismwasrepresentativeofconferees'beliefs.20AconferenceforAmericanbusinessandeducationalleaderspresentingsimilarideasfor"conflictresolution"isscheduledforJuly1988featuringHubbardastheopeningkeynotespeaker,andSovietdirectorofGlobalFamily,MikhailZykov,speakingonthetopicof"ASovietPerspectiveonSpiritualCommunity."

TheeffectivenessoftheEasterngurus(aidedbyinnumerable"spiritguides"andfellowtravelers)toconverttheWesternworldtotheHindu/Buddhist/shamanicfaithhasbeenunprecedentedinallofhistory.Americaisintheprocessofaradicaltransformation.ThesuccessofthiseffortowesmuchtoAmerica'shomegrownevangelistswhohavesurfacedfromsuchabroadspectrumofprofessionalcredibility:theSiegels,Simontons,Bensons,Rays,Houstons,Jampolskys,Denvers,Lennons,andLearys.Mostof

theseNewAgezealotsseemtobemotivatedbyasinceredesiretohelpasufferingworld.Whateverthemotivation,however,thedeterminedunderminingofChristianityiswellonitsway,andtheestablishmentofanecumenicalNewAgeshamanismastheworldreligionhasmadeastonishingprogresseverywhereexceptinIslamiccountries.Thefullimpactuponeveryareaofsocietypromisestobebeyondpresentcomprehension.

ManyofAmerica'slargestandmostpowerfulcorporations,withbranchesinnumerouscountries,havenowjoinedthisunprecedentedworldwidemissionaryeffort.Management-expertsturned-missionariesaretakingtothewholeworldthesameEasternmysticismwhichthegurusbroughttotheWest,butnowincorporatedintoandredefinedasthelatesttechniquesforsuccessfulpersonalandbusinessperformance.Thesophistication,advanceddegrees,andaffluenceofthesenewjet-setmissionarieslendacredibilitythatmakestheirseductivegospelalmostirresistible.

Theseareanewbreedofbusinessleaderswhotalkabouttheinterconnectednessofallthings,gettingbackintouchwithnature,andthedivinesparkwithinusallasthebasisforanewplanetaryunity.Theyespeciallywanttosharethepsychospiritualtechnologiesofthemind,whichtheyhopewillhelpmankindtorealizeitsfullpotentialandtherebyturnthissufferingworldintoparadiseatlast.Itsoundssogood.

Aswehaveseen,theancientshamanictechniquesforcontactingspiritguideshavebeenintroducedtothemassesundertheumbrellasofscience,medicine,psychology,education,andbusiness,butwiththeentitiesexplainedawaypsychologically.Yetnoamountofscholarlyrationalizationcanchangethefactthattheseconsciousness-alteringtechniquesconsistentlybringcontactwith,andinmanycasespossessionby,seducingspirits.

Seeminglyunawareofthegravedanger,America,oncethe

world'sleaderinfinance,business,science,andtechnology,isreassertingitsleadershipposition,butnowinanewenterprise—theriseofNewAgeshamanism.Theimplicationsarestaggering.Aninescapablechoicewhichwilldetermineourdestinyconfrontsus.Shouldn'tthatchoicebemadeonthebasisoftheevidenceandinfirmcommitmenttoultimatetruth?

NotesCHAPTER1—ATURNINGPOINT?1.RobertLindsey,NewYorkTimes,citedinLosAngelesHeraldExaminer,

September29.1986.p.B-8.2.MaxPlanck.WhereIsScienceGoing?(Norton.1932),p.160.3.NoeticSciences,Autumn1987,WillisHarman.p.23.4.ScienceDigest,JohnGliedman,"ScientistsinSearchoftheSoul,"p.78.5.SeattleTimes,January18.1987,BillDietrich,"ANewAge:The1980's

Low-DogmaApproachtoReligion."6.AmericanHealth,April1985.LiseSpiegel,"New-AgeShrinks,"p.18.7.SanJoseMercuryNews,June14,1986,JoanCornell,"TheSpiritual

Frontier,"p.1C.8.U.S.News&WorldReport,February9.1987,"MysticsonMainStreet,"p.

67.9.AmericanHealth,January/February1987,AndrewGreeley,"Mysticism

GoesMainstream,"p.47.10.Ibid.,pp.47-48.11.Australia'sNewAgeNews,September1987,DouglasJamesMahrand

FrancisRacey.Ph.D."TiredOfTheProgram?ChangeYourChannel,"p.9.12.AldousHuxley,ThePerennialPhilosophy(Harper,1944).13.LosAngelesTimes,December5.1986,LynnSmith."TheNew,Chic

MetaphysicalFadofChanneling,"PartV,p.Iff.14.TheLosAngelesTimes,Smith.Ibid.,p.30.15.RuthMontgomerywithJoanneGarland,RuthMontgomery:Heraldofthe

NewAge(FawcettCrest,1986),pp.71-111.16.SCPJournal,Vol.7,No.I.1987,"AMatterofCourse:Conversationwith

KennethWapnick,"pp.9-17.17.WhitleyStrieber,Communion(WilliamMorrow,1987),p.13.

18.SeealsoOmni,December1987,pp.53ff.19.Geo,February1982,"GeoConversation,"aninterviewwithDr.Robert

Jastrow,p.14.20.TheGandhiReader:ASource-BookofhisLifeandWritings,ed.HomerA.

Jack(London,1958),pp.229-30.21.SirJohnEccles,withDanielN.Robinson,TheWonderofBeingHuman—

OurBrain&OurMind(NewScienceLibrary,1985),p.54.22.LifeTimes:ForumForANewAge,Number3,p.48,originallypublishedin

SouthAfrica'sNewAgemagazine,Odyssey.23.ArthurC.Clarke,ChildhoodsEnd(BallantineBooks,1953),p.181.24.Planck.Where?,p.168.25.SirArthurStanleyEddington,TheNatureofthePhysicalWorld

(Macmillan,1929),citedinQuantumQuestions:MythicalWritingsoftheWorld'sGreatPhysicists,ed.KenWilber(NewScienceLibrary,1984),p.5.

26.ErwinSchroedinger,citedinQuantumQuestions,pp.81-83.27.Wilber.Quantum,pp.5.6,x.28.SirJamesJeans,TheMysteriousUniverse(TheMacMillanCompany,

1930),p.140.29.Wilber,Quantum,p.170.30.Omni,December1986,PatrickTierney,"TheSoviets'-PeaceProgram,"p.

89.31.Critique:AJournalofConspiracies&Metaphysics,Issue25,Dennis

Stillings,"Ramtha,Channeling&Deception,"pp.106,110-11.32.JohnA.Keel.TheEighthTower(Signet,1975).pp.197-99.33.DanielLawrenceO'Keefe.StolenLightning:TheSocialTheoryofMagic

(ContinuumPublishingCompany,1982),pp.569-70.CHAPTER2—SORCERY:THENEWPARADIGM1.TheOccultInAmerica:NewHistoricalPerspectives,ed.HowardKerrand

CharlesL.Crow(UniversityofIllinoisPress,1986).2.SirArthurEddington,TheNatureofthePhysicalWorld,(Macmillan,1953),

p.344.3.ResearchinParapsychology1972(specialdinneraddressbyArthur

Koestler),p.203.4.TheNatureofthePhysicalWorld,op.cit.,p.317.5.LosAngelesTimesMagazine,December6,1987,AliceKahn,"Esalenat

25:HowCalifornia'sLegendaryHuman-PotentialMeccaHasChangedandWhytheMagicRemains,"p.41.

6.JayStevens,StormingHeaven:LSDandtheAmericanDream(TheAtlanticMonthlyPress,1987),p.345.

7.QuotedfromLifeinDavidHenderson,'ScuseMeWhileIKissTheSky:TheLifeofJimiHendrix(BantamBooks,1981).pp.206.233.

8.TheChristianScienceMonitor,November24-30.1986,"Agendaforthe21stcentury."p.18.

9.RollingStone,Vol.I,p.410.10.CarlosCastaneda,ThePowerofSilence(SimonandSchuster,1987),

Frontflyofjacket.Foreword,etc.11.BabaRamDass,"TheTransformation:Dr.RichardAlport.Ph.D.,into

BabaRamDass,"TheInwardJourney,editedbyJosephF.DohertyandWilliamC.Stephenson(NewYork,1973),pp.287-320.

12.HerbertBenson,TheRelaxationResponse(WilliamMorrow.1975),pp.59-65.

13.MarilynFerguson,TheAquarianConspiracy:PersonalandSocialTransformationinthe1980s(LosAngeles,1980).

14.NewYorkTimes,op.cit.15.WalterBromberg,FromShamantoPsychotherapist(HenryRegneryCo.,

197S),p.336.16.TheFuturist,March-April1987,MarshaSinetar."TheActualizedWorker,"

pp.21-25.17.RobertLindsey,NewYorkTimes,citedinSt.PetersburgTimes,

December6.1986.p.7E.18.LosAngelesTimes,February17,1987.PartI,pp.4,16.

19.LosAngelesTimes.January25.1987.PartI,pp.I,31.20.MarilynFerguson,TheAquarianConspiracy(J.P.Tarcher,1980),inside

jacket.21.LifeTimes:ForumForANewAge,Number3.p.48.originallypublishedin

SouthAfrica'sNewAgemagazine.Odyssey.22.MasterofLife,Issue35,July1987.p.3.23.AvailablefromBox5491.Fullerton.CA92635.February,1988editionsold

for$14.95.24.U.S.News&WorldReport,op.cit.25.Newsweek,May4,1987,"CorporateMindControl:NewAgeguruswant

tochangeemployeethinking,"p.38.26.LosAngelesTimes,November17,1987,p.6,PartIV.27.CitedfromanundatedEsalennewslettersignedbyMichaelMurphy.28.TheWallStreetJournal,December3,1986,RobertS.Greenberger."East

MeetsEst:TheSovietsDiscoverWernerErhard,"pp.I.23.29.Ibid.30.Training,September1987.RonZemke,"What'sNewInTheNewAge?"p.

26.31.Ibid.32.NewYorkTimes,April17,1987,RobertLindsey,"GurusHiredtoMotivate

WorkersAreRaisingFearsof'MindControl.'"33.Newsweek,op.cit.,p.39.34.NewYorkTimes.April17,1987.op.cit.CHAPTER3—CAVEATEMPTOR:LETTHEBUYERBEWARE1.NewYorkTimes,April17,1987,op.cit.2.Training,op.cit.,p.29.3.NewYorkTimes,April17,1987.op.cit.4.Ibid.5.Ibid.6.Training,December1985,"Issues,"p.96.7.RichardL.Watring,"NewAgeManagement,"unpublishedpaperin

conjunctionwithamaster'sthesis.8.BarbaraClark,GrowingUpGifted(MerrillPublishing.1979).pp.367-68;

NelandNormaGablerwithJamesC.Hefley,WhatAreTheyTeachingOurChildren?(Victor.I98S),p.28;EducationalLeadership,December1964,HaroldD.Drummond,"LeadershipForHumanChange,"p.147,etc.

9.Training,September1987,op.cit.,p.33.10.WhatIs,Summer1986,DickSutphen."InfiltratingTheNewAgeInto

Society,"p.14.11.USAToday,May26,1987,DeidreDonahue,"Acosmictrendin

hardcover,"p.2D.12.TimothyLeary,"DaringtobeDifferent,"fromaudiotapeofthespeechat

theAHP22ndAnnualMeetingatCurryCollege,Boston,August21-26.1984.

13.YogaJournal,September/October1987,GeorgFeuerstein,"ABriefHistoryofHathaYoga,PartTwo,"p.67.

14.WholeLifeMonthly,September1987,ArtKunkin,"TranscendentalMeditationonTrial,PartTwo,"pp.14,17.

15.Ibid.,p.17.16.Ibid.,pp.15-17.17.Ibid.,p.17.18.KenWilber,JackEngler&DanielP.Brown,Transformationsof

Consciousness(NewScienceLibrary,ShambhalaPublications,1986),seeespeciallyChapter2byMarkD.EpsteinandJonathanD.Lieff,"PsychiatricComplicationsofMeditationPractice,"pp.53-63.

19.YogaJournal,September/October1987,CatherineIngram,"KenWilber:ThePunditofTranspersonalPsychology,"p.43.

20.R.D.Scott,TranscendentalMisconceptions(SanDiego,1978),pp.37-38,115-29.

21.Ibid.,p.119.22.Brain/MindBulletin,March1987,p.I.23.AHPPerspective,February1986,NaomiSteinfeld,"PassagesIn:For

PeopleinSpiritualCrisis,"p.9.24.Ibid.25.ScienceDigest,January1982,FloConwayandJimSiegelman,

"InformationDisease:HaveCultsCreatedaNewMentalIllness?"pp.86-88.

26.Brain/MindBulletin,July12.1982,p.3.27.WalterTruettAnderson,TheUpstartSpring(Addison-Wesley,1983),pp.

199-202.234-37.28.LosAngelesWeekly.December6.1987,AliceKahn,"Esalenat25:The

LegendaryHuman-PotentialMeccaHasChanged—buttheMagicRemains,"p.22.

29.TheEsalenCatalog,September1985-February1986,p.8.30.NewRealities,March/April1987,StanislavandChristinaGrof,"Holotropic

Therapy:AStrategyforAchievingInnerTransformation,"p.11.31.W.BrughJoy,M.D.,Joy'sWay(Tarcher,1979).pp.8-9.32.Ibid.33.TheSkepticalInquirer,Winter!986-87,quotedbyKendrickFrazierin"The

'WholeEarth'ReviewoftheFringe."p.197.34.Training,September1987,op.cit.,pp.25-26.35.U.S.News&WorldReport,op.cit.,p.69.CHAPTER4—POPULARIZINGSPIRITUALITY1.HerbertBensonwithWilliamProctor(RandomHouse.1987),pp.16-22.2.JonKlimo,Channeling(JeremyP.Tarcher,Inc..1987),p.20.3.UndatedbrochureadvertisingCommonBoundary,"Helpsyoudiscovera

wholenewworldofpossibilities,"distributedinlate1986.4.NewAgeJournal,May/June1987,M.ScottPeck,"ANewAmerican

Revolution,"pp.32-55;seealsotheeditorialbyFlorenceGraves,p.4.5.AssociationforHumanisticPsychologyNewsletter,February1984,Jon

Spiegel,"AHPLeadershipintheProfession,"p.22.6.LosAngelesTimes,August20,1986,PartV,p.1.7.Shaman'sDrum,Summer1986,p.9.

8.YogaJournal,September/October1985,ShepherdBliss,"HumanisticPsychologyReachesTowardtheTranscendent,"p.8.

9.HerbertBenson,M.D.,TheMind/BodyEffect(SimonandSchuster,1979),p.61.

10.TheHarmonist,Vol.I,No.2,1986,"Interview:FritjofCapra,"p.22.11.DavidBohmandF.DavidPeat,Science,OrderandCreativity(Bantam

Books,1987).12.Omni,October1987,MarionLong,"InSearchofaDefinition,"p.160.13.NapoleonHill,GrowRichWithPeaceofMind(FawcettCrest.1967),pp.

218-19etc.14.Ibid.,p.159.15.PrabuddhaBharata,1979(Calcutta).84,RakhahariChatterji,

"VivekanandaandContemporaryIndia."p.192.16.Vivekananda,TheCompleteWorksofVivekananda,8volumes(Calcutta.

1970-71),Vol.2,pp.12-13.17.SwamiAbhedananda,ChristianScienceandVedanta(VedantaSociety,

1902),p.1.SeealsoWendellThomas,HinduismInvadesAmerica(BeaconPress,1930)andRaymondJ.Cunningham,"TheImpactofChristianScienceontheAmericanChurches,1880-1910,"inAmericanHistoricalReview,12(1967):MS-905,citedinTheOccultlnAmerica:NewHistoricalPerspectives,ed.HowardKerrandCharlesL.Crow,"TheOccultConnection?Mormonism,ChristianScience,andSpiritualism,"R.LaurenceMoore,p.143.

18.MaryBakerEddy,ScienceandHealth(1878),Volume2,pp.143-44.19.MichaelRayandRochelleMyers,CreativityInBusiness(Doubleday.

1986),pp.36-38.20.Shaman'sDrum,Spring1987,"MenningerFoundationFindsInterestin

Shamanism."p.6.21.C.G.Jung,Memories,Dreams.Reflections(PantheonBooks,1963),p.

50.22.AccordingtoanarticlebySwissParliamentarianAlbertOeri,student

friendofJung's,inthedailynewspaperBaslerNachrichten,writteninhonorofJungonhis61stbirthday.

23.Tomorrow,Spring1961,inwhichtheEnglishtranslationwaspublishedofanearlierarticlebyJung'spersonalsecretary,AnielaJaffe.intheGermanparapsychologicaljournalZeitschriftfurParapsychologieundGrenzgebietederPsychologie,vol.IV,no.1,1960.SeealsoAnielaJaffe,FromtheLifeandWorkofC.G.Jung(Harper&Row)1971),p.2.

24.NandorFodor,Freud,JungandOccultism(UniversityBooks,1971),p.86.25.BradSteiger,GodsofAquarius(NewYork,1976),p.222.26.JournalofDefenseandDiplomacy,September1985,CharlesWallach,

"TheScienceofPsychicWarfare."27.Eddy,ScienceandHealth(1881,3rded.).Vol.2,p.42.28.Omni,October1987,MarionLong,"InSearchofaDefinition,"p.80.CHAPTER5—NATURALISM,SCIENTISM,ANDSUPERNATURALISM1.LosAngelesTimesMagazine,December6,1987,op.cit.,pp.20,22.2.Ibid.,p.22.3.JeanShinodaBolen,M.D.,TheTaoofPsychology:Synchronicityandthe

Self(Harper&Row,1979),pp.95-97.4.LosAngelesTimesMagazine(op.cit.).5.HowardKerrandCharlesL.Crow,cds.,TheOccultInAmerica:New

HistoricalPerspectives(UniversityofIllinoisPress.1986),pp.58-78.6.Penthouse,TimothyWhite,"DarylHall'sMagic,"p.60.7.TheOccultInAmerica(op.cit.),p.162.8.Vivekananda,CompleteWorks,op.cit..Vol.2,pp.12-13.9.WholemindNewsletter:AUser'sManualtotheBrain,Mind,andSpirit,Vol.

I,No.I.p.5.10.WilliamIrwinThompson,PassagesAboutEarth(Harper&Row,1973).

pp.160-83.11.Deuteronomy4:19;17:2-5;Jeremiah8:1-6;Romans1:18-32;etc.12.ScienceDigest,November1981,MaryLong,"VisionsofaNewFaith,"p.

39.13.CarlSagan,Cosmos(RandomHouse,1980),p.243.14.EssaysCatholicandCritical,ed.EdwardGordonSelwyn(Macmillan,

1926),pp.74-77.15.ErnestJones.TheLifeandWorkofSigmundFreud(BasicBooks.1953),

Vol.Ill,p.381.16.TheHarmonist,Vol.I.No.2,1986."INTERVIEW:FritjofCapra."pp.23.

25.17.TheOjaiFoundation(P.O.Box1620.Ojai.CA93023)for1985.p.5.18.LosAngelesTimesBookReview,December27,1987.JamesS.Gordon,

reviewofJung,ABiography,byGerhardWehr.p.13.19.TheOjaiFoundation(op.cit.).20.MichaelHarner,TheWayoftheShaman:AGuidetoPowerandHealing

(Harper&Row,1980),p.xi.21.ScienceDigest,November1981,op.cit.,p.39.22.CarlosCastaneda,ThePowerofSilence:FurtherLessonsofdonJuan

(SimonandSchuster.1987).Foreword.23.ArthurKoestler.TheRootsofCoincidence(NewYork.1972),p.SO.24.Eddington,Nature,pp.344-45.25.Thompson.Passages,p.129.26.TheHarmonist,op.cit.,p.22.27.LifeTimes:ForumForANewAge,Number3,p.48.originallypublishedin

SouthAfrica'sNewAgemagazine,Odyssey.28.NewRealities,Vol.Ill,No.6,December1980,RolandGammon,

"ScientificMysticism:NewFaithforthe'80s?"p.10.29.LosAngelesTimes,December11,1987,GreggWager,"Musicians

SpreadtheMaharishi'sMessageofPeace,"p.12.PartVI.30.U.S.NewsAWorldReport,February9,1987."MysticsonMainStreet."p.

69.31.The1988GuidetoNewAgeLiving,JonathanAdolph,"WhatisNew

Age?"p.11.

32.LosAngelesTimes,December21,1986.p.I.33.LosAngelesTimesMagazine,December6,1987,op.cit.,p.16.34.Ibid.,pp.40-41.35.EsalenCatalog,January-June1980,andsubsequently.36.WallerTruettAnderson,TheUpstartSpring(Addison-Wesley,1983).pp.

302-05.37.FranzCumont,AstrologyandReligionAmongtheGreeksandRomans

(DoverPublications,1960),p.56.CHAPTER6—THERESURGENCEOFNATURERELIGION1.Insight,January11,1988,DerkKinnaneRoelofsma,"BattlingSatanisma

HauntingTask,"p.49.2.TheDailyBreeze,January27,I98S,p.A3.3.LosAngelesTimes,July9,1986,View,pp.1,4.4.HerbertSchlossberg,IdolsForDestruction(ThomasNelson,1983),p.171.5.SirJohnEccles&DanielN.Robinson,TheWonderofBeingHuman:Our

BrainandOurMind(NewScienceLibrary,1985),p.61.6.Eccles&Robinson,Wonder,p.71.7.HowardKerrandCharlesL.Crow,eds.,TheOccultInAmerica(University

ofIllinoisPress,1986),p.2.8.PasadenaWeekly,February5-11,1987,D.G.Fulford."WiccaWays,"pp.

1,8.9.KerrandCrow,TheOccult,p.3.10.LosAngelesTimes,March16,1982,ElizabethMehren,"Goddessesof

ComingNewAgeProbetheMeaningofItAll,"p.1,ViewSection.11.Ibid.12.DailyNews(Indio,CA).November30,1987.13.ArmyTimes,"Witches,PagansinMilitaryDemandRights"byGrantWillis,

October26,1987,pp.I,26.14.LeonardOrrandSondraRay,RebirthingInTheNewAge(Berkeley,

CelestialArts.1983),p.144.15.LifeTimes:ForumForANewAge,Number3,p.48,originallypublishedin

SouthAfrica'sNewAgemagazine,Odyssey.16.MichaelDenton,Evolution:ATheoryinCrisis(Adler&Adler.1986)p.77.17.CitedinEccles&Robinson,Wonder,p.38.18.C.G.Jung,PsychologyandtheOccult(PrincetonUniversityPress),1977,

p.130.19.Update,September1982,JohannesAagaard,"HinduScholars,Germany

andtheThirdReich."20.MaharishiMaheshYogi,InaugurationoftheDawnoftheAgeof

Enlightenment(Fairfield,Iowa:MIUPress,1975),p.47.21.PsychologyToday,March1983,"AConversationWithJonasSalk,"p.53.22.Ibid.,p.52.23.B.F.Skinner,ScienceandHumanBehavior(Macmillan,1953).p.447.24.AllanBloom,TheClosingoftheAmericanMind(SimonandSchuster,

1987),pp.199-204.25.The1988GuidetoNewAgeLiving,op.cit.,p.12.26.Eccles&Robinson,Wonder,p.71.27.CitedbyhistorianEricVoegelininhisOrderandHistory,Vol.2,The

WorldofthePolls(LouisianaStateUniversityPress,1957),p.179.28.PsychologyToday,March1983,"AConversationWithJonasSalk,"p.56.29.Ibid.30.Eccles&Robinson,Wonder,p.43.CHAPTER7—FREUD,JUNG,ANDTHEOCCULT1.CarlR.Rogers,AWayofBeing(HoughtonMifflinCompany.1980).pp.90-

91;WilliamKirkKilpatrick,TheEmperor'sNewClothes(CrosswayBooks,1985),p.176.

2.Rogers,Being,pp.90-91.3.Ibid.,pp.99-102.4.Kilpatrick,Emperor's,pp.176-77.5.AmericanHealth,January/February1987,AndrewGreeley,"Mysticism

GoesMainstream,"pp.47-48.6.Ibid.

7.Ibid.8.Time,December4,1972,p.12.9.ImmanuelKant,DreamsofaSpirit-Seer,translatedbyGoerwitz,pp.88,92.10.FannyMoser,Spuk:IrglaubeOderWahrglaube?(Ghost:FalseBeliefor

True?](Baden,1950),fromtheforewordbyCarlJung;AnielaJaffe,ApparitionsandPrecognition(NewYork,1963),fromJung'sforeword;citedinJung,Occult(op.cit.)pp.144,154.

11.C.G.Jung,PsychologyandtheOccult(PrincetonUniversityPress,1977),p.vii.ThisisacollectionofJung'swritingsonthissubject,translatedbyR.F.C.Hull.

12.NandorFodor,Freud,Jung,andOccultism(UniversityBooks,1971).pp.219-20.

13.Originallypublishedas"SeeleundTod"inBerlin,1934;citedinC.G.Jung,PsychologyandtheOccult(PrincetonUniversityPress.1977),p.131.

14.Moser,Spuk,fromtheforewordbyCarlJung.15.Moser,Spuk,citedinC.G.Jung,Psychology(op.cit.),pp.146-52.16.AnielaJaffe,FromtheLifeandWorkofC.G.Jung(Harper&Row.1971),

pp.6,9.17.OriginallytranslatedbyH.G.BarnesfromaGermanmanuscriptand

publishedinProceedingsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch(London,1920).p.109.

18.Jaffe,LifeandWork,pp.7-8.19.C.G.Jung,Memories,Dreams,Reflections(PantheonBooks.1963),p.

183.20.Ibid.,p.15S.21.BernardGittelson,IntangibleEvidence(Simon&Schuster,1987),p.213.22.Fodor,Freud,Jung,pp.129-30.23.CitedinGittelson,Intangible,p.136.24.StokerHunt,Ouija:TheMostDangerousGame(Harper&Row,1985),p.

110.

25.SeeNewDirectionsinParapsychology,ed.JohnBeloff(London,PaulElekLtd.,1974);GuyLyonPlayfair,ThisHouseIsHaunted:AnInvestigationoftheEnfieldPoltergeist(Souvenir,1980);AlanGauldandA.D.Cornell,Poltergeist(Routledge&Kegan,1979).

26.LawrenceLeShan,TheScienceOfTheParanormal:TheLastFrontier(TheAquarianPress,1987),p.31.

27.LoydAuerbach,ESP,HauntingsandPoltergeists(WarnerBooks,1986),pp.50-51.

28.AllanBloom,TheClosingoftheAmericanMind(SimonandSchuster,1987),pp.199-204.

29.MartinL.Gross,ThePsychologicalSociety(RandomHouse,1978),pp.43-44.

30.SirArthurEddington,ScienceandtheUnseenWorld(Macmillan.1937),pp.53-54.

31.MichaelPolanyi,TheTacitDimension(Anchor,1967),p.37;citedbyLeShan,Paranormal(op.cit.).

32.Eccles&Robinson,Wonder,p.37.33.Watring,"NewAge"op.cit.34.CarlJung,CollectedLetters.Vol.I,1906-1950(PrincetonUniversity

Press,1973),p.43.35.C.S.Lewis,TheScrewtapeLetters(Spire,1976),p.45.36.HaroldSherman,YourMysteriousPowersofESP(NewYork,1969),p.

120.CHAPTER8—PSYCHOTHERAPY:THERELIGIOUS"SCIENCE"1.Gross,Society,pp.3-4.2.GarthWood,TheMythofNeurosis:OvercomingtheIllnessExcuse(Harper

&Row,1987),p.265.3.TheAmericanScholar,Autumn1973,SigmundKoch,"TheImageofMan

inEncounterGroups,"p.636;PsychologyToday,September1969.SigmundKoch,"PsychologyCannotBeaCoherentScience,"p.66.

4.RobertN.Beck,ed.,PerspectivesinPhilosophy(Holt,Rinehart,Winston,

1975),KarlPopper,"ScientificTheoryandFalsifiability,"p.343.5.LeeColeman,TheReignofError(BeaconPress,1984),p.xii-xv.6.TheNationalEducator,July1980,RogerMills,"PsychologyGoesInsane,

BotchesRoleasScience,"p.14.7.MaryStewartvanLeeuwen,TheSorcerer'sApprentice(InterVarsityPress,

1982).p.49.8.ThomasSzasz,TheMythofPsychotherapy(Doubleday,1978),pp.139,

146.9.Ibid.,pp.104-05.10.BernieZilbergeld,TheShrinkingofAmerica:MythsofPsychological

Change(Little,BrownandCompany,1983),p.3.11.JournalofConsultingandClinicalPsychology,Vol.48,AllenBergin,

"PsychotherapyandReligiousValues,"quotingCarlRogers,p.101.12.Chronicles,March1986,"PsychologyToday,PsychologyTomorrow,

PsychologyForever,"p.48.13.MartinandDeidreBobgan,Psychoheresy,(EastGalePublishers,1987),p.

23.14.ThomasSzasz,TheMythofPsychotherapy(Anchor/Doubleday,1978),p.

28.15.Chronicles,op.cit.,p.51.16.PeterBreggin,telephonecommentarycitedinTheEsalenCatalog

(VolumeXXIV,Number3,198S),"MisuseofPsychiatricDrugs—EastandWest,"p.6.

17.PeterStansky,ed.,ON1984(StanfordAlumniAssociation,1984),pp.209-10.

18.ArthurJensen,OscarKrisenBuros,eds.,TheSixthMentalMeasurementsYearbook(TheGryphonPress,1965),p.501.

19.ThePlanetaryVisionQuest,abrochurepromotingaseriesofthreeworkshopsconductedbyMarilynFerguson,FritjofCapra,andJeanHoustononsuccessiveweekendsinChicagoduringJune27-July13,1986,andsponsoredbyTheInstituteofCulturalAffairs.

20.Wood,Neurosis,pp.273-74.21.Ibid.,pp.268-69.22.LosAngelesTimes,March23,1980,LanceLee,"American

Psychoanalysis:LookingBeyondthe'EthicalDisease,'"PartVI,p.3.23.BernieZilbergeld,"TheMythsofPsychiatry,"inDiscover,May1983.pp.

66,71,74.24.AmericanPsychologist,33(1978),J.McCord,"AThirty-YearFollow-Upof

TreatmentEffects,"pp.284-89;citedinWood,Neurosis(op.cit.),pp.280-81.

25.SwamiRama,RudolphBailentine,M.D.,SwamiAjaya,Ph.D.,YogaandPsychotherapy:TheEvolutionofConsciousness(Honesdale,PA:HimalayanInternationalInstitute,1976),backcover.

26.DanielGolemanandRichardDavidson,eds.,Consciousness:Brain,SlatesofAwareness,andMysticism(Harper&Row,1979),JacobNeedleman,"PsychiatryandtheSacred,"p.209.

27.PsychologyToday,January1981,DanielGoleman,"AnEasternToeintheStreamofConsciousness,"p.84.

28.LawrenceLeShan,HowToMeditate(Boston,1974),pp.150-151.29.LosAngelesTimes,November23,1987,BethAnnKrier,"TheMedicine

WomanofBeverlyHills,"PartV,pp.1,4.30.E.FullerTorrey,TheMindGame(EmersonHallPublishers,Inc.,1972),p.

8.31.RichardFeynmanetal.TheFeynmanLecturesonPhysics,Vol.I

(Addison-Wesley.1963),pp.3-8.32.Klimo,Channeling,pp.150-51.33.NewAgeJournal,November/December1987,DavidRuben,"ADeadly

CaseofMentalTeasing?"p.9.34.Benson,Maximum,p.38.35.Training,September1987,op.cit.,p.30.36.Benson,Maximum,pp.207-08.37.AldousHuxley,TheDoorsofPerception(Harper&Row,1954),p.78.

38.PeterR.Breggin,PsychiatricDrugs:HazardstotheBrain(SpringerPublishing,1983),p.4.

39.Wholemind,op.cit.,p.5.40.WilliamWolff,Healers,Gurus,andSpiritualGuides(LosAngeles,1969),

pp.79.185.41.Jung,Memories,pp.188-89.42.WadeDavis,TheSerpentandtheRainbow(WarnerBooks,1985),pp.

214-16.43.LoydAuerbach,ESP,HauntingsandPoltergeists:AParapsychologist's

Handbook(WarnerBooks,1986),p.218.CHAPTER9—GHOSTSINTHEMACHINE1.ProceedingsoftheEnglishSocietyforPsychicalResearch,23:1-121,

WilliamJames,"ReportonMrs.Piper'sHodgsonControl."2.ReVISION,Spring1984,KenWilber,"OfShadowsandSymbols:Physics

andMysticism."pp.6-7.3.ArthurKoestler,RootsofCoincidence(NewYork.1972).p.62.4.ParapsychologyReview,May-June1983,p.8.5.ArthurKoestler,TheRootsofCoincidence(London,1972),p.II.6.SirJamesJeans,TheMysteriousUniverse(TheMacmillanCompany,

1939),p.I47-S8.7.Chronicles,April1987,HerbertSchlossberg,"ReenchantingtheWorld,"p.

26.8.Jeans,Mysterious(op.cit.),pp.150-1519.Zechariah10:2;Habakkuk2:18;ICorinthians10:18-20;etc.10.HerbertBenson,M.D.,withWilliamProctor,YourMaximumMind

(RandomHouse,1987),pp.24-25.11.Ibid.,p.46.12.Ibid.,pp.8-9.28-37,63.177-78.196-97,etc.13.MichaelRayandRochelleMyers,CreativityInBusiness(Doubleday.

1986),pp.106-07.14.C.S.Lewis,TheyAskedforaPaper(London.1962).pp.164-65.

15.RayandMyers,Creativity,pp.197-98.16.Klimo,Channeling,interviewwithauthor,p.253.17.Ibid.,p.313.18.PaulHawkin.TheMagicofFindhorn(BantamBooks,1976),pp.103-04.19.Hunt,Ouija,p.90.20.EdmondC.Grass(withJohnG.Hotchkiss),TheOuijaBoard:Doorwayto

theOccult(MoodyPress,1979).pp.17-52.21.WilliamF.Barrett,"OnSomeExperimentswiththeOuijaBoardand

BlindfoldedSitters,"inProceedingsoftheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,September1914,pp.381-94;citedinGrass,Ouija(op.cit.),pp.53-57.

22.ThelmaMoss,TheProbabilityoftheImpossible(J.P.Tarcher,1974),p.240.

23.IrvingLitvag,SingerintheShadows(PopularLibrary,1972),citedinGnosisMagazine,No.S,Fall1987,p.11.

24.FromAnitaM.Muhl,AutomaticWriting:AnApproachtotheUnconscious,citedinHunt,Ouija(op.cit.),pp.128-31.

25.Klimo,Channeling,p.182.26.MayaDeren,DivineHorsemen:VoodooGodsofHaiti(ChelseaHouse,

1970).pp.247-49.27.M.ScottPeck,PeopleOfTheLie(Simon&Schuster,1983),pp.184.188.28.Ibid.,p.196.29.Eddington,Nature,pp.258-59.30.Peck,People,p.215.31.LifeTimes,IssueNumber3,CarlRogers,Ph.D.,"TheNewWorld

Person,"p.47.32.Jung,Occult,p.112.33.Klimo,Channeling,p.249.CHAPTER10—INSEARCHOFSPIRITENTITIES1.Leviticus19:31;20:6;Deuteronomy18:9-14;Isaiah8:19.20;etc.2.RobertR.Leichtman,FromHeaventoEarth:EdgarCayceReturns(Ariel

Press,1978),p.13.3.TheWallStreetJournal,April1,1987,KathleenA.Hughes,"ForPersonal

Insights,SomeTryChannelsOutofThisWorld,"p.I.4.AllenSpraggett,TheUnexplained(NewYork.1967),p.95.5.F.LaGardSmith.OutOnABrokenLimb(HarvestHouse.1986),pp.101-

02.6.AllanAngoff,EileenGarrettandtheWorldBeyondtheSenses(NewYork,

1974),p.77.7.Ibid.8.EileenJ.Garrett,ManyVoices:TheAutobiographyofaMedium(Dell

Publishing,1968),p.43;Angoff,Garrett,p.78.9.Spraggett,Unexplained,pp.68-71.10.Ibid.11.NoeticSciences,op.cit.,p.24.12.C.D.Broad,Religion,PhilosophyandPsychicalResearch(NewYork.

1953).13.Klimo,Channeling,fromauthor'sinterviewwithDiMele.14.Reader'sDigest,June1979,condensationofabookbyJohnG.Fuller,

TheAirmenWhoWouldNotDie,pp.196-246.15.Reader'sDigest,op.cit.,p.196.16.Smith,Limb,pp.42-46;seealsoIraProgoff,TheImageofanOracle.17.KenCarey/Raphael,TheStarseedTransmissions(UNI-SUN1982).18.KenCarey,Vision(UNI-SUN,1985).p.vii.19.Carey/Raphael,Starseed,pp.68-70.20.1Timothy4:1,NewTestamentinModernEnglish,translatedbyJ.B.

Phillips.ChristianityTodayEdition,1965.21.Klimo,Channeling,p.245.22.Klimo,Channeling.,inaninterviewbytheauthorwithTrozzi,pp.II,248.23.NoeticSciences,op.cit.,p.25.CHAPTER11—MINDSFROMBEYOND1.NewAge,October1985,p.11.

2.Omni,February1987,JeromeClark."CensoringTheParanormal,"p.33.3.U.S.News&WorldReport,February9,1987,"MysticsonMainStreet,"p.

67.4.BernardGittelson,IntangibleEvidence:Exploretheworldofpsychic

phenomena—andlearntodevelopyourpsychicskills(Simon&Schuster,1987).p.88.

5.LosAngelesTimes,April23,1987,reviewbyJonathanKirsch,"WorshipingataShrincofAgnosticism,"p.V-18.

6.ForanexcellentintroductiontothisfieldseeHansJ.EysenckandCarlSargent,ExplainingtheUnexplained:MysteriesoftheParanormal(London:Weidenfeld&Nicolson,1982).

7.JohnJ.Heaney,TheSacred&ThePsychic(PaulistPress,1984).p.5.8.SeeAlanGauld,TheFoundersofPsychicalResearch(SchockenBooks,

1968)foranexcellentaccountofthepioneersinthisfield.9.Ibid.,p.142.10.Norman&JeanneMacKenzie,TheFabians(SimonandSchuster,1977),

Acknowledgements,p.18.11.TheTarrytownLetter,June/July1983,JeanHouston,"TheNewWorld

Religion,"p.5.12.LouisaE.Rhine,MindOverMatter,Psychokinesis:Theastonishingstory

ofthescientificexperimentsthatdemonstratethepowerofthewillovermatter(Macmillan,1970),pp.389-90.

13.ScienceDigestSpecial—September/October1980,LaurenceCherry,"PhysicistsExplainESP."p.85.

14.ResearchInParapsychology,AnnualReportoftheParapsychologicalAssociation(NewJersey,1975).p.234.

15.JournalofHumanisticPsychology,Winter1981,WillisW.Harman,"RationaleforGoodChoosing."

16.LosAngelesTimes,January11,1988,PartII,p.5.17.LosAngelesTimes,FebruaryII,1979,PartI,pp.3,22-23.18.LosAngelesTimes,March31,1987,Part11,page8.

19.Omni,September1984,DanielKagan,"PsiForHire,"p.20.20.Ibid.21.LosAngelesTimes,December4,1987,pp.1,32.22.Critique:AJournalofConspiraciesandMetaphysics,Spring/Summer

1986,"Psi-War,"p.9.23.TheAtlantic,October1978,MichaelBrown,"GettingSeriousAboutthe

Occult."p.102.24.TheNewAmerican,December9,198S,EdithKermitRoosevelt,"WillESP

BeaWeaponoftheFuture?U.S.andUSSRresearchinthisuniquefieldcontinues,"p.6.

25.U.S.News&WorldReport,May7,1984.p.73.26.BottomLine,July30.1984,KeithHarary,"YourInnatePsychicAbilities..

.AndHowtoUseThem,"p.9.27.TheAtlantic,October1978.op.cit.,pp.100,102.28.U.S.News&WorldReport,May7,1984.op.cit.29.U.S.News&WorldReport,May4,1987,p.19.30.PsychologyToday,July1974,AndrewWeil,"Parapsychology,Andrew

Weil'sSearchfortheTrueGeller,PartII:TheLetdown,"pp.74-82.31.JohnH.Heaney,TheSacred&ThePsychic(PaulistPress.1984).32.StanleyKrippner,SongoftheSiren(NewYork,1975),pp.260-61.33.AndrijaPuharich,Uri:AJournaloftheMysteryofUriGeller(NewYork,

197S),pp.166-70.34.MichaelHarner,TheWayoftheShaman:TheGuidetoPowerand

Healing(Harper&Row,1980),pp.42-43.CHAPTER12—CREATINGYOUROWNREALITY1.JaneRoberts,TheNatureofPersonalReality(PrenticeHall,1974),p.509.2.Klimo,Channeling,p.34.3.Ibid.,p.43.4.Wilber,Quantum,p.8.5.TheHarmonist,Vol.I,No.2.1986,"Interview:FritjofCapra,"p.22.6.FritjofCapra,TheTaoofPhysics(Shambala,1975),p.11.

7.EdgarD.Mitchell,"ImplicationsofMindResearch,"anaddresstomembersofCongressandCongressionalstaffonbehalfoftheCongressionalClearinghouseontheFuture,printedinInstituteofNoeticSciencesNewsletter,Spring&Summer1980,Volume8,Number5,p.5.

8.MasterofLife:Tools&TeachingsToCreateYourOwnReality,ValleyoftheSunPublishingCo.,Box38,Malibu,CA90205.

9.Mitchell,"Implications,"op.cit.10."TheViewpointintheScienceofMindConcerningCertainTraditional

Beliefs"(ScienceofMindPublications);ErnestHolmes,TheScienceofMind(textbook),p.30,citedinScienceofMind,September1983,p.47.

11.Klimo,Channeling,p.311.12.NewAge,November/December1987,DennisLivingston,"Takingon

ShirleyMacLaine,"p.79.13.ScienceofMind,March1978,pp.19,107-08.14.ScienceofMind,March1978,"VictimorMaster,"pp.3-4.15.Spokesman-Review,Spokane,WA,June17,1987.CHAPTER13—FROMSLIMETODIVINE1.WholeLifeTimes,October/mid-November1984,No.38,ShepherdBliss.

"JeanHouston:ProphetofthePossible,"pp.24-25.2.Roszak,Unfinished,pp.110-14.3.Harner,Shaman,p.57.4.FromaninterviewbyAPcorrespondentGeorgeW.Cornall,quotedfrom

Times-Advocate,Escondido,California,December10.1982.pp.A10-11.5.LosAngelesTimes,June25,1978,PartVI,pp.1,6.6.Harpers,February1985,pp.49-50.7.DouglasDewarandL.M.Davies,"ScienceandtheBBC,"TheNineteenth

CenturyandAfter,April1943,p.167.8.Roszak,Unfinished,pp.101-02.9.MichaelDenton,Evolution:ATheoryinCrisis(Adler&Adler,1986).p.342.10.LosAngelesTimes,December10,1980,HughA.Mulligan,APSpecial

Correspondent,"'BigBang':EvolutionistsontheDefensive,"PartV,pp.8-

9.11.ColinPatterson,personalcommunicationtoLutherD.SunderlandonApril

10,1979.12.TheGuardianWeekly.November26.1978.p.I.13.MichaelDenton,Evolution:ATheoryinCrisis(Adler&Adler,1986),p.

117.14.EcclesandRobinson,Wonder,pp.18-19.15.AlfredRusselWallace,TheWorldofLife(London:Chapman&Hall,Ltd.,

1910).p.184.16.BarbaraBrown,Supermind(Harper&Row,1980).pp.6-7,19.17.Ferguson,Aquarian,p.67.18.TheodoreRoszak,UnfinishedAnimal(Harper&Row,197S),pp.74-7S.19.AlanWatts,ThisIsIt(RandomHouse,1972).p.90.20.HerbertSchlossberg,IdolsforDestruction(ThomasNelson,1983),p.40.21.Peck,Road,pp.266-83.22.DavidSpangler,ReflectionsonTheChrist(Findhorn,1978).pp.36-37.23.Wilber,Eden,p.6.24.TimothyLeary,"DaringtobeDifferent,"op.cit.25.BernieS.Siegel,M.D.,Love.Medicine&Miracles(Harper&Row,1986),

p.99.CHAPTER14—SATANISM,ROCK,ANDREBELLION1.Fromawrittentranscriptoftheshow,availablefromOprahTranscripts,

JournalGraphicsInc.,267Broadway,NewYork,NY10007.2.RobertMastersandJeanHouston,MindGames(DellPublishing,1972),p.

214.3.Bloom,Closing,p.27.4.TheCommonBoundary,September/October1986."DebatingtheIdentities

ofEntities,"p.13.5.TheOprahWinfreyShow,November20,1986,Transcript#8644,p.6.6.ABCNEWS,20/20,"TheDevilWorshippers,"May16.I985.transcripts

availablefromBox2020,AnsoniaStation.NewYork,NY10023.

7.JerryHopkinsandDanielSugerman,NoOneHereGetsOutAlive(WarnerBooks,1980),backcover.

8.ThePlayboyInterviewswithJohnLennonandYokoOno(Berkeley,1982),p.169.

9.Ibid.,p.114.10.Ibid.,p.203.11.RollingStone,May5,1977.p.SS.12.PlayboyInterviews,op.cit.,p.106.13.Circus,January31,1984,p.70.14.CharlesWhite,TheLifeandTimesofLittleRichard(HarmonyBooks.

1984).p.206.15.JamesDouglasMorrison,TheLordsandNewCreatures(Simon&

Schuster,1970).16.Time,December16,1974,p.39.17.SoundtrackfromthefilmJimiHendrix,InterviewwithFaynePridgon(Side

4).18.CurtisKnight,Jimi(PraegerPublishers,1979),p.127.19.WillisHarman,"HopefortheEarth,ConnectingourSocial,Spiritualand

EcologicalVisions,"InstituteofNoeticSciencesNewsletter,Fall1982,Volume10,Number2,p.24.

20.2Thessalonians2:1-12;Revelation13;etc.21.SaturdayEveningPost,August8,1964.22.RayandMyers,Creativity,pp.40-48.23.WilliamC.Miller,TheCreativeEdge:FosteringInnovationWhereYou

Work(Addison-WesleyPublishing,1987),pp.84-97.24.RayandMyers,Creativity,pp.43.105.25.Time,June22.1987,p.69.26.NewRepublic,January18.1988,AndrewSullivan,"FloggingUnderwear,"

p.22.27.Creem,March1985,p.64.28.Rock,April1984,p.30.

29.MayaDeren,DivineHorsemen,p.250.30.JerryHopkinsandDanielSugerman,NoOneHereGetsOutAlive

(WarnerBooks,1980).pp.158-60.31.WadeDavis,Serpent,pp.43-45.32.RayandMyers,Creativity,p.37.33.WadeDavis,Serpent,pp.76-77,104.114.34.SeeDaveHunt,Peace,ProsperityandtheComingHolocaust(Harvest

HousePublishers,1983),pp.129-54.CHAPTER15—SHAMANISMONTHERISE1.Fromthebrochureadvertisingtheconference.2.MichaelHarner,TheWayoftheShaman(Harper&Row,1980).p.136.3.Ibid.,pp.20,43-44.4.ArtUlene,FeelingFine(J.P.Tarcher.Inc.,1977),p.259.5.Siegel,Love,pp.147-49.6.Ibid.,p.156.7.ErrolR.KomandKarenJohnson,Visualization:TheUsesofImageryinthe

HealthProfessions(DowJones-Irwin,1983),pp.94-95,130.8.Ulene,Feeling,pp.97-99.9.StephanieMatthews-Simonton,O.CarlSimonton,M.D.,JamesL.

Creighton,GettingWellAgain(BantamBooks,1980).p.198.10.Watring,"NewAge."op.cit.11.Klimo,Channeling,p.138.12.Harner,Way,p.50.13.Puharich,Uri(op.cit.).p.213.14.Davis,Serpent,pp.109-10.15.Siegel,Love,pp.19-20.16.YogaJournal,January/February1988.BillThomson,"SpiritualValuesin

theBusinessWorld,"p.52.17.Benson,Maximum,p.7.18.OrangeCountyResources,PhilFriedman,Ph.D.,"InterviewwithGerald

Jampolsky,M.D.,"p.3,fromJampolsky'sbookTeachOnlyLove.

19.Siegel,Love,pp.19-20.20.Critique:AJournalofConspiraciesandMetaphysics,#27,BobBanner,"A

SummaryReportontheAngels,AliensandArchetypesConference,"p.64.

21.Puharich,Uri(op.cit.),p.213.22.Fromapersonalinterview.23.RobertMastersandJeanHouston,MindGames(DellPublishing.1972).

pp.13.229-30.24.MastersandHouston,Games,p.134.25.DeborahRozman,MeditatingwithChildren:AWorkbookonNewAge

EducationalMethods(UniversityofTrees,1975),fromendorsementsinthefrontofbook.

26.Shaman'sDrum:AJournalofExperientialShamanism,Summer1986,"ShamanismonTelevision,"p.19.

27.HoustonandMasters,Games,pp.70-71.CHAPTER16—IMPORTANTDISTINCTIONS1.SirRobertAnderson,TheComingPrince(Kregel.1975),p.127.2.Deuteronomy28:15,37.64;30:1-4;Isaiah11:11;66:20;Jeremiah23:3-8;

32:37-40;33:14-26;Ezekiel36:24-38.3.Isaiah8:19.20;47:8.11-14,TheLivingBible.4.LosAngelesTimes,February9,1988,TamaraJones,"FireGoddess

Defended:HarnessingofVolcanoIsHotHawaiiIssue,"PartI,pp.I,18.5.LosAngelesTimesMagazine,February7,1988,RickMitchell,"Powerof

theOrishas:Santeria,anAncientReligionFromNigeria,IsMakingItsPresenceFeltinLosAngeles,"p.32.

6.TheDailyBreeze,January27,1985,JanetBarker,"SecretsofSanteria,"p.A3.

7.LosAngelesTimesMagazine,op.cit.,pp.18,32.8.DailyBreeze,op.cit.9.TheWashingtonPostMagazine,October25.1987,MarcFisher,"ICried

EnoughToFillAGlass,"p.26.

10.LosAngelesTimes,February13,1988,PartII,p.111.MinneapolisStarandTribune,November27,1986,p.6,quotingRobert

LindsayfromtheNewYorkTimes.12.AHPPerspective,December1984,T.H.Fitzgerald,"PracticalProblems,"

p.13.13.BarbaraMarxHubbard,TheBookofCo-Creation:AnEvolutionary

InterpretationoftheNewTestament,athree-partunpublishedmanuscriptdated1980,pp.x-xiv;seealsoBarbaraMarxHubbard,HappyBirthdayPlanetEarth(OceanTreeBooks,1986).pp.7-10.

14.BarbaraMarxHubbard,TheEvolutionaryJourney;APersonalGuidetoaPositiveFuture(EvolutionaryPress,1982),pp.75.114-16.

15.WashingtonTimes,November27.1987,LarryWhitham,"BookbackstheoryJesusvisitedIndiabeforepubliclife."p.E6.

16.John14:6,NewInternationalVersion.17.TheSource(Koloa,HI96756),January/February1988,JackUnderhill,

"SomeNewAgeMythsAndTruths,"p.19.18.SimonGreenleaf,TestimonyoftheEvangelists(BakerBookHouse),

Introduction.19.Time,April25.1988.p.42.20.USAToday,February5,1988,DonKirk,"BrainstormingSoviet,USA

Citizenstrytokeeptheballrollingforpeace,"p.4A;forconferencedetailsseeTheEagleForum,March-April1988,pp.I,8,14.

BooksbyDaveHuntTheGodMakers

—EdDecker&DaveHunt

MormonsclaimtofollowthesameGodandthesameJesusasChristians. TheyalsostatethattheirgospelcomesfromtheBible. Butaretheytellingthetruth? OneofthemostpowerfulbookstopenetratetheveilofsecrecysurroundingtheritualsanddoctrinesoftheMormonChurch,thiseye-openingexposéhasbeenupdatedtorevealthecurrentinnerworkingsandbeliefsofMormonism.HarvestHousePublishers,292pages.

ISBN:1-56507-717-2•TBC:B04023

DeathofaGuru:ARemarkableTrueStoryofOneMan’sSearchforTruth

—RabiR.MaharajwithDaveHunt

RabiR.MaharajwasdescendedfromalonglineofBrahminpriestsandgurusandtrainedasaYogi. Hemeditatedformanyhourseachday,butgraduallydisillusionmentsetin. HedescribesvividlyandhonestlyHindulifeandcustoms,tracinghisdifficultsearchformeaningandhisstruggletochoosebetweenHinduismandChrist.Atatimewheneasternmysticism,religion,andphilosophyfascinatemanyintheWest,Maharajoffersfreshandimportantinsightsfromtheperspectiveofhisownexperience.HarvestHousePublishers,208pages.

ISBN:0-89081-434-1•TBC:B04341

TheSeductionofChristianity:SpiritualDiscernmentintheLastDays

—DaveHunt&T.A.McMahon

TheBibleclearlystatesthatagreatApostasymustoccurbeforeChrist’sSecondComing. TodayChristiansarebeingdeceivedbyanewworldviewmoresubtleandmoreseductivethananythingtheworldhaseverexperienced.Scripturedeclaresthatthisseductionwillnotappearasafrontalassaultoroppressionofourreligiousbeliefs;instead,itwillcomeasthelatest“fashionablephilosophies”offeringtomakeushappier,healthier,bettereducated,evenmorespiritual.Asthefirstbestsellingbooktosoundthealarmoffalseteachinginthechurch,thisground-breakingclassicvolumestillsoundsaclearcalltoeverybelievertochoosebetweentheOriginalandthecounterfeit.Asdelusionsanddeceptionscontinuetogrow,thisbookwillguideyouinthetruthofGod’sWord.HarvestHousePublishers,239pages.

ISBN:0-89081-441-4•TBC:B04414

InDefenseoftheFaith:BiblicalAnswerstoChallengingQuestions

—DaveHunt

WhydoesGodallowsufferingandevil? Whataboutallthe“contradictions”intheBible? Aresomepeoplepredestinedtogotohell? ThisbooktacklesthetoughissuesthatChristiansandnon-Christiansalikewonderabouttoday,includingwhyamercifulGodwouldpunishpeoplewhohaveneverheardofChrist,howtoanswerattacksagainstGod’sexistenceandtheBible,andhowtotellthedifferencebetweenGod’sworkingsandSatan’s.HarvestHouse,347pages.

ISBN:1-56507-495-5•TBC:B04955

TheNonnegotiableGospel

—DaveHunt

AmustfortheBereansoul-winner’srepertory,thisevangelisticbookletrevealsthegemofthegospelineveryclear-cutfacet.RefinesandcondenseswhatDavehaswrittenforbelieverstouse

asawitnessingtoolforanyonedesiringapreciseBibledefinitionofthegospel.TheBereanCall,48pages.

ISBN:1-928660-01-0•TBC:B45645

BattlefortheMind

—DaveHunt

Positivethinkingisusuallybetterthannegativethinkingandcansometimeshelpagreatdeal,butithasitslimitations.Todenythosecommonsenselimitationsandtobelievethatthemindcancreateitsownuniverseistostepintotheoccult,wherethedemonswhofosterthisbeliefwilleventuallydestroythesoul.Unfortunately,increasingmillionsintheWestareacceptingthismysticalphilosophy,forgettingthatitistheverythingthathasbroughtmanydeplorableconditionswhereverithasbeenpracticed.TheBereanCall,48pages.

ISBN:1-928660-09-6•TBC:B45650

DebatingCalvinism:FivePoints,TwoViews

—DaveHunt&JamesWhite

IsGodfreetoloveanyoneHewants? Doyouhaveanychoiceinyourownsalvation?“ThisbookdeservestobereadcarefullybyanyoneinterestedinthetruenatureofGod.”—TimLaHaye,co-authoroftheLeftBehindseries.Calvinismhasbeenatopicofintensediscussionforcenturies.Inthislivelydebate,twopassionatethinkerstakeoppositesides,providingvaluableresponsestothemostfrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutCalvinism.Onlyyoucandecidewhereyoustandonquestionsthatdeterminehowyouthinkaboutyoursalvation.MultnomahPublishers,427pages.

ISBN:1-590522-73-7•TBC:B05000

WhenWillJesusCome?:CompellingEvidencefortheSoonReturnof

Christ

—DaveHunt

JesushaspromisedtoreturnforHisbride,thechurch.Butwhenwillthatbe?InthisupdatedrevisionofHowCloseAreWe?DavetakesusonajourneythroughtheOldandNewTestamentsasheexplainsprophecyafterprophecyshowingthatweareindeedinthelastofthelastdays.Intheprocess,DavecompellinglyshowsthatScriptureilluminatesthetruththatJesuswillreturntwotimes,andthatHisnextappearance—the“rapture”ofHischurch—willoccurwithoutanywarning.Thequestionis,areyouready?HarvestHousePublishers,251pages.

ISBN:0-7369-1248-7•TBC:B03137

CountdowntotheSecondComing:AChronologyofPropheticEarthEventsHappeningNow

—DaveHunt

Atlast,abookthatpresentsinaconcisemannertheeventsleadinguptothereturnofChrist.DaveHunt,inhischaracteristicdirectstyle,answersquestionssuchas,WhoistheAntichrist?Howwillheberecognized?Howarecurrenteventsindicatorsthatwereallyareinthelastofthelastdays?UsingScriptureandup-to-dateinformation,Davedrawstheexcitingconclusionthat,indeed,timeisshort.Thisbookinstructs,encourages,warns,andstrengthens,urgingreadersto“walkcircumspectly,notasfools,butaswise,redeemingthetime,becausethedaysareevil”(Ephesians5:15-16).TheBereanCall,newpaperbackedition,96pages.

ISBN:1-928660-19-3•TBC:B00193

AWomanRidestheBeast:TheRomanCatholicChurchandtheLastDays

—DaveHunt

InRevelation17,theApostleJohndescribesingreatdetailthecharacteristicsofafalsechurchthatwillbethepartneroftheAntichrist.WashedescribingtheRomanCatholicChurch?Toanswerthatquestion,Davehasspentyearsgatheringhistoricaldocumentation(primarilyCatholicsources)providinginformationnotgenerallyavailable.HarvestHouse,549pages.

ISBN:1-56507-199-9•TBC:B01999

WhatLoveIsThis?:Calvinism’sMisrepresentationofGod

—DaveHunt

MostofthosewhoregardthemselvesasCalvinistsarelargelyunawareofwhatJohnCalvinandhisearlyfollowersofthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturiesactuallybelievedandpracticed.Nordotheyfullyunderstandwhatmostoftoday’sleadingCalvinistsbelieve.MultitudeswhobelievetheyunderstandCalvinismwillbeshockedtodiscoveritsRomanCatholicrootsandCalvin’sgrosslyun-Christianbehaviorasthe“ProtestantPope”ofGeneva,Switzerland.Itisourprayerthat thisbook willenablereaderstoexaminemorecarefullythevitalissuesinvolvedandtofollowGod’sHolyWordandnotman.TheBereanCall,576 pages.

ISBN:1-928660-12-6•TBC:B03000

Seeking&FindingGod:InSearchoftheTrueFaith

—DaveHunt

Itisastonishinghowmanymillionsofotherwiseseeminglyintelligentpeoplearewillingtorisktheireternaldestinyuponlessevidencethentheywouldrequireforbuyingacar—yetthebeliefofsomany,particularlyintheareaofreligion,hasnorationalfoundation.Withcompellingproofs,thisbookdemonstratesthattheissueofwhereonewillspendeternityisnotamatterofpreference.Infact,thereisoverwhelmingevidencethatweareeternalbeingswhowillspendeternitysomewhere.Butwherewillitbe?Andhow

canweknow?TheBereanCall,160pages.[NOTE:ThisbookisextractedfromchaptersinPartsIandIIofAnUrgentCall.]

ISBN:1-928660-23-1•TBC:B04425

ACalvinist’sHonestDoubts:ResolvedbyReasonandGod’sAmazingGrace

—DaveHunt

Derivedfrommaterialintheauthor’smuchlargerscholarlywork,WhatLoveIsThis?this“user-friendly”bookwascreatedoutoftheneedforanon-intimidating,easy-to-read“introduction”toCalvinism.InACalvinist’sHonestDoubts,readersdiscovertheheartofaCalvinist“seeker”—andthesurprisingresultofhisquestfortruthinthisfictionalizedbuttrue-to-lifedialogue,basedonyearsofactualaccountsandconversationsbetweentheauthorandCalvinists,formerCalvinists,thosewholovethemboth,andtheLordwhoboughtusall.TheBereanCall,96pages.

ISBN:1-928660-23-1•TBC:B00193

JudgmentDay!:Islam,Israel,andtheNations

—DaveHunt

Inwhatispossiblythemostcomprehensiveandclear-cutexaminationofancientbiblicalprophecyandmodern-dayMiddleEastpoliticsregardingIslam,Israel,andthenations,JudgmentDay!isaneye-openingpage-turnerforscholars,analysts,pastors,professors,politicians,andlaypeoplealike.

Amazinghistoricalfactsandfirst-handinsightmakethisbookathrilling,sometimestroubling,read—butonethatisnecessaryforanaccurateunderstandingoftheprophetictimesinwhichwelive.Withpainstakingclarityanddetail,JudgmentDay!revealstheancientagendaagainsttheJews,andtracesitstwistedtrailtomodern-daydeceptionsofU.S.Presidents,foreignambassadors,

covert(andovert)militaryoperations,businesspeople,educators,andworldleadersalike.

Inthisno-holds-barreddocumentary,DaveHuntskillfullydissectsthemythofPalestinianclaimsto“thePromisedLand,”andexposesthefraud,deceit,andtreacheryofaninternationalcommunityalliedagainsttheJewishnation.Astheauthorwrites,“Inthefinalanalysis,thebattleoverIsraelisabattleforthesoulsanddestinyofmankind.IfIslamandthenationssidingwithhershouldaccomplishtheirgoalofdestroyingIsrael,thenmankind[fromabiblicalperspective]iseternallylost....”

Whyarethestakessohigh?Whatwilltheoutcomebe?DiscovertheuncomfortablebutirrefutabletruthinDaveHunt’simpassionedexposé—JudgmentDay!

ISBN:978-1-928660-42-2•TBC:B05858

AnUrgentCalltoaSeriousFaith

—DaveHunt

Haveyoueverprayed:Lord,howcanI...deepenanddefendmyfaith?•knowandprovethatGod’sWordistrue?•shareChristwithconfidence?•refutefalsereligions?•trulyloveGodasHedesires?•fulfillGod’spurposeformylife?•“rightlydivide”God’sWord?•understandBibleprophecy?•prepareforChrist’sreturn?•understandandteachBibledoctrine?

TheawesomesenseofthegreatnessofGodandthecosmicandeternalproportionsoftheworkthatHeisdoingseemslargelyabsentfromChristianitytoday.Couldthisbewhysomanycarrytheself-imposedburdensofman-made“programs”theyaretryingtoputintoeffectinorderto“livevictoriouslives”orto“advancethecauseofChrist”?Whenweseethatthetaskistotallybeyondourcapabilities,thenweceasefromourstrivingandbegintoallowHimtoworkinandthroughusbyHismightypower.Manywouldhaveusbelievethatself-loveistheanswertotheworld’sills.Both

Christianleadersandtheunsavedareteachingandpreachingthislie.Infact,itisself-lovethathaswroughttheillsoftheworld:greed,lust,envy,andstrife.

WhatweactuallyneedisapassionateloveforGodandHisWord,turningusfromearthlyambitionstoheavenlyhope.NotevenakingdomruledbyChristonthisearthisourhope,butheavenitself.“Whereforehesaith,Awakethouthatsleepest,andarisefromthedead,andChristshallgivetheelight.Seethenthatyewalkcircumspectly,notasfools,butaswise,redeemingthetime,becausethedaysareevil.”(Ephesians5:14-16)

AboutTheBereanCallTheBereanCall(TBC)isanonprofit,tax-exemptcorporationwhichexiststo:

ALERTbelieversinChristtounbiblicalteachingsandpracticesimpactingthechurch

EXHORTbelieverstogivegreaterheedtobiblicaldiscernmentandtruthregardingteachingsandpracticesbeingcurrentlypromotedinthechurch

SUPPLYbelieverswithteaching,information,andmaterialswhichwillencouragetheloveofGod’struth,andassistinthedevelopmentofbiblicaldiscernment

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IMPACTthechurchofJesusChristwiththenecessityfortrustingtheScripturesastheonlyruleforfaith,practice,andalifepleasingtoGod

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