Changes

The '''New age movement''' is a large collection of differing beliefs and practices, which all share a theme of promised [[spiritual]] growth and personal development. Practices seldom include [[Christ]] and often include [[astrology]], [[reincarnation]], [[tarot card]] reading, [[crystal ball]] gazing, [[acupuncture]], [[meditation]], [[Eastern mysticism]], and many others. An early influence on the growth of the New Age movement was the founding of the [[Theosophical Society]] by [[Madame Blavatsky]] in 1875, but it gained most popularity in the 1960s, when its followers looked forward to the dawning of the [[Age of Aquarius]].

The '''New age movement''' is a large collection of differing beliefs and practices, which all share a theme of promised [[spiritual]] growth and personal development. Practices seldom include [[Christ]] and often include [[astrology]], [[reincarnation]], [[tarot card]] reading, [[crystal ball]] gazing, [[acupuncture]], [[meditation]], [[Eastern mysticism]], and many others. An early influence on the growth of the New Age movement was the founding of the [[Theosophical Society]] by [[Madame Blavatsky]] in 1875, but it gained most popularity in the 1960s, when its followers looked forward to the dawning of the [[Age of Aquarius]].

Often vague, and undefined, the New Age Movement shuns strict dogmatic teachings.  Jonathan Adolph says that the New Age Movement "has no religious doctrine or teachings of its own."<ref>Jonathan Adolph, "What is New Age?" ''New Age Journal'' (Winter 1988)</ref>

Often vague, and undefined, the New Age Movement shuns strict dogmatic teachings.  Jonathan Adolph says that the New Age Movement "has no religious doctrine or teachings of its own."<ref>Jonathan Adolph, "What is New Age?" ''New Age Journal'' (Winter 1988)</ref> A notable characteristic of New Age is it's drawing of cross-religion and cross-culture elements - a typical New Age believer can comfortably mix Christian crosses and angels with ancient egyptian, wiccan, satanic, native american, greek or celtic symbols making no distinction between them.

The [[Stanford Research Institute]] estimates than as much as 5 or 10% of the population identified themselves as New Agers.<ref>Jonathan Adolph,"What is New Age?" ''New Age Journal'' (Winter 1988)</ref>

The [[Stanford Research Institute]] estimates than as much as 5 or 10% of the population identified themselves as New Agers.<ref>Jonathan Adolph,"What is New Age?" ''New Age Journal'' (Winter 1988)</ref>