Sometimes the importance of a movement can be measured by the number and intensity of its enemies. By that measure, this is one of the most important movements of the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries.
New Age is a catch-all term for an assortment of alternative spiritual and quasi-spiritual beliefs and practices, some old, some new. New Agers tend to be individualistic and highly tolerant of a wide variety of beliefs and lifestyles. They tend to mix and match ideas freely without much respect for established religious authority. That's the major reason why the religious right and other orthodox groups fear and condemn them so obsessively.
But it's anyone's guess why skeptics and rationalists, such as James Randi, also condemn and harass them. After all, it's the powerful religious right, not New Agers, which threatens to break down separation of church and state protections in America, tries to mix science and religion in our schools, and advocates a theocratic government based on the Bible. But, then, the religious right is a major, organized political power, while New Agers are not. Maybe skeptics feel safer picking on the little guys. Or, maybe they pick on them because New Agers don't show much respect for rationalist authority either.
The following list of links is short, because there is no need to re-invent the wheel. Some of these sites are nearly comprehensive in their range of links to other New Age sites.
BuddhaNet: Worldwide Buddhist Information and Education Network A large, well-organized site that provides a wealth of information about Buddhism and offers a large number of free e-books to download.
Buddhist Studies WWW Virtual Library A central resource for Buddhist information. Covers the full range of Buddhism.
The Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic This unusual school aims to help its students create permanent, positive change in their lives through the study of esoteric magical and shamanic knowledge as a precise, reliable hard science. It offers convenient, easy-to-access and practical courses (fee-based) for all levels of practitioners, as well as certification courses for teachers. Browse the site for additional resources and information about magic and shamanism.
Global Psychics This psychic resource center aims to provide accurate information about metaphysics, spirituality and the paranormal.
The Gnosis Archive Major source for Gnostic texts, including the Nag Hammadi texts, and information about Gnosticism.
The Hindu Universe Comprehensive site about Hinduism. While Hinduism as a cultural force is not always as tolerant as it should be (the caste system, for example), many of the philosophies arising from it, such as yoga and Vedanta, are impressively tolerant.
Hindu/Vedic Astrology James Braha, the astrologer who brought Hindu, also known as Jyotish or Vedic, astrology to the West in understandable form.
Janosh Art Janosh is a Dutch artist who creates unusually beautiful, evocative art on his computer for the purpose of contributing to "the human process of awakening and consciousness." A must-see. Enjoy browsing the galleries.
Krishnamurti Worldwide Web Information The late J. Krishnamurti may be the most important, influential and respected spiritual teacher of the twentieth century. Many noted physicists and intellectuals engaged in probing discussions with him about the nature of reality. But don't expect him to be like any other teacher. A man of remarkable honesty and integrity, he was also an iconoclast who had little respect for religious authority.
Moore to Consider "Maintaining a sincere hope of bringing the exact right information to the exact people who are looking for it, I have made a conscious effort at creating a hopeful, truth-oriented site, greatly inspired by the words I have received from channeling." - Site's author, Rob Moore
Near-Death Experiences Links to believers and skeptics.
New Age Spirituality From the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance, an excellent introduction to understanding New Age spirituality, along with some objective debunking of the movement's critics.
New Age Web Works Large list of links by category, plus articles and more.
New Frontier Magazine New Age articles.
Out-of-Body Experience Recreated Scientists have found a way to trigger an out-of-body experience in volunteers. Also, The Science of Out-of-Body Experiences "...the studies relate to humankind's most enduring question: what makes us ourselves in the first place? 'I'm not really interested in out-of-body experiences,' says Henrik Ehrsson, one of the study's authors and an assistant professor at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. 'I'm really interested in in-body experiences: how the brain keeps and updates a model of the world and the body. To have a perception of your own body is the foundation of self-consciousness.'"
The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York One of the major centers of information about Vedanta.
Remote Viewing FAQ, Q&A, Manuals. Also, see the writings of Ingo Swann, who designed the remote viewing methodology.
Self-Realization Fellowship SRF was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, who became one of the most widely known yoga masters of the twentieth century, largely because of his famous and fascinating book, Autobiography of a Yogi. For many people, this book and the SRF Temple in Hollywood, California, have been their starting point for exploring the many schools of yoga.
Taoism Although Taoism is now a religion, it started out as a philosophy. This introduction includes many useful links.
3.2 Years Life Cycles in Time Integration and Synchronicity Coincidences Use birthdays and the "Life Cycles Matrix System" (free download) for insight into your consciousness, course of life, relationships, child raising, job, career, business, study and destiny. The system is based on the recognition of repeating life cycles, using multiples of a 3.2-year life cycle as a building block.
Vedanta Society of Southern California The society's headquarters, located in a small temple in the Hollywood Hills, has attracted many intellectuals and artists in its time, including Christopher Isherwood, and has published important books on Vedanta, the philosophy derived from the Hindu Vedas. View the site for an explanation of Vedanta and links to other relevant sites.
WiccaNet A major information resource about Wicca and for Wiccans - also supportive of other expressions of Earth-friendly spirituality.
The Witches' Voice An educational network dedicated to correcting misinformation about Witches and Witchcraft. Extensive information and list of links about Paganism.
Zen Buddhism WWW Virtual Library Central source of information about the elusive satori, the Zen expression of enlightenment.
