Date
3-2021
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Apologetics (PhD)
Chair
Ronnie Campbell
Keywords
New Age, Enneagram, Yoga, Christianity, Theology, Apologetics
Disciplines
Christianity | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
Berg, Christopher Michael, "Purging the New Age: A Theological Analysis of the Use of New Age Practices by the Church" (2021). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2837.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2837
Abstract
This dissertation sets out to demonstrate that Yoga and the Enneagram are not compatible with orthodox Christianity. Additionally, this dissertation will show that all possible attempts at Christianizing these practices ultimately fail due to incompatible underlying philosophies and theologies. In order to accomplish this task, assessment criteria will be developed through a comparison of a subset of evangelical Christian theological topics with their New Age counterparts. These criteria will be used to assess the level of syncretization in each practice as presented by the most popular and prolific Christian practitioners. After assessment, a recommendation will be given concerning each practice’s use in the church. For future study, the criteria developed through this dissertation will be able to be used by others to discern New Age syncretization in any practice under examination.
