As Ray Yungen has pointed out in his book, For Many Shall Come in My Name, the New Age movement and eastern meditation have completely saturated our society. The influence can be seen in medicine, education, religion … and now more than ever, politics. Marianne Williamson, a staunch New Ager and opponent of biblical Christianity, has teamed up with Walter Cronkite to lobby Washington DC for a Department of Peace. Make no mistake about it, this Department of Peace will become a controlling center for those who resist the unified effort to rid the world of “narrow-mindedness” that would say there is only one way to God, Jesus Christ. Marianne Williamson and Barbara Marx Hubbard, along with several other influential New Age proponents have made this clear time and again. And what is the driving force, the energy that will give this effort its power? It’s meditation. Mysticism.
Where else is the New Age showing up in politics? Well just take a look at Rick Warren. While he says he is not into politics and is not a diplomat, of course he is — his actions show this clearly (e.g., wanting to go to North Korea to diffuse tensions). But politics is not Warren’s only agenda. No, he is also a strong endorser and promoter of the spiritual formation movement, which is a thinly veiled rendition of the New Age movement. And what is the driving force of the spiritual formation movement (i.e., contemplative spirituality). Meditation. Mysticism.
In case some haven’t noticed, there is a convergence going on. Last week, political activist Marianne Williamson came to the defense of another political activist, Rick Warren. Both promote mystical meditation – is it any wonder Williamson would resonate with Warren? And today, a statement was issued by several “evangelicals” that is titled, “>We Stand with Rick Warren and Barack Obama. This statement was signed by meditation proponents like Tony Campolo, Jim Wallis and Lauren Winner (Girl Meets God).
While politics is obviously on people’s minds right now in light of an upcoming election, we must remember that mysticism transcends politics and is the heartbeat of a new kind of politics that is surfacing today.
