B. If there is anything really new about it, it is its acceptance in the West.

C. Its adaptation to the Western culture is also new.

The automatic and first context of an assessment of the New Age, as a ministerial student, is religious. For the purpose of this paper, however, I shall endeavour to limit the assessment of the New Age to the primary context of social psycho

It is not being peddled in ways that are so novel. The church has its preachers, the New Age has its "gurus." For all those who reject mainstream religion in search of spirituality without rules, they unfortunately will meet some of what they left, and more, for better, or for worse.

Range of Acceptability. "People are more open to conclusions within their range of acceptability" (Myers, 1996, 284). Although this seems insignificant, it actually has immense implications for the alluring nature of the New Age, as we shall observe.

We also see how denominations can be accused of being "cults," rightly or wrongly, by observers who don't know a great deal of the denomination, but do recognize cult-like methods for exacting obedience. Indeed, Jesus said "the truth shall set you free."

Surely by now every reader has heard something about "the new Age." It has been the subject of talk shows, headlines, and whole new shelf sections in libraries and bookstores. In fact, according to Peter C. Newman (1994), "the world is on the verge of a massive return to spirituality" (p. 38). Unfortunately, few are aware of the nature of this New Age, its roots, its methods, its philosophies, and the possibility that it may have one destination. The limited scope of this paper will not accommodate an evaluation of the philosophies or possible destinations of the New Age, but will examine its roots and methods. The allure of the New Age can be attributed in part to an overall lack of understanding its nature; when its history is taken into consideration and its persuasive element is exposed, we see that, contrary to the assumption that the New Age is a freer alternative to mainstream religion, persuasion is a very present part of the New Age.

Is the New Age forcing strange ideas upon us? Not at all. As we recall the roots of the New Age, we remember that much of what is happening is "coming around again." C. S. Lewis suggested that pantheism "catches on precisely because, like an old shoe, it is so comfortable" (Clark and Geisler, 1990, p. 9-10). While ancient religious philosophies may not be so familiar to us in the modern west, remember that the New Age is a "smorgasbord of Eastern and metaphysical beliefs," (MacLean's, p. 460). As Will Baron discovered, the more involved he became in the little group with which he was meditating, the more they gravitated towards a form of Christianity (Baron, 1990). At one point, the leader, who had led them up to that point to study the teachings of many spiritual leaders, including but not limited to Jesus Christ, all of a sudden told the group that, from henceforth, they'd only be studying the teachings of Jesus - from the Holy Bible no less. It appears that this was the intent, but they did not start there, they wended their way there. The jump from where they started to where they ended up was not a big one, because where they started was still within the range of acceptability of most people, (not limited to, but including the teachings of Jesus, from the Bible) making it easier for people to accept what was being offered "up front," (many of whom were reactants from "organized religions," but didn't want to blow too far to the extreme) demonstrating understanding, and effective use, of this concept.

(1997) The next level. Newsweek Magazine, April 7.

Foot-in-the Door Phenomena. When people agree to something small, they are more likely to agree later to a larger request (Myers, 1996). It technically got its name from the imagery of the mid-20th century American door-to-door salesman literally stepping one pace into the front door so that the housewife he was pitching wouldn't close it in his face. Every moment of extra time he had to talk increased his chances of a sale.

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Clark Geisler, Jim Jones, Fairly Baron's, Conclusion Preface, Conclusion Age, Age Baron, Changes Attitude, Observed Baron, Peter Newman, Heaven's Gate, clark geisler, myers 1996, baron 1990, heaven's gate, social psychology, appearing foolish, fear appearing, fear appearing foolish, geisler 1990, clark geisler 1990, persuasion age, cited clark, cited clark geisler, 1987 cited clark, alternative mainstream religion,
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