Altered States of Consciousness

Trances entered through hypnosis, meditation, drugs (including hallucinogenics), visualization, etc. State of being in which one allows the subconscious to take control and guide. May heighten oneÕs vulnerability to suggestion or susceptibility to deception.

(See also: Altered States of Consciousness , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » New Age Dictionary

Christian Science

Officially called Church of Christ, Scientist, it was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston, Mass. Her teachings are heavily indebted to Phineas P. Quimby, a mesmerist. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures functions as a canon of Scripture.

 Matter is unreal; thus, so are sickness and death, which are overcome by believing that we are Mind. Christ is Òthe divine manifestation of GodÓ most fully seen in Jesus, who only seemed to die. The ÒHoly GhostÓ is Divine Science, that is, Christian Science. Many New Age ideas have historical roots in Christian Science and related New Thought groups.

(See also: Christian Science , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » New Age Dictionary

Ancient Mystic Order of Malchizedek

An organization founded by Malachi Z. York, in Eatonton, GA: Also known as AMOM, Nuwaubians, the Nubian Nation of Moors, Right Knowledge. A UFO group whose leader, (a. k. a. Dwight York) claims to be from the 19th galaxy, called Illyuwn.

A 1993 FBI report calls the group a "front for a wide range of criminal activity, including arson, welfare fraud and extortion. " YorkÕs group has also operated under other names and organizations including the Nubian Islaamic [sic] Hebrew Mission, the Ansaaru Allah Community, (an Islamic sect with doctrines similar to Nation of Islam), and the Original Tents of Kedar.

(See also: Ancient Mystic Order of Malchizedek , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Branch Davidian

Splinter group of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. founded by David Koresh (A. K. A. Vernon Howell) was leader from 1984 to 1993. He and most of his followers were killed when their headquarters near Waco, TX, was destroyed by fire in 1993 during a government raid.

He taught that knowledge of the Seven Seals of the Book of Revelation brought salvation. Many followers still believe KoreshÕs messianic claims and await his resurrection.

(See also: Branch Davidian , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Anointing

Anointing can mean many things. From ancient times, oil has been used for healing. Among Jews annointing is used by God to appoint someone to be a priest, prophet and king.

Many Jews have looked forward to a very special Òanointed one,Ó (in Hebrew Messiah), will come to reign over Israel. Christians Have taken the Greek word (Christos, which can be used to mean the same as Messiah) and use it as a title for their savior/god Jesus.

(See also: Anointing , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Christian Identity Movement

The belief that the true identity of the ten lost tribes of Israel is the white, Anglo-Saxon race. The belief is similar to but distinct from the doctrine of British Israelism.

A number of independent churches and organizations (including some militant racist groups) make up the general movement. Some teach a form of the Serpent Seed doctrine, believing that Jews are descendants of EveÕs alleged sexual relations with the serpent and are thus not fully human. Many also hold that non-Whites are descended from the union of Cain and a woman from a supposed pre-Adamite race.

(See also: Christian Identity Movement , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Baphomet

The Sabbatic Goat, also know as the Great God Pan, Abraxas, Thanateros, or the Horned God. The most popular rendering was drawn in the 19th century by Eliapha Levi. Often used as a symbol of Satan, especially in Satanism, and depicted as a GoatÕs Head symbol, an upside down five-pointed star (cf. pentagram), or a man with horns and goat-legs.

(See also: Baphomet , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Applied Kinesiology

A diagnostic technique sometimes called Òmuscle testing. Ó Often patients hold health care products (vitamins, herbs, etc) in their hand while the practitioner pulls or ÒtestsÓ the reciprocal strength in the finger, arm, etc. to determine the effectiveness or dosage of the remedy.

(See also: Applied Kinesiology , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Applewhite, Marshall:

See: HeavenÕs Gate.

(See also: Marshall Applewhite , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Baha'i Faith,The, Bah‡ÔuÕll‡h

A Islamic sect, originating in Persia, which has evolved into a major independent religion with approximately five million believers worldwide. Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Bah‡ÔuÕll‡h and others are viewed as a succession of divine messengers.

A 19th century Persian teacher, the B‡b, (or ÒGateÓ) predicted Bah‡'u'll‡h's coming. Bah‡Õ’ advocates a new global order of sexual equality, a one-world economic system to eliminate poverty, and a one-world religion.

(See also: Baha'i Faith , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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At-One-ment

Term used by several New Thought religions (such as Christian Science) referring to the supposed metaphysical unity or ÒonenessÓ of human beings and God as demonstrated by Christ. Contrast the Christian term Òatonement,Ó which refers to ChristÕs death on the cross as the means by which he reconciled sinful human beings to God.

(See also: At-One-ment , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Born Again

Christian term used to describe regeneration, derived from John 3: 5. Some New Agers teach that the term was JesusÕ reference to reincarnation or rebirthing.

(See also: Born Again , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Esoteric Astrology

The school of astrology that deals with the relations of our solar system and our planet to other solar systems, of the exchange of interstellar and interplanetary energies.

The Theosopohists say that people that got farthest in this respect were the Chaldeans of some 30 000 years ago. They further claim that in future individuals who acquired this knowledge in Chaldea will incarnate again and once more present mankind with the esoteric ÔastrologyÕ, thereby reviving the long-lost knowledge.

(See also: Esoteric Astrology , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Bird Goddess

Neolithic Goddess appearing with wings, a beak or a birdÕs body.

(See also: Bird Goddess , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Balefire

(Bale- Anglo-Saxon: gift)

1)    A traditional fire lit outdoors and used during the Wiccan and Pagan holidays: Midsummer, Lughasadh, Mabon. and especially Beltane,

2)    The traditional communal bonfire of the Sabbats. The modern word ÒBonfireÓ is synonymous with balefire, through it often has no religious significance.

(See also: Balefire , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Book of Mormon

One of the scriptures or ÒStandard WorksÓ of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and other churches originating from Joseph Smith, including the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and various Mormon Fundamentalist groups.

(See also: Book of Mormon , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Blue Rose Ministry

An organization in California and Arizona, founded by Robert Short. Teachings of the group focus on UFOs, channeling and messages from the Òspace brothers. Ó . Publishes the Solar Space-Letter.

(See also: Blue Rose Ministry , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Bogomils

The followers of Bogomilu, a Bulgarian priest (927-968 AD), who held that the Creator had two sons. The older being Satanel and the younger, Michael.

After a war in heaven Satanel was cast out and became master of all flesh and matter and owner of the Earth. Michael, as the Holy Ghost, entered into Jesus who then became the Christ and took away the power of Satanel, leaving him only as Satan, the originator of orthodox religion with all its clergy, rites and vestments.

Deriving from the teachings of the Manach¾ists, this sect (which survived for 400 years)denied the doctrine of the trinity and infant baptism. Baptism, they taught, is for adults only and does not take place externally in water, but internally and spiritual

(See also: Bogomils , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Blood Atonement

The Mormon doctrine, first taught by Brigham Young, that for certain sins the sinnerÕs own blood must be shed to receive forgiveness. No longer taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To this day, Utah allows condemned murders to face execution by firing squad rather than methods that do not shed the criminalÕs blood, such as lethal injection or the electric chair.

(See also: Blood Atonement , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Queztalcoatl

(Aztec - "feathered-serpent")

 An Aztec god of the air or a sun-god and a benefactor of their race who instructed them in the use of agriculture, metals and the like.

According to one account, Quetzalcoatl was driven from the country by a superior god and on reaching the shores of the Mexican Gulf promised his followers that he would return. He then embarked on his magic skiff for the land of Tlapallan.

The Great Bird-Serpent is the most powerful figure in Mexican mythology, and it was known and accepted as a god in ancient Mexico and Central America. Accordingly, he dominated the great early American civilizations, from the land of the Incas in South America, to the Pueblo Indians of the our southwestern desert; from Teotihuacan (Mexico City) on the high plateau to Chichen Itza in Yucatan, he is a prevailing motif on ancient monuments.

Sometimes with his jaws open, bifid tongue, and articulated spinal column, he is easily recognizable. At others, he seems to have been coded in an almost infinite variety of formalized patterns derived from his famous scales, or feathers.

To the ancients, Quetzalcoatl became the force for understanding the universe, as it was known before the introduction of modern religion by the Conquistadors of Spain. The god Quetzalcoatl represented, to the ancient peoples of Central and South America, the very essence of life.

(See also: Queztalcoatl , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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New Age

Movement of emerging planetary consciousness devoted to more peaceful place to live based on respect for humanity's diverse traditional ways of life in harmony with the environment and the spiritual

(See also: New Age , Body Mind and Soul)

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