The Appeal Of Decentralized Spirituality Compared to Organized Religion

Outside of the New Age sphere, there is another type of spiritual seeker who is in pursuit of the truth. Though they may see there is some truth in certain New Age concepts and practices, they largely view them with a critical eye, understanding that there is rampant falsity not only in the institutionalized church but in the spiritual community as well. One could call them a truthseeker.

Truthseekers are often drawn to researching conspiracy related to the New World Order (NWO) and suppressed knowledge about human civilization. They tend to be dedicated to their inner work and the development of consciousness. They also are highly suspicious of systems that promote groupthink.

This skepticism toward institutionalized religion can extend to areas of spiritual knowledge that traditional Christianity has often rejected. Unfortunately, traditional Christianity does, in fact, suppress a lot of useful information related to the spiritual dimension of reality even if they are not harmful to one’s Christian faith, such as:

• How our thoughts affect reality

• The impact of the subconscious mind

• The mind-body connection

• Energy and vibration — People, animals, objects, buildings, and areas all carry a particular energy signature, which has a frequency (vibration)

There are other valuable ideas, such as fringe knowledge (conspiracy) and spiritual psychology, but because their value and truth is more subjective in nature, I did not include them here.

At the very least, I believe Christians should acknowledge ideas that pertain to the spiritual mechanics of the Universe, which are neutral in nature.

Due to its closed system model, traditional Christianity does not tend to resonate with truthseekers who prefer a more transparent, decentralized framework. However, many truthseekers still believe that Jesus existed and that there is some revelation within Christianity.

As a result, many are drawn to works like the Nag Hammadhi, Pistis Sophia, and other alternative spiritual texts. This is usually due to the mistrust towards the Bible due to the idea that it has been mistranslated, manipulated, and distorted. (I believe this is true, but oftentimes this view can lead to a devalued view of the Bible altogether.)

In these circles, God is typically understood as a wise universal intelligence and Jesus as a human being who awakened to his divinity. It is thought that we should strive to awaken to our divinity by undergoing a process of inner illumination and transformation.

New Thought and non-dualist circles similarly believe that Jesus was an enlightened being whose life we can emulate, although the emphasis is less about esoteric understanding and spiritual development and more about believing one is like God. “I AM” and “The kingdom of God is within you” are commonly cited phrases.

To be fair, there are nuggets of truth in these alternative frameworks, not just about our spiritual potential as human beings but also about the nature of reality.

However, there is a lack of understanding about the true nature of Jesus, who was not man but the Lord Himself.

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

-John 20:24-31, NKJV

This post is part of a larger article, which you can read in full here.