Hope for Secular “Spirituality”
Have you noticed a recent shift towards “spirituality” in the secular world, especially young people? It seemed to start with astrology and mindfulness, then more people started practicing manifestation, using crystals, and some are now fully delving into the occult, such as tarot reading and visiting mediums. More new-wave spirituality terms have seeped into secular language, such as “negative/positive energy”, “aura”, “signs from the universe”, “law of attraction”, and “karma” (mostly watered down from Eastern religions). The more serious this gets, the more ritualistic it becomes; performing certain actions in order to gain something supernatural, i.e. blessing, love, protection, vengeance, healing, etc.
At first, I (along with many other Christians) laughed this off as a silly, temporary trend. But as this secular spirituality has gained cultural relevance and has evolved beyond the innocuous, it has become confusing at best and terrifying at worst to more traditional, born-and-raised Christians. It’s ritualistic nature raises concerns about witchcraft and demonic power rising in the West, which is already struggling with post-Christian atheism and cynicism. The devout Christian’s initial knee-jerk reaction might be to loudly denounce and avoid interaction with this at all cost.
This reaction is understandable, but not complete. I’d argue that the average personal “spiritual” practice is more empty than evil. Crystals are just rocks. Saying or thinking something over and over again to “manifest” it, is just incessant and ineffective repetition. It reminds me of the prophets of Baal, who exhausted every method to summon a god who never showed up, because he never existed (1 Kings 18). However, the extreme occult practices are probably actually dealing with demonic power. So a cautious reaction is warranted, but we can still interact in assured faith, knowing that our salvation is secure and God has given us all we need to fight the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6). Ultimately all of those who practice secular spirituality are lost souls who need to hear the gospel. There is evangelistic work to be had here.
Most generically “spiritual” young people I’ve talked to do not have a definitive, communicable religious framework - it’s a piecemeal of practices that just sound appealing. Unlike atheists, who seek to make sense of the world through skeptical philosophical thought, new wave spirituality is driven by something more instinctual. I’d argue it’s fear.
It’s basically common knowledge that young people are more anxious than they’ve ever been. They are anxious about the state of the world, their future well-being, their present social status (or lack thereof), and everything in between. In watching older generations’ “self-sufficiency” fail them, the spiritually curious begin to acknowledge that they personally lack something crucial or more effective than their own rationale or inner strength. In desperation, they reach for the unseen, the supernatural realm, to address the inner turmoil that feels too big for them to hold by themselves.
Does that sound a little familiar? They’re a half-step away from realizing their own sin nature and its damaging effects. And it comes with an awareness that the solution exists outside themselves, within the spiritual realm. This is much closer to the gospel than your run-of-the-mill atheist!
C.S. Lewis explores this commonality in “A Christmas Sermon for Pagans”. He distinguishes the differences of 3 groups of people: “(1) Those who are sick and don’t know it (the post-Christian). (2) Those who are sick and know it (Pagans). (3) Those who have found the cure.” He argues, “if you start in the first class [post-Christian] you must go through the second [Pagan] to reach the third [Christian]”. In essence, the pagan’s acknowledgment of their shortcomings prepares the way for gospel faith. Following in the footsteps of England in Lewis' time, New England has been largely post-Christian for a while. So could this rise in secular spirituality (aka Paganism) be a step in the direction of true gospel revival? If so, how can we proclaim the cure to the sick?
A previous blog post details the 3 common paradigms in worldviews, which are all fully addressed in the gospel. One of those paradigms is the Fear/Power dynamic. I don’t have space to fully explain the Fear/Power worldview, but essentially in an attempt to avoid being consumed by fear of the unseen, there is a pursuit of supernatural power. I’d say this is the predominant motivation behind modern secular spirituality. If we want to communicate the gospel in a way that resonates with this worldview, we must illustrate how Jesus is the ultimate power that overcomes fear. First, we can relate to their fear. We can use our testimonies to show that we have not always been susceptible to fear, but we have found the ultimate power that rescues us. Then we can describe the power of the cross - it is the ultimate spiritual ritual, with lasting powerful and pervasive effects in our earthly lives and our eternal life. Next we can testify to the rest in the cosmic safety of Christ that emboldens us to face any trial. But he hasn’t just rescued us, He has also empowered us with His indwelling Spirit - we have the essence of the most powerful spiritual force readily accessible within us. From here, we can share the personal experiences we’ve had with the Holy Spirit and the beauty that comes from life with God.
Believers, let us not fearfully retreat from the rising tide of new-age spirituality. Instead let us lean into the opportunity it presents, with hope that God might bring revival. He is powerful enough to do so.
”For (in a sense) all that Christianity adds to Paganism is the cure. It confirms the old belief that in this universe we are up against Living Power: that there is a real Right and that we have failed to obey it: that existence is beautiful and terrifying. It adds wonder of which Paganism had not distinctly heard — that the Mighty One has come down to help us, to remove our guilt, to reconcile us”
C.S. Lewis, “A Christmas Sermon for Pagans”