Social/Political Activism and the New Age

Although the Social/Political arena may
not be overtly New Age in nature, it has
served as a magnet for bringing together
transformed New Agers and the socially
concerned. Like the human potential
movement, this segment grew out of the
tumult of the 1960s when various civil
rights movements sprang up from the
counterculture. Never before had so many
people demonstrated concern over such
issues as the environment or the
treatment of various minority groups.

In the 1970s and 1980s, many who had
sought purely political means for world
betterment in the 1960s became
disillusioned with that route and
endeavored to link planetary betterment
with spiritual transformation. They saw
simple protest was not accomplishing
their goal. They were convinced that in
order to perfect the world, they had to
perfect the people first. Getting in
tune with one’s
inner divinity was seen
as the key to effecting that change on a
wide scale. Meditation also seemed like
an easier commitment than marches and
resistance. They believed that any
effort to save the world and end social
evil would fail without the element of
higher consciousness.

It would surprise many Americans to
know that they actually voted for a New
Age sympathizer for president of the
United States in the 2000 election. In a
Time magazine article in 2003
called “Just Say Om,” former
presidential candidate, Al Gore, said
the following about meditation:

“We both [he and his wife] believe
in regular prayer, and we often pray
together. But meditation–as
distinguished from prayer–I highly
recommend it.”1

One might argue that perhaps Gore was
not referring to mystical type
meditation and that he didn’t have any
such proclivities, but this notion would
be put to rest by his endorsement of a
book (Marriage of Sense and Soul)
by Ken Wilber, a leading figure in the
New Age. On the back cover of the book,
Gore proudly proclaimed Wilber’s book is
“one of my new favorites.”

2 

New Ager Neale Donald Walsch publicly
revealed
Gore’s spiritual sympathies in
the following comments he made at the
Humanity’s Team Leadership Gathering in
2003:

“You know
Al Gore. I know Al well and he says
to me, ‘Hey Neale, I used to be the
next president of the United
States.’ Al has read my books and
loves them, but he can’t possibly
say that publicly…. He should be
able to, and in the society we’re
going to recreate he will be able
to, but right now he can’t.”3

For those not familiar with Walsch’s
work, this may not seem that
significant. But Walsch is the author of
the Conversations with God
books, in which millions of copies have
been sold. His books are the supposed
conversations between Walsch and “God.”
Walsch’s “God” proclaims:

“The twenty-first century will be
the time of awakening, of meeting
The Creator Within. Many beings will
experience Oneness with God…. There
are many such people in the world
now–teachers and messengers, Masters
and visionaries–who are placing this
vision before humankind and offering
tools with which to create it. These
messengers and visionaries are the
heralds of a New Age.”

4

“There is only one message that
can change the course of human
history forever, end the torture,
and bring you back to God. That
message is The New Gospel: WE ARE
ALL ONE.”

5

The “tools” Walsch is speaking of is
meditation. The fact that someone who
promotes and practices New Age
meditation could have (and still may)
become the president of United States,
shows clearly that this mindset plays an
integral role in today’s world. This
assessment can be backed up by New Age
teacher Marianne Williamson. Williamson
became popular, largely through the
Oprah show. Williamson wrote a book,
A Return to Love, (based on the
channeled New Age classic A Course
in Miracles). When Oprah brought
Williamson onto her show–the book became
an overnight success.

A Course in Miracles could
be referred to as the New Ager’s bible.
One former New Ager explains
Williamson’s interest in the political
field:

“Over the past decade, Williamson
has continued to champion A
Course in Miracles in the media
and in her public appearances around
the country. A more recent book,
Healing the Soul of America,
has enabled Williamson and the
Course to make a subtle
transition into the political arena.
Hoping to inspire a ‘new gospel’
approach to national and world
problems, Williamson, along with
bestselling Conversations with God
author Neale Donald Walsch,
cofounded The Global Renaissance
Alliance.”

6

When we comprehend Williamson’s
propensity towards the New Age and
meditation (as a vehicle for world
peace), it is astounding to know that
Williamson is working closely with
Walter Cronkite, a former CBS news
anchor and public icon, once referred to
as “the most trusted man in America.”

7


 Williamson and Cronkite, along
with Congressman Dennis Kucinich, are
trying to convince the US government to
start a cabinet–level Department of
Peace within the executive branch via
House bill HR808. The fact that someone
as mainstream as Walter Cronkite would
align himself with the openly
metaphysical Williamson bespeaks of the
current spiritual climate of our
society. Incidentally, the campaign to
start the Department of Peace is gaining
momentum and currently has the support
of over 60 U.S. Representatives and
Senators and has local grassroot
chapters in over 200 congressional
districts.”8

Williamson embodies, as few others
do, the marriage between
political/social idealism and the
embracing of metaphysical perception. As
the tone of modern spirituality changes
so will the various institutions that
comprise society.

---

This is an excerpt from Ray Yungen’s
book,

For Many Shall Come in My Name,
2007, Lighthouse Trails edition.

---

Notes

1. Joel
Stein, “Just Say Om” (Time
magazine, July 27, 2003).
2. Ken Wilber, The Marriage of Sense
and Soul (New York, NY: Random
House, First Broadway Books paperback
edition, 1999), back cover.
3. Warren Smith, Reinventing Jesus
Christ (Magalia, CA: Mountain
Stream Press, updated, online edition,
chapter 3 at http://www.reinventingjesuschrist.com/updates/3.html,
accessed 03/2007), citing the Humanity’s
Team Leadership Gathering, Portland,
Oregon, June 27-July 1, 2003: “The Care
and Feeding of the Press.” Transcribed
from audiotape.
4. Neale Donald Walsch, Friendship
with God (New York, NY: The
Berkeley Publishing Group, Berkeley’s
trade paperback edition, 2002), pp. 295,
296.
5. Ibid., p. 373.
6. Warren Smith, Reinventing Jesus
Christ (Ravenna, OH: Conscience
Press, printed edition, 2002) p. 11.
7. Laura Tuma, “Walter Cronkite, ‘The
most trusted man in America’”
(University of Texas at Austin, Utopia,
Texas Tribute, Spring 1997, http://utopia.utexas.edu/articles/tribute/cronkite.html,
accessed 03/2007).
8. See the Campaign to Establish a U.S.
Department of Peace website: http://www.thepeacealliance.org.

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