Short answer
There is no official creed, so New Age spiritual beliefs vary from person to person. Still, scholars and observers identify several recurring themes: the divine is within everything, the self is spiritual and can evolve, and personal experience matters more than institutional authority.
Commonly shared beliefs
- Holism and unity. Everything is interconnected, and the universe is often seen as alive or conscious.
- Divinity as immanent. The sacred is often understood as an impersonal energy, a divine presence or a “higher power,” rather than only a separate creator.
- Spiritual evolution. Individuals and humanity as a whole are on a path of growth, sometimes across many lifetimes.
- Reincarnation and karma. Many hold that the soul returns repeatedly and that actions have consequences, borrowing from Eastern religions and from Theosophy.
- Energy and healing. Mind, body and spirit are believed to be linked through subtle energies, which underlies practices like energy healing and crystal work. There is no good scientific evidence that these work as claimed.
- Guidance from non-physical beings. Spirit guides, angels and ascended masters are often seen as helpers, and some people receive messages through channeling.
- A coming era of change. Many believe humanity is entering a new spiritual age, an idea tied to the Age of Aquarius.
- Personal authority. Followers are encouraged to test teachings against their own experience.
What do New Agers believe about Jesus?
There is no single position. Many New Age writers treat Jesus as a great spiritual teacher or an enlightened master, and sometimes as one of several, alongside figures like the Buddha. Some say he achieved “Christ consciousness,” a state they believe all people may reach. Most mainstream Christian churches reject these views because they do not affirm the traditional teaching that Jesus is the unique Son of God. Some New Age people also identify as Christian and hold more traditional views.
Do New Agers believe they are God?
Some do, in a particular sense. Many hold that each person contains a divine spark or is part of a divine whole, so they may say “I am God” or “we are all God.” This usually means they see themselves as expressions of a universal divinity, not that they claim to be the sole creator of the universe. Others avoid such language altogether. Critics, especially in conservative Christian circles, object to the idea as incompatible with a transcendent God.
Examples of practices
Common practices include meditation, astrology, tarot, reiki, crystal healing, yoga, affirmations and reading the Akashic Records. People take part at very different levels, from casual interest to central commitment.
Variation and criticism
Because the milieu is so diverse, no list applies to everyone, and many people dislike the label “New Age.” Scholars debate whether the movement is best called a religion; that discussion is in Is New Age a Religion? For the historical background, see New Age Spirituality and the Occult Revival.