--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The New Age movement looks like a mixed…" description: "\"The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the capacity for belief. On t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_2248028.png" --- # The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in… ![“The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the capacity for belief. On the debit side, I think one needs to distinguish between belief and credulity.” quote by Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_2248028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_2248028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_2248028.png) > “The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the capacity for belief. On the debit side, I think one needs to distinguish between belief and credulity.” [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The New Age offers optimism and belief but can blur faith with gullibility, requiring discernment. **In simple terms:** Optimism and belief can become gullibility without critical thinking. Key Takeaway Balance hope with skepticism. Themes optimism belief critical thinking spirituality Mood thoughtful cautious Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - community building - education - media consumption Key Concepts new age credulity faith psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate healthy belief from gullibility? - What criteria help you assess new ideas? A Different Perspective Enthusiasm may overlook harmful misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-movement/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Good optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-optimistic/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [New age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-age/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) ## Related quotes > [The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed-bag-i-see-much-in-it-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [ “That many good men have believed this strange fable \[Christianity\], and lived very good lives under that belief (for credulity is not a crime)… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/that-many-good-men-have-believed-this-strange-fable-christianity-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I find color optimistic and enthusiastic, and I adore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-spade/i-find-color-optimistic-and-enthusiastic-and-i-adore-it/) [Kate Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-spade/) > [It is a remarkable thing that some of the most optimistic and enthusiastic people you will meet are those who have been through intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/it-is-a-remarkable-thing-that-some-of-the-most-optimistic-and/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [In turbulent times, in times of great change, people head for the two extremes: fundamentalism and personal, spiritual experience...With no membership lists or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/in-turbulent-times-in-times-of-great-change-people-head-for-the-two/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [“However, perhaps the most insidious aspect of the New Age movement is what I call the Optimism Gestapo, or those who regulate and insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-icke/however-perhaps-the-most-insidious-aspect-of-the-new-age-movement-is/) [David Icke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-icke/) > [The Heidelberg Catechism rightly says, for all Christians who allow the Bible to absorb the world for them - who see reality through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/the-heidelberg-catechism-rightly-says-for-all-christians-who-allow/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [I don't believe in a new-age movement; I'm not a hippy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/i-don-t-believe-in-a-new-age-movement-i-m-not-a-hippy/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [I have found on Alpha that those from an essentially enlightened background feel at home with the parts of the course which appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/i-have-found-on-alpha-that-those-from-an-essentially-enlightened/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [“The New Age movement, for all the validity of its protest and the value of some of its recommendations, is in truth a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-new-age-movement-for-all-the-validity-of-its-protest-and-the/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [It is the contention of this writer that for the first time in history there is a viable movement - the New Age Movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-e-cumbey/it-is-the-contention-of-this-writer-that-for-the-first-time-in/) Constance E Cumbey > [What I find sad is that the New Age movement is primarily a commercial undertaking. But it is answering to a human need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-esquivel/what-i-find-sad-is-that-the-new-age-movement-is-primarily-a/) [Laura Esquivel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-esquivel/) > [Some people will always ground themselves very strongly in a piece of soil, a grandmother's property, a tiny plot of land, and that's great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/some-people-will-always-ground-themselves-very-strongly-in-a-piece-of/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“We could all use a little more love. A lot more love. I am not a naturally optimistic person. I’m too in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-could-all-use-a-little-more-love-a-lot-more-love-i-am-not-a/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Man often becomes what he believes himself to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-often-becomes-what-he-believes-himself-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Huston Smith > [“The Transcendent was my morning meal, we had the Eternal at lunch, and I ate a slice of the Infinite at dinner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-transcendent-was-my-morning-meal-we-had-the-eternal-at-lunch-and/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The first koan do not have rational answers. They are techniques devised over the millennia for triggering an actual experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-first-koan-do-not-have-rational-answers-they-are-techniques/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [We all carry it within us: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted, and cannot be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/we-all-carry-it-within-us-supreme-strength-the-fullness-of-wisdom/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-nation-can-assume-that-the-addition-of-the-words-under-god-to-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“Some friends accused me of whoring after the Infinite. 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I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed-bag-i-see-much-in-it-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Science can prove nothing about God, because God lies outside its province.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/science-can-prove-nothing-about-god-because-god-lies-outside-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [I had assumed that Bush's seemingly inflexible policy to support Sharon was for political reasons of his getting elected. But as to whether he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-had-assumed-that-bush-s-seemingly-inflexible-policy-to-support/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The Buddha is in me, the Buddha is in you. Live up to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-buddha-is-in-me-the-buddha-is-in-you-live-up-to-it/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“How many planes there are, we do not know. The levels of nature that science discriminates give us no clue, for these all pertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/how-many-planes-there-are-we-do-not-know-the-levels-of-nature-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [So always, if we look back, concern for face-to-face morality, and its modern emphasis on justice as well, have historically evolved as religious issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/so-always-if-we-look-back-concern-for-face-to-face-morality-and-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [All -isms end up in schisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/all-isms-end-up-in-schisms/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Most of the book deals with things we already know yet never learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/most-of-the-book-deals-with-things-we-already-know-yet-never-learn/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) [Explore all 167 Huston Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the capacity for belief. 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