--- 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/8d9/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_141675.jpg" --- # 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. How deep does New Age go? Has it come to terms with radical evil?…” quote by Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_141675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_141675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/huston-smith-2415_age_the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed_141675.jpg) > “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. How deep does New Age go? Has it come to terms with radical evil? More, I am not sure how much social conscience there is in New Age thinking.” [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 risks slipping into credulity and neglecting social responsibility and evil. **In simple terms:** New Age is hopeful but can be naïve and socially blind. Key Takeaway Balance optimism with critical thinking and ethical awareness. Themes optimism belief criticism ethics evil Mood hopeful critical reflective Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal development - community activism - ethical debates - cultural analysis Key Concepts spirituality social conscience critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can New Age practices address deep social injustices? - What safeguards prevent credulity? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic issues and foster superficial spirituality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [New age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-age/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. 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In meditation or frantic activity. In children, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/but-there-was-no-hiding-from-conscience-not-in-new-homes-and-new-cars/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [Forget Moses and the 10 Commandment, since Jesus came and fulfil the law, he also added new Laws, it is not written on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/forget-moses-and-the-10-commandment-since-jesus-came-and-fulfil-the/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## 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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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. 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It is as gentle as the morning's dew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/water-is-patient-it-can-stagnate-and-let-itself-be-coated-with-scum/) [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. 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But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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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. On the debit side, I think one needs to distinguish between belief and credulity. How deep does New Age go? Has it come to terms with radical evil? 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