Well, let's face it. Many New Agers and seasoned metaphysicians often feel that they are above and better than the people involved in religions. I must admit that I have been quick to judge at times myself. We often judge religions as controlling, dogmatic and that many of their practices do not make sense. The list is so long that I think somebody out there could probably write a book called Why New Agers Disagree with Religions.

Yet, have you ever wondered how a religious person might look at us?

I recently read a personal Gaia channel by Pepper Lewis where the client had asked:

What about what my sister calls the New Age? Is there any more truth in that compared to the older, more traditional religions?

Gaia: No. The New Age is no different than the other religions. It teaches, preaches, and prays as all religions do. It calls itself by other names and considers its generations special and unique. It understands its tasks to be more difficult than others and believes its rewards will be great accordingly. This is but another interpretation of separation, it is less than whole in its premise.

The excerpt made me pause and think.

It reminded me of those times when I took a step back and asked myself how I am different from the religious. Sometimes, when I am in gatherings with friends, I will speak up on my beliefs and share my understanding on certain issues. Am I preaching? I think I am threading on a very thin line. Well, many of you know how difficult it is to explain metaphysics to others who doubt you. At those situations, we are probably running in our heads, "Why do they not understand us when it makes so much sense?" Yet often, those friends do not even want to talk metaphysics with you.

This can be so frustrating but we can have a different perspective and understanding by putting ourselves in their shoes. Do you remember the over-zealous christian who intercepted you by the road and preached that only by turning to Jesus and their church, you can avoid hell? Now, many New Agers are actually not much different. Instead of being condemned to hell, you are condemned with karma or the prospect of returning for another incarnation. I know a friend is just joking when he teased another for want of trying, "Are you sure? Do you want to return for another lifetime?" Yet, the joke shows how deeply this idea is ingrained in our minds. Just like the religious, there are New Agers who often judge others and think that they are the only ones going to be "saved" unless you become one of them. Join us or perish.

Really, how are we different from religions? We can say that religions have many differences from one another. For example, Christianity and Islam do not believe in reincarnation but Buddhism and Hinduism do. On the other hand, there are just as many differences in the new age and metaphysics community. As a group without doctrines and clear organisations, almost everything goes. I suggest that you do a simple test. Pick a general subject, say "Karma" and go talk to a few New Age teachers or healers. I believe you will possibly get as many versions of answers as the number of people you ask.

Well, my argument here is that the religious look at you just as how you see them. Just as you might not want to pick up a religion, why do you suppose the religious or others will want to take up your beliefs?