Straight Answers on the New Age [Paperback]

Bob Larson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 1989

Horoscopes, crystals, the Human Potential Movement, meditation, channeling ... at last, everything you need to know about the New Age Movement is documented in this comprehensive volume written by one of the world's foremost experts. Answers to commonly asked questions follow each topical overview along with a mini-glossary of people, places, and terms associated with the subject.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 17, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0840730322
• ISBN-13: 978-0840730329
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #400,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bob has written 30 books, translated into more than a dozen languages. His books include four best-selling novels: "Dead Air," "Abaddon," "The Senator's Agenda," and "Shock Talk." His 500-page handbook, "Larson's Book of Spiritual Warfare," is an encyclopedic reference about demons, the devil, and deliverance and represents a lifetime of research and experience. His 500-page classic work "Larson's Book of Cults" is a standard reference encyclopedia at many colleges and seminaries. His latest book is "Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality." Other books include "Straight Answers on the New Age"; "Satanism: the Seduction of America's Youth"; "In the Name of Satan"; "UFOs and the Alien Agenda"; and "Extreme Evil: Kids Killing Kids."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a mix of truth and baloney, May 21, 2002

By 

louis smith "louis" (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Straight Answers on the New Age (Paperback)

I came across this book recently in the library. I wish I could give it a higher rating but this wouldnt be honest. I agree with Larson that some of the new age thinking is vague at best. For instance what is cosmic consciousness supposed to be? Does it mean you ascend to heaven? Does it mean you gain endless power? I have studied the new age for years and get the same vague answers which makes me wonder if these "experts" know what they are talking about. The book is a critique of all things new age from crystals to yoga. He gives information on crystals for instance, then he gives a question and answer forum on the subject. I found this helpful. I also agree with him that there is bunk in the new age. There are so called masters of yoga who cant even levitate a pencil, yet they claim perfection! Profiteers are rife in this area too. They dont believe in it themselves, they only want your money. However, Larson goes to far. There is no scriptural basis that meditation leads to possession. I have used reflexology myself and have had great results. Why would this be considered wrong? Isnt it possible that God put all kinds of wonderful things in nature and the human mind and body? Reading his book one would think that anything discovered like atomic power, electricity and the rest must be demonic. Since this is ludicrous, its not more so than some of the claims he makes in his book. If the chinese discovered accupuncture or reflexology or the hindus discovered the powers of the mind why would this be considered demonic and not atomic power? Also his quoting of science as final arbriter is also foolish. Scientific method is nothing more than using pro and con with empiricism. I got the impression that to claim something as not scientific is to damn it to oblivion as if science is the voice of truth. Far from it. I cant recommend this book. Larson seems to have irrational scruples. He takes information and then draws unsupported conclusions. It seems to me that God is good in putting things like herbs, reflexology, mind healing and other things in nature to help us. Larsons view doesnt make sense and his quoting of certain scriptures to support his view is also biased in places. He quotes the Bible where it says "As a man thinks,so is he." but then he says meditation and visualization is wrong. Go and figure.

5.0 out of 5 stars THE WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR AND TALK SHOW HOST DEALS WITH THE "NEW AGE", June 10, 2011

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Straight Answers on the New Age (Paperback)

Bob Larson (born 1944) is an American radio and television evangelist, currently based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has written many books, such as Larson's Book of Spiritual Warfare, Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality, Dead Air (Dead Air Series, Book 1), Larson's New Book of Cults, etc.

He wrote in the Preface to this 1989 book, "I continually confront the New Age Movement on my syndicated, life-by-satellite talk show... My research files are voluminous on everything from Aquarian occultism to New Age holistic health. Prominent New Age personalities have debated me... As I started to write this book, it seemed ironic that I hadn't done so sooner... Much of this book isn't editorialized; I simply report what's happening... By presenting a comprehensive and historical document on the New Age, I hope Christians and New Agers alike will consider more seriously the movement's ideas and implications."

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"Critics of New Age holism say that, extravagant claims aside, no practitioner has yet opened blind eyes or cured an AIDS victim. Psychiatrists argue that it's not unusual for a fleeting sense of well-being to follow an exotic healing procedure." (Pg. 59)
"In 1970, Sheila Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder wrote a best-selling book entitled Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain. Their speculation about the power of pyramids began fueling a fad that had long interested occultists." (Pg. 67)
"The (New Age) Movement should not complain that it has gotten a raw deal from the press. Any misconceptions can be readily corrected by a variety of New Age periodicals. The most potent testimony to the Movement's scope is the tangible proof that a consuming public for New Age products exists in the form of magazine purchasers." (Pg. 169)