This is not a religion and it has a place in a specific time and place of a person's life. One of these practices one could use as an example, is Reiki. This is a healing method of the laying on of hands. The Christian believer has the ability to do this, but the methods used by this healing system could be a great help. The concentration will be on the particular part of the body and centering God's healing onto it.
Those who do participate in the New Age Movement would normally use one element from it to participate. They would then get further involved as they grow in different areas. It is a matter of keeping the essential reason for the practice in mind. That is that it should benefit man and not hurt anyone in the process.
If you look at why the Christian folk have a problem with the New Age Movement is that it states that God is in everything and that God is everything. According to them Man is God or a part of God. In terms of this is that you do become part of God if you are filled with His Holy Spirit. If you are into Positive Thinking (as in Norman Vincent Peale), you are in fact part of creating your own reality and values.
The New Age Movement can influence lives in a positive way, but it will depend entirely on what your perspective is. The benefit of the New Age Movement can be found in looking at it as an individual and taking out of it the best for your own person. There are many healing qualities in most elements and hence it can bring healing to many, especially if you know how to utilize it.
Taking the New Age Movement apart creates unnecessary confusion and it can alienate people. This is especially seen from a Christian perspective. Some of the elements can be seen in the Bible such as meditation. Christians do not meditate as they do not know how to. If you know the ways in which you can meditate, you can meditate on God's Word.
The great possibility is that the New Age Movement has taken a "wrong" turn as many who do not know God would use whatever drives their own sphere of influence. This does not mean that all of it is evil and related to the occult. It is the individual's responsibility to act responsibly and to make sure that he or she truly understands the aspects as opposed to word of mouth influences.
