The Encyclopedia of World Religions

New Age movement S 317

and the name of a biblical book. The Persian king Artaxerxes I (ruled 464–423 B . C . E .) sent Nehemiah, one of his cupbearers, as governor to J ERUSALEM in 445 B . C . E . Nehemiah rebuilt the city walls and made it safe to live in once again. Some time later—the date is not known with certainty—Artaxerxes sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem for a second term as governor. On this occasion he undertook religious reforms that emphasized a return to tradition and a rejection of intermarriage with non-Jews. The relationship of Nehemiah’s activities to those of E ZRA is uncertain. The B IBLE gives the impression that they were active at the same time, but many scholars argue that Ezra must have come after Nehemiah. The book of Nehemiah is really the second part of the book of Ezra. It tells mostly of the events of Nehemiah’s governorship. It does so in a first-per son narrative that makes the book read as if it were the memoirs of Nehemiah himself. New Age movement The term New Age or New Age Thinking is a general label used since the late 20th century and after to cover a num ber of interrelated spiritual interests. They include belief in “alternative healing” or “holistic health” (acupuncture, homeopathy, diet-based cures, etc.), astrology, crystals, a strong affirmation of the power of thought to change oneself and real ity, the “channeling” of great teachers or “masters” through trance, reincarnation and karma, and a general sympathy with nature and ecology. Many speakers and best-selling books, tapes, and videos, such as those of the actress Shirley McLaine, have popularized the concepts. Though one can find numerous groups and bookstores recognizable as New Age, the move ment has produced no major, long-lasting organiza tion. Nevertheless, several important centers reflect its spirit, such as the Findhorn community in Scot land and the Association for Research and Enlight enment in Virginia Beach, Virginia, established by the famous “sleeping prophet” Edgar Cayce (1877– 1945), considered a precursor of the New Age.

ment of moral perfection. The Church of the Naz arene resulted from mergers of several churches in this tradition, starting in 1907. It was originally named the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, but the word Pentecostal was dropped when the Pen tecostal Church became associated with speaking in tongues (see Pentecostalism), which Nazarenes do not do. The name Nazarene refers to J ESUS , who came from Nazareth. Like many Protestants, Nazarenes accept the B IBLE as the Word of G OD and maintain that people are saved from SIN by God’s GRACE through Jesus rather than through anything people do. Beyond this, Nazarenes also believe that “entire sanctifica tion” is possible. This sanctification comes after the regeneration of BAPTISM , and it eliminates origi nal sin and instills in the Christian a spirit of com plete devotion to God. In pursuit of this perfection or holiness, Naza renes have embraced a strict lifestyle, outlined in their C OVENANT of Christian Conduct. The church’s membership may alter this covenant in keeping with changing understandings of the Christian life. Among other things the covenant in effect in the summer of 2004 required Nazarenes to avoid any form of entertainment, such as radio, television, or cinema, that promoted socially dangerous values, such as violence, pornography, and the occult; gambling, including state run lotteries; dancing; and the use of tobacco, liquor, or hallucinogenic drugs. In keeping with these provisions, Naza renes use only unfermented grape juice when they celebrate communion ( see E UCHARIST ). The church has also strongly condemned homosexuality and the legalization of abortion. The churches that came together to form the Church of the Nazarene were active in overseas missions even before the mergers that created the church. At the beginning of 2006 the church reported a total membership of 1.6 million mem bers, more than 60 percent of whom lived outside the United States.

Nehemiah (586–539 B . C . E .) a governor of Jerusalem in the period after the Babylonian exile,