What Is the Old vs. New Spiritual Paradigm?

Previously, we have talked about ancient spiritual teachings that were tailored to the people of their time. Over the last 30 years or so, we’ve been taught many new spiritual concepts, rituals and techniques. Sometimes it serves us to examine the newer teachings as well to separate the fact from the fat. What is the old vs. new spiritual paradigm?

What is the old spiritual paradigm?

Deepak Chopra (“How To Know God”) described seven different versions of God, each of which represents a different stage of growth in our soul’s evolution (e.g. God the Protector, Almighty, Redeemer, Creator, etc.). But God’s message to the world through Neale Donald Walsch (“What God Said”) was: “You’ve got me all wrong.” Why? Walsch explained:

God wants nothing, needs nothing, demands nothing and commands nothing. We have many fallacies about God and life itself, which create crisis, violence, killing and war.
The state of our world reflects the old spiritual paradigm, which is no longer working for us. Why? Because we can’t use first century spiritual tools to build a life in the 21st century.

At times the old spiritual paradigm needs to be updated. Many social movements and religions have arisen over the years, including the New Age movement that started over 30 years ago.

What is the new spiritual paradigm?

The function of all wisdom teachings is to help us remember the Greater Reality, who we really are and how to live in the physical without being of the physical. Many New Age concepts are rooted in ancient eastern religions, gnosticism and metaphysical movements (e.g. theosophy, new thought).

This creates a diverse philosophy that is constantly evolving. But the fundamental belief is that the nature of the world is spiritual rather than physical.
New Agers embrace “monism” or the belief that everything is one, and “pantheism” or the belief that God is in everything. But all concepts are up for review, as we continue to evolve.

Here is a Table that summarizes the evolution of our spiritual paradigm (based on many sources, including Guy Needler, Matt Kahn, Neale Walsch and others, click to enlarge):

Note: These are but a few concepts that have evolved over the years. Matt Kahn described two paradigms of reality: renewal (where old things become new) and erosion (where new things become old). One serves the other and we need a loving relationship with both. There is a natural order to everything we experience, learn and evolve from as “gardeners of energy” on the Earth.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post helps you see why we need to be open to change and let go of the need to have just one truth, belief or opinion about anything. Many things in this particular lifetime may need to be restructured, including our spiritual paradigms.

In a recent lecture (“You Are The Way“), Matt Kahn said the limitation of the old spiritual paradigm was that it assumed that there is a “one-size-fits-all” type of spiritual journey. It assumed that every single person was on the same spiritual path and thus needed the same type of teachings and practices. But the new paradigm teaches us two basic paths based on the ego structure:

There is one path for the “superior” ego structure that believes it is better than others. Their ego trip is about being self-absorbed or having too much ego. Their spiritual path is much like the 12-step program (I can’t do this myself, there is a higher power, I surrender). It is a journey of mindfulness or waking up to realize that there’s more than just me in the world. It’s going from arrogance to humility and equality. Once integrated, these people can use their power, authority and finances to become great philanthropists and do good in the world.
There is another path for the “inferior” ego structure that believes it is less than others. Their ego trip is about feeling unworthy or not having enough ego. They are afraid of being arrogant, so they hide from themselves. Their path is to learn that it’s okay to have an ego, because they need the ego to dissolve unworthiness and to manifest an embodied soul. Their doorway to enlightenment is being their natural, heart-centered, whole self with confidence. They learn to have great reverence and respect for the consciousness dressed up as them. They commit to being the creator on its way Home.

Matt Kahn summed it up nicely for us:

“Spiritual evolution is not about going from a small idea to a bigger idea. It’s about waking up out of ideas and then you can enjoy having ideas and then you become a creator. But in order to become a creator, you have to know you. Once you know you, then you realize that You Are The Way.”