New Agers Influenced Bible Translations Indirectly

 Individuals or groups associated with New Age beliefs or liberal theological movements may have had an influence on the modern translation and publication of the Bible, either through their involvement in translation committees, publishing houses, or through their theological outlook. 

However, direct evidence that New Agers were actively involved in Bible translation is scarce, and most of the connections are indirect, arising from the broader intellectual movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, including liberal theology, higher criticism, and textual criticism.

Key Figures and Involvement in Modern Bible Translations:

1. Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828–1892) and Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901):

   • Background: Westcott and Hort are perhaps the most well-known figures associated with the development of the Greek New Testament that underpins many modern translations of the Bible, such as the NIV, ESV, and NASB.
   • New Age Connections:
     • While not directly New Age, Westcott and Hort were connected with esoteric and liberal theological circles, which can be seen as laying a foundation for some New Age thought in their ideas about scripture.
     • Westcott had an interest in spiritualism, and some of his writings suggested sympathies with mystical beliefs, which were later influential in shaping liberal theological thought.
     • Hort’s correspondence reveals his disregard for traditional Christian doctrines, including the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, which aligns with the broader liberal and esoteric rejection of orthodoxy.
   • Impact: Their work heavily influenced the modern textual criticism movement, which led to the use of the Alexandrian Text (particularly Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus) over the Byzantine Text in modern translations. This shift has resulted in the omission or alteration of key doctrinal passages in some translations.

   Reference:

   • Hort, F. J. A. The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort (1896).
   • Westcott, B. F. The Life and Letters of Brooke Foss Westcott (1903).

2. The Committee for the New International Version (NIV):

   • The NIV, one of the most widely used modern translations, has been criticized by some for its adoption of the dynamic equivalence approach to translation, which aims to prioritize readability and thought-for-thought translation over word-for-word accuracy. Some critics argue that this method can lead to doctrinal compromises or watering down of key teachings.
   • Liberal theological undercurrents: The NIV translation committee included individuals with liberal theological views who may have been influenced by New Age or secular ideas that downplay the supernatural aspects of Scripture.
   • One of the key figures involved was Dr. Eugene Nida, a linguist who worked on the dynamic equivalence theory. Nida's approach to translation, while not inherently New Age, was influenced by secular, humanistic ideas about language and communication. This approach has often been criticized for making translations that reflect contemporary cultural shifts and dilute traditional theological concepts.

   Reference:

   • Nida, Eugene. Toward a Science of Translating (1964).
   • McQuilkin, Robertson. The Dynamic Equivalence of the NIV (1983).

3. The Lucis Trust and Its Influence:

   • The Lucis Trust, founded by Alice Bailey, is another organization that has been associated with New Age spiritualism and occult philosophies. Although not directly involved in Bible translation, the Lucis Trust has had an indirect influence on theological ideas, especially in the realm of spirituality, mysticism, and esotericism.
   • New Age Philosophies: The Lucis Trust promotes an idea of universal spirituality that minimizes the importance of orthodox Christian doctrine, which can overlap with the views expressed in some modern translations that avoid exclusive claims about Jesus Christ and salvation.
   • Impact on Bible Translation: The New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses (another group influenced by esoteric and New Age thought) has been criticized for its doctrinal biases. While not directly connected to the Lucis Trust, the New World Translation has adopted principles that downplay the divinity of Christ, a view more aligned with New Age thinking than orthodox Christianity.

   Reference:

   • Bailey, Alice. The Externalization of the Hierarchy (1957).
   • Bailey, Alice. The Reappearance of the Christ (1940).
   • Ryrie, Charles. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (1965) – Criticizes the New World Translation’s theological biases.

4. Theosophical Influence in Translation Movements:

   • Theosophy is a movement that blends elements of Western esotericism, mysticism, and Eastern religious traditions. Theosophists, following the influence of Blavatsky, often sought to reinterpret or replace traditional Christianity with a more universalist, syncretistic view of religion.
   • Blavatsky's Views on Scripture: Blavatsky argued that the Bible was a "corrupted" and "paganized" text, and she promoted the idea that the true teachings of Christ were hidden in esoteric, mystical traditions. Her ideas could influence modern translators, particularly those with more liberal or mystical views about Scripture.
   • Indirect Influence: While there is no evidence that Blavatsky directly contributed to Bible translation, her work is part of a broader New Age movement that seeks to reinterpret Scripture in line with non-traditional, mystic views of spirituality. Some critics claim that modern Bible translations, particularly those using dynamic equivalence and the Alexandrian text family, are part of this trend to "re-envision" Scripture through a lens that removes or alters core doctrinal truths.

   Reference:

   • Blavatsky, Helena. The Secret Doctrine (1888).
   • Blavatsky, Helena. Isis Unveiled (1877).

While it’s not accurate to say that New Agers directly translated the Bible, the influence of New Age ideologies on modern translations can be seen in the theological liberalism and textual decisions made by certain individuals involved in the translation processes, such as those behind the NIV, Westcott and Hort, and other translations influenced by dynamic equivalence. These individuals were often influenced by liberal theology, which shares common ground with New Age thought in minimizing doctrinal absolutes, especially regarding the divinity of Christ, the atonement, and salvation.

---

Helena Blavatsky and Other New Agers

Helena Blavatsky and other New Agers influenced the corruption of Scriptures in modern Bible translations often centers on indirect connections rather than direct, verifiable involvement. Below is a detailed exploration of the argument, along with evidence and references:

---

1. The Role of Helena Blavatsky and Theosophy

Who was Blavatsky?

• Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–1891) was the founder of the Theosophical Society, which promoted esoteric philosophies blending Eastern mysticism, Gnosticism, and occult ideas. Her works, such as The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled, laid the foundation for New Age thought.

Alleged Influence on Biblical Translations

• Blavatsky and her followers viewed traditional Christianity as an obstacle to spiritual enlightenment. She labeled the Bible as a "perverted" text and sought to reinterpret its teachings in light of occult philosophies.
• Blavatsky's writings dismiss the divinity of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the central doctrines of salvation and resurrection, aligning with broader New Age efforts to undermine orthodox Christianity.

Connection to Modern Translations:

• Critics claim that New Age ideas indirectly infiltrated modern Bible translations through individuals or movements influenced by Blavatsky's esoteric philosophies.
• This argument often focuses on broader cultural shifts, including the rise of textual criticism and the diminished authority of traditional Christian doctrines.

---

2. The Westcott-Hort Connection

Who Were Westcott and Hort?

• Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort were 19th-century scholars who developed the Greek New Testament text underlying most modern Bible translations (e.g., NIV, NASB, ESV).
• Their Greek text relied heavily on Alexandrian manuscripts like Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus.

Alleged Links to New Age Philosophy:

• Critics accuse Westcott and Hort of holding theological views that aligned with esoteric or liberal ideologies:
  • Hort described the doctrine of substitutionary atonement as "immoral."
  • Westcott reportedly expressed interest in mysticism and founded the "Ghostly Guild," a group exploring the paranormal.
• While these interests may not directly link them to Blavatsky, they suggest an openness to non-traditional ideas, which some argue could have influenced their textual decisions.

---

3. Key Doctrinal Omissions in Modern Translations

Critics of modern translations often argue that New Age philosophies align with textual changes that dilute key Christian doctrines. Examples include:

Christ's Divinity

• 1 Timothy 3:16:
  • Byzantine Text: “God was manifest in the flesh.”
  • Alexandrian Text: “He was manifest in the flesh.”
  • Implication: Removing "God" diminishes the explicit declaration of Christ's divinity.

Blood Atonement

• Colossians 1:14:
  • Byzantine Text: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
  • Alexandrian Text: “In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
  • Implication: Omitting “through his blood” weakens the emphasis on Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Satan's Identity

• Isaiah 14:12:
  • KJV: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”
  • Modern Versions: “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star.”
  • Implication: Equating Lucifer with the “morning star” (a title for Christ in Revelation 22:16) creates theological confusion, aligning with esoteric reinterpretations of Satan and Christ.

---

4. The Role of New Age Sympathizers

Alice Bailey

• Bailey, a disciple of Blavatsky, founded the Lucis Trust and promoted New Age theology that often reinterpreted Christian concepts.
• Her works emphasize a "universal Christ" and a global spirituality that denies the exclusivity of Jesus as Savior.
• Bailey viewed traditional Christianity as an obstacle to the evolution of spiritual consciousness.

Potential Influence on Modern Translations:

• Bailey and her followers did not directly translate Scripture, but their worldview aligns with the dilution of doctrines found in some modern translations, such as:
  • Downplaying the uniqueness of Christ.
  • Removing references to divine judgment.
  • Emphasizing human enlightenment over divine revelation.

---

5. Broader Cultural and Theological Shifts

The Role of Textual Criticism:

• The rise of textual criticism in the 19th and 20th centuries coincided with growing secularism and skepticism toward the supernatural.
• Many modern translators prioritize Alexandrian manuscripts, which often reflect a more terse text with doctrinal ambiguities, over the fuller Byzantine tradition.

Alignment with New Age Thought:

• New Age theology often seeks to deconstruct traditional Christianity. The removal or alteration of key doctrines in modern translations can unintentionally align with this agenda, even if not directly inspired by Blavatsky or her followers.

---

6. References and Resources

Primary Sources:

• Isis Unveiled by Helena Blavatsky.
• The Secret Doctrine by Helena Blavatsky.
• The Externalization of the Hierarchy by Alice Bailey.

Secondary Sources:

• Wilkinson, Benjamin G. Our Authorized Bible Vindicated (1930).
• Riplinger, Gail. New Age Bible Versions (1993).
• Burgon, John William. The Revision Revised (1883).

Supporting Evidence from Early Church History:

• Church fathers’ writings affirm the Byzantine readings as consistent with early Christian belief and practice.
• The preservation of key doctrines in the Byzantine Text demonstrates the providential care of Scripture.

---

Conclusion

While Blavatsky and her followers did not directly translate or edit modern Bible versions, their esoteric philosophies align with broader cultural and theological movements that sought to reinterpret Scripture. The influence of textual criticism, liberal theology, and Alexandrian preferences in modern translations reflects a shift away from the doctrinal integrity preserved in the Byzantine Text, raising legitimate concerns about textual reliability.