What do you think?
Rate this book
Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future
The psychic phenomena of today are symptoms of the emergence of a new spirituality that is molding the world religion of the future—phenomena such as Yoga, Zen, Tantra, Transcendental Meditation, Guru Maharaj-ji, Hare Krishna, UFO’s, the Charismatic Movement, and Jonestown.
“None of these by itself … has a crucial significance in the spiritual makeup of contemporary man; but each one in its own way typifies the striving of men today to find a new spiritual path, distinct from the Christianity of yesterday, and the sum of them together reveals a frightening unity of purpose whose final end seems just now to be looming above the horizon.”
–Fr. Seraphim Rose
This work is a concise and unequivocal Orthodox statement on contemporary trends; its urgent message rings loud and clear. Viewed from the foundation of patristic teaching, many of the spiritual movements of today are seen to be spiritual deceptions which have existed since the beginning of the Church—and not achievements of a “new religious consciousness.” Addressing soberly and directly the trends of pseudo-spirituality which appear enticing today, ORTHODOXY AND THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE provides a beacon of discernment in these times of widespread deception.
ORTHODOXY AND THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE examines a broad spectrum of issues facing modern Christians—each from the perspective of the early Church Fathers. As the “New Age” is becoming a household concept and is moving into wider acceptance by mainstream society, the “new religious consciousness” can be seen progressing precisely along the lines described by the late Fr. Seraphim. Included in this edition is an epilogue that chronicles the signs of the religion of the future that have made their appearance since this book was first published.
“None of these by itself … has a crucial significance in the spiritual makeup of contemporary man; but each one in its own way typifies the striving of men today to find a new spiritual path, distinct from the Christianity of yesterday, and the sum of them together reveals a frightening unity of purpose whose final end seems just now to be looming above the horizon.”
–Fr. Seraphim Rose
This work is a concise and unequivocal Orthodox statement on contemporary trends; its urgent message rings loud and clear. Viewed from the foundation of patristic teaching, many of the spiritual movements of today are seen to be spiritual deceptions which have existed since the beginning of the Church—and not achievements of a “new religious consciousness.” Addressing soberly and directly the trends of pseudo-spirituality which appear enticing today, ORTHODOXY AND THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE provides a beacon of discernment in these times of widespread deception.
ORTHODOXY AND THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE examines a broad spectrum of issues facing modern Christians—each from the perspective of the early Church Fathers. As the “New Age” is becoming a household concept and is moving into wider acceptance by mainstream society, the “new religious consciousness” can be seen progressing precisely along the lines described by the late Fr. Seraphim. Included in this edition is an epilogue that chronicles the signs of the religion of the future that have made their appearance since this book was first published.
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
432 people are currently reading
2827 people want to read
About the author
Seraphim Rose
48 books334 followersSeraphim Rose, born Eugene Dennis Rose, was a hieromonk of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the United States, whose writings have helped spread Orthodox Christianity throughout modern America and the West. They have also been widely read in Russia. Although not formally canonized as of 2008, he is venerated by some Orthodox Christians as a saint in iconography, liturgy, and prayer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
April 17, 2021
This book takes a look, from the Orthodox Christian point of view, at many of the modern religious movements and supernatural phenomena interests increasingly gaining popularity in Western societies --- such as Ecumenism, Hinduism and its spin off groups, paganism, yoga, UFOs, Pentacostalism and speaking in tongues. Many of these such as Eastern religions, the author, Fr. Seraphim Rose, was personally familiar with --- having immersed himself in them after his rejection of his parents' Protestant Christianity.
I found his views on UFOs and the Christian charismatic movement particularly interesting. With respect to the former, Fr. Seraphim makes the case that there have been so many of these well-documented by credible sources such that outright attribution of them to the hallucinations of the mad or to natural phenomena is actually not rational --- and that their origin must lie elsewhere. He believes these to be supernatural in nature -- and not with benevolent intent. Not really space aliens but demonic entities. The way I describe probably itself sounds crazy, but, if you read his arguments for this, they do make sense, given the repetitive nature of these UFO phenomena and the negative impact upon many of their adherents.
Having been raised an Evangelical Christian and having had many friends and acquaintances through the decades who were involved in various Pentecostal and Assembly of God speaking in tongues groups, I found Fr. Seraphim's analysis of these and explanation of why these are spiritually damaging to its practitioners cogent and fascinating. I do have one complaint -- in one part, he seems to indiscriminately lump all Charismatic Christians together, yet there are many who do not believe in "tongues" as practiced by these groups. And, having done that, he takes a dim view of their missionary efforts in nations such as Indonesia. I see this differently, I guess. They see themselves as following Christ's Great Commission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. If we, as Orthodox Christians don't feel that they're doing it the right way, then I suppose we'd better get busy ourselves and do likewise with as much alacrity as they're doing.
In conclusion, while on the face of it all much different movements, Fr. Seraphim sees them as having a common end result --- the distraction of humanity from seeking and following the one True God, and, instead, looking to a faux spirituality based in various proportions upon seeking supernatural experiences and excitement and less upon taking the harder work of throwing aside the things of this world, delving into God's Word, and coming to God through the Church established by Jesus Christ. This, Fr. Seraphim believes, will in turn set the stage for an effort at a global religion that stands for nothing but gives its adherents a feeling of spirituality, yet demanding little ---- something will ultimately lay the groundwork for the Anti-Christ. I found this book a very interesting read.
I found his views on UFOs and the Christian charismatic movement particularly interesting. With respect to the former, Fr. Seraphim makes the case that there have been so many of these well-documented by credible sources such that outright attribution of them to the hallucinations of the mad or to natural phenomena is actually not rational --- and that their origin must lie elsewhere. He believes these to be supernatural in nature -- and not with benevolent intent. Not really space aliens but demonic entities. The way I describe probably itself sounds crazy, but, if you read his arguments for this, they do make sense, given the repetitive nature of these UFO phenomena and the negative impact upon many of their adherents.
Having been raised an Evangelical Christian and having had many friends and acquaintances through the decades who were involved in various Pentecostal and Assembly of God speaking in tongues groups, I found Fr. Seraphim's analysis of these and explanation of why these are spiritually damaging to its practitioners cogent and fascinating. I do have one complaint -- in one part, he seems to indiscriminately lump all Charismatic Christians together, yet there are many who do not believe in "tongues" as practiced by these groups. And, having done that, he takes a dim view of their missionary efforts in nations such as Indonesia. I see this differently, I guess. They see themselves as following Christ's Great Commission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. If we, as Orthodox Christians don't feel that they're doing it the right way, then I suppose we'd better get busy ourselves and do likewise with as much alacrity as they're doing.
In conclusion, while on the face of it all much different movements, Fr. Seraphim sees them as having a common end result --- the distraction of humanity from seeking and following the one True God, and, instead, looking to a faux spirituality based in various proportions upon seeking supernatural experiences and excitement and less upon taking the harder work of throwing aside the things of this world, delving into God's Word, and coming to God through the Church established by Jesus Christ. This, Fr. Seraphim believes, will in turn set the stage for an effort at a global religion that stands for nothing but gives its adherents a feeling of spirituality, yet demanding little ---- something will ultimately lay the groundwork for the Anti-Christ. I found this book a very interesting read.
January 28, 2018
Much has already been said about this book so I will keep this brief.
I discovered this book through listening to a lecture series by Jay Dyer on his own study of the book (Dyer being an American convert to Orthodoxy, prior an Evangelical and a Catholic).
My own background raised as an Evangelical, and a recovering (still terribly persecuted for daring to leave) Pentecostal gives me a bit of a first hand experience for quite a few of the spiritual errors that Fr. Rose speaks of here.
He gives a brief outline, pulling no punches in the process, of the purposeful invasion Christianity with Eastern forms of mysticism. Having thus weakened Christianity, especially the weakest pillar of it, Protestantism, the true purpose of the spiritist movement is revealed: the encroachment of global relativism and the enabling of global control through a global religion that will be the propaganda mouthpiece for a coming global rule by a new messiah- antiChrist.
In detailing as many facets of this phenomena as he can, including the supernatural as opposed to paranormal nature of UFO's, agreeing with Dr. Vallee that it is an extra-dimensional (hence spiritual) phenomena rather than physical, Fr. Seraphim Rose links the story of the current (1975) dawn of the New Age movement, to the purposeful infiltration of Eastern theologies and dogmas beginning in the second half of the 19th Century.
My only true gripe with the book is not the brutally direct method of addressing the problem (in the presence of heresy, kindness and soothing words are a form of consent), but rather that he fails to see the grander picture of a history that goes farther back than the century he assumed.
The spiritual weakening of Christianity, through destroying its traditionalist bulwarks and forcing a relativist acceptance of the intolerable, is but one method of a much older ploy designed to enact a new dawn of the New Age of man. With all of his learning, I am surprised that Fr. Seraphim Rose missed the links between the infiltration of Eastern mysticism with Marxism, socialism, ultra-nationalism, and the anti-Christian Monarchism of the Jacobin secret societies of five centuries earlier.
All of those are but tools of an even older ambition to fundamentally transform the entire human species.
Then again, this is the only work of his I have read, and he may have touched upon that elsewhere.
Regardless, this is a very good, thought provoking work that while it may raise some hackles, should still be studied with a somber attitude.
I discovered this book through listening to a lecture series by Jay Dyer on his own study of the book (Dyer being an American convert to Orthodoxy, prior an Evangelical and a Catholic).
My own background raised as an Evangelical, and a recovering (still terribly persecuted for daring to leave) Pentecostal gives me a bit of a first hand experience for quite a few of the spiritual errors that Fr. Rose speaks of here.
He gives a brief outline, pulling no punches in the process, of the purposeful invasion Christianity with Eastern forms of mysticism. Having thus weakened Christianity, especially the weakest pillar of it, Protestantism, the true purpose of the spiritist movement is revealed: the encroachment of global relativism and the enabling of global control through a global religion that will be the propaganda mouthpiece for a coming global rule by a new messiah- antiChrist.
In detailing as many facets of this phenomena as he can, including the supernatural as opposed to paranormal nature of UFO's, agreeing with Dr. Vallee that it is an extra-dimensional (hence spiritual) phenomena rather than physical, Fr. Seraphim Rose links the story of the current (1975) dawn of the New Age movement, to the purposeful infiltration of Eastern theologies and dogmas beginning in the second half of the 19th Century.
My only true gripe with the book is not the brutally direct method of addressing the problem (in the presence of heresy, kindness and soothing words are a form of consent), but rather that he fails to see the grander picture of a history that goes farther back than the century he assumed.
The spiritual weakening of Christianity, through destroying its traditionalist bulwarks and forcing a relativist acceptance of the intolerable, is but one method of a much older ploy designed to enact a new dawn of the New Age of man. With all of his learning, I am surprised that Fr. Seraphim Rose missed the links between the infiltration of Eastern mysticism with Marxism, socialism, ultra-nationalism, and the anti-Christian Monarchism of the Jacobin secret societies of five centuries earlier.
All of those are but tools of an even older ambition to fundamentally transform the entire human species.
Then again, this is the only work of his I have read, and he may have touched upon that elsewhere.
Regardless, this is a very good, thought provoking work that while it may raise some hackles, should still be studied with a somber attitude.
February 23, 2016
This was a read that disappointed as much as it provided (at least some) food for thought.
In a nutshell this volume, originally written in 1975, serves as a warning to the then-recent rise of non-Christian practices infiltrating Western spirituality, notably through Hinduism. Other topics Seraphim Rose goes into includes his explanation of UFO events and cases, the charismatic revival that parallels Spiritism, the rise of witchcraft (read: Harry Potter), and globalism (where everything / spirituality is ‘the same’). His concerns can perhaps be summed up in the potentially dangerous egocentric glorifying of the self (“tell everyone they are divine,” as part of Hinduism) and drifting away from the Christian Orthodox way of life, which of course he deems to be THE Christian church of choice. Based on my own knowledge of the Orthodox church, I also suspect that he sadly does not believe (and if he does, it is not stated) that someone could be close to (or ‘know’) Jesus without an ‘intercessor’ (ie: a spiritual guide from the Orthodox church), as is their common practice—and which I strongly disagree with.
So while some of these may be important issues to reflect on, it also seems his warnings could primarily be aimed at spiritually weaker people (and perhaps with good reason; for they would be the ones most susceptible to the concerns he expresses). These would be the types so eager for ‘proof’ of the spirit world that any and all activity they witness they automatically assume to be ‘divine,’ which while possibly real, obviously does not automatically make said activity ‘good’ (as shown via examples in the book of the charismatic revival and Hindu meditation events, etc.). Being that I’d never considered the role of Hinduism in affecting Christians, the stories related were quite alarming (ie: ‘Christians’ literally worshipping their guru in mass events..!)
But interestingly enough, a lot of what I gathered from Seraphim Rose’s views are linked to someone he makes a mere passing reference to: Emanuel Swedenborg. His lumping of Swedenborg with others as an occultist conversing with ‘lower / demonic spirits’ (pg. 147-148) not only shocked me, but immediately led me to think he either didn’t read Swedenborg, read very little, and/or has limited understanding of demons to begin with. (And, let me guess; might that be because Swedenborg wasn’t Orthodox, and therefore, all too easy to dismiss as an automatic ‘heretic’? UGH!)
Examples of what was spoken of in Swedenborg’s Marriage Love: the state of being in heaven (to be of service to others), definition of chastity (man and woman coming together to love God, and constantly grow in that love), having multiple wives, cheating, etc. as perversions of chastity, not to mention the clarification of several Bible passages, to name a few examples that come to mind. As such, if Swedenborg had been speaking with ‘demons,’ lustful behavior is rather what they would’ve been endorsing—as opposed to chastity—as well as perverting (reversing) the meaning of Bible passages, as demons dislike truth, and by their nature pervert the truth, and yet this isn’t at all what occurred in Swedenborg’s accounts.
Another interesting (and for me highly relevant) tenet I’d taken from Swedenborg’s Heaven and Hell was that in the spirit world, one of the main ways to identify the nature of a spirit is by its scent, and unsurprisingly, demons don’t smell very nice. And yet that’s something that Seraphim Rose would agree with, as on pg. 220 he states the sulfuric odor as demonic—so how can it be said Swedenborg was conversing with lower spirits? If he was, why would a demon tell him this detail, thus enabling him to discern demons? (Demons, taking after their master, are deceivers, not truth tellers, and wouldn’t be apt to tell others how to discern them; quite the contrary in fact.) Even if one wants to argue the nature of the entities Swedenborg encountered—be they ‘lower angels,’ or just non-angelic entities—in comparing what I read and based on my understanding, I’m convinced that at the very least the encounters were with positive / light beings who gave amazing insight into the spirit world, and I therefore completely disagree with Seraphim Rose’s view on the matter.
As with any reading experience, you can’t fully (or at all?) separate what you read from your own experience, and as a daughter of a Catholic and Russian Orthodox, I'm interested in furthering my reading on ALL Christian church history. (Before I was born, my parents had an ‘esoteric’ / spiritual bookstore in Brussels, which I wrote about in my first short story collection—perhaps some of that interest has been passed on to me :))
The bottom line is that I know and am truly humbled by the impact that the readings of Swedenborg had on me, and I cannot in any way say the same about Seraphim Rose’s work.
In a nutshell this volume, originally written in 1975, serves as a warning to the then-recent rise of non-Christian practices infiltrating Western spirituality, notably through Hinduism. Other topics Seraphim Rose goes into includes his explanation of UFO events and cases, the charismatic revival that parallels Spiritism, the rise of witchcraft (read: Harry Potter), and globalism (where everything / spirituality is ‘the same’). His concerns can perhaps be summed up in the potentially dangerous egocentric glorifying of the self (“tell everyone they are divine,” as part of Hinduism) and drifting away from the Christian Orthodox way of life, which of course he deems to be THE Christian church of choice. Based on my own knowledge of the Orthodox church, I also suspect that he sadly does not believe (and if he does, it is not stated) that someone could be close to (or ‘know’) Jesus without an ‘intercessor’ (ie: a spiritual guide from the Orthodox church), as is their common practice—and which I strongly disagree with.
So while some of these may be important issues to reflect on, it also seems his warnings could primarily be aimed at spiritually weaker people (and perhaps with good reason; for they would be the ones most susceptible to the concerns he expresses). These would be the types so eager for ‘proof’ of the spirit world that any and all activity they witness they automatically assume to be ‘divine,’ which while possibly real, obviously does not automatically make said activity ‘good’ (as shown via examples in the book of the charismatic revival and Hindu meditation events, etc.). Being that I’d never considered the role of Hinduism in affecting Christians, the stories related were quite alarming (ie: ‘Christians’ literally worshipping their guru in mass events..!)
But interestingly enough, a lot of what I gathered from Seraphim Rose’s views are linked to someone he makes a mere passing reference to: Emanuel Swedenborg. His lumping of Swedenborg with others as an occultist conversing with ‘lower / demonic spirits’ (pg. 147-148) not only shocked me, but immediately led me to think he either didn’t read Swedenborg, read very little, and/or has limited understanding of demons to begin with. (And, let me guess; might that be because Swedenborg wasn’t Orthodox, and therefore, all too easy to dismiss as an automatic ‘heretic’? UGH!)
Examples of what was spoken of in Swedenborg’s Marriage Love: the state of being in heaven (to be of service to others), definition of chastity (man and woman coming together to love God, and constantly grow in that love), having multiple wives, cheating, etc. as perversions of chastity, not to mention the clarification of several Bible passages, to name a few examples that come to mind. As such, if Swedenborg had been speaking with ‘demons,’ lustful behavior is rather what they would’ve been endorsing—as opposed to chastity—as well as perverting (reversing) the meaning of Bible passages, as demons dislike truth, and by their nature pervert the truth, and yet this isn’t at all what occurred in Swedenborg’s accounts.
Another interesting (and for me highly relevant) tenet I’d taken from Swedenborg’s Heaven and Hell was that in the spirit world, one of the main ways to identify the nature of a spirit is by its scent, and unsurprisingly, demons don’t smell very nice. And yet that’s something that Seraphim Rose would agree with, as on pg. 220 he states the sulfuric odor as demonic—so how can it be said Swedenborg was conversing with lower spirits? If he was, why would a demon tell him this detail, thus enabling him to discern demons? (Demons, taking after their master, are deceivers, not truth tellers, and wouldn’t be apt to tell others how to discern them; quite the contrary in fact.) Even if one wants to argue the nature of the entities Swedenborg encountered—be they ‘lower angels,’ or just non-angelic entities—in comparing what I read and based on my understanding, I’m convinced that at the very least the encounters were with positive / light beings who gave amazing insight into the spirit world, and I therefore completely disagree with Seraphim Rose’s view on the matter.
As with any reading experience, you can’t fully (or at all?) separate what you read from your own experience, and as a daughter of a Catholic and Russian Orthodox, I'm interested in furthering my reading on ALL Christian church history. (Before I was born, my parents had an ‘esoteric’ / spiritual bookstore in Brussels, which I wrote about in my first short story collection—perhaps some of that interest has been passed on to me :))
The bottom line is that I know and am truly humbled by the impact that the readings of Swedenborg had on me, and I cannot in any way say the same about Seraphim Rose’s work.
October 6, 2022
Though I am not Eastern Orthodox, Fr. Rose in 1975 described many religious movements (spiritism, science worship, and charismania) that have only become more true and more sinister in the decades since this was published, as the epilogue indicates.
Can be a bit depressing as it recounts and outlines the strategy with which Christianity has been subverted and attacked pretty successfully in the past half century, but it is also encouraging to remember in the midst of apostasy and deception, clinging to Christ and the Scriptures and traditions of the Apostles is still the best way to live a life pleasing to Him, resist the world, and, ultimately, make it to Heaven.
Can be a bit depressing as it recounts and outlines the strategy with which Christianity has been subverted and attacked pretty successfully in the past half century, but it is also encouraging to remember in the midst of apostasy and deception, clinging to Christ and the Scriptures and traditions of the Apostles is still the best way to live a life pleasing to Him, resist the world, and, ultimately, make it to Heaven.
January 24, 2021
Review to follow
March 9, 2018
This is the first full book I’ve read written by an Eastern Orthodox priest and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Seraphim Rose - now a venerated Orthodox saint - has an easy to read, succinct, yet profound writing style. The information he covers in this volume is essential for modern Christians of every denomination to consider. The sections I found most prescient were the chapters on Charismatic Christianity, and the Christian explanation of UFO activity.
The world is hastening into an age of ‘spirituality’ and forsaking traditional foundations of Christianity. In a world where the unseen realm of angels and demons is forgotten and ignored, people become susceptible to demonic forces that have been recognized and warned against in Christianity for centuries. The long tradition of Orthodoxy gives them a much broader, deeper microscope to inspect modern society. Seraphim Rose systematically exposes the spiritual decay of the West using scripture and ancient Christian writings.
As Christians, we know that the world is hastening to a One-World System that will be undergirded with a One-World Religion. Seraphim Rose shows how Christians in the West - and in the US especially - have turned to Eastern spirituality and mysticism and opened themselves to demonic influence and control. He shows the many ways people are being deceived and drawn away from true Christianity, and predicts the coming unification of religion under the anti-Christ as a result of this falling away.
A great book with incredibly important information presented in a clear manner. Five stars.
The world is hastening into an age of ‘spirituality’ and forsaking traditional foundations of Christianity. In a world where the unseen realm of angels and demons is forgotten and ignored, people become susceptible to demonic forces that have been recognized and warned against in Christianity for centuries. The long tradition of Orthodoxy gives them a much broader, deeper microscope to inspect modern society. Seraphim Rose systematically exposes the spiritual decay of the West using scripture and ancient Christian writings.
As Christians, we know that the world is hastening to a One-World System that will be undergirded with a One-World Religion. Seraphim Rose shows how Christians in the West - and in the US especially - have turned to Eastern spirituality and mysticism and opened themselves to demonic influence and control. He shows the many ways people are being deceived and drawn away from true Christianity, and predicts the coming unification of religion under the anti-Christ as a result of this falling away.
A great book with incredibly important information presented in a clear manner. Five stars.
November 30, 2018
Absolute must read for Christians in this insane age we live in.
March 30, 2025
I don't think I've ever read anything quite like this. It's worth reading just for the UFO stuff alone. But there's other stuff that will get you thinking. Strange, disturbing, not as easy to dismiss as some might think. Still, with Rose you can't but think his world view is coming from a Manichean rabbit hole.
October 13, 2013
I read this book after reading Engleman's *Ultimate Things.* Fr Seraphim does an admirable job in detailing the coming eschatological and spiritual crisis. On first reading, Rose's book sounds like the rest of "doom and gloom" apocalyptic books, and that element is surely there, but it isn't sensationalist. Rose remains at all times calm, serene, and utterly rational. Even when I felt he should start naming the "bad guys" (NATO, UN, EU, World Bank, et c), he remained above the "newspaper headlines eschatology."
The first half of the book deals with the danger and infiltration of Eastern Religions. It reads as a summary of an Orthodox Christian response to "the new age." It is fascinating reading, whatever your perspective, because they are testimonial and narratival--and everyone likes a good story. The larger point is that these religions practice some sort of transcendental mediumism--meaning in some way the "practitioner" channels (or allows himself to act as a channel) with the spirit world. This will be a key argument later. While I don't think that Hinduism is the direct cause of the religious relativism in the West (that was happening long before Hinduism came to the West), I do agree that this has helped prepare for the "Religion of the Future."
And by "Religion of the Future" Fr Seraphim means the vague commitment to "religious feel goodism-all religions are equal." This "religion" will pave the way for the Antichrist.
Rose gained notoriety for his views on UFOs. This section of the book was interesting. I'm not sure if I agree with all of Rose's conclusions, but his method of argumentation is quite admirable. He says that the UFOs are demonic manifestations. He doesn't deny that these appearances are real: the inductive evidence for them simply cannot be dismissed, but he likewise doesn't agree that "there's life on other planets." He makes the interesting argument that if one is familiar with the lives of the saints and fathers, then these UFO appearances are almost identical in structure with the demonic appearances in earlier times, except that the saints had more discrimination. There's something to this argument. The descriptions of the aliens' physicality is quite similar to demonic manifestations.
]
Fr Seraphim ends with a brutal critique of the Charismatic movement. He notes how the "praying in the spirit, slain in the spirit, speaking in tongues, etc" is a lot like channeling spirits of the eastern religions. As someone who has witnesses these phenomena first hand, I can attest to some of that. They are channeling spirits, but is it the Holy Spirit?
It's a good read, if a bit dated.
EDIT: My views have changed since reading this book. I'll make a few more points: 1) As a response to the occult, it's still pretty good. 2) It is woefully lacking in terms of analysis. 3) There is really no consistent structure to the book.
The first half of the book deals with the danger and infiltration of Eastern Religions. It reads as a summary of an Orthodox Christian response to "the new age." It is fascinating reading, whatever your perspective, because they are testimonial and narratival--and everyone likes a good story. The larger point is that these religions practice some sort of transcendental mediumism--meaning in some way the "practitioner" channels (or allows himself to act as a channel) with the spirit world. This will be a key argument later. While I don't think that Hinduism is the direct cause of the religious relativism in the West (that was happening long before Hinduism came to the West), I do agree that this has helped prepare for the "Religion of the Future."
And by "Religion of the Future" Fr Seraphim means the vague commitment to "religious feel goodism-all religions are equal." This "religion" will pave the way for the Antichrist.
Rose gained notoriety for his views on UFOs. This section of the book was interesting. I'm not sure if I agree with all of Rose's conclusions, but his method of argumentation is quite admirable. He says that the UFOs are demonic manifestations. He doesn't deny that these appearances are real: the inductive evidence for them simply cannot be dismissed, but he likewise doesn't agree that "there's life on other planets." He makes the interesting argument that if one is familiar with the lives of the saints and fathers, then these UFO appearances are almost identical in structure with the demonic appearances in earlier times, except that the saints had more discrimination. There's something to this argument. The descriptions of the aliens' physicality is quite similar to demonic manifestations.
]
Fr Seraphim ends with a brutal critique of the Charismatic movement. He notes how the "praying in the spirit, slain in the spirit, speaking in tongues, etc" is a lot like channeling spirits of the eastern religions. As someone who has witnesses these phenomena first hand, I can attest to some of that. They are channeling spirits, but is it the Holy Spirit?
It's a good read, if a bit dated.
EDIT: My views have changed since reading this book. I'll make a few more points: 1) As a response to the occult, it's still pretty good. 2) It is woefully lacking in terms of analysis. 3) There is really no consistent structure to the book.
June 29, 2010
Father Seraphim Rose (1934-1982), an American Orthodox priest-monk, discusses spiriual and religious tendencies in Western, and especially American society. He saw these tendencies converging to form a single anti-Christian religion, and the book (written in the early 1970s) includes chapters on the ecumenical movement, Hinduism, Buddhism, UFOs, and the charismatic renewal movement within many Christian churches.
He regards the Charismatic renewal movement as "Christian mediumism" and a revival of pagan shamanism. He regards UFOs as demonic manifestations, specially tailored to appeal to modern Western culture's fascination with "science", and asserts that science fiction has prepared people in Western cultures to accept these demonic manifestations, and to explain them "scientifically", while scientists themselves tend to see them as being as much psychic as real.
He regards the Charismatic renewal movement as "Christian mediumism" and a revival of pagan shamanism. He regards UFOs as demonic manifestations, specially tailored to appeal to modern Western culture's fascination with "science", and asserts that science fiction has prepared people in Western cultures to accept these demonic manifestations, and to explain them "scientifically", while scientists themselves tend to see them as being as much psychic as real.
January 5, 2025
I first came across Fr. Seraphim Rose while reading 'Christ the Eternal Tao', a thoughtful and well-researched comparison of Christianity and Taoism by Fr. Rose's disciple, Hieromonk Damascene. Damascene portrays Fr. Rose as a profound spiritual teacher, one who not only studied Taoism but also helped translate the 'Daodejing' into English before converting to Orthodox Christianity, drawn by the striking parallels between the two belief systems.
Curious to learn more, I quickly discovered that Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future is Fr. Rose’s most famous work. The book's synopsis promised a broad exploration, delving into topics as diverse as UFOs, demons, globalism, and the New World Order, which intrigued me. However, I didn’t expect the same Fr. Rose, so respectful of Taoism in 'Christ the Eternal Tao', to dedicate his most well-known book to denouncing Eastern religions and the ecumenical movement.
Initially, I found it difficult to understand how anyone could oppose ecumenism—what could be wrong with a movement that promotes dialogue and understanding among Christian denominations? But as I progressed through the book, I began to appreciate Fr. Rose’s perspective when considered from the lens of an Orthodox Christian. If you sincerely believe in the doctrines of your faith, it becomes difficult to regard all religious paths as equally valid. Fr. Rose argues that, for someone with strong religious convictions, it’s hard to accept that people in other denominations or non-Christian faiths aren’t fundamentally mistaken. According to his view, those outside the Orthodox Church are either deceiving themselves or are misled by Satan. As Fr. Rose puts it, what better way for Satan to lead people astray than by enticing them with alternative spiritualities that offer false comfort?
This absolute certainty in one’s own beliefs is something I personally struggle with, which is why I remain agnostic. If all religions embraced Fr. Rose’s conclusion, the world would likely be an even more intolerant place. What struck me, however, is that Fr. Rose doesn’t make a concerted effort to justify why he believes Orthodox Christianity is the "one true" path to God. The book isn’t written to persuade those outside the Orthodox Church, but rather to protect those within it from what Fr. Rose sees as the dangers of religious tolerance.
Fr. Rose presents Orthodox Christianity as under siege from all directions, including from within, to the point of paranoia. He believes this assault is part of a larger, coordinated effort to establish a new global religion, rooted in occult teachings and paganism, with the Antichrist as its leader. While I don’t share Fr. Rose’s conspiratorial view of global trends, I can understand why someone deeply committed to Orthodox Christianity might resonate with his concerns. As a supporter of traditional values, I also share his skepticism of globalism and his sense that such values are increasingly under threat in today’s postmodern world. At times, Fr. Rose offers somewhat compelling examples to support his view that Orthodoxy is being undermined by ecumenical acceptance of foreign practices. I can see how devout Orthodox believers might feel the need to defend their faith against these trends.
That said, I remain unconvinced by Fr. Rose’s arguments against the ecumenical movement or his theory about a new religion poised to replace Christianity. The book, though thought-provoking, comes across as somewhat extreme and, at times, bonkers. Nonetheless, I found it an interesting read, though not one that changed my views or left me with a sense of conviction about its claims.
Curious to learn more, I quickly discovered that Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future is Fr. Rose’s most famous work. The book's synopsis promised a broad exploration, delving into topics as diverse as UFOs, demons, globalism, and the New World Order, which intrigued me. However, I didn’t expect the same Fr. Rose, so respectful of Taoism in 'Christ the Eternal Tao', to dedicate his most well-known book to denouncing Eastern religions and the ecumenical movement.
Initially, I found it difficult to understand how anyone could oppose ecumenism—what could be wrong with a movement that promotes dialogue and understanding among Christian denominations? But as I progressed through the book, I began to appreciate Fr. Rose’s perspective when considered from the lens of an Orthodox Christian. If you sincerely believe in the doctrines of your faith, it becomes difficult to regard all religious paths as equally valid. Fr. Rose argues that, for someone with strong religious convictions, it’s hard to accept that people in other denominations or non-Christian faiths aren’t fundamentally mistaken. According to his view, those outside the Orthodox Church are either deceiving themselves or are misled by Satan. As Fr. Rose puts it, what better way for Satan to lead people astray than by enticing them with alternative spiritualities that offer false comfort?
This absolute certainty in one’s own beliefs is something I personally struggle with, which is why I remain agnostic. If all religions embraced Fr. Rose’s conclusion, the world would likely be an even more intolerant place. What struck me, however, is that Fr. Rose doesn’t make a concerted effort to justify why he believes Orthodox Christianity is the "one true" path to God. The book isn’t written to persuade those outside the Orthodox Church, but rather to protect those within it from what Fr. Rose sees as the dangers of religious tolerance.
Fr. Rose presents Orthodox Christianity as under siege from all directions, including from within, to the point of paranoia. He believes this assault is part of a larger, coordinated effort to establish a new global religion, rooted in occult teachings and paganism, with the Antichrist as its leader. While I don’t share Fr. Rose’s conspiratorial view of global trends, I can understand why someone deeply committed to Orthodox Christianity might resonate with his concerns. As a supporter of traditional values, I also share his skepticism of globalism and his sense that such values are increasingly under threat in today’s postmodern world. At times, Fr. Rose offers somewhat compelling examples to support his view that Orthodoxy is being undermined by ecumenical acceptance of foreign practices. I can see how devout Orthodox believers might feel the need to defend their faith against these trends.
That said, I remain unconvinced by Fr. Rose’s arguments against the ecumenical movement or his theory about a new religion poised to replace Christianity. The book, though thought-provoking, comes across as somewhat extreme and, at times, bonkers. Nonetheless, I found it an interesting read, though not one that changed my views or left me with a sense of conviction about its claims.
August 21, 2015
Absolutely brutal examination of the spiritual force behind everything from paganism and demon possession, to alien abduction and the charismatic and pentecostal "Christian" revivals. The logic is calculated and undeniable, and above all challenging. I can't imagine a Protestant reading it would not at some point feel a bit like they were being raked over the coals, but to my mind Fr. Seraphim is harsh, but accurate in his assessment of the demonically activated heresies that modern Protestants think come from Christ.
April 4, 2015
Waay over the top. I like a lot of Fr. Seraphim's books, but for this one he seems to have switched his klobunk out for a tin foil hat.
September 4, 2025
Fr Seraphim was right about everything.
I find it insane that Fr Seraphim wrote this almost 50 years ago. A piercing diagnosis of the spirit of the age. The chapter on UFO's is worth the price of the book. But read as a whole, this book makes it clear that seemingly distant phenomena like New Age, UFO sightings, ecumenism, and the charismatic movement are connected in a diabolical way. I found this book to reinvigorate my fundamentalist core as I am convinced that this is the only way forward.
My only hesitation in recommending this book to everyone is his (expected) insistence that everyone outside of the Orthodox church is damned. Of course, I agree with him in some sense but disagree with his definition of the Church. Protestants beware.
I find it insane that Fr Seraphim wrote this almost 50 years ago. A piercing diagnosis of the spirit of the age. The chapter on UFO's is worth the price of the book. But read as a whole, this book makes it clear that seemingly distant phenomena like New Age, UFO sightings, ecumenism, and the charismatic movement are connected in a diabolical way. I found this book to reinvigorate my fundamentalist core as I am convinced that this is the only way forward.
My only hesitation in recommending this book to everyone is his (expected) insistence that everyone outside of the Orthodox church is damned. Of course, I agree with him in some sense but disagree with his definition of the Church. Protestants beware.
April 3, 2025
This book was prophetic, disturbing, and eye opening. Father Seraphim Rose speaks of the primary ways the spirit of the anti-christ preys on modern man, and the various deceptions the masses are falling into.
First being the ecumenist movement, where Satan seeks to destroy the visible church with ideas about an “invisible church” or what Protestants would call “branch theory”. Among less fundamental Protestants, this idea that all paths have some truth or can lead to God even extend to sects like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and outright paganism.
Secondly, Father Seraphim speaks of those seeking truth in the skies. He describes the many accounts of those who have experienced close encounters of the first, second, and third kind, and how the demons will take on physical manifestations of modern narratives to manipulate people into the gospel of the anti-Christ.
Lastly he talks about the charismatic revivalism of a “Spirit” supposedly waking up the masses to Christ and bestowing various gifts upon them. He speaks of the dangers of prelest and being lead by a “spirit” that focuses on signs, wonders, and experiences but not repentance and Orthodox teaching.
This book is a reminder of what is to come in the last days and that Orthodox Christians must be fervent to hold on to the traditions of the church, that we might not be lead astray by heresy, ecumenism, and demonic experience.
First being the ecumenist movement, where Satan seeks to destroy the visible church with ideas about an “invisible church” or what Protestants would call “branch theory”. Among less fundamental Protestants, this idea that all paths have some truth or can lead to God even extend to sects like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and outright paganism.
Secondly, Father Seraphim speaks of those seeking truth in the skies. He describes the many accounts of those who have experienced close encounters of the first, second, and third kind, and how the demons will take on physical manifestations of modern narratives to manipulate people into the gospel of the anti-Christ.
Lastly he talks about the charismatic revivalism of a “Spirit” supposedly waking up the masses to Christ and bestowing various gifts upon them. He speaks of the dangers of prelest and being lead by a “spirit” that focuses on signs, wonders, and experiences but not repentance and Orthodox teaching.
This book is a reminder of what is to come in the last days and that Orthodox Christians must be fervent to hold on to the traditions of the church, that we might not be lead astray by heresy, ecumenism, and demonic experience.
July 10, 2025
A sobering read. I’m so glad my fiancé suggested we read this book together! It has been eye opening and has been a call to treasure and truly live an Orthodox life.
November 15, 2022
It's a good book, it talks about the "religion of the future" which will be the religion of the Antichrist and the false prophet.
Seraphim Rose views that ecumenism will be a major part of this, which makes sense to me if it's going to be a world religion and initially charming and attractive to everybody.
He also suggests that religious experience will be a part of this religion i.e. there will be some feel-good emotional mystical experiental attraction in it as compared to a dry intellectual religion.
He then talks about trends featuring ecumenism + religious experience which were big in the 1970s which are still around today and how they are a foreshadowing and sign of this future religion coalescing.
These are: eastern religious experiences like Buddhism,Hindu practices, new age, yoga etc, UFO obsession, and speaking in tongues/charismatic Christian cults. Even though it was written so long ago, it does not feel outdated. Some parts feel very prescient e.g. where he talks about scientism being an aspect of the new religion.
He views the supernatural phenomenon in these experiences as due to either fakery or demonic activity. But there are too many cases for it to all be fakery.
I found the speaking in tongues stuff interesting because I have encountered it and didn't know what to make of it. Like I have been told by proselytisers that you need to speak in tongues for the Holy Spirit. And I have seen videos of people falling down and writhing around etc in Pentecostal groups although not experienced first hand.
He gives a history of the movement and argues that these are mediumistic techniques and not at all Christian and in some cases they could be opening themselves up to demonic influence. I remember a Christian bookstore chain promoing a woman who was automatic writing and claiming it was Jesus talking to her. Seems like there is plenty of creepy stuff floating about. I wonder if there's "Christian" law of attraction/ manifestation occult practices as well.
It is very cringey to me that a girl has left a negative review of this book because Rose insulted some occult guy she is a fan of. When this book clearly talks about prelest, demons appearing as angels of light, religious delusion, and lays it all out with examples of monks who thought they were communing with angelic spirits and being fooled.
There is also some negative reviews saying he is too over the top and hyperbolic. But it's strange to me because Jesus uses hyberbole in multiple places, I don't see what the problem is. Let's not forget we are in a battle.
I think the target audience is orthodox Christians or those with some interest like me, so you might not enjoy it if you are in this category.
One of the most interesting things here was the bit where he talks about laughter. I thought laughter was a positive thing but the quotes from the holy men about it made me think about it in a way I never have.
Like it's driving away remembrance of death, awe of God, etc. When maybe those are the things you should be thinking about, to realise you need a saviour. I know people use black humour as a coping mechanism, and I've always enjoyed it, but maybe it's actually a bad thing. Because it's stopping them from seeing their death before them and repenting.
And so many comedians are the most vitriolic atheists, it makes sense.
Seraphim Rose views that ecumenism will be a major part of this, which makes sense to me if it's going to be a world religion and initially charming and attractive to everybody.
He also suggests that religious experience will be a part of this religion i.e. there will be some feel-good emotional mystical experiental attraction in it as compared to a dry intellectual religion.
He then talks about trends featuring ecumenism + religious experience which were big in the 1970s which are still around today and how they are a foreshadowing and sign of this future religion coalescing.
These are: eastern religious experiences like Buddhism,Hindu practices, new age, yoga etc, UFO obsession, and speaking in tongues/charismatic Christian cults. Even though it was written so long ago, it does not feel outdated. Some parts feel very prescient e.g. where he talks about scientism being an aspect of the new religion.
He views the supernatural phenomenon in these experiences as due to either fakery or demonic activity. But there are too many cases for it to all be fakery.
I found the speaking in tongues stuff interesting because I have encountered it and didn't know what to make of it. Like I have been told by proselytisers that you need to speak in tongues for the Holy Spirit. And I have seen videos of people falling down and writhing around etc in Pentecostal groups although not experienced first hand.
He gives a history of the movement and argues that these are mediumistic techniques and not at all Christian and in some cases they could be opening themselves up to demonic influence. I remember a Christian bookstore chain promoing a woman who was automatic writing and claiming it was Jesus talking to her. Seems like there is plenty of creepy stuff floating about. I wonder if there's "Christian" law of attraction/ manifestation occult practices as well.
It is very cringey to me that a girl has left a negative review of this book because Rose insulted some occult guy she is a fan of. When this book clearly talks about prelest, demons appearing as angels of light, religious delusion, and lays it all out with examples of monks who thought they were communing with angelic spirits and being fooled.
There is also some negative reviews saying he is too over the top and hyperbolic. But it's strange to me because Jesus uses hyberbole in multiple places, I don't see what the problem is. Let's not forget we are in a battle.
I think the target audience is orthodox Christians or those with some interest like me, so you might not enjoy it if you are in this category.
One of the most interesting things here was the bit where he talks about laughter. I thought laughter was a positive thing but the quotes from the holy men about it made me think about it in a way I never have.
Like it's driving away remembrance of death, awe of God, etc. When maybe those are the things you should be thinking about, to realise you need a saviour. I know people use black humour as a coping mechanism, and I've always enjoyed it, but maybe it's actually a bad thing. Because it's stopping them from seeing their death before them and repenting.
And so many comedians are the most vitriolic atheists, it makes sense.
May 30, 2025
Before I rave like a lunatic about this book I want to point out it is not the Divine Ladder or some amazing ascetical work on how to be a saint. This book may not be as relative to others as it was for me but I think it is critical in mapping the modern landscape and the affect of New Age movement and UFO's as the religion of the future for a globalist state. For me personally this book was extra relevant having come to Orthodoxy from the charismatic movement and having tried meditation in order to combat long term health issues.
The major topics are ecumenism and the universal faith, Hindu/Buddhist/Zen infiltration of acceptance by Christian America along with their spiritual practices of yoga and meditation, UFO's as demonic visitations, and the charismatic movement and similarities to the occult and spiritism of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
This book was so convicting and it is really important to understanding the landscape and complete godlessness of our age. Written mostly in the 70s he was concerned how bad the 80s would be after Cambodian and Jonestown massacres. He said Satan had come into history and was walking among us. That was back then! A time we look back on as sane and conservative!
As Dostoevsky writes in the Devils, man must kill himself to prove he is god. That was starting to happen then already and now the trans movement is along the same lines. Man must erase his biological identity and reality to prove he is god. We must increase abortion even though the world is approaching a population collapse.
Between reading this and listening to Mike Benz and seeing Trump fail to make any real meaningful changes along with the Christian Zionists screaming and demanding we kill more kids in Gaza, I was really struck by how freedom in America is no longer a possibility. There simply is no religious support for that to exist.
I wasn't sure what to think about him saying science fiction and Harry Potter were demonic in nature. It seems important to understand where some of these ideas originate and where the drive comes that makes them popular but reading Harry Potter did not make me want to become a real life occult wizard.
The major topics are ecumenism and the universal faith, Hindu/Buddhist/Zen infiltration of acceptance by Christian America along with their spiritual practices of yoga and meditation, UFO's as demonic visitations, and the charismatic movement and similarities to the occult and spiritism of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
This book was so convicting and it is really important to understanding the landscape and complete godlessness of our age. Written mostly in the 70s he was concerned how bad the 80s would be after Cambodian and Jonestown massacres. He said Satan had come into history and was walking among us. That was back then! A time we look back on as sane and conservative!
As Dostoevsky writes in the Devils, man must kill himself to prove he is god. That was starting to happen then already and now the trans movement is along the same lines. Man must erase his biological identity and reality to prove he is god. We must increase abortion even though the world is approaching a population collapse.
Between reading this and listening to Mike Benz and seeing Trump fail to make any real meaningful changes along with the Christian Zionists screaming and demanding we kill more kids in Gaza, I was really struck by how freedom in America is no longer a possibility. There simply is no religious support for that to exist.
I wasn't sure what to think about him saying science fiction and Harry Potter were demonic in nature. It seems important to understand where some of these ideas originate and where the drive comes that makes them popular but reading Harry Potter did not make me want to become a real life occult wizard.
March 18, 2019
This book is bracing. It is strong wakeup coffee, maybe too strong for some people's taste... but that doesn't mean they don't need it. The level of insight by Fr. Seraphim into what connects phenomena which I would never have dreamt had any connection is mind-blowing. (Pentecostalism and UFOs, really? Yes, really.) I will say that form-wise this is not Fr. Seraphim's most skillfully-written book: he tips his hand too soon, giving his conclusion almost from the outset instead of calmly bringing the reader along and letting us reach the same conclusion ourselves. This can put one on the defensive at the outset. This was my first experience reading the book. But I have to say by the end of it I couldn't point to anything that I thought he was wrong about. Having been raised in Pentecostalism myself, Fr. Seraphim confirmed many of my suspicions and made me realize that it is indeed later than we think...
April 13, 2020
A Must Read Concerning What Is Happening Now
Well thought out and written. Fr. Rose explains how we have gotten to this point and he wrote this in the 70's. There is a lot that is happening in this world and Fr. Rose explains the who, how, and why.
Well thought out and written. Fr. Rose explains how we have gotten to this point and he wrote this in the 70's. There is a lot that is happening in this world and Fr. Rose explains the who, how, and why.
October 3, 2024
Felt more like a snapshot of the 1970s spiritual landscape, the epilogue layed out how things looked in the late 1990s- early 2000s, but it does provide one with an Orthodox framework to examine religious movements and (to a lesser degree) ecumenism.
May 29, 2023
Crazy how this was written in the 1970s and even how the epilogue to the fifth edition (2004) is scarily prophetic!!!
March 23, 2024
A truly enlightening read. I wish I had read this book earlier. It would have saved me from a lot of trouble in my spiritual walk and it would have probably saved me from some mighty deceptions, as well.
However, I do believe that God has his own perfect timing when it comes to giving us valuable life lessons or providing us with helpful sources of information which can help us grow, gain maturity and become wiser.
Therefore I believe that this book came to me at the right time.
It has definitely succeeded in helping me make sense of some of my previous puzzling experiences during my early christian walk and especially of those experiences that I had before I accepted Christ and when I was still infatuated with eastern philosophies and New Age practices.
Fr. Seraphim Rose goes from explaining the hidden anti-christian agenda behind inter-faith ecumenism to addressing the demonic deceptions behind Hinduism, New Age practices, cults, UFO phenomena and most of all, the charismatic revival movements of the 20th century, thus giving us an outline of what the luciferian "religion of the future" will look like. The book was written in 1971, if I'm not mistaken, but it's still as relevant as ever and therefore fascinatingly visionary as well. Thus Fr. Seraphim covers a wide range of contemporary spiritual phenomena that have marked our western society up until this day and with the help of Orthodox patristic teachings, we are given an Orthodox Christian perspective on all of these topics.
I've long been praying to God for an answer regarding the phenomenon of "speaking in tongues"; a phenomenon that I have been confronted with for a long time in the evangelical churches that I used to frequent. The question regarding this practice bothered me since the very beginning of my christian walk and I would constantly ask myself whether the early christian apostles also used to actually practice "glossalalia", or the modern-day "speaking in tongues". The pastor from the evangelical church I used to attend explained to me that it was biblical, so it had to be legit, right? Well, I still had doubts about that and couldn't help but feel uneasy when people would "speak in tongues" during church service.
Given that I knew that the Orthodox Church has a much larger quantity of historical ressources as its foundation, I therefore began to wonder what the teachings of the Orthodox Church could teach me about this charismatic practice. This is primarily what sparked my interest in the exploration of Orthodox theology and this book has provided me lots of helpful information regarding this topic.
In this book, I've found the definitive answer to my puzzlement and I wholeheartedly thank God for having answered my prayers and having led me to reading this book. The subject of my doubts was confirmed when Fr. Seraphim Rose explained that the practice of "glossalalia" is not biblical, ahistorical and in fact, a sign of spiritual deception. As it turns out, it's a fairly new phenomenon that was born in America at the beginning of the 20th century and has its roots in Charles Parham's pentecostalist movement. However, at the time it didn't use to be as prevalent as it is today, since I've noticed that every evangelical church I've visited thus far, has been affected by this practice (even here in Europe).
Moreover, as mentioned before, I was fascinated by how accurately the book describes the luciferian agenda which is at the heart of the rising New Age movement and all the attempts unify the world religions. "Luciferian", because all these globalist ideas and ideologies can be traced back to people like Alice Bailey, David Spangler and Helena Blavatsky, according to whom "It is natural to view satan, the serpent of genesis, as the real creator and benefactor, the father of spiritual mankind".
We are being shown how it all aligns with the globalist agenda which seeks to undermine the sovereignty of nations as independent political entities by implementing a one-world-government system.
The New Age movement is just the spiritual aspect of this coming "New World Order" which will serve to help create a one-world religious and political system that is supposed to promise us an artificial world peace and prosperity.
Someone who's still asleep will just discard all of this as a crazy "conspiracy theory" of course, but to the informed reader this will certainly ring a bell.
Well-written, well-researched, accessible and full of thought-provoking wisdom coming from an Orthodox monk, I strongly recommend this book as a must-read for any truth-seeking Christian.
However, I do believe that God has his own perfect timing when it comes to giving us valuable life lessons or providing us with helpful sources of information which can help us grow, gain maturity and become wiser.
Therefore I believe that this book came to me at the right time.
It has definitely succeeded in helping me make sense of some of my previous puzzling experiences during my early christian walk and especially of those experiences that I had before I accepted Christ and when I was still infatuated with eastern philosophies and New Age practices.
Fr. Seraphim Rose goes from explaining the hidden anti-christian agenda behind inter-faith ecumenism to addressing the demonic deceptions behind Hinduism, New Age practices, cults, UFO phenomena and most of all, the charismatic revival movements of the 20th century, thus giving us an outline of what the luciferian "religion of the future" will look like. The book was written in 1971, if I'm not mistaken, but it's still as relevant as ever and therefore fascinatingly visionary as well. Thus Fr. Seraphim covers a wide range of contemporary spiritual phenomena that have marked our western society up until this day and with the help of Orthodox patristic teachings, we are given an Orthodox Christian perspective on all of these topics.
I've long been praying to God for an answer regarding the phenomenon of "speaking in tongues"; a phenomenon that I have been confronted with for a long time in the evangelical churches that I used to frequent. The question regarding this practice bothered me since the very beginning of my christian walk and I would constantly ask myself whether the early christian apostles also used to actually practice "glossalalia", or the modern-day "speaking in tongues". The pastor from the evangelical church I used to attend explained to me that it was biblical, so it had to be legit, right? Well, I still had doubts about that and couldn't help but feel uneasy when people would "speak in tongues" during church service.
Given that I knew that the Orthodox Church has a much larger quantity of historical ressources as its foundation, I therefore began to wonder what the teachings of the Orthodox Church could teach me about this charismatic practice. This is primarily what sparked my interest in the exploration of Orthodox theology and this book has provided me lots of helpful information regarding this topic.
In this book, I've found the definitive answer to my puzzlement and I wholeheartedly thank God for having answered my prayers and having led me to reading this book. The subject of my doubts was confirmed when Fr. Seraphim Rose explained that the practice of "glossalalia" is not biblical, ahistorical and in fact, a sign of spiritual deception. As it turns out, it's a fairly new phenomenon that was born in America at the beginning of the 20th century and has its roots in Charles Parham's pentecostalist movement. However, at the time it didn't use to be as prevalent as it is today, since I've noticed that every evangelical church I've visited thus far, has been affected by this practice (even here in Europe).
Moreover, as mentioned before, I was fascinated by how accurately the book describes the luciferian agenda which is at the heart of the rising New Age movement and all the attempts unify the world religions. "Luciferian", because all these globalist ideas and ideologies can be traced back to people like Alice Bailey, David Spangler and Helena Blavatsky, according to whom "It is natural to view satan, the serpent of genesis, as the real creator and benefactor, the father of spiritual mankind".
We are being shown how it all aligns with the globalist agenda which seeks to undermine the sovereignty of nations as independent political entities by implementing a one-world-government system.
The New Age movement is just the spiritual aspect of this coming "New World Order" which will serve to help create a one-world religious and political system that is supposed to promise us an artificial world peace and prosperity.
Someone who's still asleep will just discard all of this as a crazy "conspiracy theory" of course, but to the informed reader this will certainly ring a bell.
Well-written, well-researched, accessible and full of thought-provoking wisdom coming from an Orthodox monk, I strongly recommend this book as a must-read for any truth-seeking Christian.
Read
July 9, 2023I have a soft spot for ascetics. I once visited a monastery (though not an Orthodox one) and stayed for a while. I talked to some of the monks and enjoyed the pervasive silence. The whole place felt very special, some some place outside of time. If you live a life of silence, you're on eternity's doorstep. But Fr. Seraphim Rose is anything but peaceful. If you've read other ascetics, such as Merton and Eckhart, you'll notice a sense of peace and quietude. And while Rose does give the impression of gentleness and otherworldliness, he also writes with a kind of passion, even a little aggression. This is the monastic equivalent of a Baptist preacher's fire-and-brimstone sermon. Rose writes with verve and holds your attention. The essays at the beginning of the book, by other writers, are interesting, but the thing really takes off when Rose's own contributions come in.
This is an orthodox (and Orthodox) religious perspective on many 20th century phenomena. This is significant, whether you're religious or not, because it is often thought that devout, orthodox pre-modern religion can't cope with certain modern realities. You frequently hear people say things like, "Well, if we ever ran into aliens, then all the religions would collapse because, like, they've never thought of it." The presumption is that religious people are all so cloistered (pun intended) and sheltered that they simply wouldn't be able to cope with things not explicitly set out in their holy texts. While this may apply to your staid Catholic granny, it doesn't apply to religious people tout court. Indeed, this books was written nearly half a century ago, and it gives an Orthodox look at everything from cryptids and UFOs to Vedanta and faith healing. These phenomena are not judged piece-meal, but placed into a unifying context that is consistent with Rose's Orthodox faith.
Moreover, this book was published in 1975, nearly half a century ago! Not only have the devoutly religious grappled with these issues, this grappling took place when such things were still considered fringe phenomena. Perhaps the most convincing thing about this text is Rose's prescience: he made the daring – and, at the time, outlandish – prediction that certain fringe phenomena would gain mainstream recognition. Whether you're religious or Orthodox or not, this is a book worth picking up. Rose frequently defers to scholars both religious and secular, including religious scholars with whom he has deep theological differences (e.g. Kurt Koch) and secular scientists who have studied the phenomena under discussion.
It's no wonder that Seraphim Rose has some fiercely devoted followers. Where Protestants have C.S. Lewis and Catholics have G.K. Chesterton, Orthodox believers can turn to Seraphim Rose. I have little else to say, except that I am sorely tempted to make a lame Trinitarian analogy there.
This is an orthodox (and Orthodox) religious perspective on many 20th century phenomena. This is significant, whether you're religious or not, because it is often thought that devout, orthodox pre-modern religion can't cope with certain modern realities. You frequently hear people say things like, "Well, if we ever ran into aliens, then all the religions would collapse because, like, they've never thought of it." The presumption is that religious people are all so cloistered (pun intended) and sheltered that they simply wouldn't be able to cope with things not explicitly set out in their holy texts. While this may apply to your staid Catholic granny, it doesn't apply to religious people tout court. Indeed, this books was written nearly half a century ago, and it gives an Orthodox look at everything from cryptids and UFOs to Vedanta and faith healing. These phenomena are not judged piece-meal, but placed into a unifying context that is consistent with Rose's Orthodox faith.
Moreover, this book was published in 1975, nearly half a century ago! Not only have the devoutly religious grappled with these issues, this grappling took place when such things were still considered fringe phenomena. Perhaps the most convincing thing about this text is Rose's prescience: he made the daring – and, at the time, outlandish – prediction that certain fringe phenomena would gain mainstream recognition. Whether you're religious or Orthodox or not, this is a book worth picking up. Rose frequently defers to scholars both religious and secular, including religious scholars with whom he has deep theological differences (e.g. Kurt Koch) and secular scientists who have studied the phenomena under discussion.
It's no wonder that Seraphim Rose has some fiercely devoted followers. Where Protestants have C.S. Lewis and Catholics have G.K. Chesterton, Orthodox believers can turn to Seraphim Rose. I have little else to say, except that I am sorely tempted to make a lame Trinitarian analogy there.
July 10, 2020
This was a mind blowing book to read. I have seen first hand some of what he talks about, especially regarding the "charismatic" or "Pentecostal" religious movements that emerged in America and have since spread throughout the world. His take on the modern UFO phenomena as checking every box for what would previously be called demonic activity is also spot-on; how else do you explain something that simultaneously seems to be psychological and material in impossible ways? E.g. pilots witnessing objects which can generally be called either metallic or "orbs" doing physically impossible things while the vast majority of eye witnesses are either acutely or chronically disturbed and harmed by their encounters with these phenomena? The preoccupation of these encounters with all kinds of perverse and harmful activities (e.g. "probing") also tick off multiple boxes in favor of demonic activity and against more mundane explanations, e.g. advanced military tech or interstellar travelers.
If you don't already accept the Christian paradigm, then I think you will still benefit from hearing his perspective. Try to apply Occam's Razor fairly to his approach and see how well it fits the data.
If you don't already accept the Christian paradigm, then I think you will still benefit from hearing his perspective. Try to apply Occam's Razor fairly to his approach and see how well it fits the data.
Read
December 12, 2020Interesting 70s outsider perspective on cultural trends (post hippy orientalism, UFOs, protestant screaming flailing wailing sermons). I think one of the problems with these kinds of texts for Christians is the basis of the faith is love and mercy and forgiveness. When you argue for stringent dogmatism based on that it comes across as hypocritical, even though in reality it's not and Fr. Seraphim really isn't polemical or hateful of the people he discusses. He's very educated especially in weirdo stuff like UFOs which is cool. I think he's the arch Conservative orthodox Christian writer. He's clearly a lot cleverer than me. But he wants to narrow the churches' roof. He cites saints' writings constantly, as you'd expect, but the saints he citing in some cases are universalist! And this man is no universalist that's for sure. Could I chase him around with a willow reed and a pile of quotes for not being a universalist? Probably not, apparently he was a very kind and pleasant man in person and he wrote a spiffy book.
February 22, 2025
"Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future" is a short nonfiction book written by an Orthodox priest, Fr. Seraphim Rose. The book addresses the relationship of Christianity (specifically Orthodox Christianity) to Eastern and New Age religion, while also trying to explain paranormal phenomena like UFOs and what exactly "Charismatic" Christianity is. I read this book because I am personally alarmed by the amount of influencers and thought leaders--especially among conservatives--who promote psychedelics, new age spirituality, and who all seem obsessed with UFO/UAP "disclosure". This book comes up a lot in online discussions about UFOs as a clear exposition for the argument that "UFOs are demons" (an argument I personally agree with). I thought it might have some interesting things to say about our current cultural moment.
The Good: This book definitely addresses the UFO question in detail. It provides clear and cogent arguments for why UFOs are not some kind of benign visitors from outer space, but actually a kind of paraphysical/interdimensional manifestation of the demonic. His arguments are basically 1) UFOs do not leave reliable physical evidence and therefore their actual "physical" reality is suspect 2) UFO abduction stories have much in common with medieval and ancient accounts of possession or oppression by evil spirits, and are quite disturbing and traumatic 3) UFOs are what secular/irreligious people "see" when they see demons because they have no concept of demons anymore. He warns Christians not to even investigate UFOs as it is spiritually unsafe. There is more to the story (he doesn't talk about psychedelics), but I think he explicates the point well. He also does genuinely outline some strange and disturbing currents running through the Charismatic movements, as well as how New Age is serving as a "returning point" for disaffected atheists, but ultimately ends up leading people astray and could even prepare the way for a kind of false global religious revival. Overall, he does provide a good survey of the New Age movement as it was 40-50 years ago, which does let you see today's issues in a clearer light.
The Bad: Again, this book was written in 1975 and feels quite dated. It read like a Boomer (I know Rose was older than a Boomer, but still) yelling at other Boomers. He is overly reductive in talking about Hinduism in particular, basically associating one particular strain of Hindusim (Kali cult) with the entire religion. I thought this guy was educated in Chinese philosophical thought so I figured he would have a more nuanced view on Hinduism than what is described here. The epilogue also trashes Harry Potter quite a bit, which makes it feel very dated and lowers its intellectual punching power (in my experience, the only religious leaders who spend any serious time trying to "defeat" Harry Potter are cranks themselves). He thinks we are in the end times--maybe!--but then earlier also criticizes Protestants who believe the same thing. He comes across as both totally paranoid and also stiff and prideful. You see this with a lot of converts to traditional forms of Christianity (Orthodox and Catholic). Rose's ability to speak to a wider audience--the people who actually need to hear this message--is limited by his extreme polemical tone. If he is writing for Orthodox, fine, but we know they already agree with him. It's a misunderstanding of the purpose of the book.
The Ugly: This book is extremely, and I mean extremely, critical of all religions not explicitly Orthodox, including Protestant and Catholic Christianity. At one point, Rose dares to claim that St. Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola were both "spritually deluded" and implies they are damned by scare quoting the word "saint" before their names. He labels all Charismatic Christians as deluded and possibly possessed. He seems to have an extremely rigid and wooden understanding of how grace works. Even the Church Fathers did not have such an understanding, and St Paul himself commends the pagan Greeks in Acts 17 for their religiosity (although limited). Rose prefers to just jettison all this nuance and label everything not explicitly Orthodox--his own monastic view of Orthodoxy, no less--as delusional and demonically influenced. I think he is right to say "Hinduism and Eastern religions are false and lead Christians astray" and he is right question the spirits of the Charismatic revival (much of it is very strange), but he is extremely sloppy with his generalizations. For example, he will talk about Matthew Fox (a known dissident Catholic priest condemned by the Vatican) holding "techno-futurist masses" and promoting New Age Christianity, and then say something like "the Catholic Church is promoting delusion". No, dude, it's just Matthew Fox who is delusional. For Rose to ignore JP2's efforts to combat relativism and pretend like Catholicism is represented by a few crazy priests or movements is totally uncharitable. I also think he doesn't really ever explain WHY so many Boomer Christians in the 60s and 70s (and Gen Z / Millennials today) are so attracted to these movements. Maybe the Church should look at itself before it trots out the same old scare tactics and try to understand what people are finding in these false movements that they aren't finding in apostolic Christianity.
Overall, I think this book is a huge disappointment. It contains some insightful critiques and elucidations of New Age, UFO, Charismatic, and Eastern religious movements, but it's all buried in a mountain of frothing-at-the-mouth polemics, paranoia, and sloppy generalizations. I would not recommend it to anyone. Someone needs to write a book in this vein to address the 2010s and beyond, because there are even crazier things happening today that this book doesn't even come close to approaching. I will not be reading any more of this guy's stuff.
The Good: This book definitely addresses the UFO question in detail. It provides clear and cogent arguments for why UFOs are not some kind of benign visitors from outer space, but actually a kind of paraphysical/interdimensional manifestation of the demonic. His arguments are basically 1) UFOs do not leave reliable physical evidence and therefore their actual "physical" reality is suspect 2) UFO abduction stories have much in common with medieval and ancient accounts of possession or oppression by evil spirits, and are quite disturbing and traumatic 3) UFOs are what secular/irreligious people "see" when they see demons because they have no concept of demons anymore. He warns Christians not to even investigate UFOs as it is spiritually unsafe. There is more to the story (he doesn't talk about psychedelics), but I think he explicates the point well. He also does genuinely outline some strange and disturbing currents running through the Charismatic movements, as well as how New Age is serving as a "returning point" for disaffected atheists, but ultimately ends up leading people astray and could even prepare the way for a kind of false global religious revival. Overall, he does provide a good survey of the New Age movement as it was 40-50 years ago, which does let you see today's issues in a clearer light.
The Bad: Again, this book was written in 1975 and feels quite dated. It read like a Boomer (I know Rose was older than a Boomer, but still) yelling at other Boomers. He is overly reductive in talking about Hinduism in particular, basically associating one particular strain of Hindusim (Kali cult) with the entire religion. I thought this guy was educated in Chinese philosophical thought so I figured he would have a more nuanced view on Hinduism than what is described here. The epilogue also trashes Harry Potter quite a bit, which makes it feel very dated and lowers its intellectual punching power (in my experience, the only religious leaders who spend any serious time trying to "defeat" Harry Potter are cranks themselves). He thinks we are in the end times--maybe!--but then earlier also criticizes Protestants who believe the same thing. He comes across as both totally paranoid and also stiff and prideful. You see this with a lot of converts to traditional forms of Christianity (Orthodox and Catholic). Rose's ability to speak to a wider audience--the people who actually need to hear this message--is limited by his extreme polemical tone. If he is writing for Orthodox, fine, but we know they already agree with him. It's a misunderstanding of the purpose of the book.
The Ugly: This book is extremely, and I mean extremely, critical of all religions not explicitly Orthodox, including Protestant and Catholic Christianity. At one point, Rose dares to claim that St. Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola were both "spritually deluded" and implies they are damned by scare quoting the word "saint" before their names. He labels all Charismatic Christians as deluded and possibly possessed. He seems to have an extremely rigid and wooden understanding of how grace works. Even the Church Fathers did not have such an understanding, and St Paul himself commends the pagan Greeks in Acts 17 for their religiosity (although limited). Rose prefers to just jettison all this nuance and label everything not explicitly Orthodox--his own monastic view of Orthodoxy, no less--as delusional and demonically influenced. I think he is right to say "Hinduism and Eastern religions are false and lead Christians astray" and he is right question the spirits of the Charismatic revival (much of it is very strange), but he is extremely sloppy with his generalizations. For example, he will talk about Matthew Fox (a known dissident Catholic priest condemned by the Vatican) holding "techno-futurist masses" and promoting New Age Christianity, and then say something like "the Catholic Church is promoting delusion". No, dude, it's just Matthew Fox who is delusional. For Rose to ignore JP2's efforts to combat relativism and pretend like Catholicism is represented by a few crazy priests or movements is totally uncharitable. I also think he doesn't really ever explain WHY so many Boomer Christians in the 60s and 70s (and Gen Z / Millennials today) are so attracted to these movements. Maybe the Church should look at itself before it trots out the same old scare tactics and try to understand what people are finding in these false movements that they aren't finding in apostolic Christianity.
Overall, I think this book is a huge disappointment. It contains some insightful critiques and elucidations of New Age, UFO, Charismatic, and Eastern religious movements, but it's all buried in a mountain of frothing-at-the-mouth polemics, paranoia, and sloppy generalizations. I would not recommend it to anyone. Someone needs to write a book in this vein to address the 2010s and beyond, because there are even crazier things happening today that this book doesn't even come close to approaching. I will not be reading any more of this guy's stuff.
October 5, 2021
This is a great book on the tricks people were/are being abused by. Whatever would be "dated" today has an extremely neat analogue in today's world. Transcendental Meditation got knocked off the curricula kids were stuck with, but that's OK for the Babel crowd, because "mindfulness meditation" has been scientism'd into the schools and the local library's purchases. Just look at Hollywood kid Sam Harris, and his efforts to support this social program. Fr. Seraphim was clearly right.
The syncretism scam also got me thinking of a few other things. One is that people live through the "value" of mindfulness meditation in public schools, then come to see some kind of value in systems that involve things like it. Like, you know, bucko, they "act out the idea" then experience the consequences, as a former UNESCO psychologist says. Crazy how his thinking lines up perfectly with the plan described in this book. Peterson gets all the artificially created attention over his feigned protestations, then he teaches his tacitly Christian audience about how what they should believe is "just pointing at the same truth all the religions are. It's science, bro". What are the odds.... golly gee.
The syncretism scam also got me thinking of a few other things. One is that people live through the "value" of mindfulness meditation in public schools, then come to see some kind of value in systems that involve things like it. Like, you know, bucko, they "act out the idea" then experience the consequences, as a former UNESCO psychologist says. Crazy how his thinking lines up perfectly with the plan described in this book. Peterson gets all the artificially created attention over his feigned protestations, then he teaches his tacitly Christian audience about how what they should believe is "just pointing at the same truth all the religions are. It's science, bro". What are the odds.... golly gee.
August 1, 2025
Some genuine insights about the New Age movement, contemporary spiritual movements within Christendom such as the ecumenical and charismatic movements, and even some aspects of the UFO phenomenon.
The book suffers from a few weaknesses, in my view, such as leaping to overly-broad conclusions based on a few bits of anecdotal data. It also takes a very strident position in favor of Eastern Orthodoxy and over against Catholicism and Protestantism, which perhaps is not surprising, but it gives the book a certain flavour, like it was only really intended to be read by Orthodox believers.
In some ways the book reminded me of fear-based warnings coming from fundamentalist writers. Seraphim Rose saw the spirit of the age of the 70s and felt the end times were quickly approaching. He also expressed concern about occult influences creeping in almost everywhere. An afterword written by another Orthodox writer warns against the occult deceptions of... Harry Potter.
These elements were not the most helpful. Rose's analysis of Hinduism and Buddhism, and their Western adaptations, however, was genuinely insightful. The connection between UFOs and the occult, as well as the New Age movement more generally, is legitimate, but remains only a partial explanation.
Another helpful element was the concept of prelest, or spiritual deception, which is apparently a standard teaching in historic Orthodoxy. I would like to read more about this idea, for it seems like a very helpful category for explaining the dynamics of how people encounter spiritual influences and come under their sway.
The book suffers from a few weaknesses, in my view, such as leaping to overly-broad conclusions based on a few bits of anecdotal data. It also takes a very strident position in favor of Eastern Orthodoxy and over against Catholicism and Protestantism, which perhaps is not surprising, but it gives the book a certain flavour, like it was only really intended to be read by Orthodox believers.
In some ways the book reminded me of fear-based warnings coming from fundamentalist writers. Seraphim Rose saw the spirit of the age of the 70s and felt the end times were quickly approaching. He also expressed concern about occult influences creeping in almost everywhere. An afterword written by another Orthodox writer warns against the occult deceptions of... Harry Potter.
These elements were not the most helpful. Rose's analysis of Hinduism and Buddhism, and their Western adaptations, however, was genuinely insightful. The connection between UFOs and the occult, as well as the New Age movement more generally, is legitimate, but remains only a partial explanation.
Another helpful element was the concept of prelest, or spiritual deception, which is apparently a standard teaching in historic Orthodoxy. I would like to read more about this idea, for it seems like a very helpful category for explaining the dynamics of how people encounter spiritual influences and come under their sway.
August 8, 2025
This book was given to me. Unfortunately, it’s highly problematic. It’s packed with conspiracy theories, colored by a deeply close-minded Manichean worldview. It lacks any depth of understanding about Eastern traditions. It’s fine if you’re a Christian and disagree with them. It’s another to lambast them as Trojan Horses of evil.
This is not a book about Christ’s boundless love for all mankind, but a polemic against 'the other'. It's perhaps worth reading only to better understand the propensity for borderline theocratic thinking within deeply conservative religious circles, and how this mode of thinking shapes our current culture.
This is not a book about Christ’s boundless love for all mankind, but a polemic against 'the other'. It's perhaps worth reading only to better understand the propensity for borderline theocratic thinking within deeply conservative religious circles, and how this mode of thinking shapes our current culture.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews