Deceived No More: How Jesus Led Me out of the New Age and into His Word

by Doreen Virtue

The Miraculous Story of a Hugely Successful New Age Teacher’s Conversion to Christianity

In this brilliant, utterly captivating memoir, Doreen Virtue chronicles her journey in discovering everything she believed in was a lie. She poignantly shares the price she’s paid for following Jesus.

New Age teachings are based on concepts that sound almost irresistible. But as Doreen discovered, they come with a hidden price: your eternal destiny. Here is a riveting, personal confessional of how a former false prophet learned to trust God after nearly wasting a lifetime being independent and willful—trying to predict and control the future—and how Jesus saved her soul from deception and opened her eyes to His truth.

Deceived No More can help you learn how to discern dangerous teachings so you can detect and avoid deception. Topics include:


How to spot New Age teachings, and why they’re dangerous
Biblical ways to deal with persecution, spiritual warfare, and other post-conversion issues
How to witness to a New Ager

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Biography, Christianity, Theology, New Age, Audiobook

208 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2020

About the author

Please do not buy my old books or cards, as I have repented and denounced them after Jesus saved me and opened my eyes to new age deception.

Here is my testimony of why I left the new age to follow Jesus: https://youtu.be/zZSH8mvIbdk

Reviews

[Melissa Johns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the author gave some very valuable points and insights, especially in her conversion out of the New Age religion. She identified many of the differences and how dangerous it can be to follow a flawed basis of religion.
However, she was very repetitive and too apologetic. I get it, you made mistakes, I don't need a reminder every paragraph. Her honesty and humility were apparent, but she failed to back up some of her simple claims with evidence. For example, she discusses yoga, and that you can't do it because it worships the Hindu gods. She specifies that stretching is good, but just don't do the poses. Which, I would argue I'm gonna do the stretch that helps my body.
So I felt that this was a little too evangelical for me. There didn't feel like room for grace.
I think this would be good for those on the fence about conversion, or those wanting confirmation of their already held beliefs.

Received this from a Goodreads Giveaway. I really wanted to like this.

[Lisa Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think horoscopes are harmless? Think again.
Read this memoir, chock full of appropriately researched Bible verses used within their correct context. There's nothing new about the New Age. Satan has been around a long, long time, and he is using seemingly innocuous methods to reach out and lasso his victims.
Doreen Virtue's book is fascinating, honest and informative. For me, it had as much page-turning suspense as any Tom Clancy novel, and the benefits are better.
Like Frank Peretti's novels, this book inspired me to pray more. Test every spirit, friends. Someone in your circle needs this book.
Includes notes and bibliography.

[Kara Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic, humbling, repentant story of Doreen's genuine salvation in Jesus Christ and what it's cost her so far. Her story is not over, God is using this powerful testimony to shine the light in the darkness!
Excellent book!
5 stars for speaking up, standing up and sharing The only way to heaven!
Stay strong in the power of His might Doreen!
Since God be for you, who can stand against you?....
No one!

[Caty Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful book! I marvel at our great God who saved Doreen out of the New Age lifestyle. He is amazing! That is one thing I loved about this book. It made me give glory to God. I didn't feel like Doreen tried to make it about herself. I can only imagine the humbling experience she went through denouncing New Age teachings and preaching the true Gospel. I was convicted to guard my heart as well because I am not above deception. This book was informative and engaging.

[Edgar Velazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read by all Christians and hopefully all non believers. I have been a Christian and love Jesus most of my life, yet I too was getting deceived in some areas (law of attraction, visualization, manifestation, self love crap) . This book helped me understand so many things I didn’t before.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doreen is someone else who was on the Allie Beth Stuckey podcast. I think my change of heart started with with this podcast. She pointed out some things that Christian do that are actually “New Age” things. I sort of dismissed it, thinking she is crazy, I haven’t fallen into that. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe I had fallen into some New Age thinking because it had been presented as Christian by Christian believers I followed and read.

When I saw Doreen’s book come out I wanted to read her story. This is really more of a memoir than anything else. But in the beginning she says some things that really opened my eyes to how to explain my view point more clearly. One is how we constantly take verses out of context. I have literally done this everyday with a devo I do. I have started reading the whole chapter so I can understand what is really going on without putting my own ideas into the verse. This is called eisegesis…I am have been very guilty of this, coming to scripture with my “self-made premise”.

Overall, an interesting book, I wouldn’t say I loved it, but it was interesting.

[Mark Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost laughed out loud when she threw away her magic wand. Who owns a magic wand? I look forward to reading any future books by the author.

[Brian Virtue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this testimony. I loved it because of my own personal story with the author (though I don't know her). That, and the powerful tone of gratitude and repentance that pervaded every page.

I become aware of the author 20 years ago or so. We share the same last name and I don't see it very often. I was sad though at the new age association so every time I saw her books (usually in a bookstore) I prayed for the author - that she would come to faith in Christ and her books fade away. I was in bookstores a lot, so I prayed pretty often!

I was amazed to find out a couple of years ago that Doreen did in fact come to faith and was working to get her books off the market. I had wanted to hear more because I had quietly had that praying ritual every time I was in a bookstore for quite some time.

The book is a helpful personal testimony of salvation - but it educates a lot on the new age world as well. But I just enjoyed the sheer delight of her finding forgiveness and true freedom. Just raw joy throughout. Was so fun to read. I think there was some swinging to some extremes in terms of some of the words/language about "what to look out for" at the end so there were some hints of some of the Christian watchdog behavior I find troubling at times but that is more common in the Christian tribe she has gravitated to. But given her story, I can understand why she would gravitate that way now after conversion. I think there were really good warnings and insights that she is in a good position to speak to. But also some more warnings of what is "new age" that are not always new age, but more fear and paranoia. But ultimately - that's not the main point of the book. It's just evidence of a changed life, only due to the power of Christ, with so much joy and gratitude. Loved reading it!

[Sofia Marques · Rating 4 out of 5]

For many years, I was deceived into New Age, manifestation and all kinds of guru things you can imagine. I spent countless hours laying on my bed or putting my head on my desk at the office visualising certain scenes that I wanted to accomplish. I took part in groups. I did online courses. I read a bunch of books. I spent hours watching videos. I cried a lot thinking "what's wrong with me? why doesn't it actually work". I spent so long convicing myself that certain things in my life including abuse derived from me manifesting them.

And I only found peace when I completely left and turned to Jesus. The only one that can fill any void. The only one that could take care of me and my pain.

However, my mom remains. She has always been a deep believer in New Age even more than I have ever been. Since I've known her - she has believed in witches, tarot cards, angel numbers, rituals, etc. I spent years sending Doreen Virtue's books on her bedside table. And since becoming a Christian, I knew I needed to show the truth to my mom. I desperately needed her to get out of that same cycle I was stuck in. A painful cycle of disappointment. Full of deceit.

So when I found out Doreen Virtue had become a follower of Jesus, I was astounished. I was in awe at how amazing God is. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine she would be saved and taken out of this world of deception. So reading her book has been so eye-opening to me.

Eye-opening about what is actually going on in this dark world. Eye-opening on the deception that goes behind it. Eye-opening on how deceived I was. Eye-opening on the people that claim results.

But the most important: eye-opening on how God can redeem anyone from anywhere out of any situation.

All praise and glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever.

[Diana Traña]

The book documents the transition of Doreen Virtue from New Age icon to the fundiest fundie that ever fundied. As an insight into the mind of a religious fanatic, it´s fascinating. As literature it´s rubbish. It´s hard for me to believe the author is a 60ish, mature, educated, experienced woman who, supposedly, is a bestselling writer. It reads like the diary of a clueless teenager - self-centered, petulant, entitled, childish, angry, destructive. The whole book can be summed up in a few sentences -¨I was a sinner but Jesus saved me. I humbly apologise to all the people I defrauded while making tons of money. Don´t ask for a refund - the money is gone on a beachfront property, designer clothes, New Age junk and a $5000 gold-and-gemstone ¨wand¨. But at least I am going to Heaven¨. The rest is endless repetition of cliches and platitudes that one can read in the cheap religious brochures one gets handed in the street. It´s NOT a book about Jesus, although He gets mentioned a lot- there´s no place for love, compassion and humanity in Ms. Virtue´s particularly unsavoury brand of fire-and-brimstone. What is there is an insane amount of self-loathing, guilt, shame and fear thar leaves the reader feeling dirty. And it all sounds completely insincere, like reading a very bad script.
This was my first (and definitely last) Doreen Virtue book - a bad, sad, scary one. Was her New Age wrinting this bad? Zero stars from me.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, wonderful testimony to God’s saving grace and His using all things, even Doreen’s years of false teaching, for His good purpose. One of the main takeaways was the importance of being in the Word constantly, and how it is like a force field when it comes to false teaching, especially false teaching that can sound sort of almost kind of right.

[Courtney | Lasting Joy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book! Doreen Virtue used to be a top selling new age author until Jesus saved her. This book tells about her journey. It was honest and eye opening. It’s amazing how many new age views that Christians adopt. I too have been guilty of some of these things in the past out of sheer ignorance. This book was very well written and I loved reading about her testimony. I definitely recommend this book and ONLY this book from @doreenvirtue . All her other books she says to throw in the trash!

At the end of the book there is a glossary of new age lingo that was so helpful. She also has an extensive list of reputable resources of good solid Christian teachers and pastors.

There is an updated version of chapter 9 also available on her website.

[Mustangblu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doreen's testimony was very interesting, although it was very repetitive, otherwise my rating would have been higher. What a ride for her, being so entrenched in the New Age movement, then finding out it was such a lie! I can understand how she felt that she totally wasted most of her life, and she still seems very regretful about this. Hopefully for her sake this regret will pass!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

Powerful testimony! I enjoyed Doreen’s authenticity and vulnerability. In the version of the book that I read, I was a little skeptical about her vision in Chapter 9, but apparently she has revised that part. She provided many useful resources at the back of the book. Some repetition, but, overall, I am grateful she shared her story!

[Nisha D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating look at Doreen’s conversation from believing in a loving god to a wrathful god. This book is well written and a fascinating look at the psychology and inner turmoil one goes through to create such a drastic change.

I don’t believe in the new doctrine Doreen is putting forward, but as a student of psychology I find her discussion around her conversation to be really interesting.

[Graciela menard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be helpful as a guide for understanding some new age beliefs from a person formerly involved within it. I think it could be a good resource to give to someone involved in the new age, within the right context, to help them see the deception in what they are involved in.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have known about Doreen Virtue since her New Age years, since I was also into the New Age basically most of my life, before God saved me :)

Everything she says in this book is profoundly true about the New Age -- what they do, practices and rituals they do, how it is all about the "self", and how they make you think you are doing something good and pure yet everything is covered in deceit. A lot of the New Age to Jesus or New Age to Christianity videos I've watched are very similar to my own experience, and it tells you a lot about how spiritual warfare is, and the same is true about how Doreen felt after realizing what she has fallen into.

She recounts her story throughout the book, thinking she is helping others, but she was doing it through different means, which really all tie in to occult practices if you really dive in to their history. Doesn't everyone want to help everyone else by however means we can? If we all thought we had some sort of "secret" knowledge, or a "higher vibration" than others, wouldn't you want to share that? If you felt like "all is one" and "we are all connected" even with inanimate objects because of energy, wouldn't you want to help "enlighten" others? Aren't we all familiar with horoscopes, angel cards, tarot cards, palm readers, hypnotism, mediums, psychics, feng shui, mindful contemplations, vision boards, grounding, crystals, enneagrams, and many others? It's all around us. This is what traps most people in the New Age movement.

I think she has described much of her past in her book, yet I would've loved for her to really explain each practice or mantra or belief that she had in Christian Science and New Age in such a way as to make people really understand the severity of the deception and the overwhelming schemes hidden behind the "unity" and "universalism" concept and "love and light" movements.. If you are familiar with the concepts, you may be able to relate more with this book.

She was also a bit repetitive on certain insights and she is severely remorseful about her past that you can really feel it through the pages, however, I believe that God used her life experience and her past in order to lead more of His children back to Him from this false doctrine -- so it is something we all can be thankful for.

I'm glad she is now telling her story and continuing to grow in faith. She did a great job of placing New Age terminology in an appendix at the back of her book, which allows you to be more familiar with the subtle yet deceptive patterns used in this false religion. If you are dabbling with seemingly simple practices, or find yourself lost and it looks like you're just wandering aimlessly, or think you found your place in the world and solved all your problems and that you'll help save the world and take things into your own hands, feeling "woke" yet on the inside still feeling so much anxiety and incompleteness -- I encourage you to humble yourself, and really dig down deep in your core and really ask yourself if everything truly is what they seem.

Jesus Christ is the only Truth, the only Way. The emptiness fades away once you are filled with God's Holy Spirit and created anew. Just read and watch everyone's testimonials on how they decided to finally leave the New Age. I recommend this book if you are familiar with the New Age and want to know someone's life experience learning the Truth. Or even if you are not familiar, I'd still recommend this so you won't get trapped, especially by false prophets, in which she also gives an account of how to spot one if you ever do encounter one.

There are also good resources in another appendix (videos, books, YT channels, etc.) -- I'd be exploring those too.

[Renata Kiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and eye-opening.

[Lauren Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Christian Science to New Age to Christianity--a powerful and important testimony!

I, like Doreen Virtue, was raised in a faith called Christian Science. I discovered Doreen's latest book through the Ex-Christian Science Facebook groups and was unaware of her New Age notoriety. In Deceived No More, I was blown away by her candid confessional style as she walked the reader through her background, acclaim in the New Age world, and 180 to biblical Christianity. For those who can't understand how a person can make such monumental changes in their beliefs, welcome to the power of the real God, Jesus Christ. I too experienced a radical conversion from false teachings to Christianity. It might seem crazy reading this type of story as though it couldn't possibly be true, yet this is the power of God through Jesus Christ--he transforms us and makes us completely new. Many Christians call this being "born again." I applaud Doreen for taking an honest stand for her beliefs and taking us through the process. It was helpful to read the definitions of various biblical heresies along the way--she is a teacher at heart. I did not recognize that the New Age was so large and thus her story opened my eyes even more to the dangers of spiritual falsity that still lurk at every corner. If you believe in "the universe," or "that all paths get you to heaven," I do urge you to read Doreen's valuable and insightful book and PRAY to ask God to clearly lead you and open your eyes. May God be with you on your journey to find truth.

[Robert Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review against previous held beliefs

It was interesting to read as I have always been a fan of Doreen virtue and as a Christian spiritualist have always believed in God and Jesus as his beloved son whilst also maintaining an interest in the spiritual side.

I felt it quite heavy in bible punching but can understand the interpretations and although written by over 40 authors I understand a lot of the bible referred to.

However the question remains that we have the Old Testament prior to the arrival of our lord Jesus, the New Testament whilst he was with us in his divine state but nothing after whereas I would have thought the teachings would be expanded on.

It is interesting to that we have an apparent knowledge gap on what our lord did from childhood to his reappearance although I am quite happy to be directed to any research in this area as the general opinion was he travelled eastwards.

I think the main point stems on whether you can encompass the new age without being sucked in to the ideals of worshipping false images which I believe we can in certain instances and in certain practises.

[Alan Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book and informative. It helped me understand the Christian faith better and how it contrasts with other belief systems. I struggle to reject all New Age beliefs as Satan's work, but there certainly is a lot of deception out there to be wary of. I agree with Doreen's description of New Agers only wanted to see the positive in life and ignore the negative/dark side and pretend it is not there. This has always struck me as dangerous and naive, as we need to deal with negativity in life. I would recommend that the whole Bible is read and studied by individuals to really understand the Scripture. Some parts of the Bible will mean different things to different people.

[Tristany Corgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Several years ago, my mom worked at a Christian school, and the leadership decided that all the teachers would participate in a brief yoga session after their weekly morning devotions. My mom was extremely uncomfortable with this and decided not to participate, but they justified the decision by saying they would incorporate Christian-y phrases or ideas into the session.

Thankfully, these weekly yoga sessions didn’t last long, but they do reveal just how easy it is for New Age practices and teachings to slip into Christian settings, especially the Church. I’ve seen yoga classes held in church buildings, pastors teaching the law of attraction (if you declare something, it will happen), and sermon series based on the Enneagram.

We must be careful to not allow these practices and beliefs to enter the Church because, as Doreen Virtue writes in her book Deceived No More, New Age and Christianity cannot mix. A church’s acceptance of New Age can only lead to apostasy..."

Continue reading my review at https://tristanycorgan.com/blog-decei... .

[Riniel Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so I don't even want to begin regarding how delusional I think the author who wrote this is. Yes she is a Christian but. I think she is mentally ill. I don't think she actually believes what she claims to so it's not for me.
Also... LOVE the fact that she "edited" the chapter on her vision of Jesus in this book thereafter, AFTER she published the book.... It's like... Wouldn't you think if you received a clear vision from Jesus, you'd be convinced of its authenticity instead of being brainwashed by religious hypocrites in the church. I'm just not convinced. Sorry. Huge red flag to me and upon interacting with Doreen Virtue multiple times on Instagram which was emotionally exhausting, and unproductive, and unable to arrive at any logical conclusions.... About anything... I have come to the conclusion that she is mentally ill and not truly who she says she is

[Cornelia Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as research for a teen class I'll be teaching at my church. I have been very interested in warning the next generation about the dangers of New Age teachings so I got this book to learn about how Doreen Virtue left the New Age and turned to Christ.
I was not disappointed. Virtue writes well and she weaves in so much scripture and truth in her work. It was so humbling and fascinating to learn about the deceptions she believed. This book is an invaluable resource for me right now and I can see myself rereading in the future.

[Liana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this as part of research I'm doing for an article and found it boring, repetitive and ultimately superficial. Honestly is reads like she's trying to convince other Christians that's she's "part of the club" now. That's the primary audience as well, by the way - Christians - because even though this book is billed as a memoir it's really a "discernment" handbook, and not even a good one at that.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this book. It was quite repetitive (a few times I thought I was accidentally re-reading a chapter) and there are some things I don’t agree with, as they feel a bit ‘fundamentalist’.

The discussion on yoga felt a little shallow (ie yoga is not just asana but in fact a path of spiritual discipline with moral commandments etc) but overall I enjoyed it, and she’s got some good resources. And yoga wasn’t a part of her journey, so I get that.

[Some Christian Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow Doreen on YouTube (so I was already somewhat familiar with her story), but I am so glad I bought her book and got to read all the details of how Jesus brought her out of the new age. It’s a fascinating story that I’d recommend to anyone! Her love of Jesus is truly inspiring, and encourages me to deepen my own relationship with Him. 💕

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really eye-opening to new age practices in our culture and within the church.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have expected too much from this book, it felt like she was holding back and her writing style was a bit different from what I expected but that's on me.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Odd. I'm so glad she became a Christian but she seems to have succumbed to legalism and forgotten grace.