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The appeal of spirituality
• “Religion” and the private sphere• Secular institutions and freedom “not to
believe”• Considerable interest in mysticism and
spirituality
Taking these phenomena seriously
• Too often dismissed as – Religion “lite”– Irrational and trivial
• Why take it seriously?– Significant culturally and economically– Like fundamentalism, a challenge to prediction of
“rationalization”
Transcendence
• Experiences and pursuits that stress– Personal achievement, betterment– “Communitas”
– Raves, festivals, “pilgrimages”– Others?
“New Age”
• Umbrella term for wide range of practices and beliefs with overt spiritual content– Wicca, channeling, alternative medicine, UFO
religions, women-centered spirituality
• Unifying themes (in addition to transcendence of self)– Immanent power – Utilitarian– Individualistic– Magic and mysticism– Distrust of organized religion– Well adapted to the commercial sector
Why so imprecise?
• Key is the tenacity of “spirituality” oriented practices
• Also seeing roots of the philosophies of body and spirit in long standing cultural tradition– Enlightenment/knowledge and revelation part of
Christian tradition though often subdued
Followers of New Age
• Largely made up of middle class– Mostly Caucasian– Adepts – ie mediums, ritual specialists – may be
more socially marginal– More emphasis on female practice, leadership
than in other religious domains
Roots of New Age
• Beginnings in 19th c spiritualism• Folklore revival of same period• 1960s counterculture– “rediscovery” of Asia
• Women’s movement• Environmental activism,
alternative medicine movements
Rationalism and New Age
• Seems very “irrational” to critics– Alternative medical therapies– Communication with spirits– Incorporation of elements of
Asian religions (e.g. reincarnation, meditation)
And yet…
• Generally well-educated clientele– No lack of exposure to science and logic
• Use of “scientific” language– Early spiritualist thought in close communication
with scientific/mathematical discoveries
Explanations of New Age…
• “Anomie”..???• Working out of existing trends in American
society• Access to power/effectiveness
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