The New AgeThe New Age

What is the “New Age”?What is the “New Age”? Belief that humanity had come to a Belief that humanity had come to a

major spiritual turning point (1970’s)major spiritual turning point (1970’s)

Practices vary:Practices vary:

astrology, neo-shamanism, crystal astrology, neo-shamanism, crystal healing, channeling, past-life therapy, healing, channeling, past-life therapy, meditation, worship of nature spirits, meditation, worship of nature spirits, etc.etc.

millions of practitioners, but 85% of millions of practitioners, but 85% of US Americans identify as ChristiansUS Americans identify as Christians

Common themesCommon themes

Self-developmentSelf-development– Realizing full potential as spiritual Realizing full potential as spiritual

being by casting off false selfbeing by casting off false self

Rejection of rigid moralsRejection of rigid morals– Free to seek spiritual truth wherever Free to seek spiritual truth wherever

it liesit lies

Skepticism of organized religionsSkepticism of organized religions– Dogmatic & congregation-centricDogmatic & congregation-centric

Inspiration from non-western Inspiration from non-western sourcessources

Flexible beliefsFlexible beliefs

Origins of New Age in USOrigins of New Age in USSpiritualist movement (mid-1800’s)Spiritualist movement (mid-1800’s)– Communicating with souls of the dead Communicating with souls of the dead

during seances (attracted early during seances (attracted early feminists)feminists)

New Thought movement (late New Thought movement (late 1800’s-early 1900’s)1800’s-early 1900’s)– We can “think” our way to health & We can “think” our way to health &

happinesshappiness– Mary Baker Eddy’s (1879) Christian Mary Baker Eddy’s (1879) Christian

Science: illness is an illusion to be Science: illness is an illusion to be countered by faith in Godcountered by faith in God

– Schucman’s Schucman’s A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles (1975)(1975)

New Age & PostmodernismNew Age & Postmodernism

MODERNITYMODERNITY POSTMODERNITYPOSTMODERNITY

Faith in “progress”Faith in “progress” What is progress?What is progress?

Scientific rationalismScientific rationalism Magical realismMagical realism

boundariesboundaries No boundariesNo boundaries

TruthTruth Multiple truthsMultiple truths

Postmodern characteristicsPostmodern characteristicsEclecticismEclecticism = customize a religious = customize a religious perspective that makes sense to you, non-perspective that makes sense to you, non-traditionaltraditional

Multiple selves Multiple selves = seek understanding of = seek understanding of different aspects of oneselfdifferent aspects of oneself

Technology & morals Technology & morals = from pre-technology = from pre-technology to invented technologiesto invented technologies

Resist formal institutions & master narratives Resist formal institutions & master narratives = rational science, government, organized = rational science, government, organized religionreligion

New Age Religious CommunitiesNew Age Religious Communities

ChannelingChanneling

Harmonic ConvergenceHarmonic Convergence

ScientologyScientology

Neo-paganismNeo-paganism

Channeling Channeling (early 1960’s)(early 1960’s)Seek spiritual guidance from beings Seek spiritual guidance from beings originating in other times, planets, originating in other times, planets, dimensionsdimensions

JZ Knight (Tacoma housewife) channeled JZ Knight (Tacoma housewife) channeled “Ramtha,” ancient warrior from Atlantis“Ramtha,” ancient warrior from Atlantis

Goal: help us communicate w/spiritual Goal: help us communicate w/spiritual allies/ our higher selves, tap into a deep allies/ our higher selves, tap into a deep wisdom in the collective unconsciouswisdom in the collective unconscious

Must acquire own tools of religious visionMust acquire own tools of religious vision

As more of us achieve spiritual As more of us achieve spiritual understanding, the world will “evolve” understanding, the world will “evolve” into higher consciousnessinto higher consciousness

JZ KnightJZ Knight

RamthaRamtha

Harmonic Convergence Harmonic Convergence (1980’s)(1980’s)Jose Arguelles Jose Arguelles – (born 1939), planetary whole (born 1939), planetary whole

systems anthropologistsystems anthropologist– received Ph.D. in Art History & received Ph.D. in Art History &

Aesthetics from University of Aesthetics from University of Chicago in 1969Chicago in 1969

– taught at Princeton University, taught at Princeton University, University of California, Evergreen University of California, Evergreen State College, San Francisco State State College, San Francisco State University, San Francisco Institute University, San Francisco Institute of Art, the Naropa Institute, the of Art, the Naropa Institute, the University of Colorado, and The University of Colorado, and The Union Graduate SchoolUnion Graduate School

Jose ArguellesJose Arguelles

Jose & Jose & Lloydine ArguellesLloydine Arguelles

Harmonic ConvergenceHarmonic ConvergencePredicted a conjunction of cosmic forces Predicted a conjunction of cosmic forces (based on Mayan calendar) on Aug. 16-(based on Mayan calendar) on Aug. 16-17, 198717, 1987– Return of archetypal memories & Return of archetypal memories &

impressionsimpressions

Spiritual renaissance in 2012Spiritual renaissance in 2012

““harmonic convergences” = harmonic convergences” = opportunities to share in collective opportunities to share in collective outpouring of spiritual energy at “power outpouring of spiritual energy at “power spots” or “vortexes”spots” or “vortexes”

Integration of astronomy, cosmic Integration of astronomy, cosmic energies, sacred sites & human energies, sacred sites & human consciousnessconsciousness

ScientologyScientology

Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health Health (1950) by L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986)(1950) by L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986)

Human limitations & neuroses = products of Human limitations & neuroses = products of negative memories or images (engrams) that negative memories or images (engrams) that must be dislodged to achieve full potentialmust be dislodged to achieve full potential

““auditing” = spiritual counseling to eliminate auditing” = spiritual counseling to eliminate engramsengrams

Salvation through personal spiritual Salvation through personal spiritual enlightenmentenlightenment

Katie Holmes & Tom CruiseKatie Holmes & Tom Cruise

Kelly Preston & Jon Travolta

Jenna & Bodhi Elfman

Leah Remini & Angelo Pagan

Beth Riesgraf & Jason Lee

L. Ron Hubbard

Neo-paganismNeo-paganismUmbrella term for variety of religions that Umbrella term for variety of religions that draw inspiration from elements of pre-draw inspiration from elements of pre-Christian polytheistic worshipChristian polytheistic worship

Wicca = largest component of contemporary Wicca = largest component of contemporary PaganismPaganism

Many different sects/traditions:Many different sects/traditions:– Ethnic (British Craft, Celtic Wicca, etc.)Ethnic (British Craft, Celtic Wicca, etc.)– Feminist (Dianic Witchcraft)Feminist (Dianic Witchcraft)– Regional (Wisconsin’s Circle, SF New Regional (Wisconsin’s Circle, SF New

Reformed Orthodox Order of Golden Dawn, Reformed Orthodox Order of Golden Dawn, NROOGD)NROOGD)

– Non-Wiccan pagans: Egyptian, Druidic, Afro-Non-Wiccan pagans: Egyptian, Druidic, Afro-Caribbean, Native American practicesCaribbean, Native American practices

Gerald B. Gardner = Witchcraft Today (1954), contemporary explosion of revival Witchcraft, “Gardnerian” Wicca

oppositional nature of movements

Contrast dominant American culture, esp. puritanical Christianities, embrace romantic notions of:

the naturalthe femininethe primitivethe corporealthe wild

Neo-pagan themesNeo-pagan themes Polytheistic = multiple spirits & forms of Polytheistic = multiple spirits & forms of

consciousnessconsciousness Union with nature (v. domination over)Union with nature (v. domination over) Balance of female & male principles Balance of female & male principles Sensual, embodied quality of lifeSensual, embodied quality of life

• prominent voice in modern Wiccan spirituality• cofounder of Reclaiming (www.reclaiming.org), activist branch of modern Pagan religion• author or coauthor of 10 books, including The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess (1979)• Webs of Power: Notes from the Global Uprising •The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature • CD’s: Wicca for Beginners (2002), Earth Magic (2006)• brings techniques &creative power of spirituality to political activism

Starhawk