New Age Spirituality: Rethinking Religion

by Steven J. Sutcliffe, Ingvild Sælid Gilhus (Editor)

New Age and holistic beliefs and practices - sometimes called the "new spirituality" - are widely distributed across modern global society. The fluid and popular nature of new age makes these movements a very challenging field to understand using traditional models of religious analysis. Rather than treating new age as an exotic specimen on the margins of 'proper' religion, "New Age Spirituality" examines these movements as a form of everyday or lived religion. The book brings together an international range of scholars to explore the key issues: insight, healing, divination, meditation, gnosis, extraordinary experiences, and interactions with gods, spirits and superhuman powers. Combining discussion of contemporary beliefs and practices with cutting-edge theoretical analysis, the book repositions new age spirituality at the forefront of the contemporary study of religion.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2013

Reviews

[Mette Dunér · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I agree with most parts of this book and admire the brave ways in which it challenges modern conceptions of religion, I find it way too naive. It makes heavy use of Durkheim’s theory of elementary forms and while the authors try to separate this theory from its problematic, Eurocentric and cultural evolutionistic aspects, I think it is highly naive and problematic to believe one can just rid a theory built on colonial presuppositions from its problematic aspects. Durkheim’s theory could only be conceptualised in a colonial age and its colonial prejudice is imbedded in its very fabric. Of course one can still use the theory, but acting as if one can just remove the colonialism and call it a day is irresponsible.
In the same vein, the calls to “go back to the roots” of religion or “start over” seem highly unrealistic. While I sympathise with the goal to change our narrow, western definition of religion, it can hardly be possible to find new definitions that aren’t themselves tainted by the contemporary discourse on culture and religion.