The Making of the New Spirituality: The Eclipse of the Western Religious Tradition

by James A. Herrick

A 2004 ECPA Gold Medallion Finalist! One of Preaching magazine's 2004 "Top Ten Books Every Preacher Should Read"! Neo-paganism.
The paranormal.
Astrology.
Nature religion.
Holistic thinking.
Healing.
New Age.
New spirituality. A massive shift in Western religious attitudes has taken place almost without our noticing it. The Judeo-Christian tradition of Western culture has slowly but steadily been eclipsed by a new way of viewing spirituality. This shift has been in the making for some three hundred years. James A. Herrick tells the story of how the old view has been dismantled and a new one created not primarily through academic or institutional channels but by means of popular religious media--books, speeches, magazines and pamphlets, as well as movies, plays, music, radio interviews, television programs and websites. Although the new spirituality is diffuse and eclectic in its sources and manifestations, Herrick demonstrates a significant convergence of ideas, beliefs, assumptions, convictions and images in the myriad ways this New Religious Synthesis makes its way into our culture. In fact, the new spirituality, says Herrick, directly calls into question each major tenet of Judeo-Christian tradition and so represents a radical alternative to it. Interest in spirituality increases while participation in institutional religion wanes. Many welcome this evolution of religion. However, few are familiar with its roots, and fewer still have critically examined its prospects. As we stand at a spiritual crossroad, Herrick questions whether we are wise to discard the Western religious tradition and adopt the new spirituality.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Spirituality, Religion

328 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book documents the rise of what we might call the "the New Spirituality." That is to say, the remaking of Christianity, specifically, in the image of man and his desires for a generic religious experience. The author communicates the often confusing rise of critical thought within the Western church with great clarity. There is a lot of modern historical theology here, accompanied by insights into the spiritualism of, say, Oprah!

[Nick Mather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Herrick is not a religious scholar, but rather a professor of communication. His lack of experience in studying religious traditions shows in the shallowness of his examination of many facets of the "new spirituality." Straw men abound and the final chapter makes clear why - it is little more than an attempt to witness his version of Christianity to the reader. He interprets the gospels as eyewitness accounts. They aren't. He seems to believe that morality requires God, which is news to moral philosophers, especially virtue ethicists. Perhaps worst of all, he wants to equate "nature worshippers" with Nazis. This is a polemical attack on alternative spirituality by a Christian author, not a scholar of religion. There are better, less biased books out there that explore alternative spiritualities.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched historical analysis of the new age spirituality. A good introduction and reference book for those who are new to esoteric religious thoughts and their influence upon modern western culture.

[Caleb Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scope of this book is tremendous as it shows the many streams of thought for centuries which have led to the forms of New Age Spirituality. This work has connected a lot of dots for me.

[Josh McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty much a handbook on contemporary American spirituality for me. Outlines the prevailing worldview in our culture. Most of us would call it "New Age" but as Herrick points out it is much more diverse and complex than the popular perception of New Age.

One of the most engaging and interesting books on contemporary spirituality available. Written from an evangelical Christian perspective, but a good read for anyone interested in the religious landscape of western civilization over the last couple hundred years as well as the coming future.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative, but smacked a little too strongly of conspiracy theory.