week 10 new age and contemporary spirituality. three broad categories: 1. new age spiritual...

Week 10Week 10

New Age and Contemporary New Age and Contemporary SpiritualitySpirituality

Three broad Three broad categories:categories:

1.1. New age spiritual movementsNew age spiritual movements

2.2. Western Mystery TraditionWestern Mystery Tradition

3.3. Neo-Pagan movements.Neo-Pagan movements.

Hobsbawm & Ranger Hobsbawm & Ranger The The Invention of TraditionInvention of Tradition

New Age spiritual New Age spiritual movementsmovements 1960s and 1970s.1960s and 1970s. MillenarianMillenarian Sometimes God, but often energy or life-Sometimes God, but often energy or life-

force.force.– Planetary deities; Planetary deities; – spirits; spirits; – reincarnated individuals; reincarnated individuals; – outer-space aliens; outer-space aliens; – ‘‘Cosmic Christ’ Cosmic Christ’

““Channeled” through mediums Channeled” through mediums Akin to shamanism & spirit possession.Akin to shamanism & spirit possession.

New Age spiritual New Age spiritual movementsmovements Emphasis on autonomy; eschewing Emphasis on autonomy; eschewing

authority.authority. Focused on individual.Focused on individual. The sacred:The sacred:

– Self-spirituality—assumption that self is sacredSelf-spirituality—assumption that self is sacred Draws heavily on modern scienceDraws heavily on modern science

– esp. systems theory & theoretical physics; esp. systems theory & theoretical physics; rationalizes magical & metaphysical worldview.rationalizes magical & metaphysical worldview.

– Cult archaeologyCult archaeology Strong “this worldly” orientation.Strong “this worldly” orientation.

Cult ArchaeologyCult Archaeology

Ancient astronautsAncient astronauts Pyramid powerPyramid power AtlantisAtlantis Ancient Europeans in AmericaAncient Europeans in America

– Vikings in MinnesotaVikings in Minnesota– WelshWelsh– Lost Tribes of IsraelLost Tribes of Israel– Kennewick Man as EuropeanKennewick Man as European

Flood archaeologyFlood archaeology http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v

=8DyvRRXr6RM=8DyvRRXr6RM

New Age spiritual New Age spiritual movementsmovements

Critiques:Critiques:– Rather conservative movement;Rather conservative movement;– Is a search for prosperity Is a search for prosperity – consistent with capitalism & consistent with capitalism &

individualism of Modern West.individualism of Modern West.– spirituality has become a commodity; spirituality has become a commodity; – self-transformation available through self-transformation available through

market.market.

Western Mystery Western Mystery TraditionsTraditions Offshoot of mysticism of 19th centuryOffshoot of mysticism of 19th century OccultOccult: “ what is hidden”.: “ what is hidden”. Madame Blavatsky: séances; lost Madame Blavatsky: séances; lost

credibility with famous cases of fraud.credibility with famous cases of fraud. Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn;

included W.B. Yeatsincluded W.B. Yeats Propagation & practice of esoteric Propagation & practice of esoteric

studies & ritual magic.studies & ritual magic. Astrology, theosophy, magic alchemy, Astrology, theosophy, magic alchemy,

geomancy Kabbalah, tarot and geomancy Kabbalah, tarot and channelingchanneling

Western Mystery Western Mystery TraditionsTraditions Magician or hermeticist can contact & Magician or hermeticist can contact &

control cosmic forces.control cosmic forces. Hidden or concealed powersHidden or concealed powers

– In objects, nature & cosmosIn objects, nature & cosmos– Supported by emerging science.Supported by emerging science.

Symbolic correspondence between all Symbolic correspondence between all parts of the visible or invisible universe.parts of the visible or invisible universe.– Interrelated by network of “sympathies”Interrelated by network of “sympathies”– Magic: implementation through ritual Magic: implementation through ritual

practice.practice.

Contemporary ritual Contemporary ritual magic:magic: Devotees highly educatedDevotees highly educated

White upper middle classWhite upper middle class

Working class aspirants.Working class aspirants.

Contemporary ritual Contemporary ritual magic:magic: Organized in occult fraternitiesOrganized in occult fraternities ““Adepts” in formal magical robes.Adepts” in formal magical robes. Magic is viewed as both ritual and Magic is viewed as both ritual and

pragmatic activity.pragmatic activity. Some neo-pagans & some Some neo-pagans & some

Christian mystics.Christian mystics. Many others non-aligned.Many others non-aligned.

Neo-PaganismNeo-Paganism

Originally applied to movements Originally applied to movements within Nazi Germanywithin Nazi Germany– Against Christianity; which was Against Christianity; which was

rooted in Judaismrooted in Judaism– OdinismOdinism

Suppressed by Hitler; Suppressed by Hitler; – not to alienate Bourgois not to alienate Bourgois

respectability.respectability.


The Northern TraditionThe Northern Tradition Odinism; named for Germanic Odinism; named for Germanic

high god. high god. Theosophy based on readings of Theosophy based on readings of

Eddas (Norse written traditions)Eddas (Norse written traditions) Multiple deitiesMultiple deities


The Northern TraditionThe Northern Tradition Celebration of calendrical festivals, Celebration of calendrical festivals,

– esp. solstices and equinoxes.esp. solstices and equinoxes. Magical ritesMagical rites

– RunesRunes– AmuletsAmulets– Oracular divination.Oracular divination.

Very male-orientedVery male-oriented Racist/supremacist Racist/supremacist


Ancient Druidry:Ancient Druidry: Dru-widDru-wid “knowers of oaks”; “knowers of oaks”; Mentioned by CaesarMentioned by Caesar Shamans of iron-age Celts?Shamans of iron-age Celts?


Druid revivalDruid revival 19th century; 19th century; Archaeological interest in Archaeological interest in

Stonehenge & AveburyStonehenge & Avebury

Part of Romantic movement in Part of Romantic movement in U.S., Britain & France.U.S., Britain & France.


Modern DruidismModern Druidism 1963; Ar Ndraiocht Fein [Our own 1963; Ar Ndraiocht Fein [Our own

Druidism] Druidism] – Carleton College; protest against attending Carleton College; protest against attending

chapel.chapel. Often associated with sun worship.Often associated with sun worship. Calendrical rituals around Stonehenge Calendrical rituals around Stonehenge

and other archaeological sites.and other archaeological sites. Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues More male-oriented.More male-oriented. Various clerical orders.Various clerical orders.


Wicca or modern Witchcraft:Wicca or modern Witchcraft:– related to English words, “Wit” or related to English words, “Wit” or

Wise.Wise.– =those with knowledge.=those with knowledge.

““Reawakening” of religion of Pre-Reawakening” of religion of Pre-Christian Europe.Christian Europe.

Jacob Bachofen—Jacob Bachofen—Das MutterrechtDas Mutterrecht; ; – ancient society was matriarchal, ancient society was matriarchal, – religion focused on female deity religion focused on female deity


WiccaWicca Members are highly educatedMembers are highly educated LiterateLiterate Middle class Middle class


Highly decentralized and flexible.Highly decentralized and flexible.– egalitarianegalitarian– covens or circlescovens or circles

Draws on research on history & Draws on research on history & anthropological literature.anthropological literature.

Sacred: Sacred: Earth as living, interconnected organism; Earth as living, interconnected organism;

personified by goddess.personified by goddess. Multiplicity of spirits and deities- pantheisticMultiplicity of spirits and deities- pantheistic Focuses on complementary gender opposition; Focuses on complementary gender opposition;

– GoddessGoddess– Horned God.Horned God.


RitualsRituals Ritual magicRitual magic Calendrical ritualsCalendrical rituals Rites of passage; initiations that Rites of passage; initiations that

are performed “sky-clad”are performed “sky-clad” Eight Sabbaths; often centered on Eight Sabbaths; often centered on

equinoxes & solstice.equinoxes & solstice.


Dianetic witchdraft:Dianetic witchdraft: Diana: Roman goddess of Diana: Roman goddess of

wisdom.wisdom. Far less emphasis on Far less emphasis on

complementarity of male role.complementarity of male role.

week 10 new age and contemporary spirituality. three broad categories: 1. new age spiritual...

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