The New Age

Question 1

What does the ‘New Age’ refer to?

Answer 1

• diversity of mind-body-spirit ideas, interests and therapies that became prominent in the 1980s
• combines conventional and bizarre religious traditions

Question 2

who outlines 2 features of the New Age? What are the features?

Answer 2

Heelas
Self-spirituality - everyone becomes their own spiritual specialist and exploring whatever beliefs they are interested in
Detraditionalization - rejection of traditional external authority and a move towards self-spirituality

Question 3

who outlines 5 main features of the New Age? What are the features?

Answer 3

Bruce
- emphasis on freeing the self
- the mind, body and spirit all being connected to each other and the supernatural - holistic approach
- self is the final authority - personal experience is the only test that matters
- global cafeteria - people can mix a range of beliefs from across the world
- New Age ideas are designed to be therapeutic

Question 4

examples of New Age

Answer 4

astrology, tarot, herbalism, massage, hypnosis

Question 5

2 arguments for there being a new age movement

Answer 5

there is some element of organization/structure - spread through media and specialised shops - commercialization

similar focuses identified by Heelas arguably brings a sense of cohesion and suggests an overarching movement

Question 6

2 arguments for why there is not a new age movement

Answer 6

• diverse range of beliefs, structure and leadership so cannot be regarded as a singular movement
• too individualised - people may ‘network’ through workshops or social media but little organisation beyond that

Question 7

what attracts people to NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 7

• individualised spirituality - person centred
• pick n mix approach
• links to environmentalism
• escapism from regular life
• less commitment
• focus on wellness/health
• disillusionment with society and institutions

Question 8

who links the New Age to modernity?

Answer 8

Heelas and Bruce

Question 9

what links does Bruce make between the New Age and modernity?

Answer 9

• provides a source of identity
• consumer culture creates a sense of dissatisfaction but the NA provides an alternative way to perfection
• rapid social change disrupts established norms but the NA provides a sense of certainty or truth
• decline of organised religion means there are less traditional alternatives to New Age beliefs

Question 10

who argues that the NA is a natural feature of modernity due to the individualistic nature of the NA? Why?

Answer 10

Bruce
- values shared in ‘expressive professions’ and linked to human potential e.g artists
- softer versions of eastern religions, watered down for self-centred westerners - very little commitment
- pick and mix style reflects increasingly consumerist ethos in a capitalist society

Question 11

what are the reasons for the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 11

• pragmatic reasons
• secularization and globalisation
• vacuum of meaning and identity choice
• social deprivation, marginality and theodicies of deprivilege
• status frustration
• anomie and social change

Question 12

how have pragmatic reasons led to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 12

• NA offers the ‘key to success’ - appeals to more affluent, well educated and successful groups who want to capture their ‘inner selves’ (Heelas)
• Wallis - they offer knowledge, techniques and therapies that bring power, happiness and success, reducing stress
• Escapism - short term solutions to personal difficulties - Barker says it can provide substitute family, support and comfort

Question 13

What does Heelas say about pragmatic reasons being the cause for the growth of the New Age and NRMs?

Answer 13

NA offers the ‘key to success’. Appeals to more affluent, well educated and successful groups who want to capture their ‘inner selves’

Question 14

What does Wallis say about pragmatic reasons being the cause for the growth of the New Age and NRMs?

Answer 14

Wallis – they offer knowledge, techniques and therapies that bring power, happiness and success, reducing stress

Question 15

What does Barker say about pragmatic reasons being the cause for the growth of the New Age and NRMs?

Answer 15

Barker (1984) says it can provide substitute family, support and comfort.

Question 16

How has secularlisation and globalisation led to the growth of the New Age and NRMs?

Answer 16

Weber – disenchantment growing and world becoming more rational.
Giddens (2006) – people leaving ritualistic traditional religions for more personal NA.
Bruce (1996) – NA offers self-improvement and spiritual dimensions
Baudrillard (1988,2001) – ‘media-saturated society’ offers a range of beliefs and can promote them widely to young people.

Question 17

what does Weber say about secularlisation and globalisation leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 17

disenchantment growing and world becoming more rational

Question 18

what does Giddens say about secularlisation and globalisation leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 18

people leave ritualistic traditional religions for more personal NA

Question 19

what does Bruce say about secularlisation and globalisation leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 19

NA offers self improvement and spiritual dimensions

Question 20

what does Baudrillard say about secularlisation and globalisation leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 20

‘media-saturated society’ offers range of beliefs and can promote them widely to young people

Question 21

how has a vacuum of meaning and identity choice led to the growth of the New Age and NRMs?

Answer 21

Lyotard (1984) – loss of faith in metanarratives and traditional sources of authority (inc. religion, medicine and some parts of science)
Bauman (1992) – ‘Crisis of meaning’
Heelas (1998) – NA is a ‘spiritual revolution’ to fill the ‘vacuum of meaning’ left by decline in traditional religion.
Drane (1992) – NA offers internal power
Sources of identity have been fragmented – NA offers self-driven identity to meet personal needs

Question 22

what does Lydotard say about vacuum of meaning and identity choice leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 22

loss of faith in metanarratives and traditional sources of authority

Question 23

what does Bauman say about vacuum of meaning and identity choice leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 23

crisis of meaning

Question 24

what does Heelas say about vacuum of meaning and identity choice leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 24

new age is a spiritual revolution to fill the vacuum of meaning left by decline in traditional religion

Question 25

what does Drane say about vacuum of meaning and identity choice leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 25

NA offers internal power

Question 26

how has social deprivation, marginality and theodicies of deprivilege led to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 26

sects common in marginalised groups [Wilson (1970) economic, social deprivation etc leads to marginalisation]. Weber’s ‘Theodicy of deprivilege’ – NA and NRMs act as ‘compensators’ for marginality. Can offer sense of community, make suffering into a test of faith (People’s Temple) or give feeling of self-determination/empowerment. Seems to challenge wider society. Wallis – people drawn to world-rejecting NRMs in 60s-70s due to failure to challenge dominant norms and values.

Question 27

what does Wilson say about social deprivation, marginality and theodicies of deprivilege leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 27

sects are common in marginalised groups / economic, social deprivation etc leads to marginalisation

Question 28

what does Wallis say about social deprivation, marginality and theodicies of deprivilege leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 28

people drawn to world-rejecting NRMs in 60s-70s due to failure to challenge dominant norms and values

Question 29

how has status frustration led to the growth of NRMs and New Age?

Answer 29

Status frustration (SF) - people are frustrated at their lack of status in society. Associated with young people moving from childhood to full independence in adulthood. Wallis (1984) – NRMs appeal to young people as they offer identity and status beyond society. However this may be short lived and fall away when settled in adulthood. Barker – young people have more freedom and income to be involved in NA and NRMs Appeal to unattached people as offers community

Question 30

what does Wallis say about the status frustration leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 30

NRMs appeal to young people as they offer identity and status beyond society. However this may be short lived and fall away when settled in adulthood

Question 31

what does Barker say about the status frustration leading to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 31

young people have more freedom and income to be involved in NA and NRMs

Question 32

how has anomie and social change led to the growth of NRMs and the New Age?

Answer 32

Wilson (1982) – sudden social change leads to anomie/normlessness as it challenges traditional authority – e.g. Methodism grew in 18th-19th century as a result of industrialisation. NA and NRMs provide stability or sense of security in this time. Glock and Stark (1965) – NA and NRM emerge as social or religious protest. Appeals to those who are disillusioned with wider society (e.g. Nation of Islam in the USA as a protest against ongoing segregation)

Question 33

what does Wilson say about anomie and social change?

Answer 33

sudden social change leads to anomie/normlessness as it challenges traditional authority e.g Methodism grew in the 18th-19th century as a result of industrialisation

Question 34

what does Glock and Stark say about anomie and social change?

Answer 34

NA and NRM emerge as social or religious protest. Appeals to those who are disillusioned with wider society (e.g Nation of Islam in the USA as a protest against ongoing segregation)