New Age

The New Age refers to a diverse range of spiritual practices and beliefs.

It grew rapidly within Western society during the early 1970s. Scholars often struggle to define it because its structure is highly eclectic. This means it combines many different ideas rather than following one system. Many academics classify it as a religious movement. However, most adherents do not use that specific term. They often prefer to describe their path as spirituality. They view it as a way to unify the mind, body, and spirit.

The movement functions through several core theological concepts. Many followers accept a holistic form of divinity. This idea suggests a divine force pervades the entire universe. This force includes human beings themselves. Consequently, there is a strong emphasis on the spiritual authority of the self. Some people also believe in semi-divine non-human entities, such as angels. They believe humans can communicate with these beings through channeling. In this process, a human acts as an intermediary to receive messages.

New Age thought often includes specific views on the nature of time and history. Many believe history is divided into distinct spiritual ages. A common belief is that a forgotten age of great wisdom once existed. This age featured advanced technology and high spiritual understanding. Followers believe the world then declined into periods of violence and spiritual degeneracy. They believe a remedy is coming through the emergence of the Age of Aquarius. This concept of a coming era provides the name for the entire movement.

Scholars have identified different ways to categorize these various activities. Sociologist Michael York suggests the movement can be divided into three broad trends. The first is the social camp, which seeks to bring about social change. The second is the occult camp, which focuses on contacting spirit entities. The third is the spiritual camp, which acts as a middle ground. This group focuses primarily on individual development. Additionally, there is a strong focus on healing through alternative medicine. Many practitioners attempt to unify scientific ideas with spiritual ones.

The history of these ideas involves many different influences and eras. The movement drew heavily from Western esotericism and older occult traditions. For example, it utilized the work of the 18th-century mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. He believed in communicating with spirits and predicted a coming era. The German physician Franz Mesmer also provided influence through his ideas on animal magnetism. Mid-20th-century influences also played a role in its development. These include the counterculture of the 1960s and various UFO religions from the 1950s. The movement was centered largely in the United Kingdom during the 1970s.

The movement expanded significantly during the 1980s and 1990s. By the start of the 21st century, the use of the term began to change. Many people within the milieu started to reject the label "New Age." Some scholars argue that the New Age phenomenon has actually ended. Others suggest it has simply evolved into different forms. Because there is no central authority, people define their own paths. Many individuals prefer to call themselves "seekers" rather than New Agers. Some even identify with established religions like Buddhism or Christianity.

Today, the New Age is a major subject of academic research. Scholars of religious studies examine it as a complex social phenomenon. Some researchers use the term "everyday spirituality" to describe these practices. Others view it as a "cultic milieu," which is a network of marginalized ideas. These ideas interact to create new, unique belief systems. Despite the disagreements over its definition, the term remains a useful tool. It allows researchers to group many different contemporary practices together. It helps them study how people seek to transform the human condition.