Evaluation New Age Movements (NAMs) Bruce (1996)
Religion has been defined as: The term ‘New Age’ refers to a He suggests that these groups tend to take two
● A belief in some kind of supernatural power large number of religions and forms:
● An expression of this belief in collective worship therapies that have become 1. Audience cults
● A set of moral values which guide action increasingly important since They involve little face-to-face interaction. Members of
● A force which brings people together and unifies society. the 1970s. the ‘audience’ are unlikely to know each other.
Many NAMs can be Contacts are maintained mostly through the mass
HOWEVER, it can be argued that NAMs fall short of religion as in many cases media and the internet as well as occasional
classed as
there is no evidence of a supernatural power, not much evidence of collective conferences.
world-affirming
worship and no common values/morals which guide action. Both astrology and belief in UFOs are good examples of these.
NRMs as they
focus on the Audience cults feed a major market of ‘self-help therapy’
Overall, it does not fit any of the definitions of religion outlined above. groups and books which regularly appear in best-seller lists.
achievement of
Critics even argue that New Age groupings individual
2. Client cults
are so diverse and loosely organized that potential.
They offer particular services to their followers. They have led to a
- Membership they cannot be said to be a movement. rapid increase in new ‘therapists’ (from ‘astrological’ to ‘colour’
Interested individuals can attend and therapists), establishing new relationships between a consumer
participate in any activities. There is no and a seller.
concept of membership. What unifies
seekers is the quest for spiritual Amongst the practices involved are tarot readings, crystals and
experience/growth through each will take astrology. Many bookshops devote more time to these sorts of books
their own path. Beliefs - New than books on Christianity.
Age Movements
- Organisation (NAMs)
Like the cult, the primary concern of people that are interested is highly The common demographic NAMs seem to appeal to all age
individualistic, often some form of mystical/spiritual personal experience. groups, but to women especially.
People are likely to meet in private houses or rented premises and come Bruce suggests that those affiliated, however, already
together for special ‘workshops’ or more regular contact. subscribe to what Heelas calls the ‘cultic milieu’ or
‘holistic milieu’; a mix of belief in the power
- Worship and ritual In comparison to Cults of spirituality, ecology and personal
Although individual New Agers may believe in some kind of God, the sacred is more likely to growth and concerns that science
be seen within. Despite the fact that cults are does not have all
often precarious and the answers.
- Sense of legitimacy short-lived, they at least have
Those involved in New Age believe there are many truths which may come from a whole range of sources. some organisational structure
People should be open to truth whatever its source. and common belief system.
However, New Age seekers tend to be critical of religion as they believe that it discourages genuine spirituality.
↑ This does not seem to be the case with NAMs.
- Relationship to wider society
New Age seekers live ‘in the world’ however there is an example of Findhorn in Scotland there is a New Age There are similarities between cults and NAMs in
settled ‘colony’. Many are also active in ‘Green’ campaigns. some cases, such as drawing people together
● ‘The fully engaged’ - given up conventional
who are engaged in individual quests for
- Involvement and commitment lifestyles for a spiritual quest (e.g. Findhorn)
experience.
Commitment is primarily to their own spiritual growth or progress. ● ‘Serious part-timers’ - who lead otherwise
conventional lives but devote serious time and
There are 3 levels of commitment among New Age seekers: → effort to spiritual concerns.
● ‘Casual part-timers’ = who experiment with
‘exotic’ things as consumers.
Religion has been defined as: The term ‘New Age’ refers to a He suggests that these groups tend to take two
● A belief in some kind of supernatural power large number of religions and forms:
● An expression of this belief in collective worship therapies that have become 1. Audience cults
● A set of moral values which guide action increasingly important since They involve little face-to-face interaction. Members of
● A force which brings people together and unifies society. the 1970s. the ‘audience’ are unlikely to know each other.
Many NAMs can be Contacts are maintained mostly through the mass
HOWEVER, it can be argued that NAMs fall short of religion as in many cases media and the internet as well as occasional
classed as
there is no evidence of a supernatural power, not much evidence of collective conferences.
world-affirming
worship and no common values/morals which guide action. Both astrology and belief in UFOs are good examples of these.
NRMs as they
focus on the Audience cults feed a major market of ‘self-help therapy’
Overall, it does not fit any of the definitions of religion outlined above. groups and books which regularly appear in best-seller lists.
achievement of
Critics even argue that New Age groupings individual
2. Client cults
are so diverse and loosely organized that potential.
They offer particular services to their followers. They have led to a
- Membership they cannot be said to be a movement. rapid increase in new ‘therapists’ (from ‘astrological’ to ‘colour’
Interested individuals can attend and therapists), establishing new relationships between a consumer
participate in any activities. There is no and a seller.
concept of membership. What unifies
seekers is the quest for spiritual Amongst the practices involved are tarot readings, crystals and
experience/growth through each will take astrology. Many bookshops devote more time to these sorts of books
their own path. Beliefs - New than books on Christianity.
Age Movements
- Organisation (NAMs)
Like the cult, the primary concern of people that are interested is highly The common demographic NAMs seem to appeal to all age
individualistic, often some form of mystical/spiritual personal experience. groups, but to women especially.
People are likely to meet in private houses or rented premises and come Bruce suggests that those affiliated, however, already
together for special ‘workshops’ or more regular contact. subscribe to what Heelas calls the ‘cultic milieu’ or
‘holistic milieu’; a mix of belief in the power
- Worship and ritual In comparison to Cults of spirituality, ecology and personal
Although individual New Agers may believe in some kind of God, the sacred is more likely to growth and concerns that science
be seen within. Despite the fact that cults are does not have all
often precarious and the answers.
- Sense of legitimacy short-lived, they at least have
Those involved in New Age believe there are many truths which may come from a whole range of sources. some organisational structure
People should be open to truth whatever its source. and common belief system.
However, New Age seekers tend to be critical of religion as they believe that it discourages genuine spirituality.
↑ This does not seem to be the case with NAMs.
- Relationship to wider society
New Age seekers live ‘in the world’ however there is an example of Findhorn in Scotland there is a New Age There are similarities between cults and NAMs in
settled ‘colony’. Many are also active in ‘Green’ campaigns. some cases, such as drawing people together
● ‘The fully engaged’ - given up conventional
who are engaged in individual quests for
- Involvement and commitment lifestyles for a spiritual quest (e.g. Findhorn)
experience.
Commitment is primarily to their own spiritual growth or progress. ● ‘Serious part-timers’ - who lead otherwise
conventional lives but devote serious time and
There are 3 levels of commitment among New Age seekers: → effort to spiritual concerns.
● ‘Casual part-timers’ = who experiment with
‘exotic’ things as consumers.
