From “Comparative Mysticism” to “New Age Spirituality”
Oxford University Press eBooks December 23, 2011 DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199751198.003.0015 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe new age has been difficult to define and theorize within the academic study of religion. This chapter examines how new age elements compare with the "world religions" model of rationalized bureaucratic organization and locates the new age within a discursive shift from mysticism to spirituality. It traces a general development in syllabi on the new age: from phenomenological descriptions of comparative mysticism and new age spirituality based on biographies, practices, and beliefs, toward a more theoretical interest in accounting for the structure and production of new age formations as a contribution to comparative problems in religious studies. Several pedagogical strategies are discussed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Spirituality Religious studies Philosophy Psychology |
| Key finding | Argues that the academic study of the new age has evolved from phenomenological description of mysticism and spirituality toward theoretical analysis of new age formations as a contribution to comparative problems in the study of religion. |
Abstract
Abstract The “new age” has been both difficult to specify and tricky to theorize in the standard terms of the academic study of religion. This chapter begins by looking at how elements of the new age stack up with the limited model of a rationalized bureaucratic organization supplied by the “world religions” taxonomy. It further locates the new age in the discursive drift from mysticism to spirituality. It then provides a series of reflections on twists and turns of evolving syllabi on the new age. A general line of development can be traced: from presenting a phenomenological description and interpretation of, first, comparative mysticism and latterly new age spirituality based in biographies, practices, and beliefs, to an increasingly theoretical interest in accounting for the structure and production of new age formations as a contribution to comparative problems in the study of religion. Several pedagogical strategies are discussed.