PostModernity and the New Age

• Drane 1999: appeal of the new age represents a shift towards postmodern society 
• Bruce 1995;2011: growth of new age the latest stage of modern society represented by both late modernity and the new age valuing individualism. Particularly important value to those in ‘expressive professions’ concerned with human potential (community workers, artists). New age beliefs are a softer version of more demanding, self-disciplined and traditional Eastern religions such as Buddhism. They were ‘watered down’ for self-centred westerners. New Age eclecticism typical of religion in late modern society reflecting the consumerist ethos of capitalist society. 
• Heelas 1996: New Age and Modernity Links 

  1. Source of Identity: individuals have many different roles in modern society but there is little overlap between them resulting in a fragmented identity. New Age spirituality offers an ‘authentic’ identity 
  2. Consumer Culture: creates dissatisfaction because it never delivers the perfection it promosis. New Age offers an alternative way to achieve perfection 
  3. Rapid Social Change: resulted in anomie and the New Age offers certainty 

  Decline of Organised Religion: secularisation has removed the alternatives offered by traditional belief