new age movements (NAMs)

• they refer to the wide range of different beliefs and activities

  they are cult-like

  e.g crystal therapy and reiki

  NAMs

  • overlap with many qualities of postmodern society as PM argue people are increasingly turning away from traditional religious meta-narratives + looking for alternatives just to find meaning in the postmodern society
  • individualistic as it allows people to choose beliefs according to their tastes and personal identities
  • encourage people to develop their spirituality as they no longer have to sit in the church because lives has become more busy now
• bunting = NAMs encourages DIY cocktail where people can take bits and pieces of religion and mash them together to make their own belief system (syncretic) according to the way they see the world e.g reiki sessions, yoga, meditation

  people are free to pick n mix those beliefs

  they are part of a religious marketplace which people can choose from as spiritual shoppers but NAMs are expensive as one reiki session costs like £60 an hour which is why most followers are from middle class backgrounds
• characteristics

  • no formal membership - anyone with an interest can join
  • no formal commitment - all about developing spirituality
  • do not claim a monopoly of truth - tolerant of other beliefs
  • does offer a service normally with a fee
• evaluation

  • people go there for leisure activities not for religious or spiritual purposes e.g many people do yoga for flexibility and posture not for spiritual reasons
  • new age beliefs are so diverse with no organisation = no organisation + religion therefore why are we studying it? how can they be a movement?