new age movements

Question 1

why do some sociologists argue there has been a spiritual revolution?

Answer 1

Trad Christianity is being replaced by new age spiritual beliefs and practices-> emphasise personal development, growth of spiritual market= self help books, therapy, meditation etc

Question 2

what are new age movements?

Answer 2

movements that promote spiritual health and wellbeing on a personal level rather than institutional e.g. Tai Chi and Reiki

Question 3

how do heelas and woodhead distinguish between religion and spirituality?

Answer 3

1. Religion= conforming external authority, life is a duty, self-sacrifice, trad values
2. Spirituality= autonomy, personal development, connecting with inner self

Question 4

what did heelas and woodhead aim to find through their kendal study?

Answer 4

has traditional religion decline and been replaced by growth of NAM

Question 5

what were the 2 religious groups in kendal H+W defined?

Answer 5

1. Congregational domain- traditional and evangelical Christianity (7.9%)
2. Holistic milieu- spirituality and the new age (1.7%)
    In congregational domain, trad churches are losing support, hm growing

Question 6

what explanations do heelas and woodhead give for increasing nam?

Answer 6

1. Subjective turn in today’s culture, move towards exploring inner self through spiritual growth
2. Trad church is declining as people seek answers for themselves
3. Evangelical churches are more successful- emphasise the importance of spiritual healing and personal growth

Question 7

how to bruce criticise heelas and woodhead’s study on nam?

Answer 7

1. Problem with scale- number of new age movements are increasing BUT are not big enough to fill the gap of traditional religions
2. Socialisation of next generation- Kendal- 32% of parents in NA shared same view as children BUT if parents do not pas son views, group wont survive
3. Weak commitment- many people dabbled with NA, few show serious commitment even those who claim to be spiritual did not see NA as imp
4. Structural weaknesses- new age spirituality= cause of secularisation, lacks external power to encourage commitment, cannot achieve consensus d2 individualism, cannot evangelise (believes enlightenment comes from within)