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New Age teachings became popular during the
1970's as a reaction against what some perceived as
the failure of Christianity and the failure of
Secular Humanism to provide spiritual and ethical
guidance for the future. Its roots are traceable to
many sources: Astrology, Channeling, Hinduism,
Gnostic traditions, Spiritualism, Taoism, Theosophy,
Wicca and other Neo-pagan traditions, etc. The
movement started in England in the 1960's where many
of these elements were well established. Small
groups, such as the Findhorn Community in Inverness
and the Wrekin Trust formed. The movement quickly
became international. Early New Age mileposts in
North America were a "New Age Seminar" run by the
Association for Research and Enlightenment, and the
establishment of the East-West Journal in 1971.
Actress Shirley MacLaine is perhaps their most
famous current figure.
During the 1980's and 90's, the movement came under
criticism from a variety of groups. Channeling was
ridiculed; seminar and group leaders were criticized
for the fortunes that they made from New Agers.
Their uncritical belief in the "scientific"
properties of crystals was exposed as groundless.
But the movement has become established and become a
stable, major force in North American religion
during the past generation. As the millennium comes
to a close, the New Age is expected to expand,
promoted by the social backlash against logic and
science. |
