I've written a number of pieces that have been scathing, to put it mildly, towards the so-called "New Age" movement. I think I've called it everything from cultural appropriation to inanity. But unlike other critics of the people who comment on the issue I've shied away from the whole question of spirituality.
Many people insist that the rise in interest in all things "New Age" is due to the failure of the conventional religions to fill the spiritual needs of their traditional congregations. According to proponents of that theory, mainly those involved in the selling of "New Age" products, the baggage that accompanies Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism is what pushes people away from them.
Whatever excuse they want to use doesn't really matter all that much. The implication is that people are turning to alternatives for their spiritual comfort, and that is what's offered by the "New Age" folk. The thing is, though, if you walk into a "New Age" emporium you won't find anything that like a specifically "New Age" bible. You'll find books on Celtic, Native American, Tibetan, Hindu, Jewish, Ancient Egyptian, and every other kind of spirituality you can think of - with Guardian Angels and Faeries thrown in for good measure.
But are the people haunting those stores really looking for spiritual enlightenment or is it something else they're searching for; maybe even something they can't identify? They have the feeling that there is something missing in their lives but aren't quite sure what. They label the emptiness spiritual because it feels like their spirit is being deprived of something. I think it's something a little more concrete than spiritual deprivation.
In North America we celebrate the cult of the individual. We all strive to get ahead for our own purposes. We create ourselves as tools to fulfill the goals that we have established for ourselves. Even if we join with someone and bear children together, we are only trying to create an extension of ourselves.
Not to long ago (relatively speaking, in terms of the planet's history) man existed in tribal groups. We lived to together in small communities in the Mohawk Valley in New York State, the convergence of Tigris and the Euphrates, the mountains of the Himalayas, and the steppes of Russia. As a member of a tribe you belonged somewhere and played some vital role ensuring the continual existence of your people.
Article comments
1 - Henry Allen
I think human beings are *inherently* tribal. You are correct that Jewishness - as a good example I am familiar with - is not simply a religion (though it can be that) but an ethnicity, a tribe, and is even called such in internal community "slang"(as in "member of the tribe). But, so is Catholicism "more like an ethnicity to me" said one 'lapsed Catholic to me, and, of course, established ethnicities -- Polish, Isrish, Italian, Afro-American. Most of the history of human evolution has been in a social-tribal context, and a couple hundred years of individualism isn't going to erase something likely hardwired into our primal nature.
The thing about substitute tribes (so to speak, from the New Age configurations you refer to to biker gangs is that they somehow don't fully fit the hardwired-need. Nor does the nuclear family by itself. Nor do "chosen extended families". So, close friendships, long term relationships and the like suffer in our individualist self-denial, and antisocial activities arise.
To be true to one's individual self, I conclude, is to incorporate one's tribal identity in one manner or another in one's life. It is a paradox, but I think it is true.
2 - SonnyD
Richard: You said, "...scathing, to put it mildly..." and I certainly agree, you were. I didn't think it sounded like you, putting down so many people, with such varying interests. It seemed like anything you hadn't taken an interest in must be nonsense. You are probably right, people are searching for a feeling of belonging. Personally, I've always felt like a loner and I'm still searching, but not very hard.
On another subject. Did you see Chris Baty's little article on NaNoWriMo, "Revisions Afoot"? Reminds me of someone I know.
3 - Mohjho
Wow, had to look up the word 'inanity'.
4 - Mohjho
"like a finger pointing away to the moon, (WHACK!)don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory"
-Bruce Lee