Beyond New Age Exploring Alternative Spirituality

by Sutcliffe, Steven; Bowman, Marion

• ISBN13: 9780748609987
• ISBN10: 0748609989
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-14
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Summary

This book offers the first serious exploration of the many different aspects of alternative spirituality. While there is much talk of 'spirituality' now, no other collection has specifically addressed its many "alternative" -- non-ecclesiastical in the broadest sense -- manifestations. The authors aim to open up a relatively unexplored and often quite hidden dimension of religion in the modern world through non-confessional, critical study. They establish both the vibrancy of contemporary experiments in alternative spirituality, as well as its historical pedigree. The broad range of subject matter includes magical ritual, independent seekers and gurus, the Theosophical movement, C.G. Jung, turn-of-the-century artistic and spiritual colonies, Iona and Glastonbury, alternative healing, and the influence of secular and humanistic thought.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(16)
Part 1: People
`Wandering Stars': Seekers and Gurus in the Modern World	17	(20)
Steven Sutcliffe
Madame Blavatsky's Children: Theosophy and Its Heirs	37	(14)
Kevin Tingay
New Centres of Life	51	(14)
Martin Green
Jung's Psychologising of Religion	65	(18)
Robert A. Segal
Part 2: Places
More of the Same? Christianity, Vernacular Religion and Alternative Spirituality in Glastonbury	83	(22)
Marion Bowman
Iona and Healing: A Discourse Analysis	105	(13)
W. Graham Monteith
Alternative Spirituality in Europe: Amsterdam, Aups and Bath	118	(19)
Michael York
Part 3: Practices
Gender and Power in Magical Practices	137	(18)
Susan Greenwood
Boggarts and Books: Towards an Appreciation of Pagan Spirituality	155	(14)
Graham Harvey
Holism, Healing and the New Age	169	(19)
Ellie Hedges
James A. Beckford
An Analysis of the Festival for Mind-Body-Spirit, London	188	(13)
Malcolm Hamilton
Personal Development: the Spiritualisation and Secularisation of the Human Potential Movement	201	(19)
Elizabeth Puttick
The New Age and Secularisation	220	(17)
Steve Bruce
Expressive Spirituality and Humanistic Expressivism: Sources of Significance Beyond Church and Chapel	237	(18)
Paul Heelas
Notes on Contributors	255	(4)
Index	259