New Age Spirituality: Rethinking Religion

Be prepared to exercise your inner Professor of Religious Studies. "New Age Spirituality: Rethinking Religion" uses some academic terms and a scholarly approach. But, that should not intimidate readers who are comfortable with college level books or white papers. The editors and authors do a fine job including illustrations or real-life examples with their data and theses. This is a broad and inclusive book.The authors are international and focus their studies within modern Western societies. Northern Europe is prominently featured. Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands are the most secular (non-religious) societies in the world. Yet, they have an abundance of "religion" and new age spirituality in their cultures and media. Everyday "lived" religion and spiritual practices are everywhere.Sutcliffe and Gilhus's Introduction to New Age Spiritualities: Rethinking Religion argues that "lived religion" is the normal and typical state of religion. Going as far to claim that traditional religion is an "aberration". After reading this book, I see so-called new spirituality as actually not "new". It is ancient, tribal, primitive religion at its most basic and practical. Spiritual themes are everywhere in the media and popular culture-- in papers, TV shows, internet, computer games, entrepreneurship. The authors demonstrate that spirituality is mixed-up with the non-religious and secular everywhere. The authors give compelling arguments and data to back up their claims that religion, and so-called new age, is everywhere. Always has been in it's most basic forms. We just label it "new".Reading this book will get you to "rethink religion".