Published: 2015-12-31

New Spirituality as a Socio-Cultural Megatrend –Myth or Reality?

Janusz Mariański

Abstract

The article attempts to present an overview of the new spirituality by discussing its characteristics and formulating its definition. The new spirituality emerges outside the ecclesial institutions, and is a kind of sign of contemporary times. The development of these new forms of spiritual life makes many sociologists raise the question whether we should already begin to talk about the new sociological sub-discipline, namely, sociology of spirituality. Some sociologists consider new forms of spirituality as a sign of the return of the sacred, while the others tend to see them as a symptom of secularization and the decline of religion. Still, there are yet some who are willing to recognize this so-called alternative spirituality as an important religious megatrend, as a “return of religion”.An incomplete overview of the various sociological concepts of spirituality allows us to conclude that the new spirituality is a decidedly pluralistic. It encompasses not only the search for the esoteric (from the occultto astrology), but also seeks specific spiritual aspects from Asian and pre-Christian religions. The worldview of people who seek new forms of spirituality is largely syncretic, and without firm commitments and standards. What people want mostly is to gethelp in concrete difficult life situations, augment their consciousness, and escape from the tedious and meaningless everyday life. Many people hope to find an important meaning in their lives in these new forms of spirituality. There are various meditation and miraculous healing centers, workshops for personal and spiritual development, films about spirituality, relaxation music and meditation, which cater to the spiritual seekers.

Keywords:

postmodernism, new spirituality, eligious megatrends

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Mariański, J. (2015). New Spirituality as a Socio-Cultural Megatrend –Myth or Reality?. Academic Journal of Sociology, 13(4). Retrieved from https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/ucs/article/view/3070

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