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The Infirmity Debate: On the Visibility of New Age Spiritualities of Life.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/05/2006
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Contemporary Religion
Issue number2
Volume21
Number of pages18
Pages (from-to)223-240
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The 'infirmity debate' is becoming increasingly lively. On the one hand, scholars argue that New Age spiritualities of life are in a 'poor' condition; on the other hand, scholars argue that they are in a good state of 'health'. Drawing on key publications, including articles from the Journal of Contemporary Religion, the argument is couched in terms of 'the turn to the self' - more specifically 'the massive subjective turn of modern culture'. How do New Age spiritualities of life fare in the context of this development? Concentrating on activities found in the holistic milieu which is to be found in many countries today, the argument is that activities like yoga or spiritual aromatherapy serve as 'intermediary institutions', successfully negotiating a path between antinomian freedom and social conformism.

Bibliographic note

RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies