Defining Core Characteristics of New Age Spiritualism

Abstract

The term “New Age” carries a negative association with issues of cultural appropriation, spiritual commodification, and narcissism. Previous scholarship on the New Age presents the group homogenous, overlooking the extent of the New Age’s eclecticism and diversity. It is no wonder to me that many of the New Agers I interacted with throughout my research did not identify with the term. This thesis explores the history of the New Age movement and identifies a set of core characteristics in an attempt to define a notoriously decentralized and diffuse movement. With these key characteristics, I explore online spaces for New Age spirituality in order to determine whether a new term that does not hold these connotations would be more appropriate.