Possession, Power and the New Age: Ambiguities of Authority in Neoliberal Societies

by Matthew Wood, Douglas J. Davies, Richard K Fenn

Overview

This book provides a new sociological account of contemporary religious phenomena such as channelling, holistic healing, meditation and divination, which are usually classed as part of a New Age Movement. Drawing on his extensive ethnography carried out in the UK, alongside comparative studies in America and Europe, Matthew Wood criticises the view that such phenomena represent spirituality in which self-authority is paramount. Instead, he emphasises the role of social authority and the centrality of spirit possession, linking these to participants' class positions and experiences of secularisation. Informed by sociological and anthropological approaches to social power and practice, especially the work of Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault, Wood's study explores what he calls the nonformative regions of the religious field, and charts similarities and differences with pagan, spiritualist and Theosophical traditions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409477471
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	05/28/2013
Series:	Theology and Religion in Interdisciplinary Perspective Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	17 MB
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About the Author

Matthew Wood is Lecturer in Sociology in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen's University Belfast, UK.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Approaching New Age; Chapter 2 The field of New Age studies; Chapter 3 Power, self and practice; Chapter 4 The meditation group; Chapter 5 Channelling workshops; Chapter 6 The Nottinghamshire fair; Chapter 7 Spiritualism and paganism; Chapter 8 Nonformativeness, possession and class in neoliberal societies;

Editorial Reviews

’Matthew Wood’s efforts to make ’new age’ phenomena grist to higher order comparative theorising are to be welcomed and applauded. His analysis should make a considerable impact among scholars of ’new age’ and help to steer the field into more productive theoretical waters in the social sciences. I recommend this monograph unreservedly to all students of ’new age’, contemporary religion, and theory and method in the study of religion.’ Journal of Contemporary Religion

From the Publisher