We use the word ‘belief’ for something that cannot be proven but is accepted as true. While knowledge and belief are opposites, the idealistic thinkers’ attempt to obscure this contradiction often results in a superficial notion of ‘knowledge tied to belief.’ However, the true meaning of knowledge does not include belief. Spiritualism, on the other hand, claims that the world has a spiritual origin.
In recent years, an opposing trend has also gained momentum alongside the rise of religiousness and conservatism. The inclination to distance oneself from institutionalized religions has come to the forefront. However, this distancing has not led to atheism or materialism. Some of these tendencies lean toward deism, while others seek alternative spiritual practices. Many individuals are drawn to Buddhism, meditation, yoga, reiki, tai chi, tantra, shamanism, quantum mysticism, alternative medicine or healing methods of all kinds, séances, mediumship, fortune-telling, astrology, communication with extraterrestrial beings, energy work, light work, numerology, and mystical practices. Sometimes, these practices are combined with spiritual teachings; other times, they are associated with pursuits of health and healing.
What is most intriguing is that those who believe in these New Religions are often highly educated, middle-to-upper-class professionals, typically young or middle-aged adults. The dominance of the discourse on “healthy living” among the middle classes and the shifting nature of individuals’ relationships with their bodies play a significant role in this phenomenon. Of course, this is not the sole reason. There are also social, ideological, and socioeconomic factors underpinning this trend.
Where does this interest in New Religions stem from? What dynamics drive the behavior of people adhering to these beliefs?
Describing themselves as secular and inclined to adopt this identity, a segment of the population has begun practicing New Religious Beliefs, often culminating in a form of sectarianism. This could aptly be termed ‘secular sectarianism.’ However, it is important not to confuse these with traditional sects. As ideologies of the ‘New Middle Ages,’ New Religious Beliefs reflect values compatible with the lifestyles of their adherents and set the boundaries for these values in practice. This phenomenon should be understood within this metaphorical framework of ‘sectarianism.’
Neoliberalism is an ideology that reinforces this individualistic transformation at the economic and societal levels. It defines freedom solely as an individual matter by distancing individuals from social bonds and collective responsibilities. While neoliberalism encourages individuals to control their lives and prioritize personal success, it ignores social inequalities and structural problems. In this context, there is a strong connection between New Age beliefs and neoliberalism; both ideologies reject social responsibilities and emphasize the search for individual solutions and satisfaction.
Reason and science have become instrumental and used pragmatically in this period, called the New Middle Ages. Science has turned from finding absolute truths into a tool for justification, often intertwined with metaphysical and ambiguous narratives. This understanding embraces a belief system that goes beyond the boundaries of reason and science. For instance, alternative health practices and spiritual quests have found a wide field of spread, promising inner satisfaction without scientific foundations.
However, it must not be overlooked that such spiritual quests do not provide real solutions to societal problems and fail to transcend individual satisfaction. Societies attempt to fill their spiritual voids and individual loneliness with personal meaning-seeking without creating a sense of social belonging. This process weakens social ties and evolves towards an individualistic world.
In conclusion, the connections between New Age beliefs and neoliberalism reflect the spiritual, cultural, and social transformations that modern Western societies are undergoing. In this transformation, the instrumentalization of reason and science, the prominence of individual freedom, and the neglect of social responsibilities play a significant role. However, such a change provides only an escape and search for satisfaction at an individual level and does not offer a perspective on solving social structures and inequalities. In this context, New Age beliefs and neoliberalism make societies more individualistic, isolated, and controllable.
This article is retrieved from the Bilim ve Ütopya Journal.
Kaynak
