1st Edition
Possession, Power and the New Age Ambiguities of Authority in Neoliberal Societies
By Matthew Wood
Copyright 2007
214 Pages
by
Routledge
212 Pages
by
Routledge
212 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
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... Read more
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;
Biography
Matthew Wood is Lecturer in Sociology in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen's University Belfast, UK.
’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
