Thesis (M.A.)--Baylor University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-31).

In recent years the New Age movement has attracted much attention in our society and the reaction to it has often been one of fear and confusion. The purpose of this exploratory study is to provide empirical data on the movement in an unbiased, nonjudgmental way. The qualitative research approach, and more specifically the phenomenological method, are utilised in order to arrive at some understanding of the phenomenon and what it means to its adherents Firstly, a framework comprising vertical historical streams (the alternative tradition in the west, the eastern philosophies, humanistic and transpersonal psychology and the new physics) from which the movement issues, and horizontal levels which represent different layers of the movement (the commercial, the level of personal empowerment, social transformation, and the rebirth of the sacred), is established in order to give context to the seemingly contradictory data on the New Age movement. Secondly, central concepts concerning the spiritual dimension of the movement are isolated and explored in unstructured interviews with carefully selected participants. Next, the vision and expectations of a New Age are explored and the New Age worldview with regard to the concept of God, an holistic cosmology, anthropology and theodicy is investigated. This is followed by discussions of the central issues of direct knowledge as opposed to dogma and doctrines, and the important goals of personal, social and planetary healing and transformation. From these data an ideal-typical South African New Ager is constructed, providing the reader with an instrument with which to identify manifestations of the movement. Reasons for the movement's growth are found in disillusionment with modernity and the subsequent spiritual reawakening and paradigm shift that followers are experiencing. It is concluded that the core of the New Age movement represents a popular manifestation of the constructive postmodern worldview that is espoused by leading thinkers of our time. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1991. / "May 1991." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-55).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [75]-78).

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis focuses on the conceptualisation and expression of spiritual intelligence among ?traditional? Christians, and pursuers of New Age and popular individualistic spirituality. A secondary focus is the association between these and subjective well-being. A series of four studies - three quantitative and one qualitative -were conducted, and three new instruments were developed: the Spiritual and Religious Dimensions Scale (a measure of spiritual orientation), the Spiritual Intelligence Scale, and the Personal Well-being Index. Using these instruments and semi-structured interview questions, the identification of unique patterns in the conceptualisation and expression of religion/spirituality and spiritual intelligence by traditional Christians and followers of New Age/individualistic spirituality was made possible. Different patterns of association with various aspects of well-being among the two forms of spiritual intelligence were also identified. / thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2004.

This bachelor’s thesis examines contemporary views on Angels and how two modern writerson the subject introduce these beings. Presenting a comparison between the two modernwriters, and also, as a context, contrasting them to some more traditional biblical as well assome modern Christian material, some of the beliefs surrounding Angels are discussed. Thecontemporary views and beliefs are analyzed through a model on how globalization affectspopular religion of today.

Syftet med min uppsats är att jämföra religiösa företeelser från tre av Stevie Wonders album med New Age för att på så sätt uttröna om Stevie Wonders texter påverkats av New Age- föreställningar. Jag hittar både skillnader och likheter när jag jämför det religiösa budskapet i Stevie Wonders texter med New Age. De New Age- företeelser som går att hitta i texterna är få i förhållande till New Age i sin helhet och det är svårt att avgöra vilka influenser som kommer ifrån Stevie Wonder, New Age eller den omgivande motståndsrörelsen. Det finns dock, enligt mig, absolut en koppling.