David,

As a scholar who has studied modern Paganisms and Witchcraft for the last 20 years, I think there are a number of trends reflected in the data you cite.  One of the foremost is a growing individualism and reluctance to accept aspects of any structure that are experienced as restrictive or not in harmony with the individual's view of her/himself.  This is accompanied by a disillusion on the part of many individuals with the messages and actions of mainstream religions -- for example, the condemnation of homosexuality and sexuality in general, combined with sex scandals that have rocked not only Catholicism, but other forms of Christianity as well.  Combine this with the influence of globalization and non-Western religious traditions such as Buddhism and Hinduism; for some, it all adds up to a sense of distaste for organized religion, and a search for a spirituality that can be tailored to individual needs.

The preponderance of women, the well-educated and youth in Pagan religions is no mystery.  Modern Paganisms focus on the feminine divine, and offer women key liturgical and leadership roles.  They require no belief; they are religions of gnosis and/or of practice.  And they frequently foreground a strong environmental message that is attractive to many young people.  Sexuality is celebrated rather than condemned; creativity is valued and rewarded; and there are ample opportunities to tailor practice to the individual by combining elements eclectically.

I do not see Wicca or Paganism as becoming mainstream religions -- at least, not yet.  These religions are at heart oppositional, and there is still too much prejudice and discrimination against their adherents to deem them mainstream.  They are, however, becoming more accepted in certain sectors; I can imagine a future in which they will be part of the mainstream, much as the Church of the Latter-Day Saints has gone from the margins to the not-so-marginal in the last 100 years.

If you want more information, please do look at my books _Witching Culture: Folklore and Neopaganism in America _ (2004) and _Neopagan Sacred Art and Altars: Making Things Whole_ (2001).  While these are academic books, they are written in a highly accessible style.

Best, 

Sabina Magliocco
Professor
Department of Anthropology
California State University - Northridge
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From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Mattichak [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 10:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] A request for opinions on new age spirituality, eclecticism and Wicca

Hi Everyone

I am writing a magazine article that explores the influence of new age spirituality on Western culture and I was wondering if any of the scholars here would care to venture an opinion on a couple of questions that my research has raised.

Sources that I have read indicate that the West is becoming less religious but more spiritual (The Decline of American Religion? ARDA GUIDING PAPER- 2010, Mark Chaves, Duke University and also

The Spiritual Turn and the Decline of Tradition: The Spread of Post-Christian Spirituality in 14 Western Countries, 1981–2000 DICK HOUTMAN & STEF AUPERS). Why do you think that people have turned away from their traditional forms of faith and why have they chosen to replace it with diffuse new age spirituality. The statistics seem to indicate that there are not a significantly greater number of atheists so it appear that Western culture is changing its allegiances rather than abandoning religious beliefs altogether, what is it that attracts them to new age philosophies?

Most of what I have read defines new age as diffuse, fragmented and eclectic and often referred to as a pick n mix religion. In view of its nature will new age eclecticism develop into something more structured that may resemble a coherent religion? Is new age just a marketing concept used to sell fad products and services?

The statistics that I have been able to find indicate that the number of pagans and witches is growing rapidly

http://www.pluralism.org/resources/statistics/tradition.php#Paganism

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/29/1056825278034.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2a.htm

Why do you think that this is so? Is Wicca/Paganism/Witchcraft becoming the mainstream new age religion?

It has been relatively easy to find statistics but much more difficult to find unbiased opinions as to why these things are occurring. On telling statistic that I found was that generally women, those with higher education and the latest generation of youth are all demographics that share a strong inclination towards new age spirituality (Hautman & Aupers). This would go a long way to explaining the growing numbers of pagans but why are they choosing paganism in particular?

The reasons that I have considered as being possible are that the traditional religions no longer have a message that is relevant to youth. This researcher put their search for alternatives down to the youthful mindset that traditional is equable with old fashioned and that they saw problems as having technical or rational solutions rather than moral or spiritual ones. Another major influence on new age spiritual choices that was indicated was the mass media and celebrity (The Re-Enchantment of the West, Christopher Partridge). This can't be the extent of the motivation to seek out alternative spiritual paths so what do you see as the reason for the increased popularity of witchcraft?

If you would like to voice an opinion I will certainly credit you in the article (or not if that is preferred). I would like to make it clear that it is a popular publication not an academic journal and I am really looking for informed opinion. If you would like to help I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

David G Mattichak jr