New Age Music and Religion

youthful mount up music was first introduced in 1964, when Tony Scott recorded Music for sexually transmitted disease Meditation. In the years that followed this impressionistic music became popular in California, only was non sold nationally until the 1980s. Windam Hill is the largest producer of raw(a) date music, grossing some thirty million dollars in 1987, but some competitors name recently come into the market. There is a wide variety in style of bleak old age music, but very often it is moonlit music associated with nature. Typical would be that of Paul Winter who on his sax accompanies the sounds of humpback whales, timber wolves, and eagles letting them create the melody. Other t residueer come along music features the sounds of waterfalls, ocean waves, and crickets (Rhodes 133).But despite the increasing support of many mess to hot Age music, its critics overly have their own arguments close it. What is new-sprung(prenominal) Age music really about and what are the critics arguments about its railroad tie to religion? All of these and more are discussed as we go along the context.Reflection and AssessmentBecause it is much a decentralized movement, it is difficult to assess the impact of New Age. There is no doubt that it has already has a powerful specify on Western society, but its future is impossible to predict. Is it a locomote fad that will be largely forgotten in decades to come, or is it a movement that has only just begun to gain momentum? In reference, Brooks Alexander writes in Christianity Today Is this just another delight of New Age, or is it something more enduring? There are many faddish characteristics of the movement, but fads have sometimes developed into time-honored traditions (Kemp135).Indeed, on that point are many signs that New Age on the whole is gaining a powerful foothold in society that will not cursorily pass away. This position is gaining credibility among secular scholars. According to Carl A. Raschke, a religion professor at the University of Denver and a student of the movement, New Age is the most powerful social force in the country instantly (Tucker 351).New Age CriticsBy the early 1990s, there was a myriad of Christian critiques of New Age. New Age had replaced secular humanism as the enemy of handed-down Christians. Other Christian anti-New Age whole kit include Douglas Groothuis three-part series first-class honours degree with Unmasking the New Age (1986) and Walter Martins The New Age craze (1989) (Kemp135). Innocuous New Age music is also condemned for encouraging passel to reflect on religion and culture that is not explicitly Christian. flush toilet Newport, for example, insists that it is satanically inspired and thus theologically wrong in its roots and in the effect it hopes to achieve (Partridge 255).The mainstream churches have tended to be less overtly hostile in their official responses to New Age than some of the smaller the innovative go ab out to otherworldliness. However, their knowledge of New Age is often found on works by Evangelical or fundamentalist Christians and is strongly colored by them (Kemp 135).New Age PerspectiveThere is a strong spiritual dimension to the New Age. It is not only amuseed in contemporary philosophies but in antediluvian wisdom, drawing in an eclectic way from Eastern and Western spiritual-religious traditions, with a contemporary blend of psychology and ecology and a profound interest in such things as metaphysics and sacred geometry. Some New Age movements foster a mystical approach. It can fit within the household of non religious spiritualities, and for some adherents it is like an alternative to religion. For others, New Age practices conciliate with their religious beliefs (Wilber 348).The New Age is particularly concerned with lifestyle and health. It government agency a range of human needs from immediate wellbeing to a sense of connectedness with others and the world, and to meaning in life. It also has a commercial dimension catering to consumer spirituality some practices at the market end of the New Age can be regarded as part of the self-help exertion (Tucker 350).The literature on New Age highlights diversity and spirituality. While beyond our scope here, an appraisal of the spiritual scope of New Age frame an important part of any critical exploration of the contemporary spirituality that affects little people (Kemp 134).The New Age is mainly an adult and young adult interest. Nevertheless, adolescents and children will be inquisitive about it when they encounter it in the culture. They may well try some practices as part of their experimentation in identity and spirituality. What is likely to appeal to young people is the silver-tongued and non-institutional appearance of the New Age it does not prescribe beliefs but is based on individuals piecing together their own spirituality to suit their needs and interests. excessively attractive would be its existential and lifestyle focus, and its holistic notion of the integrating of mind-body-spirit (Crawford and Rossiter 223).Summary and ConclusionCertain critics may not agree with the music of New Age but it doesnt deny the fact that a lot of people also patronize the music. Personally, I think New Age music soothes individuals mood and relaxes a tired mind. Association to religion is facultative and should not make other people get bothered about the idea. Its just a matter of opinion, whether or not to have New Age music or not.Works CitedCrawford, Marisa, and Graham Rossiter. Reasons for Living rearing and Young Peoples Search for Meaning, Identity and Spirituality. A Handbook. Camberwell, Victoria Aust Council for Ed Research, 2006.Kemp, Daren. New Age A Guide choice Spiritualities from Aquarian Conspiracy To. George Square, Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press, 2004.Partridge, Christopher H. The Re-Enchantment of the West Alternative Spiritualities, Sacraliz ation, Popular Culture, and Occulture. Vol. 2. New York Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005.Rhodes, Ron. The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions The essential Guide to Their Doctrine, and Our Response. Grand Rapids, Michigan Zondervan, 2001.Tucker, Ruth. Another Gospel Alternative Religions and the New Age Movement. Grand Rapids, Michigan Zondervan, 1989.Wilber, Ken. Up from Eden A Transpersonal enamor of Human Evolution. Wheaton, Illinois Quest Books, 1996.