Editing New Age (section)

==Politics==
While many commentators have focused on the spiritual and cultural aspects of the New Age movement, it also has a political component. The New Age political movement became visible in the 1970s, peaked in the 1980s, and continued into the 1990s.<ref>Kyle, Richard (1995).  ''The New Age Movement in American Culture''.  University Press of America, Chap.&nbsp;8 ("The New Age Reaches Out: Politics and Economics").  {{ISBN|978-0761800101}}.</ref> The sociologist of religion Steven Bruce noted that the New Age provides ideas on how to deal with "our socio-psychological problems".{{sfn|Bruce|1998|p=23}}  Scholar of religion James R. Lewis observed that, despite the common caricature of New Agers as narcissistic, "significant numbers" of them were "trying to make the planet a better place on which to live,"{{sfn|Lewis|1992|p=11}} and scholar J. Gordon Melton's ''New Age Encyclopedia'' (1990) included an entry called "New Age politics".{{sfn|Melton|Clark|Kelly|1990|pp=323–325}}  Some New Agers have entered the political system in an attempt to advocate for the societal transformation that the New Age promotes.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=832}}

===Ideas===
Although New Age activists have been motivated by New Age concepts like holism, interconnectedness, monism, and [[environmentalism]], their political ideas are diverse,{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=832}} ranging from [[far right politics|far-right]] and [[conservatism|conservative]] through to [[liberalism|liberal]], [[socialism|socialist]], and [[libertarianism|libertarian]].{{sfn|York|2001|p=367}} Accordingly, Kyle stated that "New Age politics is difficult to describe and categorize. The standard political labels—left or right, liberal or conservative—miss the mark."{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=832}} MacKian suggested that the New Age operated as a form of "world-realigning infrapolitics" that undermines the [[disenchantment]] of modern Western society.{{sfn|MacKian|2012|p=154}}

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| footer = Writers who have espoused political ideas influenced by New Age perspectives included [[Mark Satin]] (left) and [[Benjamin Creme]] (right).
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The extent to which New Age spokespeople mix religion and politics varies.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=837}} New Agers are often critical of the established political order, regarding it as "fragmented, unjust, hierarchical, patriarchal, and obsolete".{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=832}} The New Ager [[Mark Satin]] for instance spoke of "New Age politics" as a politically radical "third force" that was "neither left nor right". He believed that in contrast to the conventional political focus on the "institutional and economic symptoms" of society's problems, his "New Age politics" would focus on "psychocultural roots" of these issues.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=833}} Ferguson regarded New Age politics as "a kind of Radical Centre", one that was "not neutral, not middle-of-the-road, but a view of the whole road."{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|pp=832–833}} Fritjof Capra argued that Western societies have become sclerotic because of their adherence to an outdated and mechanistic view of reality, which he calls the ''Newtonian/Cartesian paradigm''.{{sfn|Hanegraaff|1996|p=107}}  In Capra's view, the West needs to develop an organic and ecological "systems view" of reality in order to successfully address its social and political issues.{{sfn|Hanegraaff|1996|p=107}} [[Corinne McLaughlin]] argued that politics need not connote endless power struggles, that a new "spiritual politics" could attempt to synthesize opposing views on issues into higher levels of understanding.<ref>Mayne, Alan J. (1999).  ''From Politics Past to Politics Future: An Integrated Analysis of Current and Emergent Paradigms''.  Praeger Publishers / Greenwood Publishing Group, p.&nbsp;179.  {{ISBN|978-0275961510}}.</ref>

Many New Agers advocate [[globalisation]] and [[Glocalization|localisation]], but reject [[nationalism]] and the role of the [[nation-state]].{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=842}} Some New Age spokespeople have called for greater decentralisation and global unity, but are vague about how this might be achieved; others call for a global, centralised government.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|pp=842–843}} Satin for example argued for a move away from the nation-state and towards self-governing regions that, through improved global communication networks, would help engender world unity.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=843}} [[Benjamin Creme]] conversely argued that "the Christ", a great [[Avatar]], Maitreya, the [[World Teacher]], expected by all the major religions as their "Awaited One", would return to the world and establish a strong, centralised global government in the form of the [[United Nations]]; this would be politically re-organised along a spiritual hierarchy.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=845}} Kyle observed that New Agers often speak favourably of [[democracy]] and citizens' involvement in policy making but are critical of [[representative democracy]] and [[majority rule]], thus displaying elitist ideas to their thinking.{{sfn|Kyle|1995b|p=846}}

===Groups===
[[File:New World Alliance 1980.jpg|thumb | right |alt=Twenty people sitting in a circle |The [[New World Alliance]] was one of several New Age political groups in the 1970s and 1980s.]]

Scholars have noted several New Age political groups.  Self-Determination: A Personal/Political Network, lauded by Ferguson<ref>Ferguson, Marilyn (1980).  ''The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal and Social Transformation in the 1980s''.  Jeremy P. Tarcher Inc., distributed by Houghton Mifflin, pp.&nbsp;232–235.  {{ISBN|978-0874771916}}.</ref> and Satin,<ref>Satin, Mark (1978).  ''New Age Politics: Healing Self and Society''. Delta Books / Dell Publishing Co., pp.&nbsp;219, 345.  {{ISBN|978-0440557005}}.</ref> was described at length by sociology of religion scholar Steven Tipton.<ref>Tipton, Steven M. (1982).  ''Getting Saved from the Sixties: Moral Meaning in Conversion and Cultural Change''.  University of California Press, pp.&nbsp;267–270.  {{ISBN|978-0520052284}}.</ref>  Founded in 1975 by California state legislator [[John Vasconcellos]] and others, it encouraged Californians to engage in personal growth work and political activities at the same time, especially at the grassroots level.<ref>Tipton, cited above, pp.&nbsp;267, 270.</ref>  Hanegraaff noted another California-based group, the [[Institute of Noetic Sciences]], headed by the author [[Willis Harman]].  It advocated a change in consciousness—in "basic underlying assumptions"—in order to come to grips with global crises.{{sfn|Hanegraaff|1996|pp=108–109}}  Kyle said that the New York City–based Planetary Citizens organization, headed by United Nations consultant and ''Earth at Omega'' author Donald Keys, sought to implement New Age political ideas.{{sfn|Kyle|1995|p=67}}

Scholar J. Gordon Melton and colleagues focused on the New World Alliance, a Washington, DC–based organization founded in 1979 by Mark Satin and others.  According to Melton et al., the Alliance tried to combine left- and right-wing ideas as well as personal growth work and political activities. Group decision-making was facilitated by short periods of silence.{{sfn|Melton|Clark|Kelly|1990|p=324}} Sponsors of the Alliance's national political newsletter included Willis Harman and John Vasconcellos.<ref>Stein,  Arthur (1985). ''Seeds of the Seventies: Values, Work, and Commitment in Post-Vietnam America''. University Press of New England, p.&nbsp;136. {{ISBN|978-0874513431}}.</ref>  Scholar James R. Lewis counted "Green politics" as one of the New Age's more visible activities.{{sfn|Lewis|1992|p=11}}  One academic book says that the [[History of the Green Party of the United States|U.S. Green Party movement]] began as an initiative of a handful of activists including [[Charlene Spretnak]], co-author of a "'new age' interpretation" of the German Green movement (Capra and Spretnak's ''Green Politics''), and Mark Satin, author of ''New Age Politics''.<ref>Ely, John (1998). "Green Politics in the United States and Europe". In Margit Mayer and John Ely, eds., ''The German Greens: Paradox Between Movement and Party''. Temple University Press, p.&nbsp;200. {{ISBN|978-1566395168}}.</ref>  Another academic publication says Spretnak and Satin largely co-drafted the U.S. Greens' founding document, the "Ten Key Values" statement.<ref>[[Greta Gaard|Gaard, Greta]] (1998). ''Ecological Politics: Ecofeminists and the Greens''. Temple University Press, pp.&nbsp;142–143. {{ISBN|978-1566395694}}.</ref>

===In the 21st century===
[[File:Marianne Williamson (46644134).jpg|thumb |upright |right |alt=Head shot of woman speaking from a podium |New Age author [[Marianne Williamson]] campaigned for a seat in the U.S. Congress and for the Democratic Party nomination for president.<ref>Mahdawi, Arwa (4 February 2019).  "[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/shortcuts/2019/feb/04/a-new-age-guru-is-running-for-president-thats-2019-in-a-nutshell A New Age Guru Is Running for President? That's 2019 in a Nutshell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501045322/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/shortcuts/2019/feb/04/a-new-age-guru-is-running-for-president-thats-2019-in-a-nutshell |date=2019-05-01 }}".  ''[[The Guardian]]'' (London).  Retrieved 30 April 2019.</ref>]]

While the term ''New Age'' may have fallen out of favor,{{sfn|Hammer|2001|p=74}}{{sfnp|Ray|Anderson|2000|pp=188–189}} scholar [[George Chryssides]] notes that the New Age by whatever name is "still alive and active" in the 21st century.{{sfn|Chryssides|2007|p=22}}  In the realm of politics, New Ager Mark Satin's book ''Radical Middle'' (2004) reached out to mainstream liberals.<ref>Kilgore, Ed (June 2004).  "Good Government: Time to Stop Bashing the Two-Party System". ''[[Washington Monthly]]'', pp.&nbsp;58–59.  The author is identified as the policy director of the [[Democratic Leadership Council]].</ref><ref>[[Charles R. Morris|Morris, Charles R.]] (June 4, 2004).  "What Works & What Doesn't". ''[[Commonweal (magazine)|Commonweal]]'', pp.&nbsp;24–25.</ref>  York (2005) identified "key New Age spokespeople" including William Bloom, [[Satish Kumar]], and [[Starhawk]] who were emphasizing a link between spirituality and environmental consciousness.{{sfn|York|2005|p=28}} Former [[Esalen Institute]] staffer Stephen Dinan's ''Sacred America, Sacred World''  (2016) prompted a long interview of Dinan in ''[[Psychology Today]]'', which called the book a "manifesto for our country's evolution that is both political and deeply spiritual".<ref>[[Mark Matousek|Matousek, Mark]] (5 August 2016).  "[https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ethical-wisdom/201608/sacred-america-sacred-world-new-book-stephen-dinan Sacred America, Sacred World: A New Book by Stephen Dinan]". ''[[Psychology Today]]''.  Retrieved 3 March 2017.</ref>

In 2013 longtime New Age author Marianne Williamson launched a campaign for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], telling ''[[The New York Times]]'' that her type of spirituality was what American politics needed.<ref name="Lovett-2013" /> "America has swerved from its ethical center", she said.<ref name="Lovett-2013">{{cite news |last=Lovett |first=Ian |date=13 November 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/us/politics/marianne-williamson-new-age-guru-seeks-congressional-seat.html |title=Marianne Williamson, New-Age Guru, Seeks Congressional Seat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920141640/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/us/politics/marianne-williamson-new-age-guru-seeks-congressional-seat.html |archive-date=2017-09-20 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=19 |access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref>  Running as an independent in west Los Angeles, she finished fourth in her district's [[Open primaries in the United States|open primary election]] with 13% of the vote.<ref>[[Richard E. Cohen|Cohen, Richard E.]]; Barnes, James A. (2015).  ''The Almanac of American Politics 2016''.  Columbia Books & Information Services, p.&nbsp; 262.  {{ISBN|978-1938518300}}.</ref>  In early 2019, Williamson announced her candidacy for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] nomination for [[president of the United States]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election]].<ref>Abcarian, Robin (29 January 2019).  "[http://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-abcarian-williamson-20190129-story.html We Already Have a Reality TV Star President, So Why Not New Age Love Guru Marianne Williamson?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221032948/https://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-abcarian-williamson-20190129-story.html |date=2019-02-21 }}".  ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.  Retrieved 20 February 2019.</ref><ref name="Peele-2019">{{cite news |last=Peele |first=Anna |date=19 February 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/02/19/feature/self-help-author-marianne-williamson-wants-to-be-your-healer-in-chief/?noredirect=on |title=Marianne Williamson Wants to Be Your Healer in Chief |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608055059/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/02/19/feature/self-help-author-marianne-williamson-wants-to-be-your-healer-in-chief/?noredirect=on |archive-date=2022-06-08 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> A 5,300-word article about [[Marianne Williamson 2020 presidential campaign|her presidential campaign]] in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' said she had "plans to fix America with love. Tough love".<ref name="Peele-2019" />  In January 2020 she withdrew her bid for the nomination.<ref>Astor, Maggie (10 January 2020).  "[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/us/politics/marianne-williamson-drops-out.html Marianne Williamson Drops Out of U.S. Presidential Race] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111211633/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/us/politics/marianne-williamson-drops-out.html |date=2020-01-11 }}".  ''[[The New York Times]]''.  Retrieved 10 June 2020.</ref>