This virtual exhibit explores the effects that the new secular society has had on the political climate in America.
Ultimately, I argue that the answer for the radical left is to embrace new age logic, ideologies and practices, and adapt them to their exact needs, in order to parallel the unifying success of the Christian right.
During the 100+ years prior to the 1990s, the Christian community was relatively progressive, fighting for rights for enslaved people, women, and immigrants. By the 1990s, however, the Christian Evangelicals had their footholds in the political right and America’s youth fell away from organized religion. They opted for atheism, agnosticism, or “pop spirituality”, like crystals, tarot and meditation. This correlated with a move away from more serious spirituality and a decline in the New Age movement, while at the same time the Christian right aligned itself with Conservatism.
While not perfect, Marianne Williamson’s campaign will push progressives further to the left, while also encouraging them to engage with ideas of the collective good, self care, and other important spiritual practices.