About a hundred years ago, if you were to suggest that witches and Christians could co-exist in the same space, chances were you’d be hunted down and physically assaulted for it. Fifty years ago, if you were to suggest the same thing, no one would touch you, but you’d still wind up facing the screaming mobs. Twenty years ago, if you suggested the idea again, you’d get general disdain from the public. Nowadays, if you suggest it once, interestingly, you’d probably get a few nods. Some Christians may claim to practice witchcraft, while some Wiccans may entertain themselves with a couple of church services a year. This shows the amount of religious tolerance that has built up over the years. This tolerance has allowed people to learn about different religions and philosophies, which cultivated the rise of a new category of non-fiction called New Age.

The New Age genre is a type of non-fiction genre that refers to specific books that combine Eastern and Western philosophies to help better the individual. More often than not, they come from metaphysical traditions, though the genre also leans heavily on psychological and self-help themes as well. These books deal with topics such as witchcraft, meditation, stress management, and spirituality.

The term “New Age” was first coined in the 1970s. The term typically refers to the Mind, Body, and Spirit. Much of the New Age movements delve into occult and esoteric traditions, with some occultist works including the likes of Freemasonry, New Thought, and Theosophy. Despite the number of beliefs that encompass this movement, there are certain unifying values. Many members believe that the divine is in all human beings and that they can communicate with both angels and demons through channeling. The underlying assumption is that humanity has undergone a state of spiritual decay, and in order to heal, there will be what is known as an Age of Aquarius. Also characteristic of the New Age Movement is the increased use of alternative medicine and an exploration of different philosophies rooted in a variety of cultures.

This movement has sparked many debates. Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christians have criticized the movement for putting humanity before any deity. In fact, Frank E. Peretti’s This Present Darkness has accused the New Age Movement of integrating secular education and feminism as a way to overthrow Christianity. Other Christian institutions, such as the Catholic Church, prefer to not have any contact with New Age beliefs. On the other hand, the New Age Movement has been paralleled in academia with Paganism, though there are key differences. For instance, scholars have suggested that while the New Age Movement is associated with improving the future, Paganism is associated with preserving the past. The New Age Movement emphasizes only traditionally good aspects of humanity, while Paganism acknowledges both good and evil.

The New Age Movement has also come under fire for misappropriating cultures. Although the movement has emphasized the importance of the integration between Eastern and Western ideas, many people have accused New Age authors of cultural imperialism and abusing the intellectual property of various indigenous people. In fact, the very label of New Age may be insulting itself, with indigenous leaders accusing outsiders of being “plastic medicine people”, a term that applies to outsiders who claim themselves to be traditional spiritual leaders but have little to no connection to the cultures they represent. They are also known as “plastic shamans.”

Despite this, the New Age Movement, as well as its books, are gaining more and more popularity. In spite of all its flaws, the New Age Movement has offered more perspectives and has introduced different cultures to the forefront. People are becoming more knowledgeable about the cultures in the world, and are, of course, curious to know more.