Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
SAKARYA UNIVERSITESI ILAHIYAT FAKULTESI DERGISI-JOURNAL OF SAKARYA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF THEOLOGY, cilt.23, sa.43, ss.19-51, 2021 (ESCI)
This study aims to identify the factors that underlie individuals' participation in the New Age movements. In accordance with this purpose, it is aimed to discover personal characteristics, experiences, changes in their daily life practices, spiritual satisfaction levels, body perceptions, differences in social interactions, and changes in religious feelings and thoughts of the individuals participating in these movements. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 people who participates in yoga, meditation, reiki, bioenergy, hypnosis, and Access bars activities. The data obtained were analysed by the content analysis. Themes and coding units were created under the pre-determined categories and then the interviews were turned into narratives and interpreted. As a result, there are many reasons for people to participate in the New Age beliefs. Sociocultural interaction, metaphysical experiences, daily routines, psycho-social reasons, spatial and visual interactions, increasing and widespread of alternative belief systems can be expressed as the main reasons affecting this process. Lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, patterns of consumption vary from person to person. This diversity may affect individuals' experiences of practice and dimensions of utilization. It is found that after the participation of these activities, individuals' social life, emotions and thoughts change both positively and negatively. In addition, it has been revealed that people establish relationships in different ways between the New Age beliefs and religion, individuals benefit from the New Age beliefs in shaping their religious beliefs and the semantic world, and differentiations occur in worship and practices.