The new age religion - Essay Example

New Age Religion Scientology is a religion created by L. Ron Hubbard that teaches that people are immortal beings who have forsaken their true nature. To return to their free, immortal selfs, practitioners of Scientology are supposed to relive painful and traumatic experiences that have marred their lives with the goal of being freed from the effects of the experiences (Lewis 13). By implementing scientific laws into their practices, Scientologists are guaranteed noticeable improvements in their lives.

The appeal of Scientology is that its beliefs and practices are based on scientific research and have also been proved by science. People feel more comfortable and more willing to do something if there is scientific evidence to back up the results. Scientology, crossing the boundaries of religion and science, offers both religious experience and scientific results. Science and religion are two vastly different concepts. Science is based primarily on fact and thoughts and ideas that can be proven with concrete evidence.

In science, something is not real unless there is definite, unchangeable evidence. Concepts start as theories, but then they are agreed upon once they have been proven without a doubt. On the other hand, religion is entirely based on faith. Regardless of whether or not something can be proven, people are liable to believe certain concepts when they trust their intuition. Though many people can argue that there is no proof for the existence of God, those that believe in Him claim that proof is not needed when faith is present.

Globalization is the process by which cultures and societies become integrated though communication. Though globalization is more commonly connected with economics and politics, religion is not exempt from the process. Atheism, for example, has been spread throughout the world due to globalization. As a belief that there is no higher deity, atheism has become a welcome theory to people that do not want to mess with the concepts of gods and organized religions or otherwise do not believe in them.

Atheism originated in France, but, due to globalization, has made its way to the belief systems of many Americans, as well as hundreds of thousands throughout the rest of the world. Secularism is the belief that the government, or the state, should be separate from religion. For example, the United States is a country that believes and practices the separation of state from religion. Church has no place in public and government locations, such as schools or courthouses. It is better that states are secular as opposed to religious as not everyone believes in a religion or a god, nor do all people believe in the same thing.

If a state were religious, it would have to decide on one religion, and deciding on that would lead to immense controversy. As such, it would be best to allow people to practice religions in their own personal lives instead of forcing it among those who have different beliefs. Wicca is a Neopagan religion that celebrates the cycles and forces of nature. It is a new age religion based vaguely on ancient practices of witchcraft. Though Wiccans primarily believe in numerous goddesses and gods, there are those that believe in a specific deity or are atheist (De Angeles 36).

Wicca is practiced in contemporary society for three reasons. The first reason is because it is an earth-friendly religion, which appeals to people who are concerned with and proactive for the health of the environment. The second reason is due to the fact that Wiccan is empowering to females, unlike many organized religions. The final reason that people in contemporary society practice Wicca is because it lacks boundaries. Practitioners are able to decide for themselves what they want to believe, observe, or worship, which is a trait not found in other religions.

Works CitedDe Angeles, Ly. Witchcraft: Theory and Practice. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd, 2000. Print.Lewis, James R. Scientology. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.