Mysticism within belief: investigating the intersection between Abrahamic faiths and new age practices

• Main Authors: Leong, Cassia Xin Yi, Tan, Hui Min
• Other Authors: Md Saidul Islam
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Religion; Spirituality; Abrahamic faiths; New age movement; Religious identity; Negotiations; Liminality
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/176387
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In Singapore, the religious landscape is ever-evolving despite its secular governance. As the country matured, there was a paradigmatic shift in the value system of its society, characterised by a transition from pragmatism to increasing interest in individualism. In the realm of religion and spirituality, this shift is evidenced in the growing New Age movement, a decentralised spiritual phenomenon that encompasses practices and beliefs from a variety of religious and spiritual traditions. New Age spirituality is often seen as antithetical to the monotheistic tenet present in Abrahamic faiths such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism. This study thus explores the intersection between Abrahamic faiths and New Age spirituality, specifically the experiences of believers of Abrahamic faiths who simultaneously engage in New Age practices. This study employs 8 semi-structured interviews with individuals who engage in both Abrahamic belief and New Age practices to draw meaningful insights. Highlights from the findings reveal and explore the following themes: 1) factors contributing to the upward trajectory of New Age spirituality in Singapore, 2) the unique positions of individuals who engage in both Abrahamic faiths and New Age practices within the realm of religion vis-a-vis spirituality, and 3) the ways in which these individuals negotiate their religious identity. The exploratory nature of this study contributes to an academic niche in Singapore and offers a more inclusive theoretical perspective on the religious landscape of Singapore.