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The New Age ethos in Brazilian society

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Abstract

The New Age is not properly a religion, although scholars of the phenomenon agree that it fits into the religious realm. Beyond a religion, the author considers the New Age as a cultural ethos, without defined outlines or institutions. This article aims to discuss the Brazilian religious field from the angle of the so called “New Spiritualities.” It seeks to understand, also, the formation of the new era ethos in the Brazilian society. The article questions whether their limited presence masks their visibility. The conclusion is that while the number of new religions may be small and the New Age movement modest in size, the influence of the New Age ethos has been comparatively significant for the Brazilian society. Firstly, it intends to locate these new religions in the Brazilian religious field as a whole. Secondly, it aims to define what is meant by the term “New Age” and analyzes the concept of a “New Age ethos,” which includes both the New Age religions and New Spiritualities. Finally, it conducts an analysis of how the New Age ethos is manifested in Brazil.

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Correspondence to Silas Guerriero.

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Guerriero, S. The New Age ethos in Brazilian society. Int J Lat Am Relig 2, 221–233 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41603-018-0060-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41603-018-0060-7

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