Tithing and Offering Replaced by Economic Empowerment at the Expense of Congregants - Dissertation Example

For this research study, the New Age Movement is a term used to refer to a religious or rather spiritual concept that attempts to change the individual and society as a whole via “mystical union with a dynamic cosmos” (Newport 1998, p. 1).  The New Age Movement seeks to create the hope for achieving an age akin to utopia envisaging unity and progressive change.  More importantly, the New Age Movement proposes to transform conventional religious beliefs, practices, and secularism (Newport 1998, p. 1).  This research study examines this aspect of the New Age Movement and its consequences for the conventional perspectives and practices on tithing and offerings.

Bird and Westley (1985) conducted a study of New Age religions in Montreal and concluded that these religious organizations do not typically collect dues, tithes, and offerings.  They instead rely on donations in terms of unpaid labor and other methods of support for the organization’s operations and voluntary donations for the needy members of the congregation (Bird and Westley 1985, p. 157).   Even so, there is an opposite side to the New Age Movement that preaches and practices tithes and offerings, although in a way that distinguishes it from Judeo-Christian practices and beliefs.

In this regard, New Age spiritualism is also present in several relatively new religious sects such as televangelism and evangelism generally (Woodhead 2002, p. 364).   Televangelism in particular exhibits various manifestations of the New Age Movement.  It appeals to popular culture and counterculture by the use of media to promote its beliefs and concepts and has contributed significantly to reshaping religious consciousness (Kalu et al 2010, p. 38). Televangelism and Evangelism typically appeal to their congregants and audience by preaching the New Age’s prosperity gospel or consciousness (Stout 2006, p. 138).