Modern paganism and New Age
  • 1. What is the common term used to describe the modern revival of ancient pagan beliefs and practices?
A) Monotheism
B) Neopaganism
C) Polytheism
D) Atheism
  • 2. What is the term used to describe the practice of using crystals for healing and spiritual purposes in New Age beliefs?
A) Stone Magic
B) Crystal Healing
C) Mineral Therapy
D) Gemstone Rituals
  • 3. What is the term used to describe the spiritual journey of self-discovery and personal growth in New Age spirituality?
A) Awakening
B) Rebirth
C) Revival
D) Renewal
  • 4. Which historical figure is often credited with popularizing modern paganism in the 20th century?
A) Plato
B) Isaac Newton
C) Gerald Gardner
D) Socrates
  • 5. What is the name of the modern pagan holiday that celebrates the spring equinox?
A) Litha
B) Imbolc
C) Ostara
D) Samhain
  • 6. What is the practice of using the alignment of celestial bodies to gain insight or guidance in New Age beliefs called?
A) Alchemy
B) Astrology
C) Astronomy
D) Cosmology
  • 7. Which of the following is a common ritual in modern paganism?
A) Burning Incense
B) Baptism
C) Communion
D) Casting a Circle
  • 8. Which of the following symbols is commonly associated with modern paganism?
A) Pentacle
B) Crescent Moon
C) Star of David
D) Cross
  • 9. When did New Age teachings primarily emerge?
A) After World War I
B) In the second half of the 20th century
C) In the 18th and 19th centuries
D) During the Renaissance
  • 10. What is a common characteristic of New Age teachings?
A) Revival of historical pagan beliefs
B) Millenarian ideas about spiritual advancement
C) Emphasis on material concerns
D) Focus on community ceremonies
  • 11. What do modern pagans commonly attribute wisdom to?
A) Future human consciousness
B) Modern technology
C) Past cultures
D) Scientific discoveries
  • 12. How do New Age proponents view the physical existence?
A) They ignore it entirely
B) They focus on its material concerns
C) They seek to connect it to the divine
D) They favour transcendence of it
  • 13. What is a typical focus of modern pagan practices?
A) Commercialisation of spirituality
B) Personal growth of the individual
C) Ceremonial and community-focused activities
D) Millenarian ideas
  • 14. Which movement is associated with Wicca in popular culture since the 1990s?
A) New Age
B) Modern paganism
C) Christianity
D) Scientific materialism
  • 15. How do some scholars classify modern paganism in relation to New Age?
A) As a precursor to New Age
B) Under the umbrella of New Age, though this classification is contested by modern pagan scholars
C) As identical to New Age
D) As entirely separate from New Age
  • 16. What has contributed to the creation of individualistic and commercialised hybrid forms focused on witchcraft?
A) The presence of Wicca in popular culture since the 1990s
B) The rise of New Age movements
C) The decline of modern paganism
D) The influence of Eastern religions
  • 17. From which Latin word does 'pagan' originate?
A) ethnikós
B) heathen
C) Augustine
D) paganus
  • 18. Who advocates for viewing paganism as a generic religious category?
A) Jerome
B) Tertullian
C) Michael York
D) Augustine of Hippo
  • 19. How do modern pagans and New Agers differ in their views of the natural world?
A) Both view it as entirely separate from spirituality
B) Modern pagan theology is immanent, connecting nature to the divine; New Age proponents favour transcendence
C) Both see it as central to material success
D) Both reject any connection to spirituality
  • 20. What is a characteristic of modern pagan movements?
A) They are based on scientific principles
B) They often have roots in 18th- and 19th-century cultural movements
C) They emerged solely in the 20th century
D) They reject historical influences entirely
  • 21. What is a major difference in the goals of practitioners between modern paganism and New Age?
A) Both focus equally on community and personal growth
B) Modern pagans focus on community, while New Agers emphasize personal growth
C) Both reject any form of spiritual advancement
D) Both prioritize material success
  • 22. How do modern pagans typically view New Age identity?
A) They often seek to distance themselves from it and may use the term as an insult
B) They are indifferent to it
C) They see it as identical to their own beliefs
D) They fully embrace it without reservation
  • 23. What term does Ezzy use to describe a version of Wicca influenced by New Age?
A) Celtic Witchcraft
B) Popularised Witchcraft
C) Traditional Witchcraft
D) Egalitarian Witchcraft
  • 24. What is an example of overlap between modern paganism and New Age movements?
A) The Gaia hypothesis
B) Wicca-inspired lifestyle books
C) Celtic-themed pagan music
D) The annual Starwood Festival
  • 25. In which region is the ethnic dimension of modern paganism less prevalent?
A) United Kingdom
B) The United States
C) Australia
D) Europe
  • 26. What is a commonality in the relationship between academic study and practice for both movements?
A) They have similar relationships between academic study and practice
B) They prioritize academic study over practice
C) They focus solely on practical applications without study
D) They reject academic study entirely
  • 27. Which technique is commonly used by New Age adherents?
A) Visualization
B) Skepticism
C) Political activism
D) Scientific experimentation
  • 28. How do New Agers commonly view modern pagans?
A) They consider them identical to themselves
B) They ignore them entirely
C) They see them as spiritual leaders
D) They criticise them for their emphasis on material concerns
  • 29. Which scholar made a distinction between older versions of modern paganism and a 'New Age variety'?
A) Antoine Faivre
B) York
C) Hanegraaff
D) Heelas
  • 30. Which movement first used the term 'New Age'?
A) Swedenborgianism
B) Transcendentalism
C) Theosophical literature
D) Christian Science
  • 31. What is a significant social movement that modern pagan and New Age communities are often connected to?
A) The post-war American environmental movement
B) Nationalism
C) Corporate commercialism
D) Traditional religious institutions
  • 32. What is a common interest among New Agers and several of their precursors?
A) Modern art
B) Eastern religions
C) Classical music
D) Western philosophy
  • 33. What sometimes creates friction between modern paganism and New Age movements?
A) Similarity in their goals
B) Unified central dogma
C) Differing views of the natural world and spirituality
D) Lack of interest in European culture
  • 34. What is a commonality between modern pagan and New Age movements?
A) Rejection of older scholarship
B) Focus on scientific validation
C) Interest in aspects of European culture and history that were marginalised before the 20th century
D) Central dogma
  • 35. What is a hybrid form of modern paganism and New Age teachings described in a 2001 book review?
A) Emphasis on ethnic pride
B) Goddess worship combined with self-love teachings
C) Focus on celestial events
D) Strict adherence to traditional rituals
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