Boho Fascism: The Spiritual Gymnastics of the New Age w/ Matthew Remski
Jul 26, 2021
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Matthew Remski, co-host of the Conspirituality Podcast, discusses the ties between the new age movement and capitalism, cults, nazism, and narcissism. Topics include the proliferation of religious cults in the new age subculture, the co-optation of spirituality in capitalism, conspiracy theories in new age circles, the intersection of inflammatory content and technology, and the connection between spirituality and narcissism.
The new age movement presents a performative atmosphere that emphasizes appearances and validation, masking its ties to capitalist and fascist ideologies.
The lack of defined institutions and the emphasis on charismatic leadership in the yoga and wellness industry create fertile ground for cultic dynamics.
The overlap between new age spirituality and right-wing conspiracy theories highlights the underlying ideologies of the new age movement and the role of social media in their proliferation.
Deep dives
The commodification of new age spirituality and its connection to fascist ideologies
The podcast episode discusses the commodification of new age spirituality and its connections to fascist ideologies within segments of the new age subculture. It explores how the new age movement presents itself as moral and empathetic, but actually operates within a leisure class capitalist framework. The focus on self-improvement and individualism creates a performative atmosphere, leading to an emphasis on appearances and validation. The podcast also highlights the prevalence of sexual assault and narcissism within the subculture, noting how these issues often go unaddressed.
The cultic dynamics in the yoga and wellness industry
The podcast delves into the cultic dynamics present in the yoga and wellness industry. It discusses the lack of defined institutions for validation or measurement, which creates a breeding ground for cults. The emphasis on charismatic leadership and the performative nature of the practice contribute to this phenomenon. The podcast also highlights the disconnect between personal self-transformation and political activism, noting how individuals become disengaged from meaningful political participation as they focus solely on self-improvement.
The rise of conspiracy theories within new age and wellness communities
The podcast explores the rise of conspiracy theories within new age and wellness communities, and the crossover with right-wing and QAnon ideologies. It suggests that individuals within these communities are primed for conspiratorial thinking due to the underlying ideologies of the new age movement. The historical connections between new age spirituality and fascist ideologies are also discussed. Additionally, the podcast acknowledges the role of technology and social media in facilitating the spread of conspiracy theories and providing a platform for influencers to gain visibility through inflammatory content.
Spirituality and Capitalism
The podcast explores how spirituality can be co-opted and commodified in the capitalist system. It highlights the concern that some people who acknowledge capitalism as a problem fail to recognize how it infiltrates spirituality. The speaker emphasizes that spirituality should be a tool for action and reaction, rather than a means of personal escape or self-improvement. They point out that the wellness industry often prioritizes self-centered consumerism over addressing existential issues or engaging in political activism.
Material Conditions and Spiritual Practice
The episode delves into the influence of material conditions on spiritual practices. It highlights how the capitalist system fosters narcissism and consumerism, while simultaneously offering absolution for the shame associated with it. The guest speakers discuss the need to recognize the material conditions that shape spirituality and to cultivate a balance between self-care and engaging with the world. They critique the new age and wellness industry for depoliticizing people and promoting individualistic narcissism. The importance of recognizing the role of spirituality within community care and historical context is emphasized.
In this episode we interview Matthew Remski, co-host of the Conspirituality Podcast, about the new age movement and it's ties to capital, cults, nazism, and narcissism. Buckle up for a wild ride!
