Sufism Meets the New Age Discourse: Part 1: A Theoretical Discussion

This article, the first of a two-part discussion, focuses on the influence of the New Age on contemporary Sufism. It will consider the main definitions of the New Age and how they have been applied in relation to contemporary Sufism. After having shown the limits of these definitions and applications, it will propose an alternative reading, considering the New Age not as a movement or a cultural phenomenon, but as a discourse. This will allow us to better connect doctrines with practices and organizational structures, and to grasp the continuities and discontinuities between esoteric and New Age discourses.