I feel like there've been a lot of New Agers in those spaces for a long time, though. Art Bell gave a big platform to a lot of them. There were a lot of New Agers who also liked Alex Jones. An ex friend who went alt-right, actually radicalized *via* New Age spaces; first she became a fan of David Icke and it went from there. This was *years* ago - she started talking about David Icke back in 2011 or so.
New Age and being a QAnon type aren't synonymous, but the connection isn't far fetched as you'd think.
There are also some ways you can get sucked into a quasi-Objectivist mindset in some New Age communities, especially ones focused on manifesting ("The Secret," etc) or on self-improvement.
I feel like there've been a lot of New Agers in those spaces for a long time, though. Art Bell gave a big platform to a lot of them. There were a lot of New Agers who also liked Alex Jones. An ex friend who went alt-right, actually radicalized *via* New Age spaces; first she became a fan of David Icke and it went from there. This was *years* ago - she started talking about David Icke back in 2011 or so.
New Age and being a QAnon type aren't synonymous, but the connection isn't far fetched as you'd think.
There are also some ways you can get sucked into a quasi-Objectivist mindset in some New Age communities, especially ones focused on manifesting ("The Secret," etc) or on self-improvement.
Yeah I've seen it a lot too. I had to distance myself from these circles because I didn't want to be associated with that stuff. It is disturbing how brain washed some people have become by some of these groups. Here in the UK, a few people tried to burn down and destroy 5G masts during the pandemic because they believed the conspiracies about 5G causing coronavirus. Some of these people also became quite frightingly violent about it too.
I recently came across an article from the Huffington post about Qanon, which talks about losing people to the Qanon movement:
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-lost-my-best-friend-to-qanon_uk_5f8707abc5b6e9e76fb95a96
Another talking about growth of the Qanon movement in the UK:
Further info on the QAnon conspiracy and the impact it is having on people's lives:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-53507579
I've thought about this a lot, trying to comprehend this same exact thing. My father's wife, who I always thought was a bit "nuts", is now posting Q related posts 95% of the time on FB. Like, really crazy stuff. She even started a podcast/youtube channel devoted to seriously talking about this (I don't listen for my own sanity). She is a well-off, highly educated, personable businesswoman who comes across very nice and smart. My father and his wife (they married when I was in my 30's) are very spiritual and study extensively about Mother earth, Native American beliefs, homeopathic remedies, etc., very grounded stuff. Now suddenly this year, it's exclusively Q beliefs involving pedophilia, human trafficking, baby blood, targeted individuals, etc. And it's all in the name of her finally having this "great awakening" and doing the work to bring this all out to light so we can rid the world of these evil (Democrat/Jews/Elites) people. It's completely tied into her belief system, like you'd believe in guides, positive energy, higher power, and now also this great awakening. I don't know if there is a hole or emptiness or deep fear beliefs, or a need for self-importance, or something else deeper?
@Luminous fascinating article you posted https://dark-mountain.net/2016-the-year-magic-broke-into-politics/
This stands out: ‘Those who are cast aside as human refuse often have a psychological need for illusions and scapegoats. They desperately seek the promise of divine intervention. They unplug from a reality that is too hard to bear.’
I was just talking with friends how our society has lost a moral compass. I have decided to try to be merciful and and admire others who are merciful too. the seven corporal acts of mercy: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to give shelter to travelers, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned, and to bury the dead. Anyone can do this. especially now there are many homeless on the street. Just get a bag, wash out an empty milk carton or juice bottle. Fill it with water instead of throwing it away. put it in the bag along with a pair of socks, a bar of soap, a sleeve of saltines, a washcloth and a mask. Drive to the place in your town where the homeless are asking for help. Give them the full bag. You will be transported into a new world where you feel part of all that is in love. Visit the sick astrally in hospitals and prisons. Send them love. Go to funerals. You will feel different inside. It will be good. I tried this. It is amazing.
I was just talking with friends how our society has lost a moral compass. I have decided to try to be merciful and and admire others who are merciful too. the seven corporal acts of mercy: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to give shelter to travelers, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned, and to bury the dead. Anyone can do this. especially now there are many homeless on the street. Just get a bag, wash out an empty milk carton or juice bottle. Fill it with water instead of throwing it away. put it in the bag along with a pair of socks, a bar of soap, a sleeve of saltines, a washcloth and a mask. Drive to the place in your town where the homeless are asking for help. Give them the full bag. You will be transported into a new world where you feel part of all that is in love. Visit the sick astrally in hospitals and prisons. Send them love. Go to funerals. You will feel different inside. It will be good. I tried this. It is amazing.
Great thoughts. Just one point of note though -- instead of filling a used milk carton or juice bottle with water, please just give pre-packaged water bottles. First of all, someone might have an allergy to whatever was previously in the used container (e.g. milk), and really no one should be drinking (or eating) anything given by a random stranger that is not securely packaged in a tamper-evident way.
@dee It seems like the New Age "The Secret" types and those churches that are like Joel Olsteen's-- prosperity gospel evangelicism are likely to converge. Throw a little conspiracy theory in there. They think they ate the red pill and are some kind of society "in the know." It is like a cult.