Are we in the New Middle Ages?

[pobble]

A few years back, I heard of someone who described us as living in a "new middle ages" culturally.  Perhaps they meant something to do with a resurgence of religion in some parts of the world, perhaps they meant something deeper within the Western cultural psyche.

In classical music we have certainly seen a growth in more overtly "spiritual" music, such as that of Tavener, Part, and I suspect some of the Polish composers such as Gorecki though I'm less knowledgeable about them.  Even Andrew Lloyd-Webber of musical theatre fame has composed a setting of the requiem mass.  These seem to have come more to the forefront of newer classical music, not overpowering the music which comes from the 20th century modernist tradition (which non-professional audiences find the most difficult to listen to), but perhaps putting it to one side.  This is rather like a partial rejection of the extreme version of enlightenment rationality.

Meanwhile we have seen a growth in paganism and some other less-traditional religious paths which perhaps indicates a greater spiritual yearning.  What do you think?

[leaf]

The old religions are die-ing but the need to connect with the spiritual is not.  As the old thoughts die, we search for new ways, thus there is a greater interest, which we now see.