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John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age
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John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age follows the spiritual sojourn of John E. Fetzer, a Michigan business tycoon. Born in 1901 and living most of his life in Kalamazoo, Fetzer parlayed his first radio station into extensive holdings in broadcasting and other enterprises, leading to his sole ownership of the Detroit Tigers in 1961. By the time he died in 1991, Fetzer had been listed in Forbes magazine as one of the four hundred wealthiest people in America. And yet, business success was never enough for Fetzer—his deep spiritual yearnings led him from the Christianity of his youth to a restless exploration of metaphysical religions and movements ranging from Spiritualism, Theosophy, Freemasonry, UFOology, and parapsychology, all the way to the New Age as it blossomed in the 1980s.
Author Brian C. Wilson demonstrates how Fetzer’s quest mirrored those of thousands of Americans who sought new ways of thinking and being in the ever-changing spiritual movements of the twentieth century. Over his lifetime, Fetzer's worldview continuously evolved, combining and recombining elements from dozens of traditions in a process he called "freedom of the spirit." Unlike most others who engaged in a similar process, Fetzer’s synthesis can be documented step by step using extensive archival materials, providing readers with a remarkably rich and detailed roadmap through metaphysical America. The book also documents how Fetzer’s wealth allowed him to institutionalize his spiritual vision into a thriving foundation—the Fetzer Institute—which was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation.
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age offers a window into the rich and complex history of metaphysical religions in the Midwest and the United States at large. It will be read with interest by those wishing to learn more about this enigmatic Michigan figure, as well as those looking for an engaging introduction into America’s rapidly shifting spiritual landscape.
Author Brian C. Wilson demonstrates how Fetzer’s quest mirrored those of thousands of Americans who sought new ways of thinking and being in the ever-changing spiritual movements of the twentieth century. Over his lifetime, Fetzer's worldview continuously evolved, combining and recombining elements from dozens of traditions in a process he called "freedom of the spirit." Unlike most others who engaged in a similar process, Fetzer’s synthesis can be documented step by step using extensive archival materials, providing readers with a remarkably rich and detailed roadmap through metaphysical America. The book also documents how Fetzer’s wealth allowed him to institutionalize his spiritual vision into a thriving foundation—the Fetzer Institute—which was designed to carry his insights into the future in hopes that it would help catalyze a global spiritual transformation.
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age offers a window into the rich and complex history of metaphysical religions in the Midwest and the United States at large. It will be read with interest by those wishing to learn more about this enigmatic Michigan figure, as well as those looking for an engaging introduction into America’s rapidly shifting spiritual landscape.
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Reviews for John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age
Rating: 4.09999998 out of 5 stars
4/5
5 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The author does an amazing job of giving a religious portrait of what was to become the "old New Age" in the mid-to-late 20th century American Midwest. John E. Fetzer's life, as spiritual biography, not only illustrates its highlights, but also delineates the outlines of a remarkable career.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hmmm. Somehow there are three biographies of John Fetzer. Haven't read the others, but the one by Carol Hedegus seems to be more or less conventional and that by Dan Ewald certainly concentrates on Fetzer's ownership of the Detroit Tigers. This book concentrates on his spiritual journey from his Seventh Day Adventist upbringing to a decidedly spiritualist Christianity that can be fairly characterized as New Age, as the title says. There's lots of interesting stuff in here. The book's well-researched and told well, and seems to describe Fetzer's actual beliefs quite well. But it largely ignores the parts of John Fetzer's life that interest me.
Book preview
John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age - Brian C. Wilson
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