in secular eraCharles Taylor observed that post-Christian societies have not created a vacuum of faith, but rather a “spiritual supernova,” a plurality of vague belief systems from which individuals are free to choose. Without organized religion, the concept of transcendence simply mutates into other forms, such as New Age spirituality, witch talk, paranormal phenomena, and UFOs. As their popularity soars, it seems to me that we are moving beyond rationalism to greater receptivity to the supernatural, perhaps even to “re-enchantment.”
Some may welcome the return of the sacred. But is all re-enchantment good? Traditional religious societies believed that not all spiritual experiences were valid. In fact, some experiences were thought to be deceptive or even demonic. The problem with the postmodern “supernova,” at least from a theological perspective, is that there is no longer a standard by which to judge encounters with the otherworld. With the decline of traditional religion, the clear distinction between real and false magic has also declined.
It is against this backdrop of spiritual turmoil that Pope Francis yesterday announced a set of guidelines for “discerning purported supernatural phenomena.” The Vatican document builds on an earlier statement issued by Pope John Paul I in 1978, but in 2024, following an increase in “apparitions, visions and messages attributed to supernatural sources.” Updated for. The crisis of authenticity therefore appears to be as much of a concern within the church as outside it.
