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John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age. Brian C. Wilson
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I'm reading through "John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age" by Brian C. Wilson. 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.
