Cults And New Religions: A Brief History

Cults and New Religions: A Brief History

An overview of the development of new religions and the controversies surrounding them in late modern society.A stimulating, course-friendly overview of the history and development of new religious movements (NRMs) in the late twentieth centuryExplores eight cults and NRMs, including the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unificationism, The Family International, the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, the Branch Davidians, Heaven? Gate, and WiccaEach chapter reviews the origins, leaders, beliefs, rituals and practices of a NRM, highlighting the specific controversies surrounding this groupCovers debates including what constitutes an authentic religion, the validity of claims of brainwashing techniques, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears that cults engender.Review"This is a remarkably good book. It is probably the best introduction to the study of new religions available, providing a concise yet surprisingly comprehensive and thoughtful description of the very groups, issues, and controversies that most scholars and students wish to understand better. Engagingly written, and impeccably researched, the book shatters stereotypes and captures the true diversity of new forms of religious life in modern western societies."Lorne L. Dawson, University of Waterloo"This well written book provides the busy reader with a reliable introduction to the complex and often highly emotionally charged issue surrounding the discussion of cults, sects and new religions. Anyone with limited time needing to understand the crux of the issue will find a wealth of resources and valuable insights in this excellent book."Irving Hexham, Liverpool Hope UniversityBook DescriptionCults and New Religions offers an overview of the history and development of eight new religious movements in the late twentieth century: the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unificationism, The Family International, the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, the Branch Davidians, Heaven's Gate, and Wicca. Each chapter profiles a new religion, describing its origins, doctrines and rituals, leadership and organization. Each chapter also includes a discussion of one of the major sources of controversy surrounding these movements, controversies that have led to these movements being popularly regarded as "cults" : whether they are indeed authentic religions, the validity of claims that brainwashing techniques are used to gain and retain members, their potential for violence, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears they engender.From the Back CoverCults and New Religions offers an overview of the history and development of eight new religious movements in the late twentieth century: the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unificationism, The Family International, the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, the Branch Davidians, Heaven? Gate, and Wicca.The book profiles each new religion, describing its origins, doctrines and rituals, leadership and organization. Each chapter includes a discussion of one of the major sources of controversy surrounding these movements, controversies that have led to them being popularly regarded as ?ults