This unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements has been completely up-dated and expanded to reflect the latest developments; each chapter reviews the origins, leaders, beliefs, rituals and practices of a NRM, highlighting the specific controversies surrounding each group.
- A fully updated, revised and expanded edition of an unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements
- Profiles a number of the most visible, significant, and controversial new religious movements, presenting each group’s history, doctrines, rituals, leadership, and organization
- Offers a discussion of the major controversies in which new religious movements have been involved, using each profiled group to illustrate the nature of one of those controversies
- Covers 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
- New sections include methods of studying new religions in each chapter as well as presentations on ‘groups to watch’
Table of Contents:
Preface to the Second Edition x
List of Text Boxes xii
1 Cults and New Religions: A Primer 1
The Range of New Religious Movements 5
Controversy and the Popular Perception of New Religious Movements 11
Further Reading on New Religious Movements 17
2 The Church of Scientology: The Question of Religion 18
L. Ron Hubbard and the Origins of Scientology 20
Beliefs and Practices of the Church of Scientology 23
The Organizational Structure of the Church of Scientology 27
The Church of Scientology and the Question of Religion 31
Researching Scientology 35
Further Reading on the Church of Scientology 37
3 Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy 38
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Arrival of Transcendental Meditation 40
Beliefs and Practices of Transcendental Meditation 42
The Growth and Development of Transcendental Meditation 48
Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy 52
Researching Transcendental Meditation 56
Further Reading on Transcendental Meditation 58
4 Ramtha and the New Age: The Question of “Dangerous Cult” 59
Who Is JZ Knight and Who Is Ramtha? 61
History and Development of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment 65
Beliefs and Practices of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment 67
RSE and the Question of the ‘Dangerous Cult’ 70
Researching Ramtha 75
Further Reading on the New Age Movement 77
5 The Unification Church/The Family Federation: The Brainwashing/Deprogramming Controversy 78
Sun Myung Moon: Savior from the East 79
Doctrinal Beliefs and Ritual Practices of the Unification Church 84
The Growth and Organization of the Unification Church outside Korea 89
Brainwashing, Deprogramming, and the Unification Church 92
Researching the Unification Church 96
Further Reading on the Unification Church 98
6 The Children of God/The Family International: The Issue of Sexuality 99
Mo: David Berg and the Origins of the Children of God 101
Social Organization of the Children of God/The Family 105
Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of the Children of God/ The Family 109
The Children of God/The Family and the Issue of Sexuality 113
Researching the Children of God/The Family 118
Further Reading on the Children of God/The Family 119
7 The Branch Davidians: The Question of Cults, Media, and Violence – Part I 120
The Historical Development of the Branch Davidians 121
Beliefs and Practices of the Branch Davidians under David Koresh 128
The Siege at Waco and the Problem of Mass Media 131
Researching the Branch Davidians 138
Further Reading on the Branch Davidians 139
8 Heaven’s Gate: The Question of Cults and Violence – Part II 141
Ti, Do, and the Origins of Heaven’s Gate 142
Beliefs and Practices of Heaven’s Gate 145
Recruitment and Social Organization in Heaven’s Gate 150
The Evolutionary Level Above Human: New Religions, Violence, and the Media 153
Researching Heaven’s Gate 157
Further Reading on UFO Groups 160
9 Wicca and Witchcraft: Confronting Age‐old Cultural Fears 161
Gerald Gardner and the Origins of Modern Witchcraft 162
Social Organization and Development of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca 166
Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca 170
Satanic Panic: The Legacy of Religious Cult Fears 174
Researching Modern Paganism 177
Further Reading on Wicca and Witchcraft 180
10 Rethinking Cults: The Significance of New Religious Movements 181
Two Perspectives: Cults versus New Religious Movements 184
New Religions as Experimental Faiths 197
Further Reading on New Religious Movements 203
References 204
Index 225
