Exploring New ReligionsBloomsbury Publishing, 1999 M12 1 - 416 pages An objective, well-researched history of contemporary new religions and cults.New religious movements - popularly known as cults - arouse strong public opinion and most books on the subject are polemical, giving hostile reaction rather than informed exploration. Exploring New Religions provides an account of a wide variety of new religions, focusing on their origins, beliefs and practices, which are set out in a dispassionate way, leaving readers to form their own value judgements. George Chryssides provides important analysis of the killer cults-the Jonestown People's Temple, Waco, the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate-examining the factors that made their followers willing to die for their cause. Older groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are discussed, and Chryssides traces the development of a variety of strands of spirituality, ranging from New Thought, Spiritualism and Theosophy. Subsequent chapters include the Baha'i, the Family (formerly Children of God), the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON), the Jesus Army, the Rastafarians, the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the Unification Church ('the Moonies'). Lower profile groups are also discussed including: EST (Erhard Seminar Training), the New Kadampa Tradition, Brahma Kumaris, Sai Baba, Subud and the Western Buddhist Order. A study of the New Age phenomenon, and an account of societal responses to new religions at religious, societal and political levels is also included. |
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Page x
... messiah as ' he or she ' - notwithstanding those who support equal opportunities - when the expectation is clearly of a male figure . Also , where a group is typically male , like the Latter - day Saints ' Twelve Apostles , it would be ...
... messiah as ' he or she ' - notwithstanding those who support equal opportunities - when the expectation is clearly of a male figure . Also , where a group is typically male , like the Latter - day Saints ' Twelve Apostles , it would be ...
Page 34
... messiah ' , who ordered his followers to undertake multiple random killings in California . ) The other was the case of Patty Hearst , the daughter of a respectable wealthy American family , who suddenly vanished from her home , to ...
... messiah ' , who ordered his followers to undertake multiple random killings in California . ) The other was the case of Patty Hearst , the daughter of a respectable wealthy American family , who suddenly vanished from her home , to ...
Page 46
... messiah ' figure , community living , total commitment , high financial contributions and so on . Second , it was alleged that other NRMs were preparing their members for similar suicides . The Unification Church , which was typically ...
... messiah ' figure , community living , total commitment , high financial contributions and so on . Second , it was alleged that other NRMs were preparing their members for similar suicides . The Unification Church , which was typically ...
Page 52
... messiah ' . He was disfellowshipped from the congregation in 1981 . Howell decided to seek his fortune at the Mount Carmel Center , under Lois Roden's leadership . He secured employment there as a vehicle mechanic , and was given ...
... messiah ' . He was disfellowshipped from the congregation in 1981 . Howell decided to seek his fortune at the Mount Carmel Center , under Lois Roden's leadership . He secured employment there as a vehicle mechanic , and was given ...
Page 53
... messiah of both the Jews and the Gentiles . Howell attended the General Conference of the SDAs in New Orleans later that year , and attempted to present this new revelation to them , only to find that it was rejected . Undaunted ...
... messiah of both the Jews and the Gentiles . Howell attended the General Conference of the SDAs in New Orleans later that year , and attempted to present this new revelation to them , only to find that it was rejected . Undaunted ...
Contents
1 | |
33 | |
77 | |
4 The New Christian movements | 120 |
5 New religions in the Hindu tradition | 164 |
6 New forms of Buddhism | 204 |
7 Independent new religions | 244 |
8 The Human Potential Movement | 278 |
9 New Age witchcraft and Paganism | 315 |
10 The countercult movement | 342 |
Statistical data | 366 |
Compendium | 370 |
Bibliography | 377 |
Index | 392 |
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Common terms and phrases
anti-cult Applewhite avatar Baba Baba's Baha'i Baha'u'llah baptism became become believed Bible body Brahma Kumaris Britain Buddha Buddhism ceremony Christ Chryssides Church of Scientology claim counter-cult cult Dalai Lama death devotees Dianetics disciples divine doctrines Dorje Shugden Erhard evangelical example existence faith Family Findhorn followers founder-leader Glastonbury God's gohonzons groups Hindu Hinduism Holy human important ISKCON Jehovah's Witnesses Jesus Army Jesus Fellowship Church Jones Jonestown Jouret known Krishna latihan Latter-day Saints leader lifestyle living Maharishi mainstream Christianity Mambro mantra marriage means meditation membership messiah mind mission Mormon Nichiren Nichiren Shoshu NRMs offer one's organization original Osho physical powers Prabhupada practice priesthood problems prophet Rajneesh Rastafarians regarded relationship religion religious movements Revelation Sangharakshita sannyasins scripture sect seminars sexual Society Soka Gakkai Solar Temple soul spiritual Subud Subuh taught teachings Tibetan tradition truth Unification Church Wicca worship