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 36
... prophet that shall go around the world ...... . And tonight you shall begin your ministry ' ( Hall , 1987 , p . 18 ) . Jones , in turn , called people out from the congregation and began to administer spiritual healing : this marked the ...
... prophet that shall go around the world ...... . And tonight you shall begin your ministry ' ( Hall , 1987 , p . 18 ) . Jones , in turn , called people out from the congregation and began to administer spiritual healing : this marked the ...
Page 47
... prophet within the Adventist movement . White had a series of visions concerning the events leading up to the end . One important teaching was that of ' progressive truth ' : God allows his prophets and messengers to fall into error as ...
... prophet within the Adventist movement . White had a series of visions concerning the events leading up to the end . One important teaching was that of ' progressive truth ' : God allows his prophets and messengers to fall into error as ...
Page 48
... prophetic office in the SDA . However , he was later accused of distorting White's teachings , and he and his ... prophet a religious and temporal king . The wicked would be purged from the SDA and those who remained would attain ...
... prophetic office in the SDA . However , he was later accused of distorting White's teachings , and he and his ... prophet a religious and temporal king . The wicked would be purged from the SDA and those who remained would attain ...
Page 49
... prophet . The movement probably believed that Houteff would be their final leader before the end came ; indeed its constitution stated that the President would hand over his leadership to Christ when the Second Advent arrived . The ...
... prophet . The movement probably believed that Houteff would be their final leader before the end came ; indeed its constitution stated that the President would hand over his leadership to Christ when the Second Advent arrived . The ...
Page 50
... prophet . Ben Roden founded the Branch Davidian Seventh - day Adventists , the largest of these groups . Meanwhile , the New Mount Carmel complex was declared bankrupt , and this provided Roden with his opportunity to take it over . He ...
... prophet . Ben Roden founded the Branch Davidian Seventh - day Adventists , the largest of these groups . Meanwhile , the New Mount Carmel complex was declared bankrupt , and this provided Roden with his opportunity to take it over . He ...
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