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 35
... final period following its emigration to Guyana . However , it would be naive to suppose that Jones was simply a charismatic leader who could make his followers do anything , or that he had a hypnotic hold over the members , eliciting ...
... final period following its emigration to Guyana . However , it would be naive to suppose that Jones was simply a charismatic leader who could make his followers do anything , or that he had a hypnotic hold over the members , eliciting ...
Page 44
... final downfall . Realizing the enormous problems of achieving racial integration in his community , the prospect of establishing one's own prejudice- free society , and founding it upon the principles of early Christian communism must ...
... final downfall . Realizing the enormous problems of achieving racial integration in his community , the prospect of establishing one's own prejudice- free society , and founding it upon the principles of early Christian communism must ...
Page 47
... final judgement was beginning , and that God had opened the heavenly books in which the deeds of those who had died were recorded . God , with Christ's help , had started the task of determining which of those among the dead were fit ...
... final judgement was beginning , and that God had opened the heavenly books in which the deeds of those who had died were recorded . God , with Christ's help , had started the task of determining which of those among the dead were fit ...
Page 49
... 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 Davidian Seventh - day Adventists decided , therefore , to leave the ...
... 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 Davidian Seventh - day Adventists decided , therefore , to leave the ...
Page 55
... final holocaust at Waco . In 1989 Marc Breault , one of Howell's principal supporters , left the group , departing for Australia , and subsequently New Zealand , to alert the Branch Davidians there of the Waco situation . Most of the ...
... final holocaust at Waco . In 1989 Marc Breault , one of Howell's principal supporters , left the group , departing for Australia , and subsequently New Zealand , to alert the Branch Davidians there of the Waco situation . Most of the ...
Contents
1 | |
33 | |
3 The old new religions | 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