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. |
From inside the book
Results 6-10 of 16
Page 38
... Jones claimed to have extracted cancerous tumours from people's bodies , when in fact he had previously secreted chicken's livers and produced them by sleight of hand . On one occasion Jones instructed Timothy Stoen , a prominent Temple ...
... Jones claimed to have extracted cancerous tumours from people's bodies , when in fact he had previously secreted chicken's livers and produced them by sleight of hand . On one occasion Jones instructed Timothy Stoen , a prominent Temple ...
Page 39
... Jones began to consider the possibility of having his own secluded community , sheltered from the effects of the outside world . The article mentioned Cuba , but the 1962 Cuban missile crisis ruled the country out , since Jones was ...
... Jones began to consider the possibility of having his own secluded community , sheltered from the effects of the outside world . The article mentioned Cuba , but the 1962 Cuban missile crisis ruled the country out , since Jones was ...
Page 40
... Jones ' sexual entanglements and his controls on the congregation , but because of ex - members , some of whom had left because they could not support Jones ' campaign for social justice . They began to sensationalize some of the ...
... Jones ' sexual entanglements and his controls on the congregation , but because of ex - members , some of whom had left because they could not support Jones ' campaign for social justice . They began to sensationalize some of the ...
Page 41
... Jones carefully rehearsed the members about the questions they might expect and how to answer them . ( Critics will regard this as sinister , while more sympathetic commentators suggest that Jones was simply being astute : after all ...
... Jones carefully rehearsed the members about the questions they might expect and how to answer them . ( Critics will regard this as sinister , while more sympathetic commentators suggest that Jones was simply being astute : after all ...
Page 42
... Jones informed the assembly that the liquid was poison , and that death would occur within 45 minutes . They obeyed , only to find that they remained alive . Jones then informed them that the liquid was not poisonous after all and that ...
... Jones informed the assembly that the liquid was poison , and that death would occur within 45 minutes . They obeyed , only to find that they remained alive . Jones then informed them that the liquid was not poisonous after all and that ...
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 |
Other editions - View all
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