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 68
Page 36
... Temple . ( It was so- called because of the Pentecostalist use of the term ' Temple ' , signifying the place where the Holy Spirit dwelt . ) It had a choir and a youth group and a reputation for a healing ministry , and it proclaimed a ...
... Temple . ( It was so- called because of the Pentecostalist use of the term ' Temple ' , signifying the place where the Holy Spirit dwelt . ) It had a choir and a youth group and a reputation for a healing ministry , and it proclaimed a ...
Page 37
George D. Chryssides. Peoples Temple was a mainstream Christian community , and not an NRM that existed on Christianity's fringes . In 1964 the Disciples of Christ ordained Jones as a full minister . He continued to proclaim his social ...
George D. Chryssides. Peoples Temple was a mainstream Christian community , and not an NRM that existed on Christianity's fringes . In 1964 the Disciples of Christ ordained Jones as a full minister . He continued to proclaim his social ...
Page 38
... Temple member , to feign serious stomach pains for the duration of a service until the point at which the former would perform a miraculous healing . Jones certainly claimed to possess extraordinary powers , claiming psychic abilities ...
... Temple member , to feign serious stomach pains for the duration of a service until the point at which the former would perform a miraculous healing . Jones certainly claimed to possess extraordinary powers , claiming psychic abilities ...
Page 39
... Temple . Although in measurable terms the Peoples Temple appeared to be thriving during this stage of its evolution , the late 1960s can also be said to mark the beginnings of its downfall . In 1969 Jones had an affair with Carolyn ...
... Temple . Although in measurable terms the Peoples Temple appeared to be thriving during this stage of its evolution , the late 1960s can also be said to mark the beginnings of its downfall . In 1969 Jones had an affair with Carolyn ...
Page 40
... Temple had begun to attract adverse publicity not only because of 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 ...
... Temple had begun to attract adverse publicity not only because of 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 ...
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