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 39
Page 34
... Authority , in which volunteers demonstrated their preparedness to obey the instructions of the experimenter , a presumed ' authority figure ' , who sanctioned the administration of high - voltage electric shocks to others . For those ...
... Authority , in which volunteers demonstrated their preparedness to obey the instructions of the experimenter , a presumed ' authority figure ' , who sanctioned the administration of high - voltage electric shocks to others . For those ...
Page 45
... authorities in Guyana and San Francisco absolved themselves of any responsibility for the development of the Peoples Temple and its tragic end . Third , there was ' religious distancing ' whereby main- stream religion disowned the ...
... authorities in Guyana and San Francisco absolved themselves of any responsibility for the development of the Peoples Temple and its tragic end . Third , there was ' religious distancing ' whereby main- stream religion disowned the ...
Page 51
... authority over the community - an authority which was also embedded in the group's constitution . The institution of the Jewish sabbath as the day of rest and worship was part of an attempt to recognize the authority of the whole Bible ...
... authority over the community - an authority which was also embedded in the group's constitution . The institution of the Jewish sabbath as the day of rest and worship was part of an attempt to recognize the authority of the whole Bible ...
Page 53
... authority was not to be questioned . Belonging to the community meant breaking one's earthly ties , including those of one's family and friends . One had to forsake all for the sake of the coming kingdom : If any man come to me , and ...
... authority was not to be questioned . Belonging to the community meant breaking one's earthly ties , including those of one's family and friends . One had to forsake all for the sake of the coming kingdom : If any man come to me , and ...
Page 54
... authority was supposedly vindicated was by his practice of polygamy . As the Song of Solomon stated : There are threescore queens , and fourscore concubines , and virgins without number . ( Song of Solomon 6 : 8 ) Koresh noted that many ...
... authority was supposedly vindicated was by his practice of polygamy . As the Song of Solomon stated : There are threescore queens , and fourscore concubines , and virgins without number . ( Song of Solomon 6 : 8 ) Koresh noted that many ...
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