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 69
Page 42
... became increasingly idiosyncratic . The reasons are not clear . His physical condition deteriorated : he complained of having some serious illness , his speech became slurred , and at times he was unable to walk without support ...
... became increasingly idiosyncratic . The reasons are not clear . His physical condition deteriorated : he complained of having some serious illness , his speech became slurred , and at times he was unable to walk without support ...
Page 45
... became a cult as a result of public perception of it . The Jonestown tragedy gave further impetus to the anti - cult movement's subsequent development . Jonestown became a kind of icon . The fact that a mass suicide had actually ...
... became a cult as a result of public perception of it . The Jonestown tragedy gave further impetus to the anti - cult movement's subsequent development . Jonestown became a kind of icon . The fact that a mass suicide had actually ...
Page 47
... became the name of the organization led by White , and which formally came into being in 1861. Amongst the beliefs of the Adventists were a firm conviction of the inerrancy of scripture , an expectation of an imminent Second Coming of ...
... became the name of the organization led by White , and which formally came into being in 1861. Amongst the beliefs of the Adventists were a firm conviction of the inerrancy of scripture , an expectation of an imminent Second Coming of ...
Page 51
... became a fundamentalist Christian , and joined the Southern Baptist Church . Perturbed by the problem of frequent masturbation , he sought advice from the pastor , Billy Harris . Harris advised him to pray , but this proved ineffectual ...
... became a fundamentalist Christian , and joined the Southern Baptist Church . Perturbed by the problem of frequent masturbation , he sought advice from the pastor , Billy Harris . Harris advised him to pray , but this proved ineffectual ...
Page 52
... became pregnant as a consequence , but no baby was ever produced . The claim seems unlikely , since Lois was 69 at the time , and fortunately no child at Waco ever received this somewhat cumbersome forename ! Unsurprisingly , when ...
... became pregnant as a consequence , but no baby was ever produced . The claim seems unlikely , since Lois was 69 at the time , and fortunately no child at Waco ever received this somewhat cumbersome forename ! Unsurprisingly , when ...
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