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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Results 6-10 of 64
Page 42
... 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 this was merely a test of their loyalty . However , he added , a ...
... 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 this was merely a test of their loyalty . However , he added , a ...
Page 43
... deaths of children . They found it difficult to gain employment , and were subjected to considerable harassment . As for the physical remains of the community , a fire in the early 1980s finally consumed the complex , and the 1989 ...
... deaths of children . They found it difficult to gain employment , and were subjected to considerable harassment . As for the physical remains of the community , a fire in the early 1980s finally consumed the complex , and the 1989 ...
Page 51
... death , his wife Lois led the movement until 1983. It was during Lois Roden's leadership that David Koresh — then known by his given name of Vernon Howell came on the scene . Vernon Wayne Howell ( 1959-93 ) was the son of a carpenter ...
... death , his wife Lois led the movement until 1983. It was during Lois Roden's leadership that David Koresh — then known by his given name of Vernon Howell came on the scene . Vernon Wayne Howell ( 1959-93 ) was the son of a carpenter ...
Page 55
... death . Several events led up to 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 ...
... death . Several events led up to 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 ...
Page 56
... deaths were roughly simultaneous , they occurred at several different locations : on 4 October five were found burned to death ( including a child ) at the house of OTS leader Joseph di Mambro at Morin Heights in Canada . Just after ...
... deaths were roughly simultaneous , they occurred at several different locations : on 4 October five were found burned to death ( including a child ) at the house of OTS leader Joseph di Mambro at Morin Heights in Canada . Just after ...
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