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 11-15 of 57
Page 53
George D. Chryssides. described as ' anointed ' in Hebrew Scripture : to be thus described meant that the bearer of the title ( either a priest or a king ) had been divinely chosen and formally appointed to that office . David is to the ...
George D. Chryssides. described as ' anointed ' in Hebrew Scripture : to be thus described meant that the bearer of the title ( either a priest or a king ) had been divinely chosen and formally appointed to that office . David is to the ...
Page 54
... ' righteous judges ' who would destroy the Babylonian children ( King and Breault , 1993 , p . 25 ) . Much of Koresh's preaching was apocalyptic . He had a fascination for the ' seven seals ' described in the 54 EXPLORING NEW RELIGIONS.
... ' righteous judges ' who would destroy the Babylonian children ( King and Breault , 1993 , p . 25 ) . Much of Koresh's preaching was apocalyptic . He had a fascination for the ' seven seals ' described in the 54 EXPLORING NEW RELIGIONS.
Page 55
George D. Chryssides. fascination for the ' seven seals ' described in the Book of Revelation , believing that it was his mission to open the ' seventh seal ' mentioned there . The seal could only be opened by ' the Lamb that was slain ...
George D. Chryssides. fascination for the ' seven seals ' described in the Book of Revelation , believing that it was his mission to open the ' seventh seal ' mentioned there . The seal could only be opened by ' the Lamb that was slain ...
Page 59
... described as ' the poor fellow soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon ' , the Templars ' money - handling enabled them to gain wealth , and this wealth , combined with their physical strength and their piety , was instrumental in ...
... described as ' the poor fellow soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon ' , the Templars ' money - handling enabled them to gain wealth , and this wealth , combined with their physical strength and their piety , was instrumental in ...
Page 62
... described the Solar Temple's organizational structure as a ' Chinese box ' system . Members were initially admitted to the Amenta Club ( subsequently called Amenta ) , which formed the outer layer of two more esoteric organizations ...
... described the Solar Temple's organizational structure as a ' Chinese box ' system . Members were initially admitted to the Amenta Club ( subsequently called Amenta ) , which formed the outer layer of two more esoteric organizations ...
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