Cults and New Religions: A Brief History (Wiley Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion)

"An overview of the development of new religions and the controversies surrounding them in late modern society"--;Cults and new religions: a primer -- The Church of Scientology: The question of religion -- Transcendental meditation: The questions of science and therapy -- Ramtha and the New Age: The question of "Dangerous Cult? -- The Unification Church/The Family Federation: The brainwashing/deprogramming controversy -- The Children of God/ The Family International: The issue of sexuality -- The Branch Davidians: The question of cults, media, and violence -- Part I -- Heaven's Gate: The question of cults and violence -- Part II -- Wicca and witchcraft: Confronting age-old cultural fears -- Rethinking cults: The significance of new religious movements.;"This unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements has been completely up-dated and expanded to reflect the latest developments; each chapter reviews the origins, leaders, beliefs, rituals and practices of a NRM, highlighting the specific controversies surrounding each group. A fully updated, revised and expanded edition of an unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements. Profiles a number of the most visible, significant, and controversial new religious movements, presenting each group's history, doctrines, rituals, leadership, and organization. Offers a discussion of the major controversies in which new religious movements have been involved, using each profiled group to illustrate the nature of one of those controversies. Covers debates including what constitutes an authentic religion, the validity of claims of brainwashing techniques, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears that cults engender. New sections include methods of studying new religions in each chapter as well as presentations on 'groups to watch'"-- This Unparalleled Introduction To Cults And New Religious Movements Has Been Completely Up-dated And Expanded To Reflect The Latest Developments; Each Chapter Reviews The Origins, Leaders, Beliefs, Rituals And Practices Of A Nrm, Highlighting The Specific Controversies Surrounding Each Group. A Fully Updated, Revised And Expanded Edition Of An Unparalleled Introduction To Cults And New Religious Movements. Profiles A Number Of The Most Visible, Significant, And Controversial New Religious Movements, Presenting Each Group's History, Doctrines, Rituals, Leadership, And Organization. Offers A Discussion Of The Major Controversies In Which New Religious Movements Have Been Involved, Using Each Profiled Group To Illustrate The Nature Of One Of Those Controversies. Covers Debates Including What Constitutes An Authentic Religion, The Validity Of Claims Of Brainwashing Techniques, The Implications Of Experimentation With Unconventional Sexual Practices, And The Deeply Rooted Cultural Fears That Cults Engender. New Sections Include Methods Of Studying New Religions In Each Chapter As Well As Presentations On 'groups To Watch'-- An Overview Of The Development Of New Religions And The Controversies Surrounding Them In Late Modern Society-- 1. Cults And New Religions : A Primer -- The Range Of New Religious Movements -- Controversy And The Popular Perception Of New Religious Movements -- 2. The Church Of Scientology : The Question Of Religion -- L. Ron Hubbard And The Origins Of Scientology -- Beliefs And Practices Of The Church Of Scientology -- The Organizational Structure Of The Church Of Scientology -- Researching Scientology -- 3. Transcendental Mediation : The Questions Of Science And Therapy -- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi And The Arrival Of Transcendental Meditation -- Beliefs And Practices Of Transcendental Meditation -- The Growth And Development Of Transcendental Meditation -- Researching Transcendental Meditation -- 4. Ramtha And The New Age : The Question Of Dangerous Cult -- Who Is Jz Knight And Who Is Ramtha? -- History And Development Of Ramtha's School Of Enlightenment -- Beliefs And Practices Of Ramtha's School Of Enlightenment -- Rse And The Question Of The Dangerous Cult -- Researching Ramtha --^ 5. The Unification Church/the Family Federation : The Brainwashing/deprogramming Controversy -- Sun Myung Moon : Savior From The East -- Doctrinal Beliefs And Ritual Practices Of The Unification Church -- The Growth And Organization Of The Unification Church Outside Of Korea -- Brainwashing, Deprogramming, And The Unification Church -- Researching The Unification Church -- 6. The Children Of God/the Family International : The Issue Of Sexuality -- Mo : David Berg And The Origins Of The Children Of God -- Social Organization Of The Children Of God/the Family -- Beliefs, Rituals, And Practices Of The Children Of God/the Family -- The Children Of God/the Family And The Issue Of Sexuality -- Researching The Children Of God/the Family -- 7. The Branch Davidians : The Question Of Cults, Media, And Violence, Part I -- The Historical Development Of The Branch Davidians -- Beliefs And Practices Of The Branch Davidians Under David Koresh -- The Siege At Waco And The Problem Of Mass Media --^ Researching The Branch Davidians -- 8. Heaven's Gate : The Question Of Cults And Violence, Part Ii -- Ti, Do, And The Origins Of Heaven's Gate -- Beliefs And Practices Of Heaven's Gate -- Recruitment And Social Organization In Heaven's Gate -- The Evolutionary Level Above Humans : New Religions, Violence, And The Media -- Researching Heaven's Gate -- 9. Wicca And Witchcraft : Confronting Age-old Cultural Fears -- Gerald Gardner And The Origins Of Modern Witchcraft -- Social Organization And Development Of Modern Witchcraft And Wicca -- Beliefs, Rituals And Practices Of Modern Witchcraft And Wicca -- Satanic Panic : The Legacy Of Religious Cult Fears -- Researching Modern Paganism -- 10. Rethinking Cults : The Significance Of New Religious Movements -- Two Perspectives : Cults Versus New Religious Movements -- New Religions As Experimental Faiths. Douglas E. Cowan, Renison College, University Of Waterloo And David G. Bromley, Virginia Commonwealth University. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Contents 9 Preface to the Second Edition 12 List of Text Boxes 14 Chapter 1 Cults and New Religions 17 The Range of New Religious Movements 21 Controversy and the Popular Perception of New Religious Movements 27 Further Reading on New Religious Movements 33 Chapter 2 The Church of Scientology: The Question of Religion 34 L. Ron Hubbard and the Origins of Scientology 36 Beliefs and Practices of the Church of Scientology 39 The Organizational Structure of the Church of Scientology 43 The Church of Scientology and the Question of Religion 47 Researching Scientology 51 Further Reading on the Church of Scientology 53 Chapter 3 Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy 54 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Arrival of Transcendental Meditation 56 Beliefs and Practices of Transcendental Meditation 58 The Growth and Development of Transcendental Meditation 64 Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy 68 Researching Transcendental Meditation 72 Further Reading on Transcendental Meditation 74 Chapter 4 Ramtha and the New Age: The Question of “Dangerous Cult” 75 Who Is JZ Knight and Who Is Ramtha? 77 History and Development of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment 81 Beliefs and Practices of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment 83 RSE and the Question of the ‘Dangerous Cult’ 86 Researching Ramtha 91 Further Reading on the New Age Movement 93 Chapter 5 The Unification Church/The Family Federation: The Brainwashing/Deprogramming Controversy 94 Sun Myung Moon: Savior from the East 95 Doctrinal Beliefs and Ritual Practices of the Unification Church 100 The Growth and Organization of the Unification Church outside Korea 105 Brainwashing, Deprogramming, and the Unification Church 108 Researching the Unification Church 112 Further Reading on the Unification Church 114 Chapter 6 The Children of God/The Family International: The Issue of Sexuality 115 Mo: David Berg and the Origins of the Children of God 117 Social Organization of the Children of God/The Family 121 Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of the Children of God/The Family 125 The Children of God/The Family and the Issue of Sexuality 129 Researching the Children of God/The Family 134 Further Reading on the Children of God/The Family 135 Chapter 7 The Branch Davidians: The Question of Cults, Media, and Violence – Part I 136 The Historical Development of the Branch Davidians 137 Victor and Florence Houteff (1929–1959) 138 Benjamin and Lois Roden (1962–1989) 140 David Koresh (1989–1993) 142 Beliefs and Practices of the Branch Davidians under David Koresh 144 The Siege at Waco and the Problem of Mass Media 147 Researching the Branch Davidians 154 Further Reading on the Branch Davidians 155 Chapter 8 Heaven’s Gate: The Question of Cults and Violence – Part II 157 Ti, Do, and the Origins of Heaven’s Gate 158 Beliefs and Practices of Heaven’s Gate 161 Recruitment and Social Organization in Heaven’s Gate 166 The Evolutionary Level Above Human: New Religions, Violence, and the Media 169 Researching Heaven’s Gate 173 Further Reading on UFO Groups 176 Chapter 9 Wicca and Witchcraft: Confronting Age-old Cultural Fears 177 Gerald Gardner and the Origins of Modern Witchcraft 178 Social Organization and Development of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca 182 Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca 186 Satanic Panic: The Legacy of Religious Cult Fears 190 Researching Modern Paganism 193 Further Reading on Wicca and Witchcraft 196 Chapter 10 Rethinking Cults: The Significance of New Religious Movements 197 Two Perspectives: Cults versus New Religious Movements 200 The cult stereotype 200 NRMs as new religions 208 New Religions as Experimental Faiths 213 Further Reading on New Religious Movements 219 References 220 Index 241 EULA 246

This unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements has been completely up-dated and expanded to reflect the latest developments; each chapter reviews the origins, leaders, beliefs, rituals and practices of a NRM, highlighting the specific controversies surrounding each group.

• A fully updated, revised and expanded edition of an unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements
• Profiles a number of the most visible, significant, and controversial new religious movements, presenting each group's history, doctrines, rituals, leadership, and organization
• Offers a discussion of the major controversies in which new religious movements have been involved, using each profiled group to illustrate the nature of one of those controversies
• Covers debates including what constitutes an authentic religion, the validity of claims of brainwashing techniques, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears that cults engender
• New sections include methods of studying new religions in each chapter as well as presentations on 'groups to watch'