Customer Reviews

Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It covers eight diverse associational groups in America. The groups that Kephart/Zellner chose to include are The Old Order Amish; The Oneida Community; The Gypsies; The Church of Christ, Scientist; The Hasidim; The Father Divine Movement; The Mormons and The Jehovah Witnesses. In the introduction, they state one of the primary reasons for choosing these eight subcultures is because "they illustrate major sociological principles in concrete form." (page 1) Another reason is the diversity of each of the groups. They state some of the differences as being economic, rural versus urban, and proselytizing versus self-growth sects. The third reason they give is "simply that they are interesting." (page 3) Extraordinary Groups fulfills each of these reasons. In addition, when Kephart/Zellner discusses a new sociological term they give a definition and then an example from the current group being discussed. The reader can then relate the term to actual situations. This technique furthers the reader's understanding of sometimes-difficult sociological concepts. Kephart/Zellner sites and recommends further reading material for each chapter in a Selected Readings section. I enjoyed reading about each of these groups.

extraordinary groups offers the reader an extraordinary view into some of America's most avoidant and little known religions. Several of the groups portrayed by the authors are seldom accessible to the general population. For instance, rarely is there truly a detailed account of the Gypsy movement as striking as the one in this book. Also, for the religious historian the analysis of the Father Divine movement is both intriguing and fascinating, in addition, this is a historical movement that few Afro-Americans are even aware existed. Thanks Zellner for a great read!

Every time I pick up this book, I find a passage I want to share with someone. It's like a textbook without the cost. If you've ever met me in an airport, I've probably already recommended this book to you.

Argh I wasn't sure whether to give this book a 3 or a 4...but since I think it is worth reading through once and going back occasionally to read some parts again...I'll make it a 4...seriously it's a close call.

This book goes over the basics concerning several of the odder religious groups (Amish, Oneida, Gypsies, Unitarian Universalists/religious atheists, Christian Science, The Hasidim, Father Divine, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses).
The most interesting sections by far were on the Amish, Oneida, Father Divine, Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses.

The sections on the Christian Science, Gypsies, Hasidim were boring, and man the section on Unitarian Universalists was downright irritating (for God's sake what kind of form of idiocy is it to become a religious atheist).

This book is a great resource in that it goes over the basic doctines and structure of these different cults (in depth) from the vantage point of disinterested observer. In the process you really learn which of your preconceived ideas concerning these groups were right and which weren't. Again it's great for just understanding these groups.

If the aim of this book is to produce an effect of weirdness and to set apart groups in society as unapproachable, then I could affirm its success in the chapter on Christian Science. It is unfortunate that the research was so selective as to include only the surface appearances that deviate from society's majority, and then offer no explanations. But worse than the resultant character assassination of Mary Baker Eddy is the omission of the deep spirituality and religious sentiments of the religious praxis. There is not even a hint of the religion's profound relationship to Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of its mission and purpose. Also lacking is any explanation on the spiritual means through which a century and a half of healing has taken place.