Radical Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of Noah (Religion and Politics) [Paperback]

Jeffrey Kaplan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In a sterling example of comparative religion, Kaplan describes forces gathering in America on the eve of what may be the wildest party in a thousand years--the turn of the millennium and, with it, apocalypse. He focuses on three groups: the fairly well known Christian Identity; the slightly more outreOdinists, who hark back to some imagined Viking forebears; and the B'nai Noah, a pro-Semitic group with obvious disparities between their beliefs and those of the other two. Kaplan shows the three groups' functional similarities and likenesses in worldview and action, despite differences in nuance, and he includes a fascinating chapter on the relationship between the cults and those who make a profession of watching and countering them. Adherents of these groups have in common an anticipation of the end of the world: some are for it, some are against it, but all expect it. Kaplan's academic approach provides welcome detachment from the often unsavory characters he details, yet he never lets us forget that these are real people. Dennis Winters --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse Univ Pr (Sd) (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815603967
• ISBN-13: 978-0815603962
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,042,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A study of millenarian religions and their anti-cult critics, October 5, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (WA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radical Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of Noah (Religion and Politics) (Paperback)

This is one of the best studies I have read on
radical religious groups, and the first serious
attempt to document the B'nai Noah and Asatru
relgions in a fair manner which shows the diversity
of opinions within those movements. A section dealing
with anti-cult groups and watchdog groups such as the
Anti-Defamation League shows how such groups make
little effort to truly understand their target
groups, instead opting for a narrow stereotyping
of such groups based on the actions of their most
extreme members. At the same time, Kaplan pulls
no punches in illustrating that there are
dangerous elements within these religions, even
though they only make up a small minority
on the fringe of these movements. Recommended for anyone
interested in the B'nai Noah, Asatru, Odinist, and
Christian Identity religions, and for anyone
wanting to understand why watchdog groups
are not particularly good sources for info on these religions.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On the whole a good book, July 10, 1999

By 

grey1066 (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radical Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of Noah (Religion and Politics) (Paperback)

The only problem with this book to me is that, while providing a good overview of the Children of Noah movement, I am not sure why it is in there in the first place. It can be damaging to a group to place them alongside other groups who are racist and violent in their ideologies. Despite pointing out that this movement is different, the image of all of these groups together will remain in people's minds. It's a bit like authors who place Wicca and other small religions in a book about Satanism. This only serves to increase stereotypes and hostility towards some groups.

Kaplan, however, is an excellent scholar and the book was a joy to read. Check out some of his articles in the journal "Terrorism and Political Violence". he has an exceptional one on the anti-abortion movement as a millennial movement.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, realistic and objective view of the subject, October 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Radical Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of Noah (Religion and Politics) (Paperback)

Jeffrey Kaplan has produced one of the most responsible, non-hysterical accounts of new and unusual religious movements I have seen. Not only does he describe their historical and sociological roots, but deals with the often alarmist and unfair reactions to them. I highly recommend it.