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
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.
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
On the whole a good book, July 10, 1999
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.
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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
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.
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