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

~ (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 Description

This work focuses on the milieu of three religiously based apocalyptic movements, their radical doctrine and rejection of mainstream American culture. The movements discussed are: the "Christian Identity"; Odinism and the related "Asatru Movement"; and "B'nai Noah".

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press (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.com Sales Rank: #1,525,081 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 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

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.

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 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.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Radical Religion, June 24, 2008

By	Cwn_Annwn (Copenhagen, Denmark) - See all my reviews

Its a common thing for books to be published that demonize and exagerate the power of various political movements and religions that "hate" watchdog groups like the ADL and SPLC are dependent on because thats where their bread and butter comes from. I look at books like these as fundraising schemes for those organizations and I'd be willing to bet that the authors are more often than not covertly contracted out by ADL, SPLC, etc. I started noticing a steady stream of books like these being published back in the 90s and it goes on to this day. Oh my! Run for your life the skinheads/muslims/nazis/militias/Farrakhan, etc, etc are coming to get us, we are all going to die if you don't hurry up and send Morris Dees and Abe Foxman some money! I actually heard an author of one of these hysterical books on a radio show claiming that Al-Queda and "skinheads" were teaming up and running multi-million dollar drug dealing operations as funding for the next 9/11! Ha ha! Seriously can the B.S possibly get any thicker than that one?

All things considered for the type of book that this is it was a comparativly unbiased account of a select few "fringe" religions (namely Christian Identity, Asatru/Odinism and Children of Noah) that exist in American society. You do get some useful information for basic research and information on these groups, so its not completely useless, but like with most books, especially like these, you have to read with a discerning eye.