Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader (Blackwell Readings in Religion) [Paperback]

Lorne L. Dawson (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a superb collection which will effectively introduce some readers to the field of NRM studies, and which is indispensable for any course on alternative religions. The volume really represents some sort of a milestone and its publication may indicate that the scholarly study of NRMs has 'arrived'." Nova Religio

"This is a valuable reader and one which deserves to become part of the landscape." Gerald Vinten, European Business School, London

"The book is very useful for students, scholars of different disciplines, and lay readers to get an idea of the scientific response to publicly debated issues about new religions. Furthermore, with bibliographies at the end of each article, it also provides an excellent starting point for further study." Marburg Journal of Religion

"The editor has collected a number of fine writings by leading authors, theorists and researchers in the field of NRMs. One find understandable and accessible essays by historians, sociologists and psychologists of religion and other scholars well known for their work on the subject and/or famous in their disciplines ... For readers interested in the phenomenon the book is very readable and can open up a new world - a balanced world without prejudice." Journal of Empirical Theology

Product Description

What is a cult? Why do they emerge? Who joins them? And why do tragedies such as Waco and Jonestown occur? This reader brings together the voices of historians, sociologists, and psychologists of religion to address these key questions about new religious movements.

• Looks at theoretical explanations for cults, why people join and what happens when they do.
  
• Brings together the best work on cults by sociologists, historians, and psychologists of religion.
  
• A broad-ranging, balanced and clearly organized collection of readings.
  
• Includes coverage of topical issues, such as the 'brainwashing' controversy, and cults in cyberspace.
  
• Section introductions by the editor situate the nature, value, and relevance of the selected readings in context of current discussions.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (June 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405101814
• ISBN-13: 978-1405101813
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #196,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Religious Sausage is Made, February 23, 2008

By	Santi Tafarella (california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader (Blackwell Readings in Religion) (Paperback)

This is one of those "breaking the spell" books on religion in which the intricate social psychology--the underbelly of new religious movements--is laid bare and demystified.

The book consists of thought-provoking essays on cults by social scientists, psychologists, and historians. The editor has clearly attempted to give readers a handle, both theoretical and historical, on how new religious movements get started and thrive. Some of the essays in the book are so good that they justify, in and of themselves, the purchase of the book. Roy Wallis' essay, for example, makes some fascinating distinctions between "world denying religious movements" and "world affirming religious movements" that are extremely helpful. The sociologist Rodney Stark's essay is also excellent. It discusses how the proclamations of cults function as "compensators" for general, and unachievable longings (such as eternal life).

Lastly, this book is especially useful for reflecting on how the world's major religions (Christianity and Islam etc.) likely had their beginnings. In other words, the patterns typical of new religious movements are suggestive of how the old religious movements got their start. Short of a time machine, the study of contemporary new religious movements (cults) is as close as we are likely to get to witnessing the early beginnings, and evolution, of mature religions. This book is thus an excellent introduction to the scientific study of religion generally.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting, May 22, 2009

By	Lee Gardner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader (Blackwell Readings in Religion) (Paperback)

Very interesting book, it's part of a university study course.
Had worse study books :)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cults and New Religious Movements, May 22, 2009

By	The Northern Light "The Kingdom of God Is Wit... (Europa, Close to Ultima Thule) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader (Blackwell Readings in Religion) (Paperback)

If they are well-written, like this particular one is, I have discovered I love to read the "a reader"-type of books. You can go from zero knowledge about a phenomenon to a well above average knowledge about a subject just by reading one book. The best way to summarize the book in the rather limited space allowed by Amazon in book reviews is perhaps to give the names of the chapters. The eight chapters each have two articles in them, varying from a few pages to well over 30. "The Study of New Religious Movements", "The Nature of New Religions", "New Religious Movements in Historical and Social Context", "Joining New Religious Movements", "The Brainwashing Controversy", "Violence and New Religious Movements", "Sex and Gender Issues and New Religious Movements" and finally "New Religious Movements and the Future", are the chapters included in the book. Apart from the chapter "The New Spiritual Freedom", which is basically just 30 pages of brainwashed non-sense about how the trouble caused by the coloureds and their Jewish allies during the 60's in the US was somehow this great "spiritual revolution" and the usual "feminist" rubbish in the two articles about "gender", every article in the book is more or less a wonderful read. As one quickly realizes by the name of the book, the general usage in the academic milieu is not the very negatively charged term "cult", but rather "new religious movement", which is of course more proper as well.

The book pretty much covers every aspect of new religious movements and quite thoroughly as well. There are also a few shocking parts of the book, as when they show what kind of Stalinist environment the supposedly "free academic discourse" has become, on page 22; "I know of two sociologists of religion who have been warned that they would be denied tenure or not be awarded their Ph.D. if they did not make it clear their monographs were exposés". Quite similar to the treatment Dr. Kevin MacDonald has received for his scholarship on Judaism that weren't sufficiently kosher enough for the Semitical Correctness jury.

I recommend you read this marvellous book on new religious movements, hopefully with the full weight of what is said on page 167 in mind; "[...] We do not call all types of personal or psychological influences 'brainwashing'. We reserve this term for influences of which we disapprove". Truer words have seldom been said. 5 stars and recommended reading for pretty much anyone remotely interested in religion and culture.