Comprehending Cults
The Sociology of New Religious Movements
2nd Edition
Published on 26. January 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-19-542009-8 (ISBN)
Description
Tackling popular misconceptions about new religious movements, Comprehending Cults summarizes, synthesizes, and assesses over 40 years of research by historians, sociologists, and psychologists. This excellent introduction to the study of new religious groups offers a balanced treatment of new movements as a source of spiritual satisfaction while confronting issues of violence, sexuality, and brainwashing within religious cults.
More details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Adult education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 204 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
367 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-542009-8 (9780195420098)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Lorne L. Dawson is a Professor of Sociology and Chair for the Department of Religious Studies, University of Waterloo.
Content
Acknowledgements
Chapter One: Why Study New Religious Movements?
The Cults in Our Midst
The Hostility Towards Cults
Box 1 They Come in All Shapes and Sizes
Responding to the Suspicions of the Public
Chapter Two: What Are New Religious Movements?
Religion and Its Continuing Significance
Churches, Sects, and Cults
Creating a Typology of Cults
Box 2 How New Religious Movements Change with Success
Chapter Three: Why Did New Religious Movements Emerge?
Asking the Right Question First
New Religious Movements as a Response to Cultural Change
Box 3 Three Models of Cult Formation
New Religious Movements as an Expression of Cultural Continuity
Concluding Remarks
Chapter Four: Who Joins New Religious Movements and Why?
The Stereotypes
Getting Involved with New Religious Movements
The Social Attributes of Those Who Join
Box 4 Why Are American Converts to New Religious Movements Disporportionately Jewish?
Some Reasons for Joining
Chapter Five: Are Converts to New Religious Movements 'Brainwashed'?
The Issue and Its Significance
The Case Against the Cults
The Case Against Brainwashing
Box 5 The Active Versus Passive Convert
Reformulating the Issues in the Brainwashing Debate
Chapter Six: Why Are New Religious Movements So Often Accused of Sexual Deviance?
Sexual Deviance and the Cults
Box 6 Child Abuse and the Social Control of NRMs
Gender Matters
Chapter Seven: Why Do Some New Religious Movements Become Violent?:
Responding to Recent 'Cult' Tragedies
Apocalyptic Beliefs
Charismatic Leadership
Social Encapsulation
Box 7 Surviving the Failure of Apocalyptic Prophecies
Concluding Remarks
Chapter Eight: What Is the Cultural Significance of New Religious Movements?
Our Skewed Perspective
Modernism and the New Religious Movements
Box 8 Factors Affecting the Success of NRMs
Postmodernism and the New Religious Movements
NRMs: Anti-modern, Modern, or Postmodern?
Concluding Remarks
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Chapter One: Why Study New Religious Movements?
The Cults in Our Midst
The Hostility Towards Cults
Box 1 They Come in All Shapes and Sizes
Responding to the Suspicions of the Public
Chapter Two: What Are New Religious Movements?
Religion and Its Continuing Significance
Churches, Sects, and Cults
Creating a Typology of Cults
Box 2 How New Religious Movements Change with Success
Chapter Three: Why Did New Religious Movements Emerge?
Asking the Right Question First
New Religious Movements as a Response to Cultural Change
Box 3 Three Models of Cult Formation
New Religious Movements as an Expression of Cultural Continuity
Concluding Remarks
Chapter Four: Who Joins New Religious Movements and Why?
The Stereotypes
Getting Involved with New Religious Movements
The Social Attributes of Those Who Join
Box 4 Why Are American Converts to New Religious Movements Disporportionately Jewish?
Some Reasons for Joining
Chapter Five: Are Converts to New Religious Movements 'Brainwashed'?
The Issue and Its Significance
The Case Against the Cults
The Case Against Brainwashing
Box 5 The Active Versus Passive Convert
Reformulating the Issues in the Brainwashing Debate
Chapter Six: Why Are New Religious Movements So Often Accused of Sexual Deviance?
Sexual Deviance and the Cults
Box 6 Child Abuse and the Social Control of NRMs
Gender Matters
Chapter Seven: Why Do Some New Religious Movements Become Violent?:
Responding to Recent 'Cult' Tragedies
Apocalyptic Beliefs
Charismatic Leadership
Social Encapsulation
Box 7 Surviving the Failure of Apocalyptic Prophecies
Concluding Remarks
Chapter Eight: What Is the Cultural Significance of New Religious Movements?
Our Skewed Perspective
Modernism and the New Religious Movements
Box 8 Factors Affecting the Success of NRMs
Postmodernism and the New Religious Movements
NRMs: Anti-modern, Modern, or Postmodern?
Concluding Remarks
Notes
Bibliography
Index