Cults and New Religious Movements A Reader [Paperback]

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.

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• 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.

Acknowledgements.

Introduction: The Book and The Subject.

1. The Study of New Religious Movements:.

Eileen Barker, The Scientific Study Of Religion? You Must Be Joking!.

James A. Beckford, The Continuum Between Cults and Normal Religion.

2. The Nature of New Religious Movements:.

Roy Wallis, Three Types of New Religious Movement.

William Sins Bainbridge and Rodney Stark, Cult Formation: Three Compatible Models.

3. New Religious Movements in Historical and Social Context:.

Philip Jenkins, False Prophets And Deluded Subjects: The Nineteenth Century.

Robert Wuthnow, The New Spiritual Freedom.

4. Joining New Religious Movements:.

Lorne L. Dawson, “Who Joins New Relil)