Cults in Context

Cults in Context PDF Author: Lorne Dawson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 135152464X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 480

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Book Description
In the face of the increasingly variegated ideological landscape of contemporary America, cults have become the focus of public controversy. The growth of new religions has been matched by the development of an organized and vocal opposition, the anti-cult movement. This in turn has prompted an extensive investigation of new religious movements (NRMs) by sociologists and psychologists of religion, as well as historians and religious studies scholars. The readings collected here contribute to the debate about cults by sampling some of the best and most accessible publications from the academic study of NRMs.The contributors address the questions most commonly asked about cults, such as: What brought about the emergence of new religious movements? What is a cult or new religious movement? Who joins new religious movements and why? Are converts to new religious movements brainwashed? Why did the Jonestown and Waco tragedies happen? Are cults inclined to be violent? What does the emergence of so many new religious movements say about our society? What does it say about the future of religion?Cults in Context surveys the descriptive typologies, theories, and data accumulated by sociologists and psychologists studying new religious movements over the last twenty years. It serves to defuse many popular fears and misconceptions about cults, allowing the reader to develop a more reasonable and tolerant understanding of the people who join new religious movements and the functions of these movements in contemporary society.

Cults in Context

Cults in Context PDF Author: Lorne Dawson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 135152464X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 480

Get Book

Book Description
In the face of the increasingly variegated ideological landscape of contemporary America, cults have become the focus of public controversy. The growth of new religions has been matched by the development of an organized and vocal opposition, the anti-cult movement. This in turn has prompted an extensive investigation of new religious movements (NRMs) by sociologists and psychologists of religion, as well as historians and religious studies scholars. The readings collected here contribute to the debate about cults by sampling some of the best and most accessible publications from the academic study of NRMs.The contributors address the questions most commonly asked about cults, such as: What brought about the emergence of new religious movements? What is a cult or new religious movement? Who joins new religious movements and why? Are converts to new religious movements brainwashed? Why did the Jonestown and Waco tragedies happen? Are cults inclined to be violent? What does the emergence of so many new religious movements say about our society? What does it say about the future of religion?Cults in Context surveys the descriptive typologies, theories, and data accumulated by sociologists and psychologists studying new religious movements over the last twenty years. It serves to defuse many popular fears and misconceptions about cults, allowing the reader to develop a more reasonable and tolerant understanding of the people who join new religious movements and the functions of these movements in contemporary society.

Cults in Context

Cults in Context PDF Author: Lorne L. Dawson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9780765804785
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 468

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Book Description
In the face of the increasingly variegated ideological landscape of contemporary America, cults have become the focus of public controversy. The growth of new religions has been matched by the development of an organized and vocal opposition, the anti-cult movement. This in turn has prompted an extensive investigation of new religious movements (NRMs) by sociologists and psychologists of religion, as well as historians and religious studies scholars. The readings collected here contribute to the debate about cults by sampling some of the best and most accessible publications from the academic study of NRMs.The contributors address the questions most commonly asked about cults, such as: What brought about the emergence of new religious movements? What is a cult or new religious movement? Who joins new religious movements and why? Are converts to new religious movements brainwashed? Why did the Jonestown and Waco tragedies happen? Are cults inclined to be violent? What does the emergence of so many new religious movements say about our society? What does it say about the future of religion?Cults in Context surveys the descriptive typologies, theories, and data accumulated by sociologists and psychologists studying new religious movements over the last twenty years. It serves to defuse many popular fears and misconceptions about cults, allowing the reader to develop a more reasonable and tolerant understanding of the people who join new religious movements and the functions of these movements in contemporary society.

Comprehending Cults

Comprehending Cults PDF Author: Lorne L. Dawson
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
Cults--what do we really know about them? Long the focus of controversy, cults or what sociologists prefer to call new religious movements, have been studied by scholars for years. Yet little of this information has made its way into public awareness. This book summarizes, synthesizes, andassesses the results of years of research into new religious movements by historians, sociologists, and psychologists of religion. Organized in terms of seven of the most commonly asked questions about cults (e.g., Why did they emerge? Who joins them and why? Why do some become violent?), the book clarifies the issues at stake, seeking to replace prejudice and speculation with reliable insights into the nature of cultactivity. Written in an easy-to-read yet detailed manner, Comprehending Cults provides an excellent introduction to the study of new religious phenomena.

Religion in Context

Religion in Context PDF Author: I. M. Lewis
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521566346
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
Religious power assumes many strikingly different forms, which are often regarded as unique, unrelated, and even mutually exclusive. Religion in Context, however, adopts a holistic approach and argues that these apparently contradictory mystical experiences are in fact part of a web of mutually defining and sustaining elements. Stressing the importance of rigorous social contextualisation, I. M. Lewis analyses phenomena such as spirit-possession, witchcraft, cannibalism, and shamanism, revealing connections between them and with the world religions. This expanded and updated edition illuminates critical aspects of religious power, and demonstrates the value of a comparative approach to formulating anthropological theory. It will be of value to students of anthropology, religion, and to anyone concerned with the nature of religion in the modern world.

Cult in Context

Cult in Context PDF Author: Caroline Malone
Publisher: Oxbow Books
ISBN: 1782974962
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
Gods, deities, symbolism, deposition, cosmology and intentionality are all features of the study of early ritual and cult. Archaeology has great difficulties in providing satisfactory interpretation or recognition of these elusive but important parts of ancient society, and methodologies are often poorly equipped to explore the evidence. This collection of papers explores a wide range of prehistoric and early historic archaeological contexts from Britain, Europe and beyond, where monuments, architectural structures, megaliths, art, caves, ritual activity and symbolic remains offer exciting glimpses into ancient belief systems and cult behaviour. Different theoretical and practical approaches are demonstrated, offering both new directions and considered conclusions to the many problems of studying the archaeology of cult and ritual. Central to the volume is an exploration of early Malta and its intriguing Temple Culture, set in a broad perspective by the discussion and theoretical approaches presented in different geographical and chronological contexts.

Cults and New Religious Movements

Cults and New Religious Movements PDF Author: Lorne L. Dawson
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN: 9781405101813
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book 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.

Icon, Cult, and Context

Icon, Cult, and Context PDF Author: Maura K. Heyn
Publisher: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press
ISBN: 1938770595
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 253

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Book Description
This festschrift honors UCLA professor emerita Susan Downey and her meticulous scholarship on religious architecture and imagery in the Roman/Hellenistic world. The iconography of gods and goddesses, the analysis of sacred imagery in the context of ancient cult practices, and the design and decoration of sacred spaces are the main themes of the book. Authors examine such subjects as painting from Dura-Europos, Hellenistic sculpture at Saqqara in Egypt, Roman cameo glass, Pompeian fresco, and aspects of Venus in portrait sculpture. The essays on Dura-Europos are especially valuable in light of the present turmoil in the region. Professor Downey's influence shines through in these discussions, which echo her mentorship of several generations of art history and archaeology students and recognize her scholarly achievements. The broad temporal and geographic parameters of the volume are expansive, and the juxtaposition of images and analyses leads to surprising new conclusions.

Modern Religious Cults and Movements

Modern Religious Cults and Movements PDF Author: Gaius Glenn Atkins
Publisher: DigiCat
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 310

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Book Description
DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Modern Religious Cults and Movements" by Gaius Glenn Atkins. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

Sects, Cults and New Religions

Sects, Cults and New Religions PDF Author: Carole M. Cusack
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780415320337
Category : Cults
Languages : en
Pages : 413

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Book Description
There is a huge and ever-growing interest in New Religious Movements (NRMs), sects and cults, from Aum Shinrykyo to Waco to Falun Gong. This collection provides the historical and cultural contexts within which to view current trends.

Understanding Cults and New Religions

Understanding Cults and New Religions PDF Author: Irving Hexham
Publisher: Grand Rapids, Mich. : W.B. Eerdmans
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
This volume analyzes the social and psychological aspects of cults in the United States. The authors discuss the "new mythology" of modernity, of which the "myths" of evolution and technology are major aspects, and ruminate on how this mythology has helped create the "new religions." Case histories, cross-cultural evidence, and historical examples are cited to describe the key features of traditional religions that are incorporated into these cults. Finally, the text outlines the major factors that distinguish cults from Christianity, redemption, and eschatology. ISBN 0-8028-0170-6: $9.95