Description
New Religious Movements: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to the field of New Religious Movements (NRMs). Western culture is currently going through a wave of fascination with cults, with numerous documentaries and television series dedicated to describing these groups. Meanwhile, scholars have been wrestling with the intricacies of this loaded category for decades.
Introducing the reader to some of the key issues and debates in the field of NRM studies, this book includes discussions on:
how to define the term new religious movement
critically unpacking the term cult
how to study NRMs
brainwashing and deprogramming
prophecy and failed prophecy
charisma and authority
NRMs and violence
gender and sexuality
This book is essential reading for students and scholars of religion who are approaching the study of NRMs for the first time as well as those in
