Cults and New Religious Movements - A Reader (Hardcover, 2Rev ed)

The tragedies of Waco and Jonestown have made cults, their origins, and their members subjects of endless fascination. This reader brings together the voices of historians, sociologists, and psychologists of religion to address key questions about new religious movements. The book features broad-ranging readings covering provocative topics such as the "brainwashing" controversy, sexual deviance and gender issues, cults and violence, and cults in cyberspace. It opens with an introductory essay by the editor, and for each section, a brief essay outlines the issues at stake, the state of current discussion, and the nature, value, and relevance of the selected readings. This collection enables readers to gain a clear understanding of the phenomenon of new religious movements in modern culture and to replace prejudice and speculation with reliable insights into the nature of cult activity.