The New Believers Sects, 'Cults' and Alternative Religions

by Barrett, David V.

• ISBN13: 9781844030408
• ISBN10: 1844030407
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-05-01
• Publisher: Cassell

Summary

This is a much expanded, revised and fully updated version of David Barrett's earlier guide and source book Sects, 'Cults' & Alternative Religions. The objective and informative nature of its contents were applauded on both sides of the Atlantic. The membership of a wide range of religious and other movements is ever-growing, and continues to cause very mixed reactions -- from both non-members and the families of members, and from the media. This book is both a response to this, a valuable aid to the concerned and perplexed, and also a unique source of information to anyone with an interest in unconventional beliefs. New information includes ten chapters exploring such contentious issues as brainwashing, what families of members can do, the difficulties of leaving movements, millennial beliefs, and 'cults that kill'. It then explores the ever-growing variations of mainstream beliefs, and alternatives to them, in over 65 entries under such headings as Christian Origins (Jehovah's Witnesses, Moonies, Jesus Army, the former Children of God), Eastern Movements in the West (Transcendental Meditation, Hare Krishna, Soka Gakkai), Esoteric & Neo-Pagan (Satanic Ritual Abuse, Theosophy, Golden Dawn, Wicca, Druidry) and Personal Development (Insight, Emin, Scientology). Constantly newsworthy, the activities of such movements and of their members requires a comprehensive survey and explanation of their beliefs and practices. The New Believers is such a source of information -- without parallel. Book jacket.

Author Biography

David V. Barrett has researched and written on religious and esoteric topics for many years, and is a regular contributor to the Independent, Fortean Times, Catholic Herald and amazon.co.uk, amongst others. Prior to working freelance, he was a schoolteacher, an intelligence analyst for the UK Government Communications Headquarters and the US National Security Agency, and a journalist. A full-time writer since 1991, he is currently researching for a Ph.D. in the Sociology of New Religions at the London School of Economics

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	8	(1)
Introduction	9	(2)
PART ONE: MAJOR ISSUES OF ALTERNATIVE RELIGIONS	11	(110)
Who, what and why: The purpose of this book	12	(7)
Is it a cult, or a real religion? The problem of definition	19	(9)
Sects appeal: Conversion, recruitment, mind control or brainwashing?	28	(12)
Would you let your daughter marry one? Problems for families of members	40	(7)
So hard to say `goodbye': Problems of leaving a movement	47	(11)
After the prophet dies: How movements change	58	(12)
It's the end of the world as we know it: Apocalyptic beliefs	70	(12)
Cults that kill: How, why, and can it happen again?	82	(15)
Watching the watchers: The variety of cult experts	97	(13)
Historical diversity: A brief summary of world religions	110	(11)
PART TWO: ALTERNATIVE RELIGIONS AND OTHER GROUPS	121	(398)
The Complexity of Christianity	122	(20)
Christian Origins	142	(102)
Unitarians	142	(6)
The New Church and Swedenborgianism	148	(3)
Mormons	151	(11)
Exclusive Brethren	162	(4)
New Apostolic Church	166	(2)
Seventh-day Adventists	168	(5)
Christadelphians	173	(3)
Christian Science	176	(9)
Jehovah's Witnesses	185	(7)
Liberal Catholic Church and Wandering Bishops	192	(4)
Christian Community and Anthroposophy	196	(3)
Opus Dei	199	(4)
Unification Church	203	(8)
The Late Twentieth-century Evangelical Resurgence	211	(6)
The Family	217	(10)
Jesus Army	227	(2)
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God	229	(1)
International Church of Christ	230	(3)
Ellel Ministries	233	(2)
Toronto Blessing and Vineyard	235	(2)
Alpha Course	237	(7)
Other `Religions of the Book' Origins	244	(18)
Baha'i Faith	244	(6)
Nation of Islam	250	(4)
Holy Tabernacle Ministries	254	(3)
Messiah/H'al Mahshiyach	257	(2)
Rastafarian Movement	259	(3)
Eastern Movements in the West	262	(71)
Brahma Kumaris	263	(3)
School of Economic Science	266	(10)
Transcendental Meditation	276	(7)
ISKCON	283	(7)
Osho International	290	(6)
Sahaja Yoga	296	(2)
Adidam	298	(2)
Impersonal Enlightenment Fellowship	300	(2)
Soka Gakkai	302	(5)
Friends of the Western Buddhist Order	307	(3)
New Kadampa Tradition	310	(2)
Eckankar	312	(9)
Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness	321	(4)
Elan Vital	325	(8)
Esoteric and Neo-Pagan Movements	333	(92)
Satanic Ritual Abuse	339	(2)
Satanism	341	(3)
Theosophy	344	(3)
Benjamin Creme and Maitreya	347	(3)
Gurdjieff	350	(3)
Subud	353	(2)
Rosicrucians	355	(4)
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn	359	(3)
Schools of Occult Science	362	(9)
Chaos Magic	371	(1)
The I AM Movement	372	(1)
Church Universal and Triumphant	373	(8)
The Emissaries	381	(3)
`Flying Saucer Cults'	384	(1)
Aetherius Society	385	(5)
Raelian Movement	390	(5)
Shamanism	395	(1)
Wicca	396	(5)
Church of All Worlds	401	(4)
Druidry	405	(5)
Fellowship of Isis	410	(1)
The Northern Tradition	411	(6)
Pagan Federations	417	(8)
Personal Development Movements	425	(54)
Landmark Education/Landmark Forum	427	(4)
Neuro-Linguistic Programming	431	(3)
Insight	434	(3)
The Emin	437	(9)
Scientology	446	(33)
Case Study Schism in a Sect: The Worldwide Church of God and its Offshoots	479	(40)
Useful Addresses	519	(6)
Bibliography	525	(10)
Alphabetical List of Organizations	535	(1)
Index	536