New Religious Movements: Challenge and Response

Description

A comprehensive, wide-ranging study on the phenomena and impact of new religions. The text explores: the importance and relevance of new religious movements; the relationship between new religions and economics, law, media, mental health, women and traditional religions. It examines the rise of new religious movements in Italy, Brazil, the United States, Germany and Britain. New religions discussed include Hare Krishna, Sikh Dharma, The Unification Church, The Church of Scientology, The Jesus People and Wicca. The text should be a useful collection for any religion student interested in gaining an understanding of this modern phenomenon.

Dr Bryan Wilson is a Fellow Emeritus of All Souls College, Oxford. He is the author of numerous books on new religious movements. His most recent publications include, Scientology, The Social Dimensions of Sectarianism and Religion in Sociological Perspectives.

"Together these essays offer a valuable comprehensive overview of the engagement of new religious movements with contemporary society."-"The Way "[T]he entire book will be an indispensable resource on New Religious Movements and will appeal to sociologists of religion [I]ndividual chapters in this impressive collection will appeal to a wide range of other readers."-"Sociology "This book makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of the new religions and to our efforts of keeping up with current developments. To those interested in, and concerned about, the movements' impact on individuals and society at large, this volume is useful both as a text as well as a reference book."-John Saliba, University of Detroit "New religions are usually seen through the narrow lens of a specific geographic location's ethnographic present. This book breaks new ground to present the complex global reality of modern spirituality. It is essential reading for any one seriously interested in this growing field."-Irving Hexham, University of Calgary "New Religious Movements is extremely informative, providing a comprehensive overview of a wide range of issues. Few collections of this sort have the degree of coherence that this has."-Malcolm Hamilton, University of Reading