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New Religious Movements: A Documentary Reader
An original collection of primary documents conveying the wide array of ideas connected to new religious movements
New Religious Movements is a highly unique volume, bringing together primary documents conveying the words and ideas of a wide array of new religious movements (NRMs), and offering a first-hand look into their belief systems.
Arranged by the editors according to a new typology, the text allows readers to consider NRMS along five interrelated pathways―from those that offer new perceptions of existence or new personal identities, to those that center on relationships within family-like units, to those movements that highlight the need for recasting the social order or anticipate the dawn of a new age.
The volume includes original documents from groups such as the Unification Church, Theosophy, Branch Davidians, Wicca, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Santeria, and Seventh Day Adventists, as well as many others. Each section is prefaced by a contextual introduction and concludes with a list of sources for further reading. New Religious Movements offers a rare inside look into the worldviews of alternative religious traditions.
New Religious Movements is a highly unique volume, bringing together primary documents conveying the words and ideas of a wide array of new religious movements (NRMs), and offering a first-hand look into their belief systems.
Arranged by the editors according to a new typology, the text allows readers to consider NRMS along five interrelated pathways―from those that offer new perceptions of existence or new personal identities, to those that center on relationships within family-like units, to those movements that highlight the need for recasting the social order or anticipate the dawn of a new age.
The volume includes original documents from groups such as the Unification Church, Theosophy, Branch Davidians, Wicca, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Santeria, and Seventh Day Adventists, as well as many others. Each section is prefaced by a contextual introduction and concludes with a list of sources for further reading. New Religious Movements offers a rare inside look into the worldviews of alternative religious traditions.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 22, 2025
Слабенький рівень. Краще оксфордський або кембриджський підручники.
May 10, 2026
Has to read this for one of my FAVORITE classes at IWU (Dr Carole Myscofski rocks!). It was quite interesting and I loved how the author used direct source material with each religion. Highly recommend this book to anyone exploring religion or spiritual practices.
May 28, 2009
I've been interested in new religious movements since I read Haruki Murakami's interviews with former Aum Shinrikyo members in Underground. This book was a great way to learn more - it offers an introduction to a variety of religious movements from Christian Science to Heaven's Gate, primary documents from each, and an overview that offers some pretty good ways to think about NRMs.
March 8, 2013
While my mind blanked out during some of the original source texts (especially the super-Christian ones), my general feelings were of overall appreciation for this basic introduction to several NRMs from the last century and a half of North American history. I came away with a much more accurate picture of Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Rastafarians, and Santeria in particular.
February 6, 2016
Reading for school
February 10, 2013
"[…] but I know it when I see it."
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews