The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements

Now available in paperback, The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements surveys key themes such as charismatic leadership, conversion and brainwashing, prophecy and millennialism, violence and suicide, gender and sexuality, legal issues, and the portrayal of New Religious Movements by the media and anti-cult organizations. Several categories of new religions receive special attention, including African new religions, Japanese new religions, Mormons, and UFO religions.

This guide to New Religious Movements and their study brings together 29 world-class international scholars, and serves as a resource to students and researchers. The volume highlights the current state of academic study in the field, and explores areas in which future research might develop.

Clearly and accessibly organised to help users quickly locate key information and analysis, the book includes an A to Z of key terms, extensive guides to further resources, a comprehensive bibliography, and a timeline of major developments in the field such as the emergence of new groups, publications, legal decisions, and historical events.

George D. Chryssides is Honorary Research Fellow in Contemporary Religion at the University of Birmingham, UK.

Benjamin E. Zeller is Assistant Professor of Religion at Lake Forest College, Chicago, USA.

Foreword by Massimo Introvigne
Acknowledgements
Table of Acronyms
How to Use This Book
Introduction

Part I: A-Z of Key Terms and Concepts

Part II: Research Methods and Problems
1. Fieldwork, Stephen Gregg (Liverpool Hope University, UK)
2. Insider/Outsider Problems, George D. Chryssides (University of Birmingham, UK)
3. Material Culture, Alex Norman (University of Sydney, Australia)
4. Pagan Studies, Graham Harvey (The Open University, UK)
5. New Age, Steven J. Sutcliffe (University of Edinburgh, UK)
6. Mormon Studies, Douglas J. Davies (Durham University, UK)
7. Japanese NRMs, Birgit Staemmler (University of Tübingen, Germany)
8. Sexuality Studies, Megan Goodwin (Elon University, USA)
9. Media Studies, Stephen Jacobs (University of Wolverhampton, UK)
10. Ritual Studies, Lee Gilmore (San José State University, USA)

Part III: Current Research
11. Jonestown and the Study of NRMs, Rebecca Moore (San Diego State University , USA)
12. Conversion and Brainwashing, James T. Richardson (University of Nevada, Reno, USA)
13. Charisma and Leadership, David G. Bromley (Virginia Commonwealth University, USA)
14. Prophecy, Jon R. Stone (California State University, Long Beach, USA)
15. Millenialism, Catherine Wessinger (Loyola University New Orleans, USA)
16. Violence, James R. Lewis (University of Tromsø, Norway)
17. Opposition to NRMs, George D. Chryssides and Benjamin E. Zeller (University of Birmingham, UK and Lake Forest College, USA)
18. Legal Issues, Anthony Bradney (Keele University, UK)
19. Gender, Megan Goodwin (Elon University, USA)
20. UFO Groups, Christopher Partridge (Lancaster University, UK)
21. Researching Esoteric Groups, Kennet Granholm (Stockholm University, Sweden)
22. African NRMs, Afe Adogame (University of Edinburgh, UK)
23. Vernacular/Lived Religion, Marion Bowman (The Open University, UK)

Part IV: New Directions in the Study of New Religious Movements
24. Globalization, Liselotte Frisk (Dalarna University, Sweden)
25. Science, Benjamin E. Zeller (Lake Forest College, USA)
26. Role of the Internet, Jean-François Mayer (Religioscope Institute in Fribourg, Switzerland)
27. Invented Religions, Carole M. Cusack (University of Sydney, Australia)
28. Race and Ethnicity, Marie W. Dallam (University of Oklahoma, USA)
29. Children/Generational Issues, E. Burke Rochford, Jr. (Middlebury College, USA)
30. Healing, Holly Folk (Western Washington University, USA)
31. Travel and NRMs, Alex Norman (University of Sydney, Australia)

Part V: Resources
Chronology
Academic Resources for the Study of New Religious Movements
Bibliography
Index

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