The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements

Description

The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements covers 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 organisations. 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 critical 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. Cover HalfTitle Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents Notes on Contributors Foreword by Massimo Introvigne Acknowledgements Table of Acronyms How to Use This Book Introduction Transitions in the 1960s and 1970s The Impact of Jonestown Definitional Issues Sociology and the Study of NRMs Beyond Sociology Recent Developments and Current Trends Part I Research Methods and Problems 1 Fieldwork 2 The Insider/Outsider Problem in the Study of NRMs 3 Material Culture What is ‘Material Culture’? Material Culture and NRM Studies 4 Pagan Studies 5 New Age 6 Mormon Studies Self-identity, Reflexivity: Sensitivity and Desire History, Faithful and Critical Insider/Outsider 7 Japanese NRMs 8 Sexuality Studies 9 Media Studies Production Texts Reception Conclusion 10 Ritual Studies Part II Current Research and Issues 11 Jonestown and the Study of NRMs: How Survivors and Artists are Reshaping the Narrative of Jonestown How Scholarship Has Changed The Voices of Survivors The Voices of Artists The Lessons of Jonestown for NRM Studies 12 Conversion and Brainwashing: Controversies and Contrasts Meanings of Conversion Processes of Conversion Agents of Conversion Consequences of Conversion ‘Brainwashing’ Conclusions 13 Charisma and Leadership: Charisma and Charismatic Authority in New Religious Movements (NRMs) Conceptualizing Charisma Social Environment and the Establishment of Charismatic Authority The Origination of Charismatic Authority The Development of Charismatic Authority Maintenance of Charismatic Authority Charismatic Leadership Transition Conclusions 14 Prophecy Prophecy and Prophets Festinger and Failed Prophecy Festinger-Inspired Research on Failed Prophecy Prophecy and Prophets in NRMs 15 Millennialism Types of Millennialism Relevance of Pioneering Millennialism Studies to Contemporary Studies Revolutionary Millennial Movements The Interactionist Perspective Psychology of Apocalyptic Violence Millennialism and Dates and Continued Research Conclusion 16 Violence The Big Five (Six) Interpreting NRM Violence Suicide Cults 17 Opposition to NRMs Christian Opposition to New Religious Movements The Proliferation of Christian Anti-cult Literature The New Wave of NRMs Deprogramming Government-Sponsored and Legal Opposition to NRMs NRMs and the Churches Academic Consideration of the Opposition to NRMs 18 Legal Issues NRMs and their Members as Exceptions What Do Courts Know About NRMs? Re ST (A Minor) Jehovah’s Witness Custody Cases A Right to Die? Being a Mother Conditions Attached in Jehovah’s Witness Custody Cases NRMs and Religion in the English Courts Religion and Equality in the Courts Conclusion 19 Gender Why Gender Matters Existing Scholarship Gender Analysis in the Study of New Religions Conclusion 20 UFO Religions Occulture and UFOs 1947 Theosophical UFO Religions UFOism as Physicalist Religion UFO Apocalypticism Concluding Comments 21 Researching Esoteric Groups A Matter of Definition What about Secrecy? Be Wary of Ancient Wisdom Narratives Re-evaluating Engrained Terms Researching Esoteric Groups in Practice 22 African New Religious Movements Terminology The Historiography of ANRMs Africa as Object Africa as Subject Islam-related ANRMs Indigenous ANRMs The Afrikania Mission or Sankofa Mungiki ANRMs in the Diaspora Conclusion 23 Vernacular/Lived Religion Religion as it Is Lived Vernacular Religion Vernacular Religion, NRMs and Narrative Vernacular Religion, NRMs and Material Culture Case Study in Vernacular New Religiosity: The Goddess in – and beyond – Glastonbury Fieldwork and the Study of NRMs Conclusion Part III New Directions in the Study of New Religious Movements 24 Globalization Universalism and Particularism Transnational Cultures Homogenization and Hybridity Conclusion 25 Science 26 The Role of the Internet 27 Invented Religions 28 Race and Ethnicity Race and Religion Ethnicity and Religion Gesturing towards the Future 29 Children and Generational Issues Children in New Religious Movements Second-generation Adults The Second Generation, Religious Culture and Change in NRMs Conclusion 30 Healing 31 Travel and New Religious Movements Travel in NRM Histories Travel as Part of NRM Formation Tourism and Exposure to NRMs Travel Within NRMs Travel as NRM Conclusions Part IV Resources: A–Z Anti-Cult Movement Charisma Communalism Cult Disengagement Ethics Food and Eating Fundamentalism God Guru/Disciple Institutionalization Legitimation Liberation/salvation Meditation Messianism Millennialism Modernity / Postmodernity Mysticism Peace Politics Prayer Predicament Schism Scripture Secularization Spirituality Syncretism Third Millennium Religion Part V
Resources Chronology Academic Resources for the Study of New Religious Movements Associations and Centres Websites Encyclopedias and Sourcebooks Primary Source Collections and Readers Bibliography Index