The Cambridge Companion to New Religious Movements

This volume addresses the key features of new religions, such as Scientology, the Moonies and Jihadist movements, from a systematic, comparative perspective.

Olav Hammer (Edited by), Mikael Rothstein (Edited by)

9780521196505, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 August 2012

346 pages
23.6 x 15.7 x 2 cm, 0.68 kg

'… volume editors Olav Hammer and Mikael Rothstein have solicited brand new essays from an impressive array of international scholars who work on new religious movements (NRMs), all with extensive records of publication and most with advanced academic standing. … this book would make an excellent addition to any library reference collection. Secondarily it has the potential to serve as a textbook in classrooms focused on the study of NRMs; those teaching in this area might consider it for that purpose, but should do so knowing that it will need to be supplemented with additional material.' Nova Religio

New religions emerge as distinct entities in the religious landscape when innovations are introduced by a charismatic leader or a schismatic group leaves its parent organization. New religious movements (NRMs) often present novel doctrines and advocate unfamiliar modes of behavior, and have therefore often been perceived as controversial. NRMs have, however, in recent years come to be treated in the same way as established religions, that is, as complex cultural phenomena involving myths, rituals and canonical texts. This Companion discusses key features of NRMs from a systematic, comparative perspective, summarizing results of forty years of research. The volume addresses NRMs that have caught media attention, including movements such as Scientology, New Age, the Neopagans, the Sai Baba movement and Jihadist movements active in a post-9/11 context. An essential resource for students of religious studies, the history of religion, sociology, anthropology and the psychology of religion.

Introduction to New Religious Movements Olav Hammer and Mikael Rothstein
Part I. Social Science Perspectives: 1. The sociology of New Religious Movements David Bromley
2. Religion and the Internet Douglas Cowan
3. Major controversies involving New Religious Movements: a comparative perspective James Richardson
Part II. Themes: 4. History and the end of time in New Religions Garry Trompf
5. Charismatic leaders in New Religions Catherine Wessinger
6. Rituals in New Religions Graham Harvey
7. Canonical and extracanonical texts in New Religions Mikael Rothstein and Olav Hammer
Part III. New Religions in the West and Beyond: 8. Scientology: up stat, down stat James Lewis
9. Neo-Paganism Sabina Magliocco
10. The International Raelian Movement Susan J. Palmer and Bryan Sentes
11. The Sathya Sai Baba Movement Tulasi Srinivas
12. Neo-Sufism Mark Sedgwick
13. Satanism Asbjørn Dyrendal and Jesper Aagaard Pedersen
14. Theosophy James Santucci
15. The New Age George Chryssides
16. 'Jihadism' as a New Religious Movement Reuven Firestone
17. New Religions in the New Russia Marat Shterin
18. New Religious Movements in sub-Saharan Africa Peter Clarke.

Subject Areas: Religious institutions & organizations [HRLP], Aspects of religion [non-Christian HRL], Other non-Christian religions [HRK], Religion: general [HRA], Religion & beliefs [HR]