Odd Gods: New Religions and the Cult Controversy

Emphasizing the complex nature of new religions & the wide variety of cult phenomena, this encyclopedic study reviews the history & major tenets of diverse religious sects across the spectrum of belief. With contributions from over three dozen specialists in alternative religions, this is an authoritative source of information on an important public issue. Editor Lewis points out that the negative perception of cults is often an inaccurate stereotyping which turns nonconformists into scapegoats for repressed public fears. Altho there are certainly dangerous or socially pathological cults, there are also many unorthodox religious sects consisting of harmless people exercising their religious freedom rights. Distinguishing the harmful from the harmless has generated controversy, with outsiders often accusing cultists of brainwashing & violation of generally accepted mores, & insiders defending their lifestyles on religious libertarian grounds. Lewis analyzes the characteristics of dangerous groups compared to those of the unusual but innocuous. He discusses what people find attractive about membership in minority religions, as well as community suspicions & media hype promoting misunderstandings. The bulk of the book is devoted to a broad survey of unusual religious groups. Included are minority sects stemming from Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist & Sikh tradition, as well as unrelated groups such as the Moonies, Wiccans, Satanists, Spiritualists, Channelers, Scientologists & the Heaven's Gate, a host of New Age & UFO groups etc. This is a sourcebook for understanding & researching the crazy-quilt landscape of free religious expression in the USA.PrefaceAcknowledgmentsOverviewCourt decision, legislation & governmental actionsThe Christian tradition Millerism & the Adventist traditioncontroversial Christian groupsMore controversial groupsJewish tradition Islamic traditionHindu tradition More controversial Hundu Groups (Yoga groups) Sikhism & the sound current tradition Buddhist tradition Theosophy & the theosophical societiesOther Esoteric GroupsNeopaganism Christian Science & the new thought traditionSpiritualism & channeling UFO religions Other Groups and movementsConcluding RemarksBibliographyIndex