Comprehending Cults The Sociology of New Religious Movements

Cults--what do we really know about them? Long the focus of controversy, cults or what sociologists prefer to call new religious movements, have been studied by scholars for years. Yet little of this information has made its way into public awareness. This book summarizes, synthesizes, andassesses the results of years of research into new religious movements by historians, sociologists, and psychologists of religion. Organized in terms of seven of the most commonly asked questions about cults (e.g., Why did they emerge? Who joins them and why? Why do some become violent?), the book clarifies the issues at stake, seeking to replace prejudice and speculation with reliable insights into the nature of cultactivity. Written in an easy-to-read yet detailed manner, Comprehending Cults provides an excellent introduction to the study of new religious phenomena.