Cults, converts, and charisma : the sociology of new religious movements

Bibliographic Information

Cults, converts, and charisma : the sociology of new religious movements

Thomas Robbins

Sage Publications, 1988

  • : pbk

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Note

Also published as v. 36, no. 1 of Current Sociology

Bibliography: p. [208]-248

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Recent decades have seen an apparent increase in the number and vitality of new religious movements throughout the world. They have also been marked by evident social conflict over the activities of 'cults'. These developments have been met by growing interest among social scientists in the significance of new religious movements and a proliferation of research into their activities and their social impact. In this wide-ranging survey Tom Robbins assesses the state of the art in sociological and related work on new religious movements. Concentrating on research on movements in the USA and Western Europe, he analyses theories relating the growth of new religions to sociocultural changes, the dynamics of conversion to and defection from movements, patterns of organization and institutionalization, and social controversies over cults. He also examines the impact of the study of new and deviant movements on the sociology of religion in general, and the implications of recent spiritual ferment for previous models of secularization and sect-church theory. The book concludes with a comprehensive bibliography. This text will be essential reading for students and researchers in the sociology of religion and in religious studies. Cults, Converts and Charisma is a university edition of the author's trend report in Current Sociology Volume 36.1.

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Details

  • NCID
    BA07664498
  • ISBN
    • 0803981589
    • 0803981597
  • LCCN
    88060380
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    London ; Newbury Park [Calif.]
  • Pages/Volumes
    252 p.
  • Size
    23 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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