Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements | Date: 30 April 2011, 11:39
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From Booklist
The press of late hasn't been good for new religious movements (NRMs), cementing a negative view that equates them with cults, sects, or counterculture groups. While violence, brainwashing, and other instruments of control are all part of some new religious movements, they are not the complete story. This new reference work attempts to show that NRMs are a global phenomenon attracting millions and can offer religious innovation to existing traditions, or creative alternatives, whether by integrating the spiritual and the psychological or articulating a new model of authentic selfhood.
Entries are alphabetically arranged, signed, and usually conclude with a couple of suggestions for further reading. Foundational articles, such as After-life beliefs, Healing, New Age movement, and Self transformation, sketch features many NRMs have in common. Coverage is global, as evidenced by the entries for Caodaism, from Vietnam; Godianism, from Africa; Promise Keepers, from the U.S.; and Santo Daime, from Brazil. The dark side is explored in articles on Brainwashing and New religions and violence, with responses in such entries as Anti-cult movement, Deprogramming, and Exit counseling. The articles Gender and NRMs and Women in new religious movements demonstrate that NRMs, like so many other institutions, can be either liberating or patriarchal. There are see references throughout, and the encyclopedia concludes with an index.
Editing is a matter of concern. Although the arrangement of entries is alphabetical, New religious movement comes before New religions and violence. The entry for Blavatsky, Helena incorrectly gives 1975 as the year she founded the Theosophical Society. Most striking, the article on the Peoples Temple contains some five grammatical, typographical, or other errors. Such inattention and sloppiness are inexcusable, especially given the price tag for this work.
The Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements is, nevertheless, a worthwhile addition to reference shelves, offering a good introduction to many NRMs the world over. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. Christopher McConnell
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
This Encyclopedia offers a truly fascinating, authoritative overview of new religious movements in a global context. What sets this work apart is its assessment of the global significance of a movement (how it progresses cross-culturally) with attention to its transformative appeal (how it seeks to transform its individual adherents or the larger society). This is an outstanding reference source – scholarly, timely, important, and worth the price for academic libraries. Summing Up: Essential. - Choice
An extensive and authorative resource that challenges its single volume format. - Reference Reviews
Its global perspective differentiates it from other reference resources currently available. - Reference Reviews
Clarke uses this eclectic definition throughout this book to provide examples of the many kinds of NRMs that have arisen in various parts of the world, with the aim of illustrating how widespread they have become.-- Kris Veldheer, Graduate Theological Union
For those interested in biographical information on prominent figures in NRMs this work also has much to offer. Clarke has gone to great lengths to include individuals who have had a formative influence in the beginning of a movement, or have had otherwise great impact. --Kris Veldheer, Graduate Theological Union
his encyclopedia will provide an important starting point for those interested in further studies of NRMs --Kris Veldheer, Graduate Theological Union
This encyclopedia breaks new ground by helping to clarify and redefine what constitutes a NRM. Because of its global perspective and its interaction with literature from various parts of the globe, this compact volume will be a worthy addition to any religion/theology reference collection. --Kris Veldheer, Graduate Theological Union
Engagingly written Encyclopedia...Each entry is signed and includes a list of further reading.
–Reference & Research Book News, February 2006
This comprehensive resource is recommended for larger academic libraries and libraries with extensive global religion collections.
–Library Journal, February 2006
This Encyclopedia offers a truly fascinating, authoritative overview of new religious movements in a global context. What sets this work apart is its assessment of the global significance of a movement with attention to its transformative appeal. This is an outstanding reference source--scholarly, timely, and important, and worth the price for academic libraries. Essential..
–Choice, May 2006
See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details
* Hardcover: 686 pages
* Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (December 20, 2005)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0415267072
* ISBN-13: 978-0415267076
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