|
|
|
|
 |
 |
The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions
You have found The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions
one of the thousands of books about antiques
at Antique Book Store. We hope that by offering you a tremendous selection of the
books about antiques that you want at incredible prices, you will be back the next time you need anything from Antique Book Store.
We greatly appreciate your patronage and look forward to
servicing you again.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
You Are Here: Books About Antiques > Collector Encyclopedias > Item 448 of 556
|
|
|
 |
|
| List Price: |
|
$185.00 |
|
| Our Price: |
|
$133.20
|
|
| Customer Rating: |
|
|
Available from Amazon
Price Last Updated : 7-30-2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Features
Hardcover: 951 pages
Publisher: Prometheus Books; 2nd edition March 2001
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1573928887
ISBN-13: 978-1573928885
Product Dimensions:
9.6 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
From Library Journal
One might not expect to find established groups such as the Amish and the Brethren Church included in a work on cults, sects, and new religions, but they are. After reading the introduction one will understand why. Lewis (religious studies, World Univ. of America) provides a good discussion of the terms sect and especially cult. Although sometimes taken negatively, these terms are not inherently so and definitely have no negative connotation here. Most of the nearly 1000 entries are brief?one to three paragraphs?and cover everything from Aum Shinrikyo and the Branch Davidians to the Nudist Christian Church of the Blessed Virgin Jesus. The longer entries of a page or two, often authored by scholars other than Lewis, are for groups that are controversial or have made the news recently. This handy ready-reference tool is up-to-date, and, since the entries were submitted to the various religious groups for correction, accurate. Recommended for all libraries.?John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
The pages of this work contain information on approximately 1,000 religious groups, ranging from small churches with less than a hundred members (Chishti Order of America) to organizations such as the Assemblies of God that number in the millions. Most entries are relatively short. The more controversial religions, as well as religious groups that have had a high profile lately, receive more lengthy treatments. Also included are entries on broader religious movements such as the New Age and the Charismatic Movement. Some of the longer entries are signed, although no affiliations or credentials are supplied for the authors.
Lewis, chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at the World University of America, spends several paragraphs of the introduction discussing the connotations of the terms cult, sect, and new religion, explaining that they were used in his title because "they represent the most commonly used terms for non-mainstream religious groups." The introduction does not specifically address how the included groups were chosen and why others were left out, except that all are "non-mainstream." Emphasis is on the U.S., although some non-U.S. groups are included, such as Aum Shinrikyo and Wiccan Church of Canada. Starting with the Aaronic Order, an offshoot of the Mormon Church, and ending with Zion's Order, Inc. (also of Mormon derivation), the book covers a very broad range of organizations. Gnostic, Theosophist, Hindu, Moslem, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Native American, New Age, and occult groups are profiled. Examples of entries include channeling movement, Druids, Hare Krishna movement, Hasidism, Heaven's Gate, Salvation Army, Satanism, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and Voodoo.
Each article outlines the history of the group, its founders and leaders, its main teachings, and an approximate number of followers or congregations. The explanations are clearly written, interesting and understandable, without too much scholarly jargon. There are a number of pictures, most provided by the religious groups. There is a table of contents, but no cross-references or index; both would have been useful. There is nothing to direct the reader searching for Nation of Islam to American Muslims (which the entry claims is the current name), or to link names like Jim Jones and Herbert W. Armstrong to the entries for People's Temple and Worldwide Church of God. There is a 64-page bibliography of books, pamphlets, and periodicals. A few entries included Web addresses, but none are in the bibliography.
The similarly titled Sects, "Cults" and Alternative Religions: A World Survey and Sourcebook [RBB Jl 97] covers only 69 groups, but the entries are longer--16 pages for Scientology as opposed to two pages in Lewis. In many ways, the books complement each other. Because of interest in the subject, public and academic libraries will want Lewis' book, though smaller libraries may not have the budget or patronage to justify this particular expense.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Back To Top
|
The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions
by James R. Lewis
List Price: $185.00
Available from Amazon
Price: $133.20
on 7-30-2008
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
