Bloomsbury Handbook of New Religious Movements

George D. Chryssides is a Visiting Research Fellow at York St John University, UK, and was formerly Head of Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. He has authored and co-edited numerous books, the most recent being Fieldwork in New Religious Movements (2024).Benjamin E. Zeller is the Irvin L. & Fern D. Young Presidential Professor and Chair of Religion at Lake Forest College, Chicago, USA. He is the author or editor of six books, including Heaven's Gate: America's UFO Religion (2014).

• IntroductionGeorge D. Chryssides (York St John University, UK) and Benjamin E. Zeller (Lake Forest College, USA)Part 1: Methods and Theoretical Issues1. Fieldwork, Stephen E. Gregg (University of Wolverhampton, UK)2. Insider/Outsider Problems, George D. Chryssides (York St John University, UK)3. Material Culture, Amy R. Whitehead (Massey University, New Zealand)4. Media Studies, Aled Thomas (University of Leeds, UK)5. Vernacular/Lived Religion, Marion Bowman (The Open University, UK)Part 2: Traditions and Regions6. Pagan Movements, Suzanne Owen (Leeds Trinity University, UK)7. New Age Religions, Steven Sutcliffe (University of Edinburgh, UK)8. UFO Groups, Christopher Partridge (Lancaster University, UK)9. Western Esotericism, author to be determined10. Invented Religions, Carole Cusack (University of Sydney, Australia)11. Old New Religions, Jeremy Rapport (College of Wooster, USA)12. Cyberreligions, Adam Possamai (Western Sydney University, Australia)13. African New Religious Movements, Afe Adogame (Princeton Theological Seminary, USA)14. Korean New Religious Movements, David Kim (Australian National University, Australia)15. Japanese New Religious Movements, Yuri Inose (Ryukoku University, Japan)16. Chinese New Religious Movements, Fiona Hsin-Fang Chang (National Chengchi University, Taiwan)17. Islamic New Religious Movements, Fathie Ali Abdat (Ministry of Education, Singapore)Part 3: Themes and Topics18. Jonestown and the Study of NRMs, Rebecca Moore (San Diego State University, USA)19. Conversion and Brainwashing, James T. Richardson (University of Nevada, Reno, USA)20. Charisma and Leadership, David G. Bromley (Virginia Commonwealth University, USA)21. Prophecy, Jon R. Stone (California State University, Long Beach, USA)22. Millennialism, Catherine Wessinger (Loyola University New Orleans, USA)23. Violence, James R. Lewis† and Benjamin E. Zeller (Lake Forest College, USA)24. Opposition to NRMs, George D. Chryssides (York St John University, UK) and Benjamin E. Zeller (Lake Forest College, USA)25. Legal Issues, Anthony Bradney (Keele University, UK)26. Science, Stefano Bigliardi (Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco), Adam Chin (Clovis Community College, USA) and; Benjamin E. Zeller (Lake Forest College, USA)27. Race and Ethnicity, Marie W. Dallam (University of Oklahoma, USA)28. Gender and Sexuality, Megan Goodwin (Bardo Institute, USA)29. Children/Generational Issues, Sanja Nilsson (Dalarna University, Sweden)30. Healing, Holly Folk (Western Washington University, USA)31. Entheogens and Drugs, Christopher Partridge (Lancaster University, UK)

A comprehensive, authoritative panorama of an ever-evolving field, this handbook brings together some of the most distinguished scholars of new religious movements. Their collective expertise offers clarity, depth, and balance, making this volume an indispensable guide for understanding the diversity, complexity, and global significance of contemporary religious innovation.