Cults and New Religions

Douglas E. Cowan is Professor of Religious Studies and Social Development Studies at Renison University College, at the University of Waterloo. He is the author of Cults and New Religious Movements: A Brief History, Cyberhenge: Modern Pagans on the Internet (2005), Bearing False Witness? An Introduction to the Christian Countercult(2003) Sacred Terror: Religion and Horror on the Silver Screen (2008) and Sacred Space: The Quest for Transcendence in Science Fiction Film and Television (2010).David G. Bromley is Director of the World Religions and Spirituality Project and Professor of Religious Studies and Sociology in the School of World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. His most recent publications include Defining Religion: Critical Approaches to Drawing Boundaries Between Sacred and Secular (2003) and Cults, Religion and Violence (2001).

• Preface to the Second Edition xList of Text Boxes xii1 Cults and New Religions: A Primer 1The Range of New Religious Movements 5Controversy and the Popular Perception of New Religious Movements 11Further Reading on New Religious Movements 172 The Church of Scientology: The Question of Religion 18L. Ron Hubbard and the Origins of Scientology 20Beliefs and Practices of the Church of Scientology 23The Organizational Structure of the Church of Scientology 27The Church of Scientology and the Question of Religion 31Researching Scientology 35Further Reading on the Church of Scientology 373 Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy 38Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Arrival of Transcendental Meditation 40Beliefs and Practices of Transcendental Meditation 42The Growth and Development of Transcendental Meditation 48Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy 52Researching Transcendental Meditation 56Further Reading on Transcendental Meditation 584 Ramtha and the New Age: The Question of “Dangerous Cult” 59Who Is JZ Knight and Who Is Ramtha? 61History and Development of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment 65Beliefs and Practices of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment 67RSE and the Question of the ‘Dangerous Cult’ 70Researching Ramtha 75Further Reading on the New Age Movement 775 The Unification Church/The Family Federation: The Brainwashing/Deprogramming Controversy 78Sun Myung Moon: Savior from the East 79Doctrinal Beliefs and Ritual Practices of the Unification Church 84The Growth and Organization of the Unification Church outside Korea 89Brainwashing, Deprogramming, and the Unification Church 92Researching the Unification Church 96Further Reading on the Unification Church 986 The Children of God/The Family International: The Issue of Sexuality 99Mo: David Berg and the Origins of the Children of God 101Social Organization of the Children of God/The Family 105Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of the Children of God/ The Family 109The Children of God/The Family and the Issue of Sexuality 113Researching the Children of God/The Family 118Further Reading on the Children of God/The Family 1197 The Branch Davidians: The Question of Cults, Media, and Violence – Part I 120The Historical Development of the Branch Davidians 121Beliefs and Practices of the Branch Davidians under David Koresh 128The Siege at Waco and the Problem of Mass Media 131Researching the Branch Davidians 138Further Reading on the Branch Davidians 1398 Heaven’s Gate: The Question of Cults and Violence – Part II 141Ti, Do, and the Origins of Heaven’s Gate 142Beliefs and Practices of Heaven’s Gate 145Recruitment and Social Organization in Heaven’s Gate 150The Evolutionary Level Above Human: New Religions, Violence, and the Media 153Researching Heaven’s Gate 157Further Reading on UFO Groups 1609 Wicca and Witchcraft: Confronting Age‐old Cultural Fears 161Gerald Gardner and the Origins of Modern Witchcraft 162Social Organization and Development of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca 166Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca 170Satanic Panic: The Legacy of Religious Cult Fears 174Researching Modern Paganism 177Further Reading on Wicca and Witchcraft 18010 Rethinking Cults: The Significance of New Religious Movements 181Two Perspectives: Cults versus New Religious Movements 184New Religions as Experimental Faiths 197Further Reading on New Religious Movements 203References 204Index 225