Cults, Converts and Charisma. The Sociology of New Religious Movements
Cults, Converts and Charisma. The Sociology of New Religious Movements
In this wide-ranging survey Thomas 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 analyzes 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 all students and researchers in the sociology of religion and in religious studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)