The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements (Oxford Handbooks in Religion and Theology)

The study of New Religious Movements (N.R.Ms.) is one of the fastest-growing areas of religious studies. This Handbook covers the current state of the field and breaks new ground. Its contributors are drawn equally from sociology and religious studies and include both established scholars and "rising stars" in the field. The core chapters deal with such central issues as conversion, the brainwashing debate, millennialism, and modernization. Another section deals with N.R.M. subfields such as neopaganism, Satanism, and U.F.O. religions. The final section considers N.R.Ms. in global perspective. Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2005