Sects, Cults, and Spiritual Communities: A Sociological Analysis

by Marc Petrowsky, William W. Zellner

Overview

American society is culturally diverse with a variety of religious denominations, sects, cults, and self-help groups vying for members. This volume analyzes nine of these groups, chosen both for their intrinsic interest and because they illustrate a variety of sociological concepts. The groups included in this study are: Heaven's Gate, Jesus People USA, the Love Family, The Farm, Amish Women, Scientology, El Niño Fidencio, Santería, and Freedom Park. The contributors are social scientists with first-hand knowledge of the groups they examine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275958602
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/18/1998
Series:	Religion in the Age of Transformation
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

WILLIAM W. ZELLNER is Professor of Sociology at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He is the author of numerous articles, essays, and books, including Extraordinary Groups (sixth edition, 1997) and Countercultures: A Sociological Analysis (1995).

MARC PETROWSKY is Associate Professor of Sociology at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He is the coauthor of the forthcoming sixth edition of Introduction to Sociology, with Richard F. Larson and Marvin F. White.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Evolution of a New Age Cult: From Total Overcomers Anonymous to Death at Heaven's Gate
Jesus People USA
The Farm
The Love Family: Its Formative Years
El Niño Fidencio and the Fidencistas
Santería
Single Women in Amish Society
The Church of Scientology: A Quasi-Religion
Freedom Park
Index

Editorial Reviews

Nine articles written by social scientists describe the behaviors of nontraditional religious groups that have been part of the American scene: Total Overcomers Anonymous/Heaven's Gate, Jesus People USA, The Farm, Love Family, El Ni<~n>o Fidencio, Santerfa, Amish women, Scientology, and Freedom Park. The descriptions are interwoven with basic sociological concepts, but systematic analysis and inductive reasoning have been left to the reader. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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