Now available in paperback, The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements surveys key themes such as charismatic leadership, conversion and brainwashing, prophecy and millennialism, violence and suicide, gender and sexuality, legal issues, and the portrayal of New Religious Movements by the media and anti-cult organizations. Several categories of new religions receive special attention, including African new religions, Japanese new religions, Mormons, and UFO religions.

This guide to New Religious Movements and their study brings together 29 world-class international...