The
New Believers is an incredible undertaking, resulting
in an extremely readable reference work. From variations on the
major world religions to the Moonies, Wicca, Scientology, and
Transcendental Meditation, this best-selling reference is the
best available source on alternative organizations, sects, and
cult movements. A leading expert on both traditional and new religions
discusses the human need for spirituality, and acts as a guide
through the confusing variety of beliefs that attract fervent
adherents. Barrett
provides clear criteria with which each religion discussed has
been included in the book, together with accounts of the original
meanings of the often emotive descriptors: sects, cults and alternative
religions.
Part
One adresses common misconceptions and challenges the source of
those opinions, going on to discuss major issues that affect our
society today, from tabloid headlines to the losing of a loved
one to a religious organization. Part Two centers on individual
movements —
from religions with Christian origins through to Neo-pagan movements
to Personal Development movements. Each entry provides details
of the origin and history of the movement concerned, together
with details of the beliefs and practices. For teachers, clerics,
and religious leaders through to journalists, interested parties
or concerned relatives, this book provides a truly objective account
of the many traditional religions and new religious movements
across the world today. Followers of any faith have a duty to
read this book, and may well be surprised by the roots of their
belief structure, the many off-shoots that have become mainstream
faiths, and the unique objectivity Barrett has achieved.
REVIEWS
"Because
most of us have only the haziest idea about the Moonies, Theosophy,
Wicca, Druidry etc, David Barrett has compiled a no-nonsense, comprehensive
survey packed with non-judgmental information about the beliefs,
aims and activities of such movements. . . . Barrett took me by
surprise, and made me realise just how prejudiced I am about cult
groups."
Daily
Mail, 16 Feb 2001
In
this revised and expanded edition of his Sects,
"Cults" and Alternative Religions (LJ 6/1/97), Barrett
addresses issues such as why and how people join alternative religion
or what went wrong at Waco and Jonestown and with Heaven's Gate
or Aum Shinrikyo. Part 1 presents all new material, adding significant
and interesting information to his earlier volume. Part 2, with
20 new entries, covers over 60 individual movements. A list of the
movements' addresses is arranged alphabetically within each chapter,
and an index makes it easy to find individual movements in the text.
Because many of the movements include mention of their U.K. presence,
the book at times seems British in focus, though most points are
also related to the global scene. Barrett's precise and objective
approach makes this a highly recommended title for all public libraries
and for academic libraries seeking a comprehensive survey and exploration
of humanity's beliefs and practices.
Library
Journal
"...demonstrating
clearly the importance of according new groups the respect given
to older groups..."
British
Journal of Religious Education, 24:3, Summer 2002
Ironically, anti-cult organisations
are also susceptible to fanaticism and scandal: one of the cleverest
things about this book is the way it anatomises them alongside the
cults.
Damian
Thompson , The Daily Telegraph (England), Feb. 10, 2001
In
Barrett's lengthy conclusion he makes the argument that —
despite the oddball and even self-destructive nature of some religious
operations —
it's not our job to judge. Here in the West the right to worship
any gods or goddesses one chooses is still intact. This book goes
a long way toward curing our historical amnesia regarding religion
and helping us see that even the mainstream religions that today
dominate spiritual discourse started with an inspired individual
standing on a rock, preaching a divine vision.
review
of the earlier version of this book (Sects,
"Cults" and Alternative Religions)
San
Francisco Bay Guardian, Apr. 20, 1997
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
David
V. Barrett has been a teacher of Religious
Studies and English, a computer programmer and intelligence analyst
for the British and American governments, and a journalist. He has
been a full-time freelance writer since 1991. As an author he now
researches and writes mainly on religious and esoteric subjects.
In 1997 he began working on a Ph.D. in Sociology at the London School
of Economics, studying new religious movements; he is a frequent
speaker on this subject at conferences, and on radio and television.
One
of his previous books, Secret Societies
(Blandford 1997), is a detailed study of movements with esoteric
beliefs through the ages, including the Gnostics, Cathars, Knights
Templar, Rosicrucians and Freemasons. Between them, his various
books have so far been published in thirteen languages and seventeen
countries.
Barrett
is a regular book critic; his work has appeared in newspapers and
magazines, including the TLS, Independent, Literary Review, New
Scientist, New Statesman & Society, Spectator, City Limits, Fortean
Times, Catholic Herald, Gnosis, and British Book News, among many
others. He has contributed to several specialist encyclopaedias,
and is frequently consulted by publishers and by other writers.
He edited Vector, the critical journal of the British Science Fiction
Association, for 25 issues from 1985 to 1989. He was chairman of
the 1990 Milford Writers' Conference. From 1992 to 1995 he was administrator
and chairman of the judges of the Arthur C. Clarke Award for science
fiction. He is also the reviews editor for Lexcentrics, the website
for fans of cryptic crosswords, word games, and the amusing oddities
of the English Language.
to
order this book, click
here
|