New Religious Movements: The Basics

This book is a concise and engaging introduction to the field of New Religious Movements (NRMs). This book is essential reading for students and scholars of religion who are approaching the study of NRMs for the first time as well as those interested in deepening their understanding.

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New Religious Movements: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to the field of New Religious Movements (NRMs). Western culture is currently going through a wave of fascination with “cults”, with numerous documentaries and television series dedicated to describing these groups. Meanwhile, scholars have been wrestling with the intricacies of this loaded category for decades.

Introducing the reader to some of the key issues and debates in the field of NRM studies, this book includes discussions on:



how to define the term “new religious movement”


critically unpacking the term “cult”


how to study NRMs


brainwashing and deprogramming


prophecy and failed prophecy


charisma and authority


NRMs and violence


gender and sexuality



This book is essential reading for students and scholars of religion who are approaching the study of NRMs for the first time as well as those interested in deepening their understanding of NRMs.