Cults and the New Religiosity

Abstract

Much of the discussion in previous chapters has focused on the fortunes of Christianity in its different forms in Western societies. The decline or growth of the mainstream churches, sects and fundamentalist movements, their organizational frameworks and the challenges that they have faced, have all been considered. Non-Christian forms of religiosity have so far been rather marginal to our analysis. The chapters to come will consider some of these alternative expressions of belief and practice. This chapter and chapter 10 will consider new forms of religiosity, in particular cults, new religious movements (NRMs), and the New Age.