Violence and New Religious Movements is an outstanding, admirably comprehensive volume that persuasively investigates one of the most troubling, yet fascinating areas in the study of contemporary religion. Building on recent theoretical work, this intriguing and rewarding collection consolidates and advances the analysis of violence and new religions, as well as providing fresh insights into particular groups and events. Including studies by some of the most important researchers in the field, it is unarguably the most authoritative contribution to date and, as such, will very quickly become essential reading in the study of new religions.
Chris Partridge, Professor of Religious Studies, Department of Politics, Philosophy, and Religion, Lancaster University, UK
It is difficult to imagine the serious study of New Religious Movement (NRMs) without the contributions of James R. Lewis...Most admirably, this volume refuses to posit a general theory of NRM-violence for one very good reason: the evidentiary field is simply too complex and thus resists a deceptively simple, monolithic interpretive/explanatory framework.
Religion Matters