Bookbot

Routledge New ReligionsSeries

This series delves into the fascinating and often misunderstood world of new religious movements. It examines their origins, development, and social impacts with academic rigor yet accessible language. Readers will gain insight into the diverse spiritual paths emerging in modern society and how these groups shape the identity and beliefs of their followers. It serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in contemporary religiosity and its evolving dynamics.

Jehovah's Witnesses
The Nuwaubian Nation
The Art of Living Foundation

Recommended Reading Order

  • The Art of Living Foundation

    Spirituality and Wellbeing in the Global Context

    • 248 pages
    • 9 hours of reading

    Focusing on the transnational movement of The Art of Living, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, this study examines its global influence and growth since 1981. Stephen Jacobs delves into the characteristics of contemporary spirituality, questioning whether these alternative spiritual practices prioritize individual wellbeing or serve as commodified experiences. By analyzing AOL's reach in over 150 countries, the book offers insights into the complexities of modern spirituality and its implications in a consumer-driven society.

    The Art of Living Foundation

  • The Nuwaubian Nation

    Black Spirituality and State Control

    • 218 pages
    • 8 hours of reading

    Dwight York's transformation from a New York street gang member to a Black messiah highlights the intersection of racial identity and spirituality in America. The book explores York's journey through various racial and religious identities, emphasizing the dramatic shifts in lifestyle and gender roles within the Nuwaubian Nation. It also examines the societal backlash against unconventional religions, culminating in a violent FBI raid in 2002, while integrating theories from sociology and media studies to provide a deeper understanding of these dynamics.

    The Nuwaubian Nation

  • Jehovah's Witnesses

    • 208 pages
    • 8 hours of reading

    What would happen if I accepted an invitation to Bible Study from Jehovah's Witnesses? What would attending a Kingdom Hall meeting involve? And if I invited door-knocking Witnesses into my home? This book introduces Jehovah's Witnesses without assuming prior knowledge of the Watch Tower organization. After outlining the Society's origins and history, the book explains their key beliefs and practices by taking the reader through the process of the seeker who makes initial contact with Witnesses, and progresses to take instruction and become a baptized member. The book then explores what is involved in being a Witness – congregational life, lifestyle, rites of passage, their understanding of the Bible and prophetic expectations. It examines the various processes and consequences of leaving the organization, controversies that have arisen in the course of its history, and popular criticisms. Discussion is given to the likelihood of reforms within the organization, such as its stance on blood transfusions, the role of women and new methods of meeting and evangelizing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Jehovah's Witnesses