Overview
Describes the nature and history of cults and the different aspects of living in a cult, including the difficulty of leaving it.Describes the nature and history of cults and the different aspects of living in a cult, including the difficulty of leaving it.
Synopsis
Describes the nature and history of cults and the different aspects of living in a cult, including the difficulty of leaving it.
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up-A balanced and informative look at the subject that attempts to put into perspective the negative media coverage that has emphasized the sensational. Opening with a historical overview, Barghusen describes the practices and beliefs of a wide variety of nontraditional groups, ranging from cults based on Eastern religious ideas, meditation and therapy, sacrificial rituals, and doomsday ideas. The author goes on to describe the process of joining alternative religions, their attractions and recruitment techniques, life inside various cults, relationships with the outside world, and the process of leaving. A smooth prose style and careful use of transitions contribute to the book's readability. The text is illustrated with black-and-white photographs from news archives and cartoons; it includes one map showing "unconventional religious groups" in Eastern Europe. Detailed notes and a list of works consulted reflect the breadth of the author's research. A glossary, careful index, and list of addresses for organizations to contact (including some URLs) contribute to the title's usefulness for reports.-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC