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Note: Some texts are buried deep
in e-archives. If title link does not work, click source.
 Cults
& New Religions
Italy-based international association of scholars specialized in
study of religious minorities & new religious movements archives a vast
collection of news articles & research papers on controversial groups
(including Scientology,
New Age, Unification
Church, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Family,
Aum Shinri-kyo) &
attempts to suppress them (brainwashing
controversy, anti-cult
law in France, FBI
vs. Branch Davidians at Waco TX, China
vs. the Falun Gong).
The late Jan Groenwald's well-researched guide
to destructive cults & benign -Isms is now maintained by Ex-cult
Resource Centre. It is distinguished from other cult-information directories by
categorizing groups by type: bible-based
(Adventists,
Jehovah's
Witnesses, Mormons),
new
age (Urantia, Eckankar), eastern
(Soka
Gakkai, Hare
Krishna), psychotherapy
(Scientology,
EST),
political
(Lyndon LaRouche). occult
(Edgar Cayce), & satanic.
Rod Usher surveys different approaches of
European governments to control the proliferation of new cults & problems
presented for freedom of belief (TIME 1/27/97).
Paper by an anonymous former member of the
Church of Scientology reveals the mindset of a cult member as absolute trust
in the infallibility of a mentor's teaching & distrust of all other
viewpoints. Posted by Dennis Ehrlich.
Mike Doughny outlines psychological
theories of totalism
(Robert Lifton) & mind
control (Margaret Singer) & provides a useful guide to information on anti-cult
organizations, a bibliography
on cults, & a catalog of cult-operated
websites.
Remnants of the website
left by the computer age UFO cult "Higher Source" that led to mass
suicide in San Diego CA (27 March 1997). Revealing example of cultic use of
Christian materials.
Rick Ross' extensive collection of information
about the comet cult & its founder Marshall Applewhite.
International network for former associates of
controversial conservative Roman Catholic movement founded by Josemaria
Escriva compares its questionable practices with the Vatican's own warnings
against cults & questions the irregularity of the founder's recent
canonization.
Dutch Jehovah's Witness, Rado Vleugel, who was
excommunicated for questioning the blood issue, posts recent news
regarding issues related to constraints on free-thinking & other aspects
of Watchtower Society doctrine.
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Politics
Official cyberbase of conservative coalition designed "to give Christians a voice in
government" outlines its beliefs
& plan of action & posts news
about targeted issues.
Full text of 1935 analysis by H. Richard
Niebuhr, Wilhelm Pauck & Francis P. Miller of the threats posed to
classical Christianity by capitalism, nationalism & the equation of
Christianity with American religion (posted by Religion
Online).
Archive of information on theocratic
movements in America that threaten the separation of church & state
includes The
Freedom Writer issues thru 2001.
Socially conservative institute coordinates
traditionalist opposition to liberalizing policies of mainline Protestant
denominations through intra-denominationation action programs among United
Methodists, Presbyterians
& Episcopalians.
Coalition of Americans committed to religious
liberty to counter the political & social agenda of the radical religious
right, promote tolerance & revitalize civic participation by religious
moderates publishes a newsletter (The Light) & monitors
the words & actions of religious extremists.
Role-playing cyber-reconstruction of a
16th
c. French tavern includes planks
linking the reformation, religious
wars, world
affairs, social
classes, major
political figures & aspects of
everyday life.
Full text of Niebuhr's classic 1944 argument of
the moral imperative to defend democracy (posted by Religion
Online).
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Roles
& Gender
NY-based movement provides a 20th
c. hasidic perspective on the role of women within Judaism.
Ernestine Cody's account of female
& male roles in Apache culture, including puberty rituals.
T. O. Beidelman's 1987 article from
Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion presents a balanced cross-cultural
survey of the issue.
Gateway to all sites related to gender in
antiquity, maintained by Suzanne Bonefas & Ross Scaife.
Elegant website devoted to championing
masculine responsibility in society posts electronic issues of journal Men's
Voices with extensive menu of articles
& book reviews on topics such as gender
justice, male
spirituality, & the
Promise Keepers.
1988 papal papal letter on the dignity &
vocation of women covers issues such as the exploitation of women, marriage,
motherhood, the value of religious consecration, virginity, women who suffer,
distinct feminine gifts and women's ordination.
Appeal from 1998 ecumenical conference on canon
1024 to reconsider ordination of women.
Official website of anti-denominational
evangelical movement founded by Bill McCartney, head coach of U of Colorado
football team, outlines
its agenda, theology,
& views on social
reconciliation.
Margaret S. Thompson's cyberspace for women in
religious orders hosts Sister-L
(an electronic discussion group) & posts extensive indices of links to women's
congregations, women's
studies & feminist spirituality, social
justice, and other historical
& religious resources relevant to
women. A fledgling collection of on-line
texts includes Sisterhood
& Power, which explores the roots
of class, culture & ethnic problems in American convents.
Hartford Institute for Religion Research posts
links to on-line articles
and research
projects on various questions about women and religion.
Abdur Rahman Doi's essays on women in Muslim
scripture,
society
& marriage
posted by the USC Muslim Students Association. Explanations of hijab
(head-covering) in Islam.
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Digging. Help fill holes.
This page was revised 02 June 2006
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