- Paperback: 144 pages
- Publisher: Fourth Estate; New edition edition (3 July 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1857023293
- ISBN-13: 978-1857023299
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
265,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #32 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions > Contemporary Cults
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Product Description
Infiltrating the most secretive of Britain's estimated 500 cults, the author investigates the labyrinthine world of the guru. Attending countless meetings and workshops, and in several cases seeming to become a signed-up member of the group, he found a complex alternative culture where acolytes endure stark privations, perform arcane ceremonies and submit willingly to their new masters. What is the appeal of so many bizarre movements which are taking root in Britain? Why are so many apparently well-off people willing to have their worlds turned upside-down by them, sometimes with tragic consequences? This book aims to reveal the truth behind the media myth of cult activities.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb investigative book,
By A Customer
This review is from: Spying in Guru Land (Paperback)
WIlliam Shaw's quest to understand what makes members of Britain's cults believe began with two events: the seige of the Branch Davidian in Waco, Texas and the advice from Ian Howath (of the London Cult Connection) that he would harm himself if he undertook to join cults in order to find out about them.Shaw's book is, then, written with a deliberate purpose, to find out why cults are viewed with suspicion, why their members believe the fanciful things they do, how they operate and, above all, to prove Ian Howath wrong. Wisely, Shaw tries 'non-mainstream cults' (if that is not a contradiction in terms), so many of the obvious targets are left out. Instead, he investigates cults from all around the country, some with a few members, some with many thousands. But Shaw employs 'cult' in its correct sense, as a group of believers convinced that they alone are possessors of true faith. The result is a superb book, mixing healthy scepticism with non-technical (non-theological) understanding in order to show that most of those involved with cults are honest believers, not evil men and women trying to pervert the lives of others. It comes highly recommended for theologians, sociologists and normal readers; by anybody, in fact, who has been approached on the street and questioned about their religious convictions. A very good book indeed.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
