Religious Deviance

Abstract

There is no shortage of interesting hits when one conducts Google or Google Scholar searches of the key terms “Fringe Religion” or “New Religious Movements” and, most productively, “Cults”. Some organizations, articles and books one encounters take a scholarly and objective look at fringe religion, while others — indeed the vast majority — are alarmist and conspiratorial. They warn of evil beliefs and leaders, “brainwashing”, Islamist takeovers and the like. Fascinating stuff, indeed, and a clear reminder that religion as deviance is alive and well.