George D. Chryssides Bücher

Adopting an objective stance, this book examines the teachings and practices of a wide variety of new religious groups. The first two chapters raise general issues about cults, such as definitions, statistics, evangelization tactics, issues of public concern and methods of study. Subsequent chapters deal with new religions by genre - the older minority groups, New Christian groups, Hindu and Buddhist groups, the self-religions and the New Age. Each of these chapters begins with a general discussion of the background to each type of movement and selects three representative movements for greater in-depth study.

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.

Explores the issues of individual and corporate responsibility in business, and integrates many contemporary and classic readings with the text. This book features a cross-cultural approach and includes case studies throughout.

Drawing from decades of experience, the author explores the complexities and challenges of fieldwork, offering insights valuable to both practitioners and those interested in the experiences of field researchers. The discussion includes contributions from other scholars, enriching the understanding of the fieldwork process and its implications.

Increasingly, recognition is given to the importance of methodology in the study of religion and methodological issues are generally taught to first year students in order to equip them for systematic academic study of the topic. Unfortunately many of the theories that relate to methodology are explained in a highly complex way, which even advanced students find it hard to understand.This book unravels the complexity of these issues for students by introducing the history and methodology pertaining to the study of religion (including ideas of key theorists) and by discussing the main problems in current scholarship in world religions. In addition to theories relating to Religious Studies, examples will be drawn from a variety of the world's historical religious traditions, spanning the range of major ones and some minor ones. The student will in this way gain some understanding of the fundamental ideas of the world's religions as well as an introduction to methods of study.