New Religions In Global Perspective

Peter B. Clarke's book, "New Religions in Global Perspective," provides a comprehensive overview of new religious movements (NRMs) and new forms of spirituality from a global perspective. The book covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Japan, Latin America, South Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, and discusses the cultural significance and impact of NRMs on traditional religions. Clarke also examines the responses of governments, churches, media, and the general public to NRMs and how they are shaping religious beliefs and practices. The book is praised for its contemporary theoretical account of the field and its comprehensive coverage of a wide range of religious groups. It is recommended as a textbook for students and a valuable resource for scholars and experts in the field.

Peter B. Clarke's in-depth account explores the innovative character of new religious movements and new forms of spirituality from a global vantage point. Ranging from North America and Europe to Japan, Latin America, South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, it is the perfect introduction to NRMs such as Falun Gong, Aum Shirikyo, the Brahma Kumaris, the Ikhwan or Muslim Brotherhood, Sufism, the Engaged Buddhist and Engaged Hindi movements, Messianic Judaism and Rastafarianism. Charting the cultural significance and global impact of NRMs, he discusses the ways in which various religious traditions are shaping, rather than displacing, each other's understanding of notions such as transcendence and faith, good and evil, of the meaning, purpose and function of religion, and of religious belonging. He then examines the responses of governments, churches, the media and general public to new religious movements, as well as the reaction to older, increasingly influential religions, such as Buddhism and Islam, in new geographical and cultural contexts. Taking into account the degree of continuity between old and new religions, each chapter contains not only an account of the rise of the NRMs and new forms of spirituality in a particular region, but also an overview of change in the regions' mainstream religions. Review: 'Peter Clarke provides us with an excellent contemporary theoretical account of the field and a comprehensive source of information on a plethora of religious groups... I strongly recommend it.' - Adam Possamai, University of Western Sydney, Australia 'New Religions in Global Perspective is one of the best books on New Religious Movements (NRMs) since the beginning of the 21st century...Peter Clarke provides us with an excellent contemporary theoretical account of the field and a comprehensive source of information on a plethora of religious groups, and for this reason, I strongly recommend it. This book would be excellent as a textbook on NRMs for undergraduate and postgraduate students. For experts in the field, it offers a clear light on the most current debates in the field and covers so much across the globe, that any scholar wukk certainly find room to learn more.' -Adam Possamai, University of Western Sydney 'Creemos que la presente obra, enciclopedica en su formato, con buena bibliografia anglosajona, puede ser de ayuda para destinarios muy diversos; estudiosos de las religiones actuales, politicos, pastores y sociologos; util, por su sistemizacion y contenido, para estudiantes universitarios que buscan conocer el momento actual del espectro religioso-espiritual del mundo.' Bibliographia Missionaria