New Religions In Global Perspective Is An In-depth Account Of New Religious Movements, And Of 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, This Book Provides Students With A Complete Introduction To Nrms Such As Falun Gong, Aum Shinrikyo, The Brahma Kumaris Movement, The Ikhwan Or Muslim Brotherhood, Sufism, The Engaged Buddhist And Neo-hindu Movements, Messianic Judaism, And African Diaspora A Movements Including Rastafarianism. Peter Clarke Explores The Innovative Character Of New Religious Movements, Charting Their Cultural Significance And Global Impact, And How 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. In Addition To Exploring The Responses Of Governments, Churches, The Media And General Public To New Religious Movements, Clarke Examines The Reactions 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.--jacket. Part I: Global Perspective, New Age, And Society's Response -- New Religious Movements (nrms): A Global Perspective -- The New Age Movement (nam): Alternative Or Mainstream? -- Accounting For Hostility To Nrms -- Part Ii: New Religions In The West -- Europe -- North America -- Australia, New Zealand And Melanesia (new Guinea) -- Part Iii: New Religions: North Africa And The Middle East, And Africa, South Of The Sahara -- North Africa And The Middle East -- Africa, South Of The Sahara -- Part Iv: Nrms In South And Central America And The Carribean -- South And Central America And The Caribbean-- Part V: New Religions Of South, Southeast And East Asia -- South Asia (india, Pakistan And Sri Lanka) -- Southeast Asia (thailand, Vietnam And Indonesia) -- East Asia (1): Japanese Nrms -- East Asia (2): Nrms In China, Taiwan And Korea -- Part V: Conclusions -- Future Trends. Peter B. Clarke. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [361]-364) And Index.