PART ONE: MAJOR ISSUES OF ALTERNATIVE RELIGIONS

1. Who, What & Why - The purpose of this book

2. Is it a cult, or a real religion? - The problem of definition

3. Sects appeal - Conversion, recruitment, mind control or brainwashing?

4. Would you let your daughter marry one? - Problems for families of members

5. So hard to say Goodbye - Problems of leaving a movement

6. After the Prophet dies - How movements change

7. It's the End of the World as we know it - Apocalyptic beliefs

8. Cults that Kill - How, why, and can it happen again?

9. Watching the watchers - The variety of cult experts

10. Historical diversity -  A Brief Summary of World Religions

PART TWO: ALTERNATIVE RELIGIONS & OTHER GROUPS

11. The Complexity of Christianity

12. Christian Origins

Unitarians

            The New Church & Swedenborgianism

            Mormons

            Exclusive Brethren

            New Apostolic Church

            Seventh-day Adventists

            Christadelphians

            Christian Science

            Jehovah's Witnesses

            Liberal Catholic Church & Wandering Bishops

            Christian Community & Anthroposophy

            Opus Dei

            Unification Church

            The Late 20th Century Evangelical Resurgence

            The Family

            Jesus Army

            Universal Church of the Kingdom of God

International Church of Christ

            Ellel Ministries

            Toronto Blessing & Vineyard

            Alpha Course

13. Other "Religions of the Book" Origins

            Introduction

            Bahá’í Faith

            Nation of Islam

            Holy Tabernacle Ministries

            Messiah/H'al mahshiyach

            Rastafarian Movement

14. Eastern Movements in the West

            Introduction

            Brahma Kumaris

            School of Economic Science

            Transcendental Meditation

            ISKCON

            Osho International

            Sahaja Yoga

            Adidam

            Impersonal Enlightenment Fellowship

Soka Gakkai

            Friends of the Western Buddhist Order

            New Kadampa Tradition

            Eckankar

            Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness

            Elan Vital

15. Esoteric & Neo-Pagan Movements

            Introduction

            Satanic Ritual Abuse

            Satanism

            Theosophy

            Benjamin Creme & Maitreya

            Gurdjieff

            Subud

            Rosicrucians

            Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

            Schools of Occult Science

            Chaos Magic

The I AM Movement

            Church Universal and Triumphant

            The Emissaries

            “Flying Saucer Cults”

            Aetherius Society

            Raelian Movement

Shamanism

            Wicca

Church of All Worlds

            Druidry

            Fellowship of Isis

            The Northern Tradition

            Pagan Federations

16. Personal Development Movements

            Introduction

            Landmark Education/Landmark Forum

            Neuro-Linguistic Programming

            Insight

            The Emin

            Scientology

17. Case Study: Schism in a Sect: The Worldwide Church of God & Its Offshoots

Notes

Useful addresses

Bibliography

Index