Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements

Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements
Author: George D. Chryssides
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 447
Release: 2012
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 0810861941

New religious movements--commonly known as cults--are defined as organizations that have arisen within the last 200 years. Most treatments of these movements have typically resorted to sensationalism rather than objectivity, and New religious movements tend to receive negative media publicity. Despite their unfavorable portrayal in popular culture, however, new religious movements are a global phenomenon and much remains to be studied about these movements. In this newly updated second edition of the Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, George D. Chryssides traces the rise and development of new religious movements throughout the world. An updated introduction summarizes the phenomenon of new religious movements and lays out the changes to the dictionary since the 2001 edition, while the main body of the dictionary consists of close to 600 cross-referenced entries on key figures, ideas, themes, and places related to various new religious movements. An index organizes the information in the dictionary, and a comprehensive bibliography leads the researcher to further sources. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about new religious movements.

Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity

Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity
Author: William H. Brackney
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 381
Release: 2012-05-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0810873656

There are several eras in the history of Christianity radical forms of the tradition are obvious: the early church of the first five centuries, the medieval era, the age of reform, the early modern era, and the contemporary era. Radical Christian activity and experience may reflect either a primary or a derived level of spirituality. New converts may join a sect or movement with radical characteristics; or they may become dissatisfied with their initial Christian experiences and desire a different or deeper Christian spirituality, usually closely parallel to that seen in the New Testament. The Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity covers the history of this movement and includes an introductory essay and a bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries. The dictionary entries selected reflect the leading groups, movements, and sects from each major era of Christian history. Especially in the contemporary period, the great proliferation of radical thinkers and groups has necessitated a selection process with those selected exhibiting sustained group activity, possessing an identifiable following, and demonstrating a significant cultural impact. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Radical Christianity.

Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement

Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement
Author: William Kostlevy
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2009-08-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0810863189

It is much harder to define a religious movement than it is to define a religion or denomination. That applies especially when that movement almost defies definition as the Holiness Movement does. The Holiness Movement is a Methodist religious renewal movement that has over 12 million adherents worldwide. Perhaps the most familiar public manifestation of the holiness movement has been its urban holiness missions, and the Salvation Army_noted for its service ministries among poor and people suffering the dislocations that accompany war and disaster_is the most notable example. In the second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement, important new developments in the Holiness Movement_such as the widely discussed 'Holiness Manifesto'_are thoroughly discussed, and the content has also been expanded to include information on figures from Asia and Africa to reflect the continued growth of the Holiness Movement. With a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 400 cross-referenced dictionary entries, this reference has information that cannot be found elsewhere.

Historical Dictionary of Hinduism

Historical Dictionary of Hinduism
Author: Jeffery D. Long
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 391
Release: 2011-09-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0810879603

The Historical Dictionary of Hinduism relates the history of Hinduism through a chronology, an introductory essay, photos, an extensive bibliography, and over 1,000 cross referenced dictionary entries on Hindu terminology, names of major historical figures and movements, gods and goddesses, prominent temples, terms for items used in Hindu practice, major texts, philosophical concepts, and more. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Hinduism.

Historical Dictionary of Methodism

Historical Dictionary of Methodism
Author: Charles Yrigoyen Jr.
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 475
Release: 2005-03-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0810865467

In 2003, Methodists celebrated the 300th anniversary of the birth of their founder, John Wesley. Today, there are more than 300 Methodist denominations in 140 nations. Covering the activities of this group that plays an important role in the ecumenical movement through its many social and charitable activities in world affairs, this book offers more than 400 entries that describe important events, doctrines, and the church founders, leaders, and other prominent figures who have made notable contributions. It also includes: a list of commonly used acronyms, chronology of historical events, introductory essay on the history of Methodism, 15-page black-and-white photo spread, bibliography, listing of important libraries and depositories of Methodist materials. The impressive list of contributors includes more than 60 specialists who are academics, administrators, pastors, and theologians.

Historical Dictionary of Calvinism

Historical Dictionary of Calvinism
Author: Stuart D.B. Picken
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2012
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 0810872242

Calvinism is named after 16th century Reformer, John Calvin whose overall theology is contained in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559). Calvin's theology and ecclesiology provided the foundation upon which the Reformed Churches of Europewere built. It was a comprehensive and carefully expounded alternative to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church and was designed to expose their weaknesses and present a view of the Christian Faith that was a reformed version of the old faith. TheHistorical Dictionary of Calvinism relates the history of its founder John Calvin, the Reformed Church, and the impact that Calvinism has had in the modern world along with an account of modern and contemporary developments within the religious, political, and social culture it has created. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and periods. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Calvinism.

Historical Dictionary of Anglicanism

Historical Dictionary of Anglicanism
Author: Colin Buchanan
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 762
Release: 2015-10-22
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 144225016X

Anglicanism arguably originated in 1534 when Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, which transferred papal power over the Church of England to the king. Today, approximately 550 dioceses are located around the world, not only in England, but also everywhere that the British Empire's area of influence extended. With a membership estimated at around 80 million members the Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion in the world This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Anglicanism covers the history of Anglicanism through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, concepts and institutions, rituals and liturgy, events and national communities. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Anglicanism.

The A to Z of the Friends (Quakers)

The A to Z of the Friends (Quakers)
Author: Margery Post Abbott
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2006
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780810856110

"While widely known and admired, Quakers are too often known only superficially. The A to Z of the Friends (Quakers) clears up these superficialities by digging deeper into the Society's past and present. The dictionary's numerous cross-referenced entries describe its origins and history, its current situation in many different countries, basic concepts and practices, and views on important contemporary issues, as well as leading figures and founders. The chronology shows the Society's progression over time, and the bibliography points the way to further reading."--BOOK JACKET.

Historical Dictionary of Witchcraft

Historical Dictionary of Witchcraft
Author: Jonathan Durrant
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2012-10-25
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 0810875128

Witchcraft has proven an important, if difficult, historical subject to investigate and interpret over the last four decades or so. Modern historical research into witchcraft began as an attempt to tease out the worldview of ordinary people in 16th- and 17th-century England, but it quickly expanded to encompass the history of witchcraft in most cultures and societies that have existed with scholarly studies now extending back to the time of earliest law code that punished sorcery, the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.E.), and forward to the last witchcraft cases in England, those of Helen Duncan and Jane Yorke, tried in 1944. There has also been a significant amount of interest in the development of the modern religion of witchcraft, or Wicca, as various forms of neo-paganism continue to attract adherents. The second edition of Historical Dictionary of Witchcraft covers the history of the Witchcraft from 1750 B.C.E. though the modern day. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on witch hunts, witchcraft trials, and related practices around the world. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the history of witchcraft.