Encyclopedia of millennialism and millennial movements

About this book

"All of the major world religions, with the exception of Hinduism, began as millennial movements. They have been a common form of social protest and a mechanism for seeking societal change. The Encyclopedia of Millennialism and Millennial Movements is a guide to the religious or spiritual social movements throughout history and around the world that have promised to create a better world or usher in a new one. Millennialism is not simply a fringe activity - it is a critically important aspect of the human experience, past and present." "The Encyclopedia of Millennialism and Millennial Movements is historical, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary, covering movements in Western society and also in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and among native North and South Americans, drawing upon the work of religious scholars, anthropologists, historians, political scientists, and others who study millennial movements. In addition to descriptions of specific movements like Aum Shinrikyo, Christian Identity, Heaven's Gate, the John Frum Movement, Nazism, Solar Temple, and Ufology, there are articles about the concepts and theories that guide the scholarly study of millenarianism like cults, societal stress, and utopia, and articles on general topics such as charismatic leadership, the role of women, and religious conversions."--Jacket.