''The New Believers: A Survey of Sects, 'Cults', and Alternative Religions'', is a book by

David V. Barrett David V. Barrett is a British sociologist of religion who has widely written on topics pertaining to new religious movements and western esotericism. He is also a regular contributor to ''The Independent'', ''Fortean Times'', and the ''Catholic ...

covering the origin, history, beliefs, practices and controversies of more than sixty

new religious movements A new religious movement (NRM), also known as alternative spirituality or a new religion, is a religious or spiritual group that has modern origins and is peripheral to its society's dominant religious culture. NRMs can be novel in origin or th ...

, including

The Family International The Family International (TFI) is a Christian New Religious Movement founded in Huntington Beach, California, USA, in 1968 by David Berg that has been criticized as an authoritarian cult. Originally named Teens for Christ, it has gone under a ...

(previously known as the Children of God),

International Church of Christ The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) is a body of co-operating, religiously conservative and racially integrated

, Osho (Rajneesh),

Satanism Satanism is a group of ideological and philosophical beliefs based on Satan. Contemporary religious practice of Satanism began with the founding of the atheistic Church of Satan by Anton LaVey in the United States in 1966, although a few hi ...

, New Kadampa Tradition, Wicca, Druidry, chaos magic, Scientology, and others. In '' The Daily Telegraph'' reviewer Demian Thompson wrote: David V. Barrett in the '' Skeptical Inquirer'' wrote: Patrick Curry in '' The Independent'' wrote:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Believers, The Religious studies books Books about cults 2001 non-fiction books Occult books Books critical of Scientology 2001 in religion Cassell (publisher) books