James R. Lewis (Stevens Point, WI), a world-recognized authority on nontraditional religions, teaches religious studies at the University of Wisconsin, and is the author or editor of over 20 books, including Odd Gods: New Religions and the Cult Controversy and Doomsday Prophecies: A Complete Guide to the End of the World.
One might not expect to find established groups such as the Amish and the Brethren Church included in a work on cults, sects, and new religions, but they are. After reading the introduction one will understand why. Lewis (religious studies, World Univ. of America) provides a good discussion of the terms sect and especially cult. Although sometimes taken negatively, these terms are not inherently so and definitely have no negative connotation here. Most of the nearly 1000 entries are brief‘one to three paragraphs‘and cover everything from Aum Shinrikyo and the Branch Davidians to the Nudist Christian Church of the Blessed Virgin Jesus. The longer entries of a page or two, often authored by scholars other than Lewis, are for groups that are controversial or have made the news recently. This handy ready-reference tool is up-to-date, and, since the entries were submitted to the various religious groups for correction, accurate. Recommended for all libraries.‘John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
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