Communities of Dissent: A History of Alternative Religions in America

by Stephen J. Stein

Book Overview

Alternative religious groups have had a profound influence on American history-they have challenged the old and opened up new ways of thinking about healing, modes of meaning, religious texts and liturgies, the social and political order, and the relationships between religion and race, class, gender, and region. Virtually always, the dramatic, dynamic history of alternative religions runs parallel to that of dissent in America.
Communities of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195158253
• ISBN13: 9780195158250
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

worth the read

This book was a joy to read. I recommend it to anyone who wants a brief history of alternative religions/cults in America. The author does a great job of giving the reader a feel for the orgins, ideas, and impact of many different religions. Now what this book does not do is provide an indepth look at religions. All religions are covered in brief. The one glaring flaw of this book is that the author sees virtually all religions and cults through rose colored glasses. He does a great job of showing the positive aspects of various religions/cults but ignores the down side. An additional book I recommend is THE NEW BELIEVERS by David V. Barrett. It provides a more contemporary account of America's and Britian's alternative religions and cults. It tends to focus more on the beliefs and practices of various religious movements rather than their history.