George D. Chryssides is a Visiting Research Fellow at York St John University, UK, and was formerly Head of Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. Margaret Wilkins is a freelance writer and researcher.

'This is an anthology for which I have been waiting a long time. It is not a collection of short gobbets, but, far more usefully, an anthology of substantial readings with helpful and authoritative introductions to each of the new religions included. There is also a good selection of texts produced by organisations that have responded to new religions. Those of us who teach in the area are indebted to George Chryssides and Margaret Wilkins for providing a superb resource that will be a core text for courses on new religious movements for many years to come. I warmly recommend this Reader in New Religious Movements.' Christopher Partridge, Professor of Contemporary Religion, University of Chester

• Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction PART 1: NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS 1. Brahma Kumaris 2. Church Universal and Triumphant 3. The Family (formerly Children of God) 4. The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) 5. The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order 6. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness 7. Osho / Rajneesh 8. The Radlian Movement PART 2: READINGS 1. Origins and founder-leaders 2. Key writings and scriptures 3. Predicament 4. Worldviews 5. Lifestyle 6. Spiritual practice 7. Social issues 8. Organisation 9. Ultimate goal PART 3: RESPONSES Introduction 1. Counselling and monitoring organisations 2. Official reports: governmental 3. New religions and the Churches Glossary of terms Bibliography