New Religions, Spiritualities, and Popular Music

This groundbreaking volume examines the relationship between new religions, alternative spiritualities, and popular music. Interdisciplinary in its approach, this book draws on scholarship within the study of new religions, the sociology of religion, popular music studies, ethnomusicology, and critical musicology. It examines the ways in which devotion to a band can lead to the establishment of a new religion and also how new religions use popular music evangelistically, ritualistically, and as a source of income. What emerges is a complex picture in which religious beliefs and popular music cultures cross-fertilize each other in unexpected and fascinating ways.