For a dozen lifetimes the hermit Istvan has lived alone in the wilds of Siberia. He is a trapper, a woodsman, and a murderer. Now he has taken the bride of a young Boyar, a man who will stop at nothing to get her back. What awaits the unsuspecting prince in Istvan's cabin are horrors beyond anything he could have imagined.

Examining contemporary understandings of the term 'cult', this book brings together scholars from multiple disciplines, including sociology, anthropology and religious studies. Focusing on how 'cult rhetoric' affects our perceptions of new religious movements, the contributors explore how these minority groups have developed and deconstruct the language we use to describe them.Ranging from the 'Cult of Trump' and 'Cult of COVID', to the campaigns of mass media, thi...

In this novel academic study, Aled Thomas analyses modern issues surrounding boundaries and fluidity in contemporary Scientology. By using the Scientologist practice of 'auditing' as a case study, this book explores the ways in which new types of 'Scientologies' can emerge. The notion of Free Zone Scientology is characterised by its horizontal structure, in contrast to the vertical-hierarchy of the institutional Church of Scientology. With this in mind, Thomas explores the Free Zone as an ...

The Religion of L. Ron Hubbard's Church of Scientology: The Cult of Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Lisa-Marie Presley by Robert Alan King is a booklet with over 5,600 words. It explores the religious tenants of the Church of Scientology to arrive at a basic understanding of what they believe. Though the book also sometimes conveys the contrasting beliefs of Christianity, the real focus is on understanding the theology of Scientology itself. In addition, King briefly explains what Scientolo...

The recent rise of the New Atheism has aroused great general interest, thrown up questions of fundamental importance, and started a fascinating conversation. Why God Won't Go Away invites us to join in. The volume opens with a survey of the main ideas of the New Atheism, as expressed in the works of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. We then examine the core views of the movement closely, making due reference to its 'virtual community' of websites and blo...

It's a safe bet that you have at least heard of Scientology. Nine times out of ten what you have heard is negative. This often leads to a greater misunderstanding of Scientology, Scientologists and what the mission of the Church of Scientology actually is. What Is Scientology: History, Beliefs, Rules, Secrets and Facts, objectively explains and discusses the following: o The belief system of Scientology o The controversy and myths that surrounds the Church of Scientology o Why people join ...

How modern life has transformed major faiths worldwide in the twenty-first century – and what breaking new research in neuroscience, human genetics and the socioeconomic trends of today can tell us about upcoming spiritual beliefs of the future.Ultimately, the "future" of religion is approaching far more quickly than many of us think. The greatest mysteries of life – who we are, how life began, the nature of existence and more – are fast losing their traditional power to support su...

Scientology's long and complex journey to recognition as a religionScientology is one of the wealthiest and most powerful new religions to emerge in the past century. To its detractors, L. Ron Hubbard's space-age mysticism is a moneymaking scam and sinister brainwashing cult. But to its adherents, it is humanity's brightest hope. Few religious movements have been subject to public scrutiny like Scientology, yet much of what is written about the church is sensationa...

A fact is a fact, right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. A "fact" is primarily defined as "a thing that is indisputably the case." The problem with that definition is that virtually anything can be disputed, and most things are. But the legal language of "beyond a reasonable doubt" applies to this definition. Many times, especially on the Internet, facts that are disputed are done so WITHOUT reasonable doubt. For example, there is an entire organization devoted to disputing the fact t...

"Our millennial children, as well as nonchurchgoing millennials, are both the church's greatest challenge and its most exciting new opportunity."—John Seel, PhDWarning: There is a fundamental frame of reference shift in American society happening right now among young adults. You may think of this group as millennials—those born between 1980 and 2000—but millennials resist this label for good reason: the national narrative on them is pejorat...

This book is your ultimate Sam Harris resource. Here you will find the most up-to-date information, facts, quotes and much more.In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about Sam Harris's whole picture right away. Get countless Sam Harris facts right at your fingertips with this essential resource.The Sam Harris Handbook is the single and largest Sam Harris reference book. This compendium of information is the aut...

The study of Islamic education has hitherto remained a tangential inquiry in the broader focus of Islamic Studies. In the wake of this neglect, a renaissance of sorts has occurred in recent years, reconfiguring the importance of Islam’s attitudes to knowledge, learning and education as paramount in the study and appreciation of Islamic civilization. Philosophies of Islamic Education, stands in tandem to this call and takes a pioneering step in establishing the importance of its st...