Liber XXI · New Religions
Chapter VI
Studying New Religions
8 min readPeoples Temple and Jonestown: Jim Jones and the 1978 DeathsPeoples Temple and Jonestown: Jim Jones's integrated church, its move to Guyana, the deaths of 18 November 1978 and how scholars interpret them.7 min readStudying New Religious Movements: Cults, Conversion, ScholarshipHow scholars study new religious movements: church-sect-cult typologies, the brainwashing debate, conversion research, failed prophecy and violence.8 min readWhen Prophecy Fails: Festinger, Failed Prophecy and DissonanceWhen Prophecy Fails explained: Festinger's study of a 1954 flying-saucer group, cognitive dissonance theory and later research on failed prophecy.