REL 215, 216 - New Religious Movements

Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 216).
How do religious groups form and develop? How do these groups differ from “traditional” religious communities? In this course, we will examine New Religious Movements (NRM) from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. We will investigate the beliefs, practices, and symbolism of several NRMs, seeking to understand both the unique histories of these groups and the patterns of development that may share. Finally, we will consider how these new movements interact with established religious traditions and how they are perceived by those outside of the group.