World Religions Cults

Torchlight. Drumbeat. A crowded hall breathes in unison as a priest lifts an object only initiates can see. Outside, empires rise and fall. Inside, someone believes death just lost. Mystery Religions of the Ancient World takes you inside the three most intoxicating cults of the classical Mediterranean. Walk the Sacred Way to Eleusis. Swear oaths in a Mithraic cave beneath a Roman granary. Sail at dawn with the priests of Isis as they launch a ceremonial ship and promise safe passage in this life and the next. This is history with a pulse, told with the urgency of a thriller and the rigor of...

Mystery cults are one of the most intriguing areas of Greek and Roman religion. In the nocturnal mysteries at Eleusis, participants dramatically reenacted the story of Demeter's loss and recovery of her daughter Persephone; in the Bacchic cult, bands of women ran wild in the Greek countryside to honor Dionysus; in the mysteries of Mithras, men came to understand the nature of the universe and their place within it through frightening initiation ceremonies and astrological teachings.

Human sacrifice still goes on uncomfortably close to home - cases have been found in the U.S., Europe, and the United Kingdom. In other parts of the world, such as South America, ritual killing is almost commonplace. Human Sacrifice investigates the terrifying current spate of human sacrifices and ritual killings. Jimmy Lee Shreeve draws on police reports and interviews with the victims' families to paint a horrifying picture of ritual sacrifice at home and abroad.

A sparklingly strange odyssey through the kaleidoscope of America's new spirituality: the cults, practices, high priests and prophets of our supposedly post-religion age. Fifty-five years have passed since the cover of Time magazine proclaimed the death of God and while participation in...

Baffled by Buddhism? Confused by Catholicism? Mystified by Mysticism? World Religions can lift the cloud surrounding the main faiths of the world. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and many more key faiths are explained clearly; providing detailed insight into the key practices and...

In 1632, an entire convent in the small French village of Loudun was apparently possessed by the devil. After a sensational and celebrated trial, the convent's charismatic priest Urban Grandier - accused of spiritually and sexually seducing the nuns in his charge - was convicted of being in league with Satan. Then he was burned at the stake for witchcraft. A remarkable true story of religious and sexual obsession, The Devils of Loudun is considered by many to be Brave New World author Aldous Huxley's nonfiction masterpiece.

Step inside one of the most unusual and talked-about intentional communities in the world. For decades, the Twelve Tribes—known to many as the Yellow Deli people—have fascinated outsiders with their simple living, communal lifestyle, and distinct interpretation of the Bible. Yet just as often, they have sparked confusion, controversy, and passionate debate. This book provides a clear, accessible, and deeply informative look at the beliefs, daily life, history, and inner workings of the Twelve Tribes community. Drawing from detailed research and community accounts, it explores: How the ...

What do we really know about modern practicing polygamists - not fictional ones like the Henrickson family on HBO’s Big Love? We’ve seen the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the news, the underage brides in pioneer dresses on a Texas ranch. But the FLDS is just one of many groups that have broken with mainstream Mormonism to follow those parts of Joseph Smith’s doctrine disavowed by the LDS Church. Gaining unprecedented access to these communities, journalist Sanjiv Bhattacharya reveals a shadow country....

Tom Cruise and John Travolta say the Church of Scientology is a force for good. Others disagree. Award-winning journalist John Sweeney investigated the Church for more than half a decade. During that time he was intimidated, spied on, and followed, and the results were spectacular: Sweeney lost his temper with the Church's spokesman on camera, and his infamous 'exploding tomato' clip was seen by millions around the world.

The Handmaid's Tale meets Wilder Girls in this genre-defying novel about a girl who escapes a terrifying cult only to discover that the world Outside has succumbed to a viral apocalypse. Agnes loves her home of Red Creek—its quiet, sunny mornings, its dusty roads, and its God. There, she cares...

Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world’s first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world.

In an age marked by confusion, deception, and accelerating moral collapse, one question rises above every cultural debate: Will you stand with Christ—or be swept away by chaos? Christ or Chaos exposes the relentless assault on truth shaping today’s world—from relativism and false religion to counterfeit Christianity, radical feminism, cultural decay, the ideological advance of Islam, and many others. With clarity rooted in Scripture and unwavering commitment to the authority of God’s inspired Word, this book demonstrates why only the Bible provides a foundation strong enough to ...

“We convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him. We burn all evil and all illusion out of him; we bring him over to our side, not in appearance, but genuinely, heart and soul…We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves.” George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty Four, (1949, Harcourt Brace Javonovich, Inc., 1977, Sonia Brownell Orwell), pp. 210–211 This statement is a picture of a fictitious society whose government sought to gain total power in George Orwell’s book, Nineteen Eighty-Four. While this may only be a fictitious story, statements such as this ...

Scientist and atheist Dr. Lydia Cheyenne Wagner thinks she's the only survivor of an asteroid strike she predicted until she discovers Father Jules, a devout priest who has "miraculously" survived. Their beliefs and personalities clash as they try to find a way to peacefully coexist in a post-apocalyptic world. Everything changes when they encounter a fanatical teenage cult that has made a Hemingway novel their Bible. The erratic cult leader, known as the Captain, wages war against any unbelievers, causing Dr. Lydia and Father Jules to choose sides in a life and death battle over what is ...

An “enchanting” (Caroline Kepnes, author of You) “fairy-tale-inflected thriller” (The New Yorker) about two sisters who encounter a captivating yet possibly dangerous underworld cult that challenges their perception of reality. A New Yorker Best Book of 2024 Rose has come a long way...

In the late 1800s, a religious organization known as the Watchtower was birthed. This group places much emphasis on Christ’s return and Armageddon, aggressively seeking to spread their doctrine to all who will listen. These efforts were successful, for their influence can be seen in countries and languages throughout the world. Many of the Watchtower's deceptions were easy to spot in the early days, but with almost 150 years of practice, they have found ways to fine-tune their inconsistencies. Millions have been misled by the Watchtower and have become personal carriers of their ...

There are two issues which confront those who have a heart to share the gospel with the Jehovah's Witnesses: 1) Not knowing what drives their commitment; and 2) Frustration. The end result: both parties arguing by debating scripture. Regardless what is said, the gospel message falls on a hardened heart and deaf ears. In this book, you will learn why the Witnesses are so committed to their beliefs. You will also learn from the personal experiences of an ex-Jehovah's Witnesses how the Witnesses think, why they depend upon the Watchtower, and why leaving the Watchtower organization can be ...

Religion is central to the lives of millions of people around the globe. But how did the great religions begin, and what do their followers believe? Religions of the World tells the remarkable story of some of the faiths which have helped to shape the way we live today. Aimed at younger listeners, it introduces the history and scriptures, beliefs and customs of some of humanity’s most enduring religious traditions, and looks at their place in the lives of men, women and children across the world.

As you embark on this deeply personal journey of understanding the significance of truth, I urge you to consider its relevance in your own life. Is truth a guiding principle for you? If so, this exploration will resonate profoundly. It's a journey of challenges, as every truth must contend with adversaries. What are these adversaries? Lies. They wield significant influence, capable of shaping outcomes that impact us all. The result is the serpent’s and woman’s seeds, found in Genesis 3:15.

Discover the Sacred, the Strange, and Everything in Between A Journey Through Humanity’s Spiritual Spectrum Explore the multifaceted world of spiritual beliefs in our Grab Bag of Information about the Religions of the World. More than just a stats book, or a trivia book. This one has all that and more! Your Great Big Grab Bag is your great big passport to a vivid exploration of the world's religious tapestry—from mainstream faiths to the more obscure pseudo-religions. Engage with tales of oddities, contradictions, and the unifying threads that intertwine through practices both ancient ...