Winter 2005, PAS 2083, Weds. 7-10 p.m.
Dr. Lorne Dawson
PAS 2028, ext. 5340
The course is designed to serve two ends: first, to provide an introduction to some of the types of cults or new religious movements (NRMs) active in North America, examining their origins and their basic beliefs and practices; second, to provide an introduction to some of the results of the social scientific study of new religious movements. The course will give some attention to a wide array of groups (e.g., UFO Groups, Transcendental Meditation, Soka Gakkai, Rajneesh Foundation, New Age and other groups), but this year it will concentrate on four prominent and controversial new religions: Scientology, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (i.e., Hare Krishna), The Unification Church (i.e., Moonies), and Neo-Paganism. These religions will be studied in terms of (1) their concepts of the divine/transcendent, (2) their views of human nature, (3) their understandings of death and the afterlife, and (4) their conception of how we should live "the good life." The course will examine such social scientific concerns as: (1) the reasons for the recent growth in the size and number of new religious movements, (2) who joins such religions and why, (3) the charge that converts are "brainwashed," (4) the reasons why some new religions become violent, and (5) what these groups indicate about the future of religion and of North American culture. Several films and videos will be used.
Lorne L. Dawson, Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious Movements. Toronto and New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Lorne L. Dawson, ed., Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader. Oxford: Blackwell, 2004.
Two books are on reserve at the library. They can be used to provide supplemental readings on the beliefs of the new religions discussed in class:
Robert Ellwood and Harry Partin, Religious and Spiritual Groups in Modern America.
Timothy Miller, America’s Alternative Religions.
In addition, two readings have been placed on reserve for the class lecture on Neo-Paganism:
Dennis D. Carpenter, “Emergent Nature Spirituality: An Examination of the Major Spiritual Contours of the Contemporary Pagan Worldview,” pp. 35-72 in James R. Lewis, ed., Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1996.
Maryanne Pearce, "Teaching New Witches Old Tricks: Learning the Witch's Craft." Chapter 2 of Something New, Something Old: "The Old Religion" in the Modern World. MA Thesis, Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, 2000.
There are two possible marking schemes for this course. Students may either (1) write two examinations (the mid-term and the final) or (2) write two examinations (the mid-term and the final) and a brief essay. Students must decide between these options after the first test. A sign up sheet will be distributed for the second option.
Option (1):
Mid-term Test 40% (Feb. 9)
Final Test 60% (scheduled)
Option (2):
Mid-term Test 30% (Feb. 9)
Final Test 50% (scheduled)
Essay 20% (due Mar. 23)
Tests: Given the size of the class, the tests will consist of approximately 50-70 multiple choice questions (computer marked), plus a brief essay question.
Optional Essay: Write a brief essay of about 1,200 words responding to one of the following questions. The essay must be typed, double spaced, and with 1" margins, and proper references. Be as concise as possible in your answer, and be sure that your answer demonstrates a knowledge of the relevant course readings.
1. New religious movements are the unique result of changes to North American society since the 1960s. Do you agree or disagree?
2. Do the people who join new religious movements do so freely, or is there room for doubt?
3. The experience of men and women in new religious movements is largely the same. Is this a fair assessment of the situation? Explain the ways in which you think this is or is not normally the case.
All students registered in the courses of the Faculty of Arts are expected to know what constitutes an academic offense, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for their academic actions. When the commission of an offense is established, disciplinary penalties will be imposed in accord with Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline). For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students are directed to consult the summary of Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline) which is supplied in the Undergraduate Calendar (p.1:11; http//www.admin.uwaterloo.ca/infoucal/UW/policy_71.html). If you need help in learning how to avoid offenses such as plagiarism, cheating, and double submission, or if you need clarification of aspects of the discipline policy, ask your course instructor for guidance. Other resources regarding the discipline policy are your academic advisor and the Undergraduate Associate Dean. Students who believe that they have been wrongfully or unjustly penalized have the right to grieve. Refer to Policy #70, Student Grievance: http//www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.html.
1. The Nature and Study of Cults (Jan. 5)
From Comprehending Cults read the Introduction and pp. 29-40 of Chap. 1.
From Cults and New Religious Movements read Chap. 2 and 3.
2. The Historical and Sociological Context of Cults (Jan. 12)
From Comprehending Cults read Chap. 2.
From Cults and NRMs read Chaps. 5 & 6.
3. Scientology (Jan 19)
4. Who Joins NRMs and Why? (Jan. 26)Supplemental reading: the material on Scientology on reserve in the library
From Comprehending Cults read Chap. 3, pp. 72-94.
From Cults and NRMs read Chaps 8.
5. Hare Krishna (Feb. 2)
Supplemental reading: the material on ISKCON on reserve in the library.
6. MID-TERM TEST (FIRST HALF OF CLASS TIME) (Feb.9)
A video will be shown in the second half of the class on the Shambhala movement in Nova Scotia.
7. The Coercive Conversion Controversy (Feb.16)
From Comprehending Cults read Chap. 4.
From Cults and NRMs read Chaps. 9 & 10.
Reading Week
8. Unification Church (Mar. 2)
Supplemental reading: the material on the Unification Church on reserve in the library
9. Violence and the Cults (Mar. 9)
From Comprehending Cults read Chap. 5
From Cults and NRMs read Chaps. 12 & 13.
10. Film (Mar. 16)
11. Neo-Paganism (Mar. 23)"Waco: The Rules of Engagement" (This controversial film was nominated for an Academy Award. It has had a strong influence on assessments of what happened in Waco, as evidenced by the several government investigations, civil, and criminal trials that were initiated after its release. The film will take the whole two hour class. Warning: the film contains some graphic footage.)
Supplemental reading: the material on the Neo-Paganism (listed above) is on reserve in the library
12. The Cultural Significance of NRMs and the Future (Mar. 30)
From Comprehending Cults read Chap. 6
From Cults and NRMs read Chap. 16 & 17.
Final Examination (scheduled, but in our class room)
Religious Studies
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