REL 3145 - Cults, Sects, and New Religions

New Religious Movements (NRMs), also known as "cults and sects," are those religious movements such as Mormonism and Jehovah's Witness that have arisen during the modern period (roughly from the 18th century on). This course will explore a wide range of NRMs in order to ask the question, in what ways do NRMs reflect modern themes and concerns? The course will begin with a discussion of theories of modernity and the sociology of NRMs, and then apply these theories to detailed case studies of particular NSMs, specifically within the context of the United States. The course will also explore the challenges NRMs pose as the United States becomes increasingly religious diverse. This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 2: Exploration and Discovery – Societies and Cultures Category. This course also meets the Diversity and Inclusion student learning outcome.

Credits: 3 hours

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