‘Cult’ Rhetoric in the 21st Century

This book focuses on how 'cult rhetoric' affects our perceptions of new religious movements (NRMs).

Recent decades have seen radical changes, both in the study of religion and in religions themselves. International contributors show how the rise of Al Qaeda, Donald Trump's presidency and organisations like QAnon, as well as developments in digital technology, have influenced the ways in which minority religions have progressed. They also discuss how secularisation theory and the questioning of the so-called World Religions Paradigm have greatly shaped academic treatment of the field - all while the media, the anticult movement and popular culture continue to shape public perceptions of NRMs, with rhetoric involving terms like 'destructive cult', 'brainwashing', and 'victims'.

This book examines how discussions on NRMs have developed over the past decades, deconstructing the language we use to describe these movements. It also explores specific case studies, notably the Chinese concept of xiejiao ('evil cults'), La Luz del Mundo, QAnon, and video games as a medium of spiritual encounter.