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This explores the question of when and why violence by and against new religious cults erupts and whether and how such dramatic conflicts can be foreseen, managed and averted. The authors, leading international experts on religious movements and violent behavior, focus on the four major episodes of cult violence during the last decade: the tragic conflagration that engulfed the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas; the deadly sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo in Tokyo; the murder-suicides by the Solar Temple in Switzerland and Canada; and the collective suicide by the members of Heaven's Gate. They explore the dynamics leading to these dramatic episodes in North America, Europe, and Asia, and offer insights into the general relationship between violence and religious cults in contemporary society. The authors conclude that these events usually involve some combination of internal and external dynamics through which a new religious movement and society become polarized.

Violence --- Cults. --- Alternative religious movements --- Cult --- Cultus --- Marginal religious movements --- New religions --- New religious movements --- NRMs (Religion) --- Religious movements, Alternative --- Religious movements, Marginal --- Religious movements, New --- Religions --- Sects --- Violence (in religion, folklore, etc.) --- Religious aspects. --- Moral and religious aspects --- Cults --- 291.7 --- 291.7 Acties op religieuze beweeggronden: godsdienstoorlogen; missiewerking; zending; fanatisme; religieuze propaganda; fundamentalisme --- Acties op religieuze beweeggronden: godsdienstoorlogen; missiewerking; zending; fanatisme; religieuze propaganda; fundamentalisme --- Religious aspects --- Social Sciences --- Sociology --- violence and religion --- new religions --- religious movements --- charismatic legitimacy --- violent behavior --- public agence involvement --- government and religious movements --- cult-watching groups --- mass suicide --- the Branch Davidians --- Occult masters --- the Solar Temple --- Aum Shinrikyo --- Heaven's Gate suicides --- cults