Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement

by Ruth A. Tucker

A comprehensive survey of major alternative religions in the United States, including new groups since the 1960s. Crystals, shamans, guided imagery, healing meditation—why have these New Age practices been so eagerly accepted by so many North Americans? Why were Mormonism, Christian Science, and Baha’i so warmly welcomed before them? Another Gospel explains how these and other alternative religious movements appear to meet people's spiritual needs. As a professor in church history, women's studies, and alternative religions, Ruth Tucker deftly illuminates the personalities whose alleged revelations spawned historical heresies in all the major cults in the United States. Another Appendices describe lesser-known cults, such as Swedenborgianism and Rosicrucianism, and provide cults' statements of belief for the benefit of those seeking to understand the various fringe beliefs they may encounter.

Genres: Cults, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology

Paperback

First published July 29, 1989

About the author

Ruth A. Tucker (PhD, Northern Illinois University) has taught mission studies and church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Calvin Theological Seminary. She is the author of dozens of articles and eighteen books, including the award-winning From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Visit her website at www.RuthTucker.com.

Reviews

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite religious reference book that I own.

You can quickly get a good grasp on most major religions through Ruth Tucker's work. I consult this book weekly. It seems to have a better layout and access to details than the others.
It's been over 20 years since this book was put out. I would love an updated version. Especially since Christianity is mingling and merging with so much of this chaos.

If I could name 5 people in the world that I would love to have a 5 hour Starbucks chat with: Ruth is in the top 3.

[Gabe Chaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource with a Christian perspective. Could use an updated edition though.

[Steven H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A WIDE-RANGING, REASONABLY OBJECTIVE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ruth A. Tucker is a former professor of missiology, and was a professor at Calvin Theological Seminary in 2000. She has also written books such as 'From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions,' 'Daughters of the Church,' 'Walking Away from Faith: Unraveling the Mystery of Belief & Unbelief,' 'God Talk: Cautions for Those Who Hear God's Voice,' etc.

She wrote in the Introduction to this 1989 book, "The purpose of this volume is to present a historical and contemporary overview of alternative religious movements. It is not an apologetic for orthodox Christianity. That endeavor is left to the theologians... Nor is this text sociologically oriented... This book then is a volume that tells the story of the development of alternative religions, focusing on key individuals, important events, and doctrines and practices that deviated from historic orthodoxy."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"The Tanners have challenged (William Schnoebelen's) testimony and his claim to have had access to inside information (about Mormonism), and in the process they found many inconsistencies in his story regarding various clerical and occultic activities. Their fear is that unsubstantiated charges against the Mormons, such as those Schnoebelen has made, will only damage the cause of solid research that has been so effective in alerting Mormons to the truth about their church." (Pg. 29)
"(Charles Taze) Russell requested a separation (from his wife), promising her the house if she would dutifully go along with the arrangement. Russell's motivation for separating from Maria was based on their overall 'incompatibility' and that she was wielding too much influence over the ministry... she bitterly complained that he had humiliated her in a public meeting. What followed in the next several years could be described variously as a circus, a soap opera, or a comedy of errors... Russell and some of his loyalists went to her residence and removed all of her personal possessions and those of the other tenants in the boarding house---an action which promptly provoked a lawsuit." (Pg. 121)
"Rutherford's personal life was in many ways more scandalous than his predecessor's had been... some of which may have been heightened by his alcoholism... Former workers at the Watch Tower's New York headquarters recount tales of his inebriation and drunken stupors. Others tell stories of how difficult it was to get him to give talks at conventions because of his drunkenness." (Pg. 127)
"Another best-seller heavily influenced by New Age thought was Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which was supposedly dictated to Richard Bach by a being that came to him in the form of a bird." (Pg. 335)

[Doug Maffett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read during a religion course in college. Amazing book.

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Gospel is a well-researched, comprehensive, and intensive guide on cults, alternative religions, and the New Age movement. Deeply detailed, Ruth A. Tucker answers any and all questions readers have about different movements' origins and ideologies. For anyone interested in comparative world religions, this book is the perfect reference.

As somewhat of an agnostic myself, I found this book engrossing, for the most part. The only downside: Tucker looks down on some of these alternatives because of her personal religious beliefs; this bias works against Tucker's professionalism.

This book was recommended to me by my grandfather, who is an avid comparative world religions scholar.

[stiner25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants to learn a little bit about how other churches started, this is a good book. Each religious belief has its own chapter. Most of the religions talked about in the book have roots in Christianity, but have from a few to many major differences from your mainstream church. In it, you learn of several of the religions of the world, how they were started and who founded them. A good read.

[roland simarangkir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku yang memberi pemahaman umum tentang aliran-aliran yang berkaitan dengan Kekristenan.

Buku yang ditulis dengan penelitian yang cukup baik.