The Odyssey of New Religious Movements: Persecution, Struggle / Legitimation: A Case Study of the Unification Church

by John T. Biermans

Presents the thesis that all new, conversion-oriented religious movements which call their members to a radical change of life normally receive persecution. Includes ample reference to such contemporary researchers in the sociology of religion as A. Shupe, E. Barker, and J. Richardson, in order to identify and contextualize the main lines of attack upon the new religion that is the subject of this case study, the Unification movement (UM).

388 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986