Larson's New Book of Cults

by Bob Larson

This updated and revised edition lists cults alphabetically for easy reference and contains cross-references to related cults and cult beliefs.

Genres: Cults, Nonfiction, Reference, Religion, Christian

499 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1989

About the author

Bob Larson is an American radio and television evangelist, and a pastor of Spiritual Freedom Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Larson has authored numerous books critical of rock music and Satanism.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

What do you get when someone from one established, Western, overwhelmingly white, paternalistic, one-right-way religion catalogs other religions and tells you why they are wrong? You get a book like this. I picked it up from one of those cute little neighborhood library boxes for two reasons. First, to relieve anyone else from having to deal with it. Second, because it could provide good fodder for my fiction writing. By the way, I had to read an older version during my own upbringing in the religion of the author. Not much had changed over the years. A few more wrong worldviews added.

[Licha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much information thrown at you at once. Book is good if you want a brief description of different cults, but there is not enough in-depth look into some of the more known and of more interest cults out there. The author also makes note on how each cult goes against Christian beliefs. Good for quick reference, but that's about it.

[Rachel C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are you considering reading this book? Are you an open minded individual? How do you know that your beliefs are not just in your imagination? If you look around at other faith’s and decide that those people are deluding themselves, how do you know that you are not also deluding yourself? If there is no way of testing the "truth" of your beliefs, then you have successfully chosen to shut out any outside voices, and eliminated the opportunity to grow. Please consider hearing counter arguments. It will offer you freedom. These books freed me:

“Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” - Carl Sagan
“The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution” - Richard Dawkins
“Faith vs Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible” - Jerry Coyne

You don’t have to agree with everything these authors say, to benefit intellectually from their arguments.

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this used online only having read the cover. its more a religious rant on non Christian belief than an encyclopedia of cults.

Heavy evangelical undertones. I find cultist behavior fascinating, but while this book does give an accurate and detailed account of tactics used by leaders and the appeal they present to followers they ignore the obvious parallels with the author's own beliefs.

There are also misunderstandings or exaggerations in the beginning where other religions are partly misrepresented to fit the satanic or dangerous narrative.

I decided this book wasn't for me by the time I got to the encyclopedia of cults (pg109) due to the author's delusional agenda, which was unfortunately not rooted in any 'practical reality'.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing as the creeper author didn't really write this himself but assembled more legitimate people to throw it into a pile I say it's good. It also classifies what a "cult" actually is and before I used to confuse the term with "occult."

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains snippets of information regarding all sorts of cults and religions. If you are at all interested in cults/religions, I would highly recommend reading it.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Reference book but probably not for those with the PC standards now so popular. The old moto 'The truth shall set you free' is often painful but necessary.

[Stan Belyshev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for simple reading, but for a heavy duty study. I have met him in person and witnessed him ministering in very powerful ways.