Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History

In Mystics and Messiahs—the first full account of cults and anti-cult scares in American history—Philip Jenkins shows that, contrary to popular belief, cults were by no means an invention of the 1960s. In fact, most of the frightening images and stereotypes surrounding fringe religious movements are traceable to the mid-nineteenth century when Mormons, Freemasons, and even Catholics were denounced for supposed ritualistic violence, fraud, and sexual depravity. But America has also been the ...