From Slogans to Mantras
Encyclopedia
From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the Late Vietnam War Era is a non-fiction
book by sociologist Stephen A. Kent
. The book was published in both hardcover and paperback editions, in 2001. Benjamin Zablocki
provided the foreword to the work.
From Slogans to Mantras was cited by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Title that should be owned by every library.
described the work as a "lucid and economical study", noting that Kent had examined the covergence between the interest of American youth in radical politics and protest - and the pursuit of: "unusual, cultish, spiritual traditions." Overbeck writes in Library Journal
that the work is recommended for academic and public libraries, mentioning that Kent utilized personal narratives and alternative press in the book. Whitsett reviewed the book in Cultic Studies Review
, writing that it contained informative content, and is an easy read free of sociological jargon
which made it more accessible to non-expert readers. However, Whitsett also notes that it would have been interesting to compare those that did not choose the route of the ex-members described in the work, and to analyze the differences inherent in these two subsets of individuals. Gill reviewed the book in Humanities and Social Sciences Online and also commented on the readability of the work, stating that it was succinctly written and engaging, and is a useful addition to courses on American religious history.
Williams reviewed the book in The Journal of American History, and provided a less positive review. He noted that Kent analyzed groups that have been referred to as both cult
s and new religious movement
s, including David Berg
's Children of God
, Guru Maharaj Ji's Divine Light Mission
, the Unification Church
, International Society for Krishna Consciousness
, Scientology
, Transcendental meditation
, and others. Williams concluded his review by stating that the work was a "mildly interesting and useful footnote to the sixties", but he wished the book had gone further than that. Massimo Introvigne
also gave the work a critical review which was published on his CESNUR
Web site. Introvigne referred to what he described as "the author’s well-known harsh criticism of NRMs" (new religious movements). However, Introvigne did state that the book was interesting reading, and that the discussion started by Kent on the postpolitical fate of 1960s activists is important and should be expanded upon.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book by sociologist Stephen A. Kent
Stephen A. Kent
Stephen A. Kent, is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He researches new and alternative religions, and has published research on several such groups including the Children of God , the Church of Scientology, and newer faiths...
. The book was published in both hardcover and paperback editions, in 2001. Benjamin Zablocki
Benjamin Zablocki
Benjamin Zablocki is and American professor of sociology at Rutgers University where he teaches sociology of religion and social psychology. He has published widely on the subject of charismatic religious movements and cults....
provided the foreword to the work.
From Slogans to Mantras was cited by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Title that should be owned by every library.
Reception
Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
described the work as a "lucid and economical study", noting that Kent had examined the covergence between the interest of American youth in radical politics and protest - and the pursuit of: "unusual, cultish, spiritual traditions." Overbeck writes in Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
that the work is recommended for academic and public libraries, mentioning that Kent utilized personal narratives and alternative press in the book. Whitsett reviewed the book in Cultic Studies Review
Cultic Studies Review
International Journal of Cultic Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the International Cultic Studies Association.- External links :* , Don Lattin, San Francisco Chronicle, Religion Writer, February 13, 2001...
, writing that it contained informative content, and is an easy read free of sociological jargon
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...
which made it more accessible to non-expert readers. However, Whitsett also notes that it would have been interesting to compare those that did not choose the route of the ex-members described in the work, and to analyze the differences inherent in these two subsets of individuals. Gill reviewed the book in Humanities and Social Sciences Online and also commented on the readability of the work, stating that it was succinctly written and engaging, and is a useful addition to courses on American religious history.
Williams reviewed the book in The Journal of American History, and provided a less positive review. He noted that Kent analyzed groups that have been referred to as both cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s and new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
s, including David Berg
David Berg
David Brandt Berg , frequently known by the pseudonym Moses David, was the founder and leader of the New Religious Movement formerly called Children of God, now called "The Family International".-Early years :Berg was born to Hjalmer Emmanuel Berg and Rev...
's Children of God
Children of God
The Family International , formed as as the Children of God and later named Family of Love and the Family, is a new religious movement, started in 1968 in Huntington Beach, California, United States. It began in the late 1960s, with many of its early converts drawn from the hippie movement...
, Guru Maharaj Ji's Divine Light Mission
Divine Light Mission
The Divine Light Mission was an organization founded in 1960 by guru Shri Hans Ji Maharaj for his following in northern India. During the 1970s, the DLM gained prominence in the West under the leadership of his fourth and youngest son, Guru Maharaj Ji...
, the Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
, International Society for Krishna Consciousness
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
, Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
, Transcendental meditation
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
, and others. Williams concluded his review by stating that the work was a "mildly interesting and useful footnote to the sixties", but he wished the book had gone further than that. Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist and intellectual property consultant. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions , an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of tens of books and articles in...
also gave the work a critical review which was published on his CESNUR
CESNUR
CESNUR , is an organization based in Turin, Italy. It was established in 1988 by a group of religious scholars from universities in Europe and the Americas, working in the field of new religious movements. Its director is the Italian sociologist and attorney Massimo Introvigne...
Web site. Introvigne referred to what he described as "the author’s well-known harsh criticism of NRMs" (new religious movements). However, Introvigne did state that the book was interesting reading, and that the discussion started by Kent on the postpolitical fate of 1960s activists is important and should be expanded upon.
Cited by other works
From Slogans to Mantras is cited by Oppenheimer's Knocking on Heaven's Door, as well as Gallagher's The New Religious Movements Experience In America, Jenkins' Decade of Nightmares, Boucher's Dancing in the Dharma, Perone's Music of the Counterculture Era, Spilka's Psychology of Religion, Stark's Exploring the Religious Life, and Beckford's Social Theory and Religion.External links
- Syracuse University Press — publisher's official web site
- Reviews of From Slogans to Mantras — web site of Stephen A. KentStephen A. KentStephen A. Kent, is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He researches new and alternative religions, and has published research on several such groups including the Children of God , the Church of Scientology, and newer faiths...