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articles

1. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Carole M. Cusack Orcid-ID

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J. Gordon Melton has opined that in the 1960s scholars were trying to explain why new religious movements existed, and ‘what was wrong that people were turning to new religions?’ (Melton 2007). He suggests that in the twenty-first century the mood has changed, and now ‘the emergence of new religions seems to be one sign of a healthy and free society’ (Melton 2007). This article argues that this ‘normalisation’ of new religions should be extended to those religions that are explicitly based on fictional texts and include popular cultural phenomena and ludic elements. Employing the theory of cognitive narratology (Zunshine 2006), it will be demonstrated that a vocabulary of neologisms and a strong narrative thread are characteristic of both sf and new religions and spiritualities. Beings such as gods and ancestors, angels and demons (which belong to the domain of religion) are made real to humans through story (both written text and oral transmission) and thus Theory of Mind (as employed by cognitive narratologists to discuss the ways humans relate to fictional characters) is also a useful interpretative tool to analyse the relationships humans have with supernatural/supraempirical beings such as those found in religions. It is concluded that fiction-based religions (particularly those based on science fiction and fantasy) are actually logical, because Theory of Mind leads readers to invest in the worlds created in the books and to attribute to the characters inner lives and motivations so that they are made more real and meaningful (and thus likely to occupy the place of gods/angels/etc). For a certain number of readers (or viewers of filmic texts), it is logical to elect to derive ethics and other meaningful principlesfor their lives from such narratives, which may take on the status of religion.
2. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
George D. Chryssides

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Jehovah’s Witnesses do not base their teachings on any new special revelation, but acknowledge the Bible as the infallible record of past direct revelations, obtained by those with special spiritual gifts, which have now died out. Since defining the canon of scripture can only be done by those possessing such gifts, its formation is attributed to the early Christian period. The author discusses the Society’s understanding of the relationship between the Hebrew-Aramaic scriptures and the Greek-Christian Scriptures (its preferred terms for the Old and New Testaments) and the need for a precise translation, which they believe its New World Translation provides. Since Jehovah’s Witnesses hold that the Bible cannot be studied reliably outside the Watch Tower organization, the question arises as to whether the Bible or the Society itself is the primordial source of authority. The Society teaches the importance of practices such as baptism, the annual Memorial, and house-to-house evangelism, which cannot be conducted outside the organization; hence belonging to the Society is equally a prerequisite for salvation as accepting biblical inerrancy. There is therefore a tension between whether it is the Bible or the Society’s Governing Body which is the fundamental authority in religious matters.
3. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Lil Abdo Osborn

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This paper examines the role of Mary Magdalene in the Baha’i tradition. ‘Abdu’l Baha son of the founder of the Baha’i Faith spoke of Mary Magdalene on numerous occasions, referring to her as the ‘Lioness of God’ and extolling her as an exemplar to his followers, ‘My hope is that each one of you may become as Mary Magdalene – for this woman was superior to all the men of her time and her reality is ever shining from the horizon of Christ.’ Mary Magdalene is portrayed as a female archetype in the context of the doctrine of ‘return’ which describes how in each revelatory cycle the phenomenon of recurring archetypal events and dramatis personae occur. Mary Magdalene is thus linked to the Persian Poet Tahirih, the immortal heroine of the Babi-Baha’i dispensation. 'Abdu'l-Bahá portrays Mary Magdalene as a courageous woman, venturing out into a hostile and dangerous environment, firmly determined to fulfil her mission and propagate the Cause of God. By doing so, she provided a role-model for the fearful followers of Jesus who had gone into hiding. The parallels to Tahirih, in terms of courage,determination and leadership qualities, cannot be overlooked.
4. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Rasa Pranskevičiūtė

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This article focuses on the twin phenomena of the Vissarion religious movement and the Anastasia “spiritual” movement, both classifiable as New Age. These groups arose in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and spread throughout Europe from the East.The linkage with Nature and the Earth (opposed to what they regard as artificial technocratic civilization), the importance of harmony – i.e. loving and respectful personal relationships with people, the Earth and God, and other ecological ideas – are characteristic of the subcultural “back to Nature” philosophy (the idea of returning to the “right” world and lifestyle) in these movements. Such ideas are realized in the process of sacralizing space (creating the united family of the Vissarions and the Anastasian love spaces), which is fundamental to the self-understanding of these subcultures. Findings are based on data obtained from fieldwork carried out over a six-year period (2004-2010) in Lithuania and Russia, including participant observation research and interviews with respondentsin both countries.
5. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Inga B. Tøllefsen

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Examining the demographic profiles of Art of Living practitioners in Norway and to some extent in India, this paper presents new perspectives on some aspects of the practice and people in an Indian-oriented New Religion. Data relating to residence, age, gender, sexual orientation, marriage and children, levels of education, annual income, occupation, political orientation and voting are discussed. The primary findings are that Art of Living practitioners are, especially in a Norwegian context, predominantly adult, female, well-educated, resourceful and politically active – contrary to many popular beliefs about ‘cult’ members. Further,data on the movement’s key practice shows the importance of family and friendship networks for joining and continued involvement with the movement and its practices.

book reviews

6. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Scott Simpson

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7. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Alexandros Sakellariou

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8. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Christopher James Blythe

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9. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Jack Tsonis

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10. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Margaret Gouin

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11. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Régis Dericquebourg

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12. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Margaret Gouin

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13. Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review: Volume > 3 > Issue: 2
Ted Hand

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