Christian Countercult Movement

Many seemingly strange questions on yoga, salvation, religious pluralism, and so forth have been actively debated among members of a small but influential group of evangelical apologists known as the Christian countercult movement. This Element explores the history of this movement from its origins in the anti-heresy writings of the early church to its modern development as a reaction to religious pluralism in North America. It contrasts the apologetic Christian countercult movement with its secular anticult counterpart and explains how faith-based opposition both to new religious movements and to non-Christian religions will only deepen as religious pluralism increases. It provides a concise understanding of the two principal goals of Christian countercult apologetics: support for the evangelization of non-Christian believers and maintenance for the perceived superiority of the evangelical Christian worldview.

List of contents

Introducing the Christian countercult; 1. The Christian countercult in historical perspective; 2. The modern countercult movement in North America; 3. Telling the Christian countercult from the secular anticult; 4. Reality-maintenance and the Christian countercult movement; 5. The future of the Christian countercult; References.

Product details

• Authors: Douglas E Cowan, Douglas E. Cowan, Douglas E. (Renison University College Cowan, Cowan Douglas E.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.08.2023
• EAN: 9781009054171
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0905417-1
• No. of pages: 75
• Series: Elements in New Religious Movements; Elements in New Religious Move
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / Christianity / Protestant, North America, RELIGION / Fundamentalism, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Islamic Studies, Alternative belief systems, Religious Fundamentalism, North America (USA and Canada), Religious groups: social & cultural aspects, Relating to Christian people and groups, Social groups: religious groups and communities, Protestantism & Protestant Churches, Protestantism and Protestant Churches