Modern Religious Cults and Movements

About this book

The book is a scholarly survey of the religious cults and movements that have emerged since the late nineteenth century, written by Gaius Glenn Atkins, a minister and academic with a doctorate in divinity. Its opening frames the study as an “endeavour” to locate the simple centers around which diverse groups, Christian Science, New Thought, Theosophy, Spiritualism and various minor sects, have organized themselves, while acknowledging the author’s own limitations and the ever‑shifting nature of contemporary appraisal. Atkins sets out a systematic plan, beginning with a review of inherited Christianity, then tracing the impact of evolution, biblical criticism, psychology and philosophy on faith, before moving on to detailed examinations of healing practices, mysticism and the “border‑land” cults that challenge traditional doctrines. The introductory passage signals a methodical, historically grounded approach that blends theological analysis with cultural context.

Written in the polished, forceful prose of early‑twentieth‑century scholarship, the work reflects the intellectual climate of the 1920s, drawing on William James and contemporary scientific and philosophical developments. Its tone is that of a learned minister‑historian, aiming for clarity and breadth rather than polemic. Readers interested in the history of religion, the sociology of new spiritual movements, or the intellectual roots of Christian Science and related healing traditions will find it rewarding, especially those who appreciate a measured, academic style that situates doctrinal innovation within broader cultural shifts.