Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Preface ix
4. Caveat xiii
5. Introduction: Finding a Middle Ground in a Polarized Scholarly Arena 1
6. PART ONE: HOW OBJECTIVE ARE THE SCHOLARS?
7. 1. 'O Truant Muse': Collaborationist!! and Research Integrity 35
8. 2. Balance and Fairness in the Study of Alternative Religions 71
9. 3. Caught Up in the Cult Wars: Confessions of a Canadian Researcher 99
10. 4. Pitfalls in the Sociological Study of Cults 123
11. PART TWO: HOW CONSTRAINED ARE THE PARTICIPANTS?
12. 5. Towards a Demystified and Disinterested Scientific Theory of Brainwashing 159
13. 6. Tactical Ambiguity and Brainwashing Formulations: Science or Pseudo-Science? 215
14. 7. A Tale of Two Theories: Brainwashing and Conversion as Competing Political Narratives 318
15. 8. Brainwashing Programs in The Family/ Children of God and Scientology 349
16. 9. Raising Lazarus: A Methodological Critique of Stephen Kent's Revival of the Brainwashing Model 379
17. 10. Compelling Evidence: A Rejoinder to Lome Dawson's Chapter 401
18. PART THREE: HOW CONCERNED SHOULD SOCIETY BE?
19. 11. Child-Rearing Issues in Totalist Groups 415
20. 12. Contested Narratives: A Case Study of the Conflict between a New Religious Movement and Its Critics 452
21. 13. The Roots of Religious Violence in America 478
22. Appendix: Further Reading and Web Browsing 515
23. Contributors 521