Sect, Cult, and Church in Alberta

William E. Mann is Assistant Professor in the Department of Economic and Political Science at the University of Western Ontario, and is the former Executive Secretary of the Diocesan Council for Social Service of the Toronto Synod of the Anglican Church. His publications include The Rural Chuch in Canada, and shorter studies in sociology, on such topics as the social systems of slums and the sociological factors in Church Unions in Canada.

"Mann's book is a clar and firm appraisal of the criss-cross religious culture which engendered the Aberhart movement. It is also a fascinating study of the incredible proliferation of sects and cults in a frontier community."

A.R.M. Lower:

"[The book's] analysis brings out something in the inner structure of history, if ever 'history repeats itself,' it is surely in the phenomena accompanying the emergence of religious groups ... The general argument o the book is sound and stimulating and constitutes a most useful tool of historical interpretation."

Harold W. Pfautz:

"As a cogent interpretation in sociological terms of what happened in Alberta, the volume is an excellent study in social history."

"This book gives an admirably concise and balanced appraisal of liturgy and doctrine, programme and organization of the bewildering variety of sects and cults. It is hard to see how a student without theological training could have presented this material in as readable a form."

William A. Westley:

"This study makes a threefold contribution. To the literature on Canada it contributes an intensive documentation and interpretation of the development of religion in Alberta and of the relationship of this development to the Social Credit part. To the meagre sociological material on sects and cults it is a most welcome addition which will..stand as a basic reference for students of collective behaviour. Finally,...the sect and cult are phenomena of the modern world which need description and explanation. William Mann's technically skilful, scholarly and sympathetic account goes a long way towards doing both."