Prophets and protons : new religious movements and science in late twentieth-century America / Benjamin E. Zeller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zeller, Benjamin E.

Series:

New and alternative religions series.

The new and alternative religions series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and science--United States--20th century.

Religion and science.

Religion and science--United States--21st century.

United States--Religion--20th century.

United States.

United States--Religion--21st century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (238 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : New York University Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

By the twentieth century, science had become so important that religious traditions had to respond to it. Emerging religions, still led by a living founder to guide them, responded with a clarity and focus that illuminates other larger, more established religions’ understandings of science. The Hare Krishnas, the Unification Church, and Heaven’s Gate each found distinct ways to incorporate major findings of modern American science, understanding it as central to their wider theological and social agendas. In tracing the development of these new religious movements’ viewpoints on science during each movement’s founding period, we can discern how their views on science were crafted over time. These NRMs shed light on how religious groups—new, old, alternative, or mainstream—could respond to the tremendous growth of power and prestige of science in late twentieth-century America.In this engrossing book, Zeller carefully shows that religious groups had several methods of creatively responding to science, and that the often-assumed conflict-based model of “science vs. religion” must be replaced by a more nuanced understanding of how religions operate in our modern scientific world.

Contents:

Introduction

Section I: Science and the Unification Church

Introduction to Section I

Science and the foundation of unificationism

Science and the American Unification Church

Section II: Science and the Hare Krishna Movement

Introduction to Section II

Science and the foundation of the Hare Krishnas

Science and the expansion of Iskcon

Section III: Science and Heaven's Gate

Introduction to Section III

Science and the foundation of Heaven's Gate

Science and the end of Heaven's Gate.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780814797495

0814797490

9780814797266

0814797261

OCLC:

779828439