cfp | call for papers | New Religious Movements in China

In the late 1970s, academics came to use the term New Religious
Movement (NRM) to replace “cult” in light of the pejorative connotation
in daily English. At the time, NRM referred to small religious groups
whose membership was predominately in the first generation. The leaders’
authority derived from charisma and they promised exclusive means to
access the ultimate source of the cosmos that they alone possessed. They
held beliefs and practices that differed from the traditional ones in
the surrounding religious environment, such as innovative
interpretations of ancient scripture or rituals and an independent
organization. They lack recognized legitimacy in the eyes of the
religious establishment. Apocalyptic beliefs about the immediate end of
the world were common among the NRMs which did not help to ease the
suspicion among other part of authorities in society…  

~ 

deadline for submissions: April 30, 2018