Includes bibliographical references (page 160) and index.

Interest in cults, sects and radical religions has grown exponentially over the course of the last few decades, although they have always been with us in one form or another. Rarely a week passes without some reference in the media to cult-related activity, though behind the attention-grabbing headlines, the wider picture of such incidents is rarely analysed. Tracing the existence of sects back to the very beginnings of humanity, the author provides a historical and cultural context, along with a compelling insight into the workings of such groups, past and present. ... [Back cover].