Alternative religious groups have had a profound influence on American history-they have challenged the old and opened up new ways of thinking about healing; modes of meaning; religious texts and liturgies; the social and political order; and the relationships between religion and race; class; gender; and region. Virtually always; the dramatic; dynamic history of alternative religions runs parallel to that of dissent in America. Communities of Dissent is an evenhanded and marvelously lively history of New Religious Movements in America. Stephen J. Stein describes the evolution and structure of alternative religious movements from both sides: the critics and the religious dissenters themselves. Providing a fascinating look at a wide range of New Religious Movements; he investigates obscure groups such as the 19th-century Vermont Pilgrims; who wore bearskins and refused to bathe or cut their hair; alongside better-known alternative believers; including colonial America's largest outsider faith; the Quakers; 17th- and 18th-century Mennonites; Amish; and Shakers; and the Christian Scientists; Jehovah's Witnesses; Black Muslims; and Scientologists of today.Accessible and comprehensive; Communities of Dissent also covers the milestones in the history of alternative American religions; from the infamous Salem witch trials and mass suicide/murder at Jonestown to the positive ways in which alternative religions have affected racial relations; the empowerment of women; and American culture in general.
#4420645 in Books 2002-03-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.75 x .59 x 8.56l; #File Name: 0195148533112 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. TextbookBy Lydia IpswitchI bought this book for a class I was taking on Slave Literature. It was a very interesting account of slavery in general; and it provides a great perspective of what it was like to be a slave during this period.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown - Henry Box BrownBy A. L. AndersonThis is a very interesting historical account of a man who had himself mailed to freedom. Imagine the discomfort; and the ultimate exhilaration.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Slave NarrativeBy BeachReaderThis genre; the slave narrative; created by fugitive slaves; is one that I knew nothing about; but was one that fascinated audiences and often made celebrities out of their authors. Narratives written by escaped slaves were very popular in the mid 1800s as they recounted stories of abuse; cruelty; escape; and their lives as free people in the north.None of these slave narratives was as curious and compelling as that of Henry "Box" Brown; who actually boxed himself up and shipped himself to freedom in 1849; from Virginia to an abolitionist in Philadelphia. Risking death and/or suffocation to be free showed the desperation of the slaves even in a state like Virginia; where cruelty was purported to be less than in other parts of the south. Brown's story showed this not to be true. His escape was motivated by the sale of his wife and children; sent to parts unknown and never seen again.His book was originally written by a Charles Stearns; described as a radical; argumentative ideologue and was written in an overwrought style.Brown fled to England in 1850 when the Fugitive Slave Act was passed. He was a controversial figure; criticized for revealing how he escaped (and profiting from this) rather than sharing it with other slaves who might have used the same method.When Brown got to England; his book was re-written in a more honest and simple style; and the edition that I am reviewing is the American version of that book. The difference is that this book is said to be written in Brown's voice and the lack of turgid prose makes it 20+ pages shorter.I have my doubts if this was Brown's voice...it seems to be the voice of a well-spoken; educated person with a large vocabulary; capable of complex sentence structure and high levels of organization. For example; he writes: "I might perhaps have dragged my chains of quietude to the grave; and have found a tomb in a slavery-polluted land; but thanks be to God I heard the glorious sound and felt its inspiring influence on my heart; and having satisfied myself of the value of freedom; I resolved to purchase it whatever should be the price."Despite this; the book was an incredibly interesting account of Brown's early life; his life as an adult slave; his escape.
