From Slogans to Mantras

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From Slogans to Mantras
AuthorStephen A. Kent
Country United States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectReligion, Social activism
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherSyracuse University Press
Publication date
October 2001
Media typeHardcover
Pages224
ISBNISBN 0815629230 , ISBN 978-0815629238 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character

From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the Late Vietnam War Era is a non-fiction book by sociologist Stephen A. Kent. The book was published in both hardcover and paperback editions, in 2001. Benjamin Zablocki provided the forward to the work[1].

Reception

Publishers Weekly described the work as a "lucid and economical study", noting that Kent had examined the covergence between the interest of American youth in radical politics and protest - and the pursuit of: "unusual, cultish, spiritual traditions."[2] Overbeck writes in Library Journal that the work is recommended for academic and public libraries, mentioning that Kent utilized personal narratives and alternative press in the book[3]. Whitsett review the book in Cultic Studies Review[1], writing that it contained informative content, and is an easy read free of sociological jargon which made it more accessible to non-expert readers. However, Whitsett also notes that it would have been interesting to compare those that did not choose the route of the ex-members described in the work, and to analyze the differences inherent in these two subsets of individuals[1]. Gill reviewed the book in Humanities and Social Sciences Online and also commented on the readability of the work, stating that it was succinctly written and engaging[4], and is a useful addition to courses on American religious history.

Williams reviewed the book in The Journal of American History, and provided a less positive review[5]. He noted that Kent analyzed groups that have been referred to as both cults and new religious movements, including David Berg's Children of God, Guru Maharaj Ji's Divine Light Mission, the Unification Church International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Scientology, Transcendental meditation, and others[5]. Williams concluded his review by stating that the work was "mildly interesting and useful footnote to the sixties", but he wished the book had gone further than that[5]. Massimo Introvigne also gave the work a critical review which was published on his CESNUR Web site[6]. Introgivne referred to what he described as "the author’s well-known harsh criticism of NRMs" (new religious movements)[6]. However, Introvigne did state that the book was interesting reading, and that the discussion started by Kent on the postpolitical fate of 1960s activists is important and should be expanded upon[6].

Cited by other works

From Slogans to Mantras is cited by Oppenheimer's Knocking on Heaven's Door[7].

External links

Official

References

  1. ^ a b c Whitsett, Doni (2002). "Reviews: From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the Late Vietnam War Era". Cultic Studies Review. 1 (3). {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Staff. Publishers Weekly. 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. pp. Review, From Slogans to Mantras. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Overbeck, James A. Library Journal. Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, Georgia: 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. pp. Review, From Slogans to Mantras. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Jill K. Gill . "Review of Stephen A. Kent, From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the Late Vietnam War Era," H-AmRel, H-Net Reviews, July, 2002. URL: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=196341029215872.
  5. ^ a b c Williams, Peter W. (March 2003). "Book Review, From Slogans to Mantras". The Journal of American History. 89 (4). {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Massimo Introvigne, Getting Unsaved from the Sixties: Stephen Kent’s "From Slogans to Mantras", retrieved 11-05-2007.
  7. ^ Oppenheimer, Mark (October 1, 2003). Knocking on Heaven's Door. Yale University Press. p. 304. ISBN 0300100248. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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