New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America

New nontraditional religious movements are the most likely groups to offend mainstream culture and the least likely to have representatives in government to ensure that their liberty is protected. These new religious movements are sometimes ostracized and subject to various forms of discrimination. As America becomes increasingly pluralistic, with more and more groups contributing to the nation's religious mosaic, new religious movements may well play an increasing role in the course of religious liberty in America, just as groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses did formerly. This book explores the problems and possibilities posed by new religious movements for religious liberty in America.

DEREK H. DAVIS directs the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University and edits the Journal of Church and State. An internationally recognized expert in church-state relations, Davis has authored or edited more than twelve books. BARRY HANKINS serves as an associate professor of history and church-state studies at Baylor University. He is the author of God's Rascal: J. Frank Norris and the Beginnings of Southern Fundamentalism as well as numerous articles and reviews.