New Religious Movements (NRMs) are also known as cults or sects. Sites listed here are primarily concerned with the academic study of religious groups younger than the major Western monotheistic traditions. These sites do not pass judgment on NRMs on religious grounds, though certain groups may be criticized on sociological, psychological, or mental health grounds.
Italy based organization for the study of NRMs. Includes articles from "Cults & Society: An Internet Journal", press articles, and related documents. Site in English, Italian, and French. http://www.grisroma.it/
Established in 1988 and recognized in Italy as a public cultural institution in 1996, CESNUR is an international research center in the field of religious studies and new religious movements. http://www.cesnur.org/
Jeffrey K. Hadden's extensive collection of resources covering cults, sects, and new and established religions. Includes profiles and links for over 200 religious movements, discussion of cult group controversies, and teaching course materials. http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/
An American Academy of Religion program unit engaging in the scholarly study of NRMs. Outline of activities and links to journals, directories, and professional societies. http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/aar-nrm/
Includes complete texts of selected academic works, an exploration of African religions, and a mailing list: nurel-l. http://www.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/
An annotated directory of Internet resources for the study of NRMs and alternative spirituality. Includes categories for academic study, Christian and secular responses, and specific movements. http://www.academicinfo.net/nrms.html
Resources concerning psychological manipulation, cult groups, sects, and new religious movements. Includes conferences, full text essays, study guides, and details of periodicals. http://www.csj.org/
Essays from the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance cover cults, NRMs, the counter-cult movement, and attitudes toward minority religions. http://www.religioustolerance.org/cultmenu.htm
Stephen A. Kent examines the sociological reasons for European government concern over new religious movements, and analyzes the State Department's apparent acceptance of Scientologists' claims of human rights abuses. [Marburg Journal of Religion] http://www.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/kent2.html
Article by Stephen A. Kent and Theresa Krebs sounds the alarm about trusting researchers being co-opted by the groups they study, thus bringing the social study of religion into disrepute. http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c25.html
