Overview
Introduction to history, membership and main features of new religious groups including Rastafarianism, Hare Krishnas, Branch Davidians, UFO believers, and more. Critical analysis of ‘cult’ versus ‘religion.’
This paper focuses on the history, membership and main features of various religious organisations, including Rastafarianism, ISKCON (the Hare Krishnas), the Black Muslims, Marian Apparitional Movements and UFO cults.
About this paper
| Paper title | Cults, Prophets, Apocalypse: Understanding New Religious Movements (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level RELS or RELX points
- Restriction
- RELS 214, RELX 214, RELX 306
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Notes
- (i) May not be credited together with RELS231 passed in 2007. (ii) Students who have not passed the normal prerequisite may be admitted with approval from the Head of Programme.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
The Distance Learning offering of this paper is taught remotely.
Campus: Weekly lectures
Distance: Online discussion- Textbooks
- A coursebook has been developed for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Information literacy, Research, Communication skills.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- On completion of the paper, students should be able to
- Demonstrate knowledge of the terminology, key theories and debates that lie behind the contemporary literature on new religious movements (NRMs)
- Be familiar with the dominant theories of the formation on NRMs, NRMs leadership and apostasy
- Explore, through critical analysis, the ethical issues and controversies provoked by NRMs
- Develop creative and critical approaches when carrying out independent study on a NRM using primary and secondary sources, as well as audio-visual resources
- Assessment details
- Two 4,000-word essays 80%
- Five online tutorial contributions 20%
- No final examination
Overview
Introduction to history, membership and main features of new religious groups including Rastafarianism, Hare Krishnas, Branch Davidians, UFO believers, and more. Critical analysis of ‘cult’ versus ‘religion.’
This paper focuses on the history, membership and main features of various religious organisations, including Rastafarianism, ISKCON (the Hare Krishnas), the Black Muslims, Marian Apparitional Movements and UFO cults.
About this paper
| Paper title | Cults, Prophets, Apocalypse: Understanding New Religious Movements (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1
(Distance learning)
Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper is taught and assessed remotely |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level RELS or RELX points
- Restriction
- RELS 214, RELX 214, RELX 306
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Notes
- (i) May not be credited together with RELS231 passed in 2007. (ii) Students who have not passed the normal prerequisite may be admitted with approval from the Head of Programme.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website.
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
The distance learning offering of this paper is taught remotely.
Campus: weekly lectures.
Distance: online discussion.- Textbooks
A coursebook has been developed for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Information literacy, Research, Communication skills.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of the paper, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the terminology, key theories and debates that lie behind the contemporary literature on new religious movements (NRMs).
- Be familiar with the dominant theories of the formation on NRMs, NRMs leadership and apostasy.
- Explore, through critical analysis, the ethical issues and controversies provoked by NRMs.
- Develop creative and critical approaches when carrying out independent study on a NRM using primary and secondary sources, as well as audio-visual resources.
- Assessment details
- Two 4,000-word essays = 80%
- Five online tutorial contributions = 20%
- No final examination