Cults, religion, and violence / edited by David G. Bromley, J. Gordon Melton.

Violence and religion in perspective / David G. Bromley and J. Gordon Melton -- Dramatic denouements / David G. Bromley -- Challenging misconceptions about the new religions-violence connection / J. Gordon Melton and David G. Bromley -- Sources of volatility in religious movements / Thomas Robbins -- Crises of charismatic legitimacy and violent behavior in new religious movements / Lorne L. Dawson -- Public agency involvement in government-religious movement confrontations / Stuart A. Wright -- Watching for violence: a comparative analysis of the roles of five types of cult-watching groups / Eileen Barker -- Mass suicide and the Branch Davidians / John R. Hall -- Occult masters and the Temple of Doom: the fiery end of the Solar Temple / Massimo Introvigne and Jean-François Mayer -- Dramatic confrontations: Aum Shinrikyô against the world / Ian Reader -- Making sense of the Heaven's Gate suicides / Robert W. Balch and David Taylor -- Lessons from the past, perspective for the future / J. Gordon Melton and David G. Bromley.y.

Includes bibliographical references and index.