The Pagan Census (PC) was conducted between 1993 and 1995, while the Pagan Census Revisited (PCR) was conducted in 2009-10. Though not ‘censuses’ in the proper sense, these two data sets represent the best quantitative information we have on contemporary Paganism. Contrasting the PCR with the PC indicates that much has remained the same, especially with regard to general demographic profile. The most dramatic change in the past fifteen years is the increase in the proportion of Pagans who practice alone.

Investigating various types of communication used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, focusing mainly on online communications in a European context. Using findings from a research project studying the interaction between church members and European institutions and the interactions between Mormons and non-Mormons in a Francophone world. These communications are analyzed by tone, religious and non-religion nature and how the internet has influenced Francophone Mormons' communications.

In 2005, 2008 and 2011, demographic questionnaires were administered to the membership of the Order of Christ Sophia, a small new religion in the tradition of the Holy Order of MANS. Findings from these surveys are presented and discussed in terms of the parameters laid out by Lorne Dawson in his 2003 summary of NRM conversion research, ‘Who Joins New Religions and Why: Twenty Years of Research and What Have We Learned?’ In addition to analyzing the changes that have taken place in the Order from 2005 to 2011, the research project is presented as a paradigm for conducting longitudinal studies of other new religious movements in the future.

An important characteristic of New Religious Movements is that their founders purport to be masters of Past, Present, and Future. Indeed this may be a crucial indicator of these movements as ‘modern.’ This article introduces the range of ideas propounded by NRM leaders about history in general (‘macrohistory’) and about why history approaches some culminating point. It is a typical feature of NRMs that their followers believe the secrets of time have been disclosed and that what they are privileged to know about the course of things is a mark of their own and the group’s identity. NRM macro-histories and eschatologies are alwaysconstructed from pre-existing materials and their development as sets of ideas often re-enliven older religious, philosophical, ethnocentric and nationalist beliefs. Starting with sectarian Protestant and Indian-originated movements well known in the West, and documenting various themes in them, the article moves on to survey a wider body of non-Western outlooks. The ideas covered are also presented for being interesting in their own right.

In this article, I examine central academic writings on the New Thought and Christian Science movements, concentrating on the scholarly treatment of these movements’ origins and influences. Using a comparative approach, I draw out key questions in these works, both explicit and implicit, with special attention to the role of spiritualism in these movements’ origins. I conclude by briefly discussing my findings and identifying mandates for further research on metaphysical movements.