James R. Lewis: Sects Stats: Overturning the Conventional Wisdom about Cult Members (original) (raw)

James R. Lewis's work challenges prevalent misconceptions about members of new religious movements (NRMs), arguing that outdated demographic data skews understanding of these groups. By utilizing contemporary quantitative data from national censuses, surveys, and longitudinal studies, Lewis reveals changing demographic trends, particularly regarding age and modes of entry into NRMs. He advocates for the importance of integrating statistical data into the qualitative analysis of religion to create a more accurate picture of these movements as they evolve in a mainstream society.