Cults of Unreason

Cults of Unreason

1974 ed. Book cover
Author	Christopher Riche Evans
Cover artist	Paul Agule (jacket design)
Language	English
Subject	Cults, pseudoscience
Publisher	Harrap, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Delacorte Press
Publication date	1973, 1974, 1975
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	257 (UK:259)
ISBN	0-374-13324-7 ISBN 978-0-374-13324-5 ISBN 0-440-54402-5 ISBN 978-0-440-54402-9 UK 0245-518703
OCLC	863421
Dewey Decimal	133/.06
LC Class	BF1999 .E83 1974
Followed by	Landscapes of the Night – how and why we dream

Cults of Unreason is a non-fiction book on atypical belief systems, written by Christopher Riche Evans, who was a noted computer scientist and an experimental psychologist.^[1] It was first published in the UK in 1973 by Harrap and in the United States in 1974 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, in paperback in 1975, by Delacorte Press, and in German, by Rowohlt, in 1976.^[2]

Evans discusses Scientology and Dianetics, UFO religions, believers in Atlantis, biofeedback, Yoga, Eastern religions, and black boxes. He points out that these systems and groups incorporate technological advances within a theological framework, and that part of their appeal is due to the failure of modern people to find strength, comfort, and community in traditional religion and in science.^[1][3][4]

In 2001, new religious movement specialist George Chryssides criticized the book's title by pointing out that most groups referred to as cults do have well-defined beliefs.^[5]

References

1. American Studies: An Annotated Bibliography, Volume 2, Jack Salzman (editor), Cambridge University Press, 1986, page 159, "This book by an experimental psychologist delves into the background, founders, and followers of contemporary atypical belief systems. Topics covered include Scientology and Dianetics, flying saucers, the Aetherians (who communicate with superior beings in outer space), the Atlanteans, biofeedback, Yoga, Eastern religions, and "black boxes." Evens contends that attraction to these unconventional cults lies in mankind's failure to find strength, comfort and a sense of community in traditional religion and the "cold" world of science. Such cults incorporate technological advances within a theological framework."
2. Kulte des Irrationalen, Christopher Riche Evans, Reinbek/Hamburg: Rowohlt, 1976., ISBN 3-498-01613-X, ISBN 978-3-498-01613-5, ISBN 978-3-498-01613-5, ISBN 3-498-01613-X
3. Modern Science, 1896-1945, Ray Spangenburg, Diane Moser, Infobase Publishing, Jan 1, 2009, page 155, Mentions book and discusses Evans' concept of a "black box."
4. Empire of Dreams: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Films of Steven Spielberg, Andrew Gordon, Rowman & Littlefield, 2008, page 73, Quotes book about UFO religions, in context of Close Encounters of the Third Kind
5. Exploring New Religions, George D. Chryssides, A&C Black, Nov 12, 2001, page 3.

1975 ed. Book cover, Delacorte Press