Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1995, page 70
founded (California), when (1964), by whom (John Paul Twitchell, d. 1972), and how the
group describes itself (“ancient science of soul travel”).
In contrast, Mather and Nichols style Eckankar as “an eclectic blend of Eastern religions”
founded in 1965, devote four columns to founder “Paul” Twitchell (d. 1971), Aa former staff
member of the Church of Scientology,” and include his excommunication from the Self-
Realization Church “for misbehavior” (?)and his divorce. “Given this cursory introduction to
the enigmatic idiosyncrasies of its founder,” the reader is prepared to “understand the basic
teachings” and how they compare and contrast with Christianity. They add that Eckankar
has 50,000 members, recruits through publicity, but is nonproselytizing. They accompany
their text with a passport-size photo of Sri Darwin Gross, the mahala of Eckankar for 10
years, and they conclude the four double-columned pages with seven footnotes.
In short, the two volumes differ considerably in emphasis and sometimes in facts (note the
discrepancies in the date of Eckankar‟s founding, the first name of Twitchell, and the year
he died). Curiously, although almost identical in length, Beit-Hallahni‟s encyclopedia
resembles a dictionary in its brevity of information about each group, while Mather and
Nichols‟s dictionary resembles an encyclopedia in its detail about selected groups.
Beit-Hallahni’s Encyclopedia
I have known Benjamin Beit-Hallahni since he was a colleague and visiting professor at the
University of Pennsylvania some years ago. As reflected in his dictionary, he is a fair-
minded, dispassionate, fact- oriented, and scholarly clinical psychologist who has developed
a specialty in religious behavior. His mentor during doctoral studies at Michigan State
University was Milton Rokeach, a specialist in human values. An Israeli and a professor at
the University of Haifa, Beit-Hallahni is a productive scholar, author of seven books, who is
well acquainted not only with Middle Eastern but also with European and North American
cultures.
Beit-Hallahni is quite explicit in stating his purposes and defining active new religions, sects,
and cults. The Encyclopedia is a reference guide, providing basic information about modern
(no more than 200 years old) religious movements, and intended for students at all levels,
media professionals, and scholars. To be included a group must “espouse a religious belief
system--an invisible supernatural world.” A sect has had an earlier connection with another
religious organization. “A cult is in a way more deviant, having no ties to earlier tradition
and existing outside the religious establishment and its boundaries.... Use of the terms
implies nothing pejorative.”
Ranging from Aaronic Order to Zion Ward, Beit-Hallahni describes each group in scientific
language his sources are the specific group‟s publications and “only books based on
scholarly research.” The nicely printed text is accompanied by full-page photographs of
selected leaders or activities, such as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in manacles, Sun Myung
Moon and his wife sprinkling newlyweds with water, and 7,000 practitioners of TM gathered
at Maharishi International University. Useful sources for additional information are given for
some of the more visible groups. A Synoptic Index groups entries by common origin or
geographical location. The General Bibliography lists 28 entries, most of them encyclopedias
of religion. Although Beit-Hallahni treats each group evenhandedly and without critical
comment, he sometimes includes evidence of economic exploitation or criminal behavior.
Mather and Nichols’s Dictionary
I found no mention in Mather and Nichols‟s Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the
Occult of their degrees, titles, affiliations, or specializations. However, they do state, “We as
the authors are Christians ...writing with a Christian bias.”
founded (California), when (1964), by whom (John Paul Twitchell, d. 1972), and how the
group describes itself (“ancient science of soul travel”).
In contrast, Mather and Nichols style Eckankar as “an eclectic blend of Eastern religions”
founded in 1965, devote four columns to founder “Paul” Twitchell (d. 1971), Aa former staff
member of the Church of Scientology,” and include his excommunication from the Self-
Realization Church “for misbehavior” (?)and his divorce. “Given this cursory introduction to
the enigmatic idiosyncrasies of its founder,” the reader is prepared to “understand the basic
teachings” and how they compare and contrast with Christianity. They add that Eckankar
has 50,000 members, recruits through publicity, but is nonproselytizing. They accompany
their text with a passport-size photo of Sri Darwin Gross, the mahala of Eckankar for 10
years, and they conclude the four double-columned pages with seven footnotes.
In short, the two volumes differ considerably in emphasis and sometimes in facts (note the
discrepancies in the date of Eckankar‟s founding, the first name of Twitchell, and the year
he died). Curiously, although almost identical in length, Beit-Hallahni‟s encyclopedia
resembles a dictionary in its brevity of information about each group, while Mather and
Nichols‟s dictionary resembles an encyclopedia in its detail about selected groups.
Beit-Hallahni’s Encyclopedia
I have known Benjamin Beit-Hallahni since he was a colleague and visiting professor at the
University of Pennsylvania some years ago. As reflected in his dictionary, he is a fair-
minded, dispassionate, fact- oriented, and scholarly clinical psychologist who has developed
a specialty in religious behavior. His mentor during doctoral studies at Michigan State
University was Milton Rokeach, a specialist in human values. An Israeli and a professor at
the University of Haifa, Beit-Hallahni is a productive scholar, author of seven books, who is
well acquainted not only with Middle Eastern but also with European and North American
cultures.
Beit-Hallahni is quite explicit in stating his purposes and defining active new religions, sects,
and cults. The Encyclopedia is a reference guide, providing basic information about modern
(no more than 200 years old) religious movements, and intended for students at all levels,
media professionals, and scholars. To be included a group must “espouse a religious belief
system--an invisible supernatural world.” A sect has had an earlier connection with another
religious organization. “A cult is in a way more deviant, having no ties to earlier tradition
and existing outside the religious establishment and its boundaries.... Use of the terms
implies nothing pejorative.”
Ranging from Aaronic Order to Zion Ward, Beit-Hallahni describes each group in scientific
language his sources are the specific group‟s publications and “only books based on
scholarly research.” The nicely printed text is accompanied by full-page photographs of
selected leaders or activities, such as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in manacles, Sun Myung
Moon and his wife sprinkling newlyweds with water, and 7,000 practitioners of TM gathered
at Maharishi International University. Useful sources for additional information are given for
some of the more visible groups. A Synoptic Index groups entries by common origin or
geographical location. The General Bibliography lists 28 entries, most of them encyclopedias
of religion. Although Beit-Hallahni treats each group evenhandedly and without critical
comment, he sometimes includes evidence of economic exploitation or criminal behavior.
Mather and Nichols’s Dictionary
I found no mention in Mather and Nichols‟s Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the
Occult of their degrees, titles, affiliations, or specializations. However, they do state, “We as
the authors are Christians ...writing with a Christian bias.”
