False Prophets and Madness

At the center of attention is the figure of the false prophet, the cult leader, and the community that forms around him. The authors explore religious and political cults, explaining the role of group dynamics, personal charisma, and collective expectations. A separate focus is the discussion of schizophrenia, psychosis, and schizotypal personality traits, as well as the attempt to separate religious experience from delusions and hallucinations. This study is at the intersection of social, clinical, and religious psychology.