Ritualistic Crime Criminals and the Organizations behind the Sheath

<p><em>Ritualistic Crime Criminals and the Organizations behind the Sheath: A Book of Readings</em> features carefully selected articles that help students better understand the causes functions and similarities of sacred forms of violence across the spectrum. Students learn about crimes committed by individuals or groups against another based on an errant belief that their acts will bring about a greater good. This information equips readers with the knowledge they need to identify and understand the classic signs of group affiliation.<br /><br />The anthology is divided into eight parts. The first part presents readers with an introduction to the volume and a discussion of the sacred power of violence in popular cultural. Parts II through IV focus on cults sects and religious crimes; millennial religions; domestic and international terrorist religions. Students read articles about Satanism vampirism and the Goth movement and syncretistic religions Wicca and neo-paganism. The final part speaks to new religious movements including fiction-based religions and Scientology. Throughout students are encouraged to consider how groups grow flourish and prosper as well as the elements that either render them benign or violent.<br /><br />Providing students with a unique view into group behavior <em>Ritualistic Crime Criminals and the Organizations behind the Sheath</em> is an ideal resource for courses in criminal justice criminology or law enforcement.</p><p><strong>Stephen Holmes</strong> is an associate professor of criminal justice in the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida. He holds a Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Holmes’ research interests include statistics policy sex offenders applied research methods suicide and violent crime and police use of force.</p>