When Prophecy Fails"The behaviour of a small group of people who believe that they have been forewarned of the impending end of the world would be dismissed by many social scientists as interesting but hardly researchable. The authors of this book are to be commended, not only for undertaking a difficult task, but for doing it remarkably well...Using the participant observer method, this research team collected an impressive body of data in the brief span of two months. Their research resulted in convincing, if not definitive, confirmation of their hypotheses. At the same time, it constitutes a stimulating example of the adaptation of method to a significant subject, rather than the selection of the research topic because it fits the latest fads in methodology." [American Sociological Review]. |
Contents
Unfulfilled Prophecies and Disappointed | 3 |
Teachings and Prophecies from Outer Space | 33 |
Spreading the Word on Earth | 58 |
Copyright | |
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activities afternoon appeared Armstrong house asked attended began belief system Bertha Blatsky Bob Eastman boys called callers cataclysm Christmas Cleo Cleo Armstrong Clyde Wilton Collegeville committed conviction convinced Creator Daisy Armstrong December 17 December 21 dianetics disconfirmation discussion dissonance doubt early earth Edna Post evidence explained F. R. Leavis faith felt flood flying saucers Guardians happened hour ideology Illus instructed interest interview Introduction Keech and Dr Kitty O'Donnell Kurt Freund Lake City group Leon Festinger lessons living room Lowell Marian Keech Mark Post MARTIN BUBER meeting midnight Millerites morning movement NEWSMAN newspapers night Oahspe observers orders outer space person picked planet prediction prophecy proselyting questions reporters returned Sananda Seekers seemed sibets skeptical SOREN KIERKEGAARD spacemen spiritual Steel City story talk tape telephone tell things Thomas Armstrong tion told visitors waiting