Editing Nova Religio (section)

==History==
Previously research focusing on [[new religious movement]]s (often referred to as [[cult]]s) was mainly published in [[sociology]] journals, which lessened the ability for researchers to engage in more qualitative methodologies. Researchers who were not sociologists wanted a publication with a broader view in which to publish; in the 1990s, more debate emerged on how to define the term "new religious movement" itself.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ochoa |first=Cristina |date=2020-11-13 |title=Paying It Forward: The Interdisciplinary Mentorship Ethos of Nova Religio |url=https://www.atla.com/blog/nova-religio/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=[[American Theological Library Association]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The journal was founded to give a broader and inclusive look at this topic in a period approaching the end of the millennium. With several apocalyptic groups gaining prominence, interest in the field increased.<ref name=":1" />

The journal was established in 1997 by Seven Bridges Press,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Jolyon Baraka |title=Faking Liberties: Religious Freedom in American-Occupied Japan |date=2019-03-25 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=978-0-226-61882-1 |page=235 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Gallagher |editor-first=Eugene V. |editor-link=Eugene V. Gallagher |title='Cult Wars' in Historical Perspective: New and Minority Religions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-317-15667-3 |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> founded by Phillip Lucas and [[Catherine Wessinger]].<ref name=":1" /> The journal came out of the American Academy of Religion (AAR)'s NRM program unit.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Zeller |first=Benjamin E. |author-link=Benjamin E. Zeller  |title='Cult Wars' in Historical Perspective: New and Minority Religions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-317-15667-3 |editor-last=Gallagher |editor-first=Eugene V. |editor-link=Eugene V. Gallagher |pages=58–59 |language=en |chapter=Writing and Researching on New Religious Movements: A View from the American Academy}}</ref> The name was chosen to include both historical "new religions" and modern ones, given the controversial nature of naming in the field itself.<ref name=":1" /> The team founding the journal believed that "it was not their place to judge whose religion is sane, good, or otherwise".<ref name=":1" /> As of 2001 it was one of only two English-language academic journals dedicated to NRMs and cults (the other being the ''[[Cultic Studies Journal]]'').<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zablocki |first1=Benjamin |author-link1=Benjamin Zablocki |title=Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field |title-link=Misunderstanding Cults |last2=Robbins |first2=Thomas |author-link2=Thomas Robbins (sociologist) |publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-4875-9844-0 |page=515 |language=en}}</ref> Jolyon Baraka Thomas described it as the "flagship journal" of NRM studies.<ref name=":0" /> 

Topics covered in early issues included a debate on the concept of brainwashing between [[Benjamin Zablocki]] and [[David G. Bromley]], coverage of the "Cult Wars" and academic neutrality, the relationship between violence and NRMs and law enforcement.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Zeller |first=Benjamin E. |author-link=Benjamin E. Zeller  |date=2020-04-17 |title=New Religious Movements: A Bibliographic Introduction |journal=Theological Librarianship |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=38–49 |doi=10.31046/tl.v13i1.564 |issn=1937-8904 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> It also provided an avenue for the publication of "case studies" on specific groups.<ref name=":3" /> Later on it has featured "special issues" focusing on a single theme, including topics like archaeology, food, [[Marian apparition]]s, and the legacy of [[Jonestown]] as they related to NRMs; other issues include shorter "Perspective Essays" not always based on empirical research.<ref name=":2" /> In the 2010s, its coverage began to cover more things outside the North American context.<ref name=":2" />

It was initially published semi-annually, changing to tri-annually in 2003, and then quarterly in 2005. It was initially owned by the co-general editors, before ownership was passed to the Association for the Academic Studies of New Religions.<ref name=":1" /> {{As of|2002}} (volume 6), it was published by the [[University of California Press]].<ref name="LCCN">{{Cite web |title=Nova religio: NR: The journal of alternative and emergent religions |url=https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=23929&recCount=25&recPointer=0&bibId=11502306 |work=[[LC Catalog]] |publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> In 2024 it moved to the [[University of Pennsylvania Press]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-09 |title=Penn Press to become publisher of Nova Religio |url=https://www.pennpress.org/blog/penn-press-to-become-publisher-of-nova-religio/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=[[University of Pennsylvania Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The journal is associated with the AAR Program Unit, which holds conferences; much of the journal's content is sourced from the unit's conference papers.<ref name=":1" />