David Barrett

As an author and journalist Dr. David V. Barrett researches and writes mainly on religious and esoteric subjects. He has been a full-time freelance writer since 1991; before that he was a teacher of Religious Studies and English, a computer programmer and intelligence analyst for the British and American governments and a journalist.

His many books include The New Believers (Cassell 2001), a major study of new religious movements, A Brief History of Secret Societies (Constable & Robinson 2007), A Brief Guide to Secret Religions (Constable & Robinson 2011) and The Fragmentation of a Sect (OUP 2013) which is based on his doctoral thesis.

In 2009 he was awarded a PhD in Sociology of Religion by the London School of Economics. He is a frequent speaker on aspects of minority religions on radio and television and at conferences and meetings.

His work has appeared in mainstream and alternative newspapers and magazines, scholarly journals, books and websites in the UK, the USA and (translated) in other countries. He has contributed to numerous encyclopaedias on religion, alternative beliefs and science fiction and fantasy. His short fiction has appeared in a number of books and magazines in several countries, and he has edited two science fiction short story anthologies, the most recent to be published in spring 2015. He has played fretless bass in a variety of rock, folk and blues bands. He lives in London, UK.

 

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