Introduction: the messianic impulse in America

Women in the wilderness. The person formerly known as Jemima Wilkinson ; The universal friends ; The all-friend in the city of brotherly love ; New Jerusalem ; Mother Ann ; The united society of believers in Christ's second appearing ; The era of manifestations

The chosen vessel. America's best-known mystic ; The Poughkeepsie seer ; The Fox sisters ; The apostolic circle ; Poet in New York ; The brotherhood of the new life ; Salem-on-Erie ; California idyll ; Paradise lost

The great cosmic egg. A messianic meeting ; Koresh, shepherd of God ; The new age ; Dr. Teed's benefactresses ; Teed goes mental ; The Koreshan unity ; Messiah on the move ; Another New Jerusalem ; A test of immortality

The glo-rays of God. Divine transformations ; The messenger ; Trouble in paradise ; The Harlem kingdom ; Promised lands ; Heaven trembles ; Righteous government ; Philadelphia

Fall of the sky God. Jim Jones ; Divine aspirations ; The minister wanders ; California mystics ; New directions ; Going communal ; Peoples Temple hits the road ; Backlash ; Jonestown.