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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James R. Lewis has worked as a professional astrologer for more than 25
years. Among astrologers, he is best known for his innovative work on Baby-
lonian astrology and on the astrological significance of the planetary moons.Having completed his graduate work in religious studies at the Univer-
sity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Prof. Lewis has an extensive background
in history, psychology, philosophy, and comparative religion, including reli-
gious cults. He is an internationally recognized authority on nontraditional
religious groups and currently teaches religious studies at the University of
Wisconsin at Stevens Point.Prof. Lewis is the author of Visible Ink’s The Death and Afterlife Book,
Angels A to Z,and The Dream Encyclopedia.Other titles include Doomsday
Prophecies: A Complete Guide to the End of the World, Magical Religion and Mod-
ern Witchcraft,and Peculiar Prophets: A Biographical Dictionary of New Religions,
and the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements.His work
has received recognition in the form of Choice’s Outstanding Academic Title
award and Best Reference Book awards from the American Library Associa-
tion and the New York Public Library Association.Astrology FM.qxp 12/22/08 12:15 PM Page i