BITTER WINTER

Bitter Winter

A magazine on religious liberty and human rights

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LATEST ARTICLES

The Tokyo High Court Unification Church Decision. 4. The 2009 “Compliance Declaration”

After 2009, the number of incidents involving alleged improper solicitation of donations dropped to nearly zero. But the court maintains the problem still exists.

The New Law on Ethnic Unity: A Threat to Tibetan Buddhism

The new policy assaults the Tibetan language and thus Tibet’s cultural and religious foundations.

The Tokyo High Court Unification Church Decision. 3. “Spiritual Sales” and Excessive Donations

Ultimately, the reason for the dissolution was the alleged manipulation of donors. Is there really enough evidence that it happened?

The Tokyo High Court Unification Church Decision. 2. The Ghost of “Brainwashing”

A key theme of the decision is the discredited pseudo-scientific theory that “cults” victimize their members through “mental manipulation.”

China’s New Year Gift to Mount Kailash Pilgrims: More Checkpoints, Less Pilgrimage

Fearful of the event’s increasing success, Beijing attempts to diminish the holy journey to the point of insignificance.

The Tokyo High Court Unification Church Decision. 1. A Caricatural View of the Church

The court reconstructed the theology and practices of the movement founded by Reverend Moon based on selective quotes and hostile sources.

China, Police Block “Parade of the Gods” in Guangdong

Villagers in Wuchuan were prevented from carrying out a centuries-old ritual as authorities tighten control over grassroots spiritual life.

Twisted TV: How a Documentary Bent the Facts Out of Shape. 4. Either “Victims” of “Brainwashed”

Not even one of the women “liberated” by the French police in 2023 admitted she was a “victim.” The Apple TV series ignored them.

Tibet’s New Medical Mystery: Healthy Young Monk Dies After Arrest

The case of Samten reveals the familiar cycle of detention, torture, and official denials.

Twisted TV: How a Documentary Bent the Facts Out of Shape. 3. The “Victims”

“Apostate” ex-members have a right to express their distress, and their stories should be carefully considered. But are they always believable?

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