Two fascinating examples of how spiritual ideas, the expectations of different groups, and individual choices intertwine.
Karolina Maria Kotkowska
Why an International Day Against Judicial Persecution by State Power Is Needed
August 22 is the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Why a new International Day Against Judicial Persecution by State Power is needed.
Spirituality and Fights for Women’s Rights: From Spiritualist Suffragettes to Tai Ji Men Dizi
The connections between women’s rights and religious movements are not coincidental. Since the 19th century, spiritual movements have supported the fight for women’s equal rights.
Religious and Spiritual Movements’ Contributions to Society and Taxes: The Peculiar Case of Tai Ji Men
Spiritual groups that contribute to the common good should be tax-exempt. This is obvious in Poland and democratic countries in general but was not immediately acknowledged in the Tai Ji Men case.
Freedom of the Press as an Element of Freedom of Belief
History teaches us that the media can either be allies in the fight for rights or pose a grave danger to religious freedom. It depends on whether they are truly free from pressures, individual interests, and manipulation.
Janusz Korczak: The Old Doctor and Tai Ji Men
The story of the heroic “old doctor,” much like the teachings of Tai Ji Men, tells us that knowing ourselves and acting in accordance with our conscience are the foundations of every action for the good of others.
Poland and Taiwan: Bumpy Roads to Freedom of Religion or Belief
In both countries the transition to democracy came with a promise of religious liberty but problems remained, as demonstrated by issues with new religious movements in Poland and the Tai Ji Men case in Taiwan.
Independence of the Judicial System, Celebration of Democracy, and the Tai Ji Men Case
The Judicial Day 2024 and the presidential elections in Taiwan should offer an opportunity to finally solve a case that has lasted for more than 27 years.
Tolerant, Yet Not Tolerated: The Paradox of Tolerance and the Tai Ji Men Case
Sometimes, tolerance is appreciated as a value and idea, but when it comes to practice it, it becomes less appealing. Some religious movements learned this the hard way.
Energy, Development, Freedom, and the Tai Ji Men Case
Youth is a wellspring of energy. Education should give this energy a direction without repressing it. The Tai Ji Men dizi prove that this is possible.
Karolina Maria Kotkowska
Karolina Maria Kotkowska is an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilizations, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. She holds PhD in Philosophy and works on her PhD in Sociology. She specializes in New Religious Movements and Western Esotericism in Central and Eastern Europe.