The Italian scholar tells “Bitter Winter” that research conducted among members of six groups debunks the myth that affiliation always derives from mental manipulation.
Massimo Introvigne
A New Book on Hélène Smith: The Medium Who Changed the History of Psychology
Claudie Massicotte’s account confirms that many texts and artifacts of the Swiss woman who enchanted Europe with her mediumistic stories and paintings are lost. But the essential remains.
Brazil’s Soccer Star Paulinho Witnesses for His Religion—Candomblé, not Christianity
Many Brazilian players are famous for their public testimonies of Evangelical Christianity. Paulinho proclaims a different faith—and gets in trouble.
Pakistan Has a Serious Candidate for Miss Universe—But There Is a Problem: She is a Christian
Muslim radicals and the government itself may prevent Erica Robin, who won Miss Pakistan Universe, to compete in November’s Global Miss Universe.
Pakistan, Court Summons Prime Minister to Crack Down on “Inauthentic Qurans”
The High Court of Lahore wants to forbid printing or posting versions of the Quran not presenting its “authentic meaning,” another blow to Ahmadis and other minorities.
Louis Renault: The Japanese House Tax Decision and the Tai Ji Men Case
French legal scholar Louis Renault was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1907 after he served as arbitrator in a famous taxpayers’ rights case involving Japan.
United Nations Denounces the Production of Artificial “Uyghur Orphans” in Xinjiang
Three Special Rapporteurs signed a joint statement against the forced separation of children from their families and their anti-Uyghur education in CCP boarding schools.
Activista antisectas argentino Pablo Salum: de mal en peor
Califica al Ejército de Salvación de “organización coercitiva” y utiliza contra “Bitter Winter” las mismas estrategias que los antisectas atribuyen a las “sectas”.
Argentinian Anti-Cult Activist Pablo Salum: From Bad to Worse
He calls the Salvation Army a “coercive organization” and uses against “Bitter Winter” the same strategies anti-cultists attribute to “cults.”
All Roads Lead to Rome: Two “Official” Chinese Bishops Will Attend the Catholic Synod
It was a twisted path that led to the inclusion of Bishops Yang Yongqiang of Zhouchun and Yao Shun of Jining in the (second) list of Synod members.
Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne (born June 14, 1955 in Rome) is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of some 70 books and more than 100 articles in the field of sociology of religion. He was the main author of the Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia (Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy). He is a member of the editorial board for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion and of the executive board of University of California Press' Nova Religio. From January 5 to December 31, 2011, he has served as the "Representative on combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against Christians and members of other religions" of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2012 to 2015 he served as chairperson of the Observatory of Religious Liberty, instituted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to monitor problems of religious liberty on a worldwide scale.