Like the literary character of a priest-detective from Chicago created by Ralph McInerny, the American Pope may hold a few surprises.
Massimo Introvigne
The Jesus Christians. 8. “Kidneys for Jesus”
The group is primarily famous for its altruistic donations of kidneys to patients whom donors do not know.
Czech Republic: “Sensational Revelations” About Guru Jára
A TV “investigation” leads to an explosion of hostile media reports and calls for renewed judicial action against his movement.
Media and Conscience: From Father Ong to Dr. Hong
Father Walter J. Ong reflected on the role of conscience in guiding us through the great transformations in communication. His thoughts resonate with Dr. Hong’s teachings.
The Jesus Christians. 7. The Whipping Trials
In an idiosyncratic application of the Christian theology of “vicarious atonement,” group members agreed to be whipped in three cases for the sins of others.
The Jesus Christians. 6. Accusations of “Kidnapping”
Like other religious movements, the group was accused by its opponents of luring and “brainwashing” prospective converts.
The Jesus Christians. 5. Answering the “Left Behind” Book Series
By publishing novels of their own, challenging the famous end-of-the-world franchise, the group presented its post-tribulationist millennialism.
Behind the Dissolution of the Unification Church: Japan’s Communist Party, North Korea, and China
A chronology of the facts proving that Communist agencies and countries worked to destroy the religious movement.
China’s Shadow Over the Conclave: Two Bishops Appointed Without Vatican’s Approval
During the “sede vacante,” no new bishop can be designated in the Catholic Church, as only the Pope can do it. Yet, Beijing “elected” new bishops in Shanghai and Xinxiang.
The Jesus Christians. 4. The Nullarbor Walkers
Walking through a treeless desert for 1,600 kilometers without food, water, or money was an attempt to wake up a dormant country for God.
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.