Chinese and Kuomintang protests about the alleged harassment of a Mainland’s “folk religion group” visiting Taiwanese temples hide a deeper controversy.
Massimo Introvigne
A Swiss Criticism of the French MIVILUDES: “Opaque Methods, Imprecise Data”
The Director of the Intercantonal Information Center on Beliefs (CIC) co-signed a severe indictment of the French governmental anti-cult agency.
Charmion von Wiegand’s Journey: From Theosophy to Tibetan Buddhism
The American abstract painter’s deep relationship with both Theosophy and Mondrian oriented all her life, which she concluded as a devout Buddhist.
From Aeschylus to Tai Ji Men: When Courts of Law Generate Violence
Decisions of courts of law can both prevent and generate violence. The fathers of the Greek tragedy already knew it, as does—unfortunately—Tai Ji Men.
U.S. Ninth Circuit: State Should Not Deny Grants to Organizations That Hire Christians Only
Youth 71Five Ministries is a Christian organization that serves at-risk youth of all faiths. Oregon tried to withdraw $410,000 grants citing discrimination.
Kasur, Pakistan, Emerges as the Capital of Fabricated Blasphemy Accusations
A criminal case has been filed against two women in a city where in the past Christians had their houses destroyed and were even burned alive.
Why Are Several African Countries Attacking Freedom of Religion?
The deaths in Kenya of members of a congregations practicing extreme fasting are used as a pretext to severely limit freedom of religion in various countries.
Pakistan, Council of Islamic Ideology Asks for Even Harsher Persecution of the Ahmadis
While the legal saga of Mubarak Ahmed Sani remains subject to conflicting interpretations, what is clear is that Sunni authorities want the repression to continue.
Russian Anti-Cultist Blames “Cults” for the Ukrainian Counter-Offensive
Ukrainians, anti-cultist-in-chief Novopashin argues, only achieve some success because of “cults” that “destabilize society” in Russia with American support.
Injustice Is Served in Taiwan: A Wrong Administrative Decision Against Tai Ji Men
The Tai Ji Men case might have been solved by the Taichung High Administrative Court on August 2. The court missed the opportunity.
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.