Under the new draft proposal, a “victim” is a “victim” even if she denies being one, if the anti-cult lawyers or the government says she has been victimized.
Massimo Introvigne
World-Famous Sociologist Rings the Bell of World Peace and Love
On January 7, Eileen Barker, the scholar who created the academic field of new religious movement, rang the Bell in a historical ceremony in Taipei.
Spain, Judge Raquel Chacón Continues Her Anti-Jehovah’s-Witnesses Crusade
For the second time, the 6th section of the Court of Torrejón de Ardoz ruled against the 1st section of the same court. What according to Section 1 offends the honor of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was declared non-offensive by Section 6.
An International Forum on the Tai Jai Men Case Before Taiwan’s Judicial Day
At National Taiwan University, more than twenty scholarly papers discussed different features of the long-lasting case and suggested possible solutions.
Behind the Bivolaru Case. 4. GéPS Versus MISA
How Gascan and his friends framed Gregorian Bivolaru looks like a fairy tale. But behind any fairy tale lies a truth.
Behind the Bivolaru Case. 3. Enter the MIVILUDES
The French anti-cult governmental agency played a crucial role in persuading those who were against other Tantric groups that they should focus on MISA.
The Rule of Law, Freedom of Religion or Belief, and the Tai Ji Men Case
The expression “rule of law” was first used in the 17th century in connection with freedom of religion or belief. This connection is still crucial today.
Behind the Bivolaru Case. 2. GéPS, the Strange Origins of a French Anti-Cult Group
Few had heard of a new anti-cult association that claimed credit for the arrest of the MISA founder in France. The story of its founder Hughes Gascan is not without interest.
A Pro-China Campaign Against the Prague Inter-Governmental Religious Freedom Conference—and Bitter Winter
Anti-cultist Steven Hassan and fellow travelers of the Chinese Communist Party, joined forces against the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance summit—and our magazine.
Behind the Bivolaru Case. 1. Some Incorrect Reports About MISA’s Past History
After the arrest of the Romanian yoga teacher in France, the same fake news about his and MISA’s past were reproduced from one media to another.
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.