It all started with a minor girl the Romanian spiritual master was accused of having a relation with. Now, she tells her truth.
Massimo Introvigne
Conservative Anti-Putin Orthodox Group Raided in Russia, 40 Arrested
The “Russian Orthodox Church of the Tsarist Empire” is part of a constellation of groups with some ten thousand followers.
La strage di Altavilla Milicia. Ascesa e caduta di una “setta” che non c’era
Un uomo, asseritamente assistito da due amici e dalla figlia, ha ucciso la moglie e i due figli che riteneva fossero posseduti dal demonio. Non faceva parte di nessuna “setta”.
Three Killed During an Exorcism in Italy: The Rise and Fall of an Invented “Cult”
In Altavilla Milicia, Sicily, a man allegedly assisted by two friends and by his daughter killed his wife and two sons whom he believe were possessed by the devil. He was not part of any “cult.”
Dissident Orthodox Bishop Arrested for Trying to Hold Memorial Service for Navalny
Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko belongs to the Apostolic Orthodox Church, the anti-Kirill group inspired by the late dissident priest Gleb Yakunin.
From John Rawls to Tai Ji Men: An Autobiographical Confession
Why did I decide to devote a good part to my life to study religious minorities and religious liberty issues? A secular American philosopher had a role on this choice.
Uyghurs Continue to Oppose “Genocide Tours” to Xinjiang
American and European travel companies should not directly or indirectly support a genocidal regime, Rushan Abbas told “Bitter Winter.”
Costa Rica, Supreme Court Recognizes Hebrew Roots Devotees’ Right Not to Work on Saturday
The court stated that the freedom of religion of a police officer engaged in the protection of victims and witnesses should prevail on the needs of his admittedly delicate job.
Spain: Pro-China Lobby Against the International Religious Freedom Summit
An article by an academic in one of the main Spanish newspapers spreads Chinese propaganda and creates a scandal—until you realize it’s an advertorial.
The Satanic Temple and Abortion: Did Idaho’s Attorney General “Defeat Satan”?
He claimed so in a sensational press release. He did win a case, but things were a little bit more complicated.
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.