At a symposium in Tokyo on October 1, the case was discussed within the broader framework of different approaches to religion and “cults” in Japan and the West.
Massimo Introvigne
Tamara de Lempicka and Religion: In Search of Mother Superior
In the Roaring Twenties, the Polish painter was the quintessential Paris’ “bad girl.” Then, she met a mysterious French nun in Italy.
Colorado Court: Christian Pre-School Hiring Christian Teachers Only Is Entitled to State Aid
The U.S. District Court also stated that maintaining sex-separated bathrooms for religious reasons in the pre-school is protected by freedom of religion.
Time to Expose the China-Hamas Connection
Not only did Beijing not condemn Hamas. It has a long history of supporting it, fueled by the CCP’s not-so-disguised anti-Semitism.
California Land of the Free: The Mormon Battalion and the Tai Ji Men Case
The story of the Latter-day Saints who enrolled in the U.S. Army to protect their religious liberty has parallels with the epic struggle of Tai Ji Men for justice.
Kenya: Shakahola Deaths by Fasting Should Not Be Used to Crack Down on All Religions
A Senate Committee’s report creates serious risks for religious liberty after the tragedy of Good News International Church.
Pakistan: Even Children Are Taught to Hate Ahmadis
A video showing a small boy cursing the persecuted religious minority quickly went viral on social media.
The California Blackburn Case of 1931 and the Tai Ji Men Case
A landmark decision on freedom of religion or belief may offer useful insights for the Tai Ji Men case.
“Ukraine in Itself Is a Cult”: A New Absurd Claim by Russian Propaganda
Russian anti-cultists suggest that, rather than arguing that in Ukraine “there are cults,” it is now time to identify “Ukraine” not as a country but as a “cult.”
Japan: Anti-Cult Journalist Eight Suzuki Sued for False Statements
Both the Universal Peace Federation and deprogramming victim Toru Goto seek damages from a reporter famous for his anti-Unification-Church campaigns.
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.