Ilya Zhuravlev, a medical doctor of Ulyanovsk, has been arrested and absurdly charged with spreading the idea that being homosexual is needed for proper “devil-worshiping.”
From the World
The Theological and Esoteric Debate on the Existence of Vampires (17th–19th centuries). 4. How Calmet’s Position Was Misunderstood
Voltaire presented the Benedictine scholar, who wrote about vampires, as gullible. In reality over the years his positions went from dubious to skeptical.
Is Something Rotten in the State of Denmark? A Strange Case Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses
A tabloid’s campaign led the Ministry of Churches to start a “supervision case” based on accusations already judged ill-founded almost everywhere in the world.
The Theological and Esoteric Debate on the Existence of Vampires (17th–19th centuries). 3. Rationalist, Theological, and Esoteric Interpretations
Antoine Faivre, the father of “vampire studies,” distinguished between Enlightenment-inspired, demonological, and “Paracelsian” positions.
The Theological and Esoteric Debate on the Existence of Vampires (17th–19th centuries). 2. An Epidemic of Vampirism in the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Between the end of the seventeenth century and the third decade of the eighteenth century the possibility that vampires exited was first admitted but finally ruled out by the imperial authorities.
The Theological and Esoteric Debate on the Existence of Vampires (17th–19th centuries). 1. Dead People Chewing in Their Graves
In the seventeenth century, the German “nachzehrer” and the Greek “vrykolakas” were precursors of vampires that started interesting theologians and scholars.
The Bordeaux Videos: Spotlight on the Unification Church and Japan’s Religious Liberty Crisis
At the CESNUR 2024 conference, scholars, attorneys, and members of the church presented papers and testimonies. Videos are now available (with Japanese subtitles).
Religious Minorities in the Eye of Media Cyclones: From BAYS to MISA
The Latin American Parliament in Panama hosted one of the most important gatherings on religious liberty in recent times. Fautré told the attending politicians, diplomats, and scholars how media cooperate with biased prosecutors in spreading fake news about groups stigmatized as “cults.”
Blood Transfusions and Jehovah’s Witnesses: Why the European Court of Human Rights Ruled Against Spain
The Grand Chamber unanimously ruled that a competent adult patient has the right to refuse any medical treatment, including blood transfusion.
Japan and the Unification Church: The Duval Report. 5. State-Sponsored Deprogramming
Children whose parents are NRMs members are dealt with by anti-cult “counselors” in their schools.