A new book edited by Michele Olzi explores the Internet’s invented religions and asks whether they are here to stay.
From the World
Africans Converts to the Russian Orthodox Church Are Lured to Russia, Then Forced to Fight in Ukraine
From Canon Law to cannon fire: the Moscow Patriarchate’s proselytization campaign in Africa has now taken a sinister turn.
South Korea: A Law to Dissolve Churches at Will
The bill now being considered by the Parliament would be the most draconian in the democratic world and mark the quiet death of religious liberty in the country.
The Prophet in the Cave: Rediscovering David Lazzaretti’s Forgotten Followers in the Sabina
The most significant Italian new religious movement of the 19th century did not exist only in Tuscany. A book reconstructs his history in the Sabina region.
The Vissarion Template: An Interview with Katya Palkina
After the harsh Russian sentence against the Church of the Last Testament’s leader, a member speaks out.
France: Hate Speech Against Scientology Now Funded by Taxpayers
A France 5 “documentary” offered a textbook example of how “not” to present minority religions to the public.
The Unification Church and the Pal Paradox in Japan
Japanese honor Judge Pal, who defended the principle that laws and their interpretations cannot be retroactive—a principle they did not apply to the Family Federation.
A New Book on Gerald Gardner: The Wizard of Odd Who Invented Wicca (Sort Of)
John Callow does not ignore Gardner’s shortcomings but restores his complexity, generosity, and crucial role in the creation of a new global religion.
Wifredo Lam: Raising Orishas at MoMA
In the New York exhibition, the Cuban artist returns in full spiritual force, his canvases pulsing with Santería, Vodun, and the whispered knowledge of Lydia Cabrera.
Is There an Anti-Cult Movement in Africa?
The attempts to put religion under state control in Africa now use “cult” stereotypes imported from France, China, and Japan.