Totalitarian Totalitarian sects: sects:
the threat of the threat of religious religious
extremismextremism
USU, Ksenia DinislamovaUSU, Ksenia Dinislamova
ContentsContents
1.1. Criteria of totalitarian sects Criteria of totalitarian sects
2.2. Analysis of religious situation in RussiaAnalysis of religious situation in Russia
3.3. Role of the state and religious freedomRole of the state and religious freedom
4.4. Ways to remedy the situationWays to remedy the situation
Why state should combat Why state should combat totalitarian sects? totalitarian sects?
Totalitarian sects are defined as especially authoritarian organizations whose leaders, striving for control over their followers and for their exploitation, conceal their intentions under religious, politico-religious, psychotherapeutic, health, educational, scientific-informational, cultural, and other guises.
The international applied science conference “Totalitarian sects: the threat of religious extremism” (Yekaterinburg, 10 December 2002)
Criteria of totalitarian sects
leader authoritarian,charismatic, absolutely correct
ideology the only way “for salvation of the soul”
organization isolation from the society, thought control, manipulation and psychological pressure, exploitation of the finances, labor of converts
lies deceit, silence to attract new members
negative consequences
psychosocial problems, conflicts with relatives, interruption of the school, harm to psyche and health, a number of fatal incidents
Totalitarian sects systematically violate the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
article 3 article 4 article 5 article 12 points 2 and 3 of article
16 article 17 article 18
article 19 point 2 of article 20 article 21 article 29 article 23 articles 24 and 25 Article 26 article 27
Creeds of the Russians
believe in supernatural
power16%
hesitate weather
they believe or
not27%
do not believe in
any supernatural power
10%
believe in god47%
BELIEVERS UNBELIEVERS 47% 38%
31% - met sectarians 1 - 3 times
1
2
3
Sects and students
7% - met sectarians more
than 3 times
38 - the Moonies
24 - Jehovah's Witnesses
4 - Church of Christ
2 - Society of Krishna Consciousness, scientologists, Seventh Day Adventists,
The White brotherhood
1 - Aum Sinrikyo
Meetings over one month
62% - did not meet sectarians
Religious situation in Religious situation in Russia Russia
Religious freedom
Europe The USA Russia
historythe only state
religionreligious liberty
for groupsreligious liberty for
groups in a particular region
today Religious freedom as an
individual right
Religious freedom as a group right ??
Where is the Where is the balance between balance between religious freedom religious freedom
and state’s and state’s obligations?obligations?
Religious freedom is not the Religious freedom is not the permission to religious permission to religious
organizations to do what they organizations to do what they want.want.
What may the state do ?What may the state do ? To encourage the creation of informational centers To encourage the creation of informational centers
and centers for protection of sects’ victims;and centers for protection of sects’ victims; the basic educational curriculum should include the basic educational curriculum should include
history and information about traditional religions history and information about traditional religions and objective factual information concerning and objective factual information concerning totalitarian sects; totalitarian sects;
To employ the norms of legislation against the To employ the norms of legislation against the activity of destructive groups;activity of destructive groups;
Ministry of justice should carry out a scientific Ministry of justice should carry out a scientific investigation before registration of a group;investigation before registration of a group;
existing legislation concerning the protection of existing legislation concerning the protection of children should be more rigorously applied;children should be more rigorously applied;
To protect minors from any discrimination and To protect minors from any discrimination and intolerance. intolerance.
• ttotalitarian sects violate otalitarian sects violate cornerstones of cornerstones of
a democratic societya democratic society andand human right human rights;s;• a sound ideological system has not took a sound ideological system has not took
shape yet which facilitates spreading of shape yet which facilitates spreading of destructive cults in Russia;destructive cults in Russia;
• the main task of state is to protect its the main task of state is to protect its citizens, from economic, ideological and citizens, from economic, ideological and sexual exploitation, from suppression of sexual exploitation, from suppression of their rights if a sect or a sect-like their rights if a sect or a sect-like organization tries to violate it;organization tries to violate it;
Conclusion:Conclusion:the state should combat the state should combat
totalitarian sects totalitarian sects as:as:
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