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: