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France 2016 International Religious Freedom Report
FRANCE 2016 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitution and the law protect the right of individuals to choose, change, and practice their religion. The government investigated and prosecuted numerous crimes and other actions against religious groups, including anti-Semitic and anti- Muslim violence, hate speech, and vandalism. The government continued to enforce laws prohibiting face coverings in public spaces and government buildings and the wearing of “conspicuous” religious symbols at public schools, which included a ban on headscarves and Sikh turbans. The highest administrative court rejected the city of Villeneuve-Loubet’s ban on “clothes demonstrating an obvious religious affiliation worn by swimmers on public beaches.” The ban was directed at full-body swimming suits worn by some Muslim women. ISIS claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack in Nice during the July 14 French independence day celebration that killed 84 people without regard for their religious belief. President Francois Hollande condemned the attack as an act of radical Islamic terrorism. Prime Minister (PM) Manuel Valls cautioned against scapegoating Muslims or Islam for the attack by a radical extremist group. The government extended a state of emergency until July 2017. The government condemned anti- Semitic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Catholic acts and continued efforts to promote interfaith understanding through public awareness campaigns and by encouraging dialogues in schools, among local officials, police, and citizen groups. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported 19 instances in which authorities interfered with public proselytizing by their community. There were continued reports of attacks against Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The government, as well as Muslim and Jewish groups, reported the number of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents decreased by 59 percent and 58 percent respectively from the previous year to 335 anti-Semitic acts and 189 anti-Muslim acts. -
The Christian Church and the New Religious Movements: Towards Theological Understanding John A
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS: TOWARDS THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING JOHN A. SALIBA, S.J. University of Detroit OR MORE than a decade Western society, in particular the United FStates of America,1 has seen the rise and proliferation of religious and spiritual groups which the public has undiscerningly and indiscriminately labeled "cults." Many of the adherents of these new groups have come from the background of the traditional Christian churches. Most of them, by abandoning the beliefs and practices of their forefathers, have passed a negative judgment on the Christian Church and its relevance to contemporary life. The so-called cults have often been in the public eye because of the legal actions and Congressional investigations instigated by anticult organizations. Anguished parents, whose children have be come cult members, have turned to self-styled déprogrammera who have at times operated outside both civil and moral law. Yet the mainline Christian response to the new religions can, with few exceptions, be categorized as one of neglect and apathy. Though the churches have made extensive efforts to come to grips with the cultural upheavals of the mid-1960's,2 their attempts to meet the challenge of the cults have, on the whole, been slow, sporadic, and superficial. Many Christians, theologians included, have failed to grasp the significance of the new religious movements, which are already leaving an impact on society at large and on Christianity itself. It is unfortunate that we still lack a systematic treatment of the theological implications of these movements. The only concerted Christian response has come from evangelical Christianity, which has directed a considerable amount of literature3 to 1 See The Spiritual Community Guide (San Rafael, Calif.: Spiritual Community, 1978) and Gordon Melton, The Encyclopedia of American Religions 2 (Wilmington, N.C.: McGrath, 1978). -
Scientology Final
Shelby Gluskin Ms. Plummer English 211 24 April 2018 Scientology’s Life Span Scientology is constantly being questioned on its legitimacy as a religion and on the almost secretive way in which the church conducts its business. Most people who give Scientology only a cursory glance do not believe that it meets the criteria to both identify and sustain itself as a mainstream religion; however, there is plenty of evidence to dispute this finding. As the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines religion as “the belief in god or a group of gods: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rules used to worship a god or group of gods”, it is hard to dispute that Scientology is in fact a religion (Religion). Scientology is described as the religion of seeking spiritual fulfillment through study (What Is Scientology). As the influence of religion declines in society and fewer people identify themselves as being observant, this church continues to hold and attract members. Scientology is able to maintain its status as a viable and even thriving religion through the covert actions of the Church, excessive funding, and an abundant amount of celebrity endorsement. With the ability to keep negative and threatening secrets out of the view of the public’s eye, Scientology can maintain its carefully cultivated image. The Church of Scientology is able to keep its actions under the radar through intimidation of both members and critics of the organization. The Church is known to go to great lengths to protect the sanctity of the institution, in fact, in the early 1980’s eleven Scientologists were convicted of infiltrating more than one-hundred agencies, government and private (Behar 50). -
Falun Gong in the United States: an Ethnographic Study Noah Porter University of South Florida
University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 7-18-2003 Falun Gong in the United States: An Ethnographic Study Noah Porter University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Porter, Noah, "Falun Gong in the United States: An Ethnographic Study" (2003). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1451 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FALUN GONG IN THE UNITED STATES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY by NOAH PORTER A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: S. Elizabeth Bird, Ph.D. Michael Angrosino, Ph.D. Kevin Yelvington, Ph.D. Date of Approval: July 18, 2003 Keywords: falungong, human rights, media, religion, China © Copyright 2003, Noah Porter TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................................. iv ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................................... -
The Israeli Center for Victims of Cults Who Is Who? Who Is Behind It?
Human Rights Without Frontiers Int’l Avenue d’Auderghem 61/16, 1040 Brussels Phone/Fax: 32 2 3456145 Email: [email protected] – Website: http://www.hrwf.eu No Entreprise: 0473.809.960 The Israeli Center for Victims of Cults Who is Who? Who is Behind it? By Willy Fautré The Israeli Center for Victims of Cults About the so-called experts of the Israeli Center for Victims of Cults and Yad L'Achim Rami Feller ICVC Directors Some Other So-called Experts Some Dangerous Liaisons of the Israeli Center for Victims of Cults Conclusions Annexes Brussels, 1 September 2018 The Israeli Center for Victims of Cults Who is Who? Who is Behind it? The Israeli Center for Victims of Cults (ICVC) is well-known in Israel for its activities against a number of religious and spiritual movements that are depicted as harmful and dangerous. Over the years, the ICVC has managed to garner easy access to the media and Israeli government due to its moral panic narratives and campaign for an anti-cult law. It is therefore not surprising that the ICVC has also emerged in Europe, in particular, on the website of FECRIS (European Federation of Centers of Research and Information on Cults and Sects), as its Israel correspondent.1 For many years, FECRIS has been heavily criticized by international human rights organizations for fomenting social hostility and hate speech towards non-mainstream religions and worldviews, usually of foreign origin, and for stigmatizing members of these groups.2 Religious studies scholars and the scientific establishment in general have also denounced FECRIS for the lack of expertise of their so-called “cult experts”. -
Digital Religion
DIGITAL RELIGION DIGITAL RELIGION Based on papers read at the conference arranged by the Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History, Åbo Akademi University, Åbo/Turku, Finland, on 13–15 June 2012 Edited by Tore Ahlbäck Editorial Assistant Björn Dahla Published by the Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History Åbo/Turku, Finland Distributed by BTJ Finland Editorial secretary Maria Vasenkari Linguistic editing Sarah Bannock ISSN 0582-3226 ISBN 978-952-12-2897-1 Printed in Finland by Vammalan kirjapaino Sastamala 2013 Editorial note he theme for our symposium 2012 was ‘Digital religion’ and in our call Tfor papers we described it in the following way: ‘ “Digital Religion’ aims to explore the complex relationship between religion and digital technologies of communication. Digital religion encompasses a myriad of connections and the goal of the conference is to approach the subject from multiple perspec- tives.’ As can be seen from the conference proceedings, we did not achieve what we aimed for. The theme was too vast. We knew as much; a new field is always difficult to handle. Despite this, we still hope that the participants got some- thing out of the conference, and we also hope that the readers of the proceed- ings will benefit from them. I wish to finish this editorial note by acknowledging my colleague Björn Dahla. For many years we organised the Donner symposia and edited the conference proceedings together. I owe him my sincere gratitude. I also want to warmly thank Maria Vasenkari who, for many years, did the necessary, extensive technical work in order to follow the conference pro- ceedings through into print. -
Jiang Zemin and the Falun Gong Crackdown: a Bibliography Michael J
International Journal of Legal Information the Official Journal of the International Association of Law Libraries Volume 34 Article 9 Issue 3 Winter 2006 1-1-2006 A King Who Devours His People: Jiang Zemin and the Falun Gong Crackdown: A Bibliography Michael J. Greenlee University of Idaho College of Law Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/ijli The International Journal of Legal Information is produced by The nI ternational Association of Law Libraries. Recommended Citation Greenlee, Michael J. (2006) "A King Who Devours His People: Jiang Zemin and the Falun Gong Crackdown: A Bibliography," International Journal of Legal Information: Vol. 34: Iss. 3, Article 9. Available at: http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/ijli/vol34/iss3/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Scholarship@Cornell Law: A Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Legal Information by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Cornell Law: A Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A King Who Devours His People+: Jiang Zemin and the Falun Gong Crackdown: A Bibliography MICHAEL J. GREENLEE∗ Introduction In July 1999, the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began an official crackdown against the qigong cultivation1 group known as Falun Gong.2 Intended to quickly contain and eliminate what the PRC considers an evil or heretical cult (xiejiao), the suppression has instead created the longest sustained and, since the Tiananmen Square protests of June 1989, most widely known human rights protest conducted in the PRC. -
Recommendations of Experts for Improvements in Federal Law Enforcement After Waco
If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. U.S. Department of Justice Washington,D.C. 20530 Recommendations of Experts for Improvements in Federal Law Enforcement After Waco 145688 U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the person or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce thisllll~ material has been granted by Publ:Cc Domain U.S. Dep~nt of Justice ustice Re .......... of the N£ Recommendations of Experts for improvements in Federal Law Enforcement After Waco TABLE OF CONTENTS Mandate to the Experts Handling Hostage/Barricade Situations Robert J, Louden Ronald McCarthy Ariel Merari Dealing with Persons whose Motivations and Thought Processes are Unconventional \, Nancy T. Ammerman Robert Canero Lawrence E. Sullivan Coordinating Law Enforcement Efforts in Hostage/Barricade Situations Colin E. Birt Richard J. Davis William H. Webster O @ @ UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MEMORANDUM J~e ~,1~3 TO: Dr. Nancy Ammerman Mr. Colin B/rt Dr. Robert Cancro Mr. Richard J. Davis Mr. Robert J. Louden Mr. Ronald M. McCarthy Dr. Ariel Merafi @ Dr. Alan A. Stone Dr. Lawrence E. Sull/van Mr..William H. Webster FROM: Philip B. Heymann ~.~. Deputy Attorney General Department of Justice Ronald IC Noble Assistant Secretary (Enforcement) Department of the Treasury Q SUBJECT: your R01e in M~g Recommendations Concerning the Handling of Incidents Such asthe Branch Davidian Standoff in Waco, Texas @ L MANDATE We would like you to assist us in addressing issues that federal law enforcement confi'0n~ ~ bani'cade/hos~g e situatiom such as the stand-off that occurred near Waco, Texas, ~tween February 28, 1993 and April 19, 1993. -
New Religious Movements
New Religious Movements New Religious Movements: Challenge and response is a searching and wide-ranging collection of essays on the contemporary phenomenon of new religions. The contributors to this volume are all established specialists in the sociology, theology, law, or the history of new minority movements. The primary focus is the response of the basic institutions of society to the challenge which new religious movements represent. The orientation of this volume is to examine the way in which new movements in general have affected modern society in areas such as economic organisation; the operation of the law; the role of the media; the relationship of so-called ‘cult’ membership to mental health; and the part which women have played in leading or supporting new movements. Specific instances of these relationships are illustrated by reference to many of the most prominent new religions – Hare Krishna, The Brahma Kumaris, The Unification Church, The Jesus Army, The Family’, The Church of Scientology, and Wicca. For students of religion or sociology, New Religious Movements is an invaluable source of information, an example of penetrating analysis, and a series of thought-provoking contributions to a debate which affects many areas of contemporary life in many parts of the world. Contributors: Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssides, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Gordon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Shepherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski, Bryan Wilson. Bryan Wilson is an Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He is the author and editor of several books on sects and New Religious Movements. -
Shaping Stories and Building Worlds on Interactive Fiction Platforms
Shaping Stories and Building Worlds on Interactive Fiction Platforms The MIT Faculty has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters. Citation Mitchell, Alex, and Nick Monfort. "Shaping Stories and Building Worlds on Interactive Fiction Platforms." 2009 Digital Arts and Culture Conference (December 2009). As Published http://simonpenny.net/dac/day2.html Publisher Digital Arts and Culture Version Author's final manuscript Citable link http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100288 Terms of Use Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. Shaping Stories and Building Worlds on Interactive Fiction Platforms Alex Mitchell Nick Montfort Communications and New Media Programme Program in Writing & Humanistic Studies National University of Singapore Massachusetts Institute of Technology [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT simulates an intricate, systematic world full of robots, made of Adventure game development systems are platforms from the components and functioning together in curious ways. The world developer’s perspective. This paper investigates several subtle model acts in ways that are mechanical and nested, making the differences between these platforms, focusing on two systems for code’s class structure seemingly evident as one plays the game. In interactive fiction development. We consider how these platform contrast, Emily Short’s Savoir-Faire (2002), written in Inform 6 differences may have influenced authors as they developed and of similar complexity, exhibits less obvious inheritance and systems for simulation and storytelling. Through close readings of compartmentalization. -
Publications.Pdf
GEORGE D CHRYSSIDES Publications:- 1. Books: 1.26 Chryssides, George D., with Cohn-Sherbok, Dan; El-Alami, Dawoud (2016). Terror and Religion: An Interfaith Dialogue. Exeter UK: Impress. ISBN 978-1-907605-96-3. 1.25 Chryssides, George D. (2016). Jehovah’s Witnesses: Continuity and Change. Farnham: Ashgate. ISBN 978-1-4094-5608-7. 1.24 Chryssides, George D., with Cohn-Sherbok, Dan; El-Alami, Dawoud (2014). Why Can’t They Get Along? A conversation between a Muslim, a Jew and a Christian. Oxford: Lion Hudson. ISBN: 978-0-7459-5605-3. 1.23 Chryssides, George D. and Zeller, Benjamin E. (eds.) (2014). The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 978-1-4411-9005- 5. 1.22 Chryssides, George D. and Geaves Ron (2013). The Study of Religion: An Introduction to Key Ideas and Methods. 2 ed. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN:978-1-78093- 840-0. 1.21 Chryssides, George D., with Cohn-Sherbok, Dan; El-Alami, Dawoud (2013). Love, Sex and Marriage: Insights from Judaism, Christianity and Islam. London: S.C.M. ISBN: 978-0-3340-4405-5. 1.20 Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, 2nd edition. Lanham, Maryland; Toronto; Plymouth UK: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0- 8108-6194-7. 1.19 Chryssides, George D. and Wilkins, M. Z. (2011). Christians in the Twenty-First Century. London: Equinox. ISBN978-1-84553-212-3 (hbk), 978-1-84553-213-0 (pbk). 1.18 Chryssides, George D. (ed.) (2011). Heaven’s Gate: Postmodernity and Popular Culture in a Suicide Group. Farnham: Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-6374-4. -
Deteriorating Religious Liberties in Europe
105th CONGRESS Printed for the use of the 2nd Session Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Deteriorating Religious Liberties in Europe July 30, 1998 Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE 234 Ford House Office Building Washington, Dc 20515-6460 (202) 225-1901 [email protected] Http://www.house.gov/csce/ LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS HOUSE SENATE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey (VACANT) Co-Chairman Co-Chairman JOHN EDWARD PORTER, Illinois BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado FRANK R. WOLF, Virginia KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas MATT SALMON, Arizona SPENCER ABRAHAM, Michigan (VACANT) SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas STENY H. HOYER, Maryland FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts HARRY REID, Nevada BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland BOB GRAHAM, Florida LOUISE MCINTOSH SLAUGHTER, New York RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS (VACANT), Department of State (VACANT), Department of Defense (VACANT), Department of Commerce COMMISSION STAFF DOROTHY DOUGLAS TAFT, Chief of Staff MICHAEL R. HATHAWAY, Deputy Chief of Staff ELIZABETH M. CAMPBELL, Staff Assistant\Systems Administrator MARIA V. COLL, Office Administrator OREST DEYCHAKIWSKY, Staff Advisor JOHN F. FINERTY, Staff Advisor CHADWICK R. GORE, Communications Director, Digest Editor ROBERT HAND, Staff Advisor JANICE HELWIG, Staff Advisor MARLENE KAUFMANN, Counsel for International Trade MICHAEL KOBY, Special Counsel KAREN S. LORD, Counsel for Freedom of Religion RONALD J. MCNAMARA, Staff Advisor MICHAEL J. OCHS, Staff Advisor ERIKA B. SCHLAGER, Counsel for International Law MAUREEN T. WALSH, Counsel ii ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION (OSCE) The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki process, traces its origin to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in Finland on August 1, 1975, by the leaders of 33 European countries, the United States and Canada.