The New Heretics of France: Minority Religions, la Republique, and the Government-Sponsored ''War on Sects''Since the Age of Enlightenment, France has upheld clear constitutional guidelines that protect human rights and religious freedom. Today, however, intolerant attitudes and discriminatory practices towards unconventional faiths have become acceptable and even institutionalized in public life. Susan Palmer offers an insightful examination of France's most stigmatized new religions, or "sectes," and the public management of religious and philosophical minorities by the state. The New Heretics of France tracks the mounting government-sponsored anti-cult movement in the wake of the shocking mass suicides of the Solar Temple in 1994, an event that ushered France's most visible religious minorities onto a blacklist of 172 "sectes" commissioned by the National Assembly. Drawing on extensive interviews and field research, Palmer describes the controversial histories of well-known international New Religious Movements including the Church of Scientology, Raelian Movement, and Unificationism, as well as esoteric local groups. Palmer also reveals the partisanship of Catholic priests, journalists, village mayors, and the passive public who support La République's efforts to control minority faiths - all in the name of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." Through historical and sociological theory, Palmer analyzes France's war on "sectes" as a strategic response to social pressures arising from globalization and immigration. Her study addresses the impact of these social pressures on traditional cultures and national character, as well as important issues of religious freedom and public tolerance. |
Contents
Why New Heretics? | 2 |
THE RISE OF THE GOVERNMENTSPONSORED ANTISECTE MOVEMENT | 9 |
GROUPS ON THE GUYARD LIST | 31 |
REFLECTIONS ON THE MEANING OF THE FRENCH SECT WARS | 177 |
Appendix I | 203 |
Appendix II | 209 |
Notes | 215 |
243 | |
249 | |
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The New Heretics of France: Minority Religions, la Republique, and the ... Susan Palmer Limited preview - 2011 |
The New Heretics of France: Minority Religions, la Republique, and the ... Susan Palmer No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Abgrall About-Picard law abus de faiblesse ADFI Alain Vivien anticult movement antisecte appeared Arnaud Mussy arrested association Aumistes Baubérot brainwashing Brard Castano Catherine Picard Church of Scientology claimed Commission contre cult dangerous death December defamation dérives sectaires euros explained Fenech FIREPHIM France France’s French Sect Wars geniocracy Gilbert Bourdin gourou groups Guyard list Guyard Report Hamsah Manarah Horus human rights Ibid Interview Jean Jean-Marie Abgrall Jean-Pierre Brard Jehovah’s Witnesses Jérémie journalists July laïcité lawyer leaders les sectes Libération Liberté live Luc Jouret Maïte Mandarom manipulation mentale mass suicide Massimo Introvigne MILS MIVILUDES Monde Mussy’s Nantes National Assembly Néo-Phare NRMs October officials organization parents Paris police president protest Raël Raël’s Raelian Movement raid religion religious freedom religious minorities rumor sectarian secular sexual Shomer social sociologist Solar Temple spiritual Tabitha’s Place Tavernier television tion trial Tribes UNADFI victims Vorilhon