Totalitarian sects: the threat of religious extremism usu, Ksenia Dinislamova

Totalitarian sects: the threat of religious extremism

• USU, Ksenia Dinislamova

Contents

• Criteria of totalitarian sects

• Analysis of religious situation in Russia

• Role of the state and religious freedom

• Ways to remedy the situation

Why state should combat 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

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

Creeds of the Russians

BELIEVERS UNBELIEVERS 47% 38%

Sects and students

• 7% - met sectarians more

• than 3 times

Religious situation in Russia

Religious freedom

Where is the balance between religious freedom and state’s obligations?

Religious freedom is not the permission to religious organizations to do what they want.

What may the state do ?

• To encourage the creation of informational centers and centers for protection of sects’ victims;

• the basic educational curriculum should include history and information about traditional religions and objective factual information concerning totalitarian sects;

• To employ the norms of legislation against the activity of destructive groups;

• Ministry of justice should carry out a scientific investigation before registration of a group;

• existing legislation concerning the protection of children should be more rigorously applied;

• To protect minors from any discrimination and intolerance.

Conclusion: the state should combat totalitarian sects as:

• totalitarian sects violate cornerstones of a democratic society and human rights;

• a sound ideological system has not took shape yet which facilitates spreading of destructive cults in Russia;

• the main task of state is to protect its citizens, from economic, ideological and sexual exploitation, from suppression of their rights if a sect or a sect-like organization tries to violate it;