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Revision as of 21:02, 16 August 2004 by Andries (talk | contribs) (dewifkify double link)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)CESNUR is a center for studies on new religions, based in Turin, Italy. It is an international network of associations of scholars working in the field of new religious movements. Its director is the Italian attorney Massimo Introvigne. CESNUR claims to be independent of any religious group, church, denomination or association.
CESNUR gives a greater weight to religious freedom than anti-cult activists and is critical about concepts like mind control, thought reform, and brainwashing asserting that they lack scientific and scholarly support and are mainly based on anecdotal evidence.
CESNUR has been heavily criticized by the Christian countercult movement and the anti-cult movement including former members of purported cults. Counter cult activist Anton Hein of the Apologetics Index describes it as having " gained a reputation for being mostly uncritical and, in fact, supportive of movements considered to be cults by secular anticult- and/or Christian countercult professionals." It has also been alleged that Introvigne has links with Alleanza Cattolica and other right-wing organizations.
- CESNUR affiliated scholars include
- Eileen Barker, professor in sociology at the London School of Economics
- Reender Kranenborg of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam
- late Jeffrey Hadden of the University of Virginia
- J. Gordon Melton of the Institute for the Study of American Religion (ISAR)
External links
Sites critical of CESNUR:
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