Antisectarian publication to come out in Russia

Itar-Tass/October 7, 1998

Moscow -- The first antisectarian periodical will be published in Russia. The journal "Prozreniye" (Seeing the light) is the joint project of St.Irenee of Lyon Orthodox Centre and the Moscow Patriarchate publishers.

Its purpose is to disseminate trustworthy information about the essence of doctrines and destructive activity of sects, new religious movements and other movements gaining broad currency in Russia. The publishers have the information that about five million Russians are in the grip of sects.

One of the characteristic features of the present is the emergence of organisations seemingly unconnecting with religious teachings, the authors said at the presentation. "In reality, an organisation advertising a new teaching method or an effective medicine, or else a way to manage an enterprise and get rich may turn out to be a recruiting structure of some or other sect, they said.

The publishers also noted with concern that the authorities do not resist enough the sects that inundated the country. They believe the law on the freedom of conscience passed a year ago does not work the way it should, specifically, in protecting the country against the pernicious activity of pseudo-religious organisations.

One of the chief editors of the publication is Professor Alexander Dvorkin, head of St.Irenee of Lyon Centre, a leading expert on sects. His new book "Introduction to the study of sects" was also presented at the news conference. In the book, the author deals with scientologists, Jehovah's witnesses, Mormons, New Age and White Brotherhood movements and points out their danger for mental health.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.