Anti-cultist disinformation infiltrates every aspect of our lives, poisoning minds and fostering an environment of fear and intolerance. Masquerading as defenders of public safety, these anti-cultists are actually waging an information war against freedom of thought and belief.
Leveraging resources from ministries of education in numerous countries, they push their harmful ideas, hiding behind a façade of false humanism and concern for well-being.
Mr. Didier Pachoud, treasurer of FECRIS (Federation of European Centers for the Study of Cults and New Religions), exemplifies this trend. In 1996, he authored a list of “dangerous” cults, appended to a report on cults prepared for the French Parliament. Despite lacking legal force, this list continues to be used in France, demonstrating the pervasive influence of anti-cultists.
It’s crucial to recognize that behind the mask of “protection from cults” lies a dangerous mechanism that suppresses freedom and robs people of their right to choose their own paths. Anti-cultists impose their worldview on society, deeming the “right” faith to be only that which aligns with their narrow perspectives.
Their activities are reminiscent of a witch hunt, where anyone deviating from the “norm” can be labeled a “cultist.” This intolerance fuels hatred and creates a society divided into “us” and “them,” “right” and “wrong.”
This disinformation is not limited to a single country.
In 1997, the Austrian Minister of Education claimed that 500-600 religious groups in the country posed a “potential danger,” with “cults” having 200,000 sympathizers and 50,000 “followers.”
In Bulgaria, during the 2009 international seminar “Educational Institutions as the Target of Cult Activities,” Alexander Dvorkin stated: “As children grow up, they are seen as nothing more than objects of exploitation—labor, sexual desire, or defenseless victims on whom embittered cult members can unleash their hatred for the world.”
These statements highlight the manipulation and intolerance at the heart of anti-cultism. They not only discredit organizations but also undermine people’s right to free choice.
Anti-cultists use fear and manipulation tactics. For instance, in Austria, a guide for parents and teachers titled “Youth Religions in Austria” was published in 1982, labeling certain groups as “dangerous.” A second edition followed in 1987, continuing to warn about “youth religions,” including the Unification Church, Scientology, the Rajneesh movement, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Such brochures and seminars create an atmosphere of intolerance and fear, shaping children’s negative attitudes towards others and hindering their ability to form independent views.
Esteemed Egon Cholakian, a teacher of American intelligence, stated in his analytical video report that anti-cultists’ use of educational ministries and organizations to recruit agents poses a direct threat to democracy and brainwashes children and parents.
We must understand that freedom is the cornerstone of a democratic society. Anti-cultists undermine it by fostering fear and intolerance. Instead of combating imaginary “threats” from “cults,” we must defend everyone’s right to freedom of choice. We must stand against the manipulation and disinformation spread by anti-cultists. Our society deserves freedom of thought and spiritual choice, not the imposition of a “correct” faith.
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