The New Heretics of France - Minority Religions, la Republique, and the Government-Sponsored ''War on Sects'' (Hardcover, New)

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 anticult movement in the wake of the shocking mass suicides of the Solar Temple in 1994, and the negative impact of this movement on France's most visible religious minorities, whose names appeared on 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 NRMs (the Church of Scientology, Raelian Movement, and Unificationism) in France, as well as esoteric local groups. Palmer also reveals the partisanship of Catholic priests, journalists, village mayors, and the passive public who support La Republique's efforts to control minority faiths - all in the name of ''Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.'' Drawing on historical and sociological theory, Palmer analyzes France's war on sects as a strategical response to social pressures arising from globalization and immigration. Her study addresses important issues of religious freedom, public tolerance, and the impact of globalization and immigration on traditional cultures and national character.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	December 2011
First published:	October 2011
Authors:	Susan Palmer (Professor of Religious Studies)
Dimensions:	240 x 163 x 32mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Cloth over boards
Pages:	272
Edition:	New
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-973521-1
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian & quasi-Christian cults & sects Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social groups & communities > Religious groups Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Humanist & secular alternatives to religion > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems > Humanist & secular alternatives to religion > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian & quasi-Christian cults & sects Books > Christianity > Christian & quasi-Christian cults & sects
LSN:	0-19-973521-2
Barcode:	9780199735211

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