Materials from the International Scientific-Practical Conference on "Totalitarian Cults - Threat of the 21st Century"
These materials were presented in Russian.
Nizhny Novgorod
23-25 April 20012001 Publishing House of the Fraternity of St. Alexandr Nevski
Forward
- An international scientific-practical conference on "Totalitarian Cults - Threat of the 21st Century" was held from 23 to 25 April 2001 in the Orthodox Center in the name of Saint Nikola in the City of Nizhny Novgorod. It was extraordinarily well represented not only by geographical region, but also by the number of participants. There were assembled in Nizhny Novgorod delegations from seven countries and 22 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), totaling 201 people. Large segments of the mass media were also present, both press and television.
Archmandrit Kirill (Pokrovski), Nizhny Novgorod
- Candidate of Theological Science, abbot of the Annunciation men's monastery, head of the Nizhny Novgorod spiritual seminars
- Words of welcome for guests and participants of the conference
Umar-Khazrat Idrisov, Nizhny Novgorod
- Representative of the Spiritual Council of Mussulmen of Nizhny Novgorod city and Nizhny Novgorod province
- Words of welcome to conference guests and participants
Eduard Mikahilovich Chaprak, Nizhny Novgorod
- head of the European community of Nizhny Novgorod
- Words of welcome to conference guests and participants
Alain Vivien, France
- Minister of the French Republic, chairman of the Interministerial Mission to Combat Cults for the Prime Minister of France
- Government and cults: France's experience
Pastor Thomas Gandow, Berlin, FRG
- Representative of the Berlin-Brandenburg Lutheran Church on issues of cults and worldview, vice president of the International Institute for the Study of contemporary cultism, the "Dialog Center," leading specialist in the expansion of totalitarian cults into countries of central and eastern Europe
- History of how the concept of freedom of conscience developed: American and European approaches
Supplement to Pastor Thomas Gandow's lecture
- (Document Bundesrat 196/96 of 14 March 1996)
- accepted for discussion by the European Parliament 12 February 1996
Alexander Leonidovich Dvorkin, Moscow
- Ph.D., M. Div. Chairman of the Department of Sectology of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Institute, Chief Editor of the Prozreniye (recovery of sight) magazine
- Totalitarian Cults on the Threshold of the XXI Century
Archmandrit Christofor (Chakas), Nicosia, Cyprus
- Masters of theological science, chaplain of the All-Cypriot league to defend families and persons
- Church and cults: the experience of Cyprus
Chzhan Baichun, Peking, China
- Professor of philosophy
- Cults in contemporary China
Pastor Rudiger Haus, Westfalia, FRG
- D.D., Representative of the Westfalian Lutheran Church in issues of sects and worldviews
- The Mormon cult: occultism concealed under the mask of Christianity
Gerald Armstrong, of Vancouver, Canada, has not gained his knowledge about the Scientology cult second-hand. He spent twelve and a half years in that organization holding posts in various departments. He had access to secret documents and was the personal archivist for Ronald Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. The pathological hatred Scientologists have for G. Armstrong is evidence that he speaks the dreadful truth about events that occur within their organization. He continues to testify against Scientology despite the threats, harassment and legal persecution instituted by cultists.
- Writer and artist Gerald Armstrong was invited to Russia and visited Nizhny Novgorod, where he gave a lecture at the conference about his time in Scientology.
- Scientology - Cult of Nonsense
to be continued