Anti-cult Movement - Anti-cult Movement in Russia

Anti-cult Movement in Russia

In the USSR, all the important questions of the state-religious relations were resolved by Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, KGB, the Counsel about religions. There was no background for any ACM as a social initiative. But some party functionaries thought that all the religions were reaction force and “sects” were especially dangerous.

In Russia “anticultism” appeared in early 1990s. Some Russian protestants used to take part in criticizing of foreigner missionaries, sects and new religious movements. Their chiefs hoped that taking part in anti-cult declarations could demonstrate that they were not “sectarians”.

Now anti-cult movements, better known as “anti-sectarian movements” take part in making laws about religion in Russia.

Some religious studies have shown that anti-cult movements, especially with support of the government, can provoke serious religious conflicts in Russian society.