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FOREWORD
The
ever more spread adhesion to alternative forms of religiosity represents
often a trial to reply to social or family conflicts with which the
potential follower must deal. Within such a context it lays dishonest
persuasion techniques, sometimes lying over lies in fact, maybe not
illegal by the juridical viewpoint, but that must be duly denounced;
there are, furthermore, techniques lying over fraud forms on damage
of the user of a 'product' of the nowadays 'supermarket of the sacred'
and it does not lack illegal techniques related to the subjects over
whom it is practiced (minors and mental defenceless individuals) or
related to the target of persuasion (giving-up the required medical
therapies suicide, murder, several kinds violence). As regard to these
cases, whereas it is not possible to exclude a dishonest persuasion
activity, it will be very illuminating an overview about the way some
European national legislations has faced the mental control item at
the hands of totalitarian and all-engaging movements. Indeed, State
must respect the choice of individuals and the religious creed they
chooses, but whereas basic rights are violated, whereas under the mask
of religiosity are carried out actions that are punishable by law, it
cannot keep inactive. Although the State cannot rule the whole aspects
of the individual's life, it can surely, by the means of information
and explanation, help citizens in their decisions within the frame of
a world that changes very fast.
THE
FRENCH CHOICE
The
French State, loyal to the "indifference" principle in religious affairs,
has never introduced a legal definition of religion; indeed State's
neutrality implies that religious creeds are not public item and that
religion concerns only individuals, the private sphere of citizens.
Nevertheless, since 1985, the deputy Alain Vivien's report, drawn out
on application of the Premier P. Mauroy and entitled "Sects in France.
Moral freedom expression or manipulation elements?", presented an overview
of the sect phenomenon and analysed its aspects. Then, in 1996, an appropriate
Board of Inquiry presented to the National Assembly the report entitled
"Sects in France", a document known as "Guyard Report".
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CURRICULUM
