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FINAL REPORT OF THE ENQUETE COMMISSION ON "SO-CALLED SECTS AND PSYCHOGROUPS" |
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Foreword Since the late 1960s, our society has experienced profound changes. Formerly clear-cut standards in terms of life- styles, values and the meaning of life have become less and less binding. New life-styles and new sources of meaning are evolving and competing with each other. At the same time, the individual is expected to be highly efficient, as well as highly flexible, mobile and willing to take decisions. This leads to a great deal of uncertainty. Both as a response and as a reaction to this development, a plethora of new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups has emerged in the past 20 years. Some of them offer alternative life worlds in which individuals hope to find caring, a sense of community and orientation, as well as "refuge" from the demands of society, or opportunities for religious devotion, or meaning in their lives. Other groups, however, promise "ideal adaptation" to the challenges of the modern age by suggesting to individuals that they will able to increase and strengthen their efficiency to an unrealistic extent. Many people in the Federal Republic of Germany have observed this development with great concern. This situation led to the establishment of the Enquete Commission on "So-called Sects and Psychogroups". In order to find out what conflicts can be ascribed to the new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups, and in order to decide whether governmental action is required, and if so, in what areas, the Enquete Commission analysed the phenomenon extensively and in its many facets within a period of only two years. During this analysis, the Commission found that there were substantial gaps in research available in German-language countries. By awarding contracts for research projects and expert reports that could be completed within the short period of time available, the Enquete Commission helped considerably to improve the research findings available. In its final report, the Commission presents the findings obtained during its work, which was limited to identifying problems and conflicts that arise in connection with new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups. It was not part of the Commission's brief to scrutinize specific groups, let alone their religious beliefs. Freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of belief are cardinal and inalienable human rights to which the Commission is firmly and wholeheartedly committed. In its work, the Commission has always been guided by the principles of governmental neutrality and tolerance as laid down in Article 4 of the German Constitution. The Enquete Commission was confronted not only with fears of citizens with regard to the perils associated with "so-called sects" but also with the concern of many communities that they might be labeled as "harmful sects" and treated as such. The Commission also dealt intensively with this side of the problem, and it is very much against stigmatizing such groups "lock, stock, and barrel" and against using the term "sect" because of its negative connotations. The rejection of the term "sect" is also supported by Enquete Commission's finding that only a small number of the groups which have often been summed up with the term "sect" in the past is problematic. It would therefore be irresponsible to continue to use the term "sect" for all new religious and ideological communities. A research project for which the Commission had awarded a contract showed that people who feel attracted to new religious or ideological communities are not "passive victims". Instead, they have a number of needs, desires or problems in life which they hope will be fulfilled, satisfied and solved in such communities. Whether individuals join a community and stay there or drop out, depends on the quality of the "fit" between their expectations and the answers and the milieu provided by the communities. For a realistic discussion of this societal phenomenon - i.e. a discussion in which the issue is neither exaggerated nor played down - it is indispensable to have reliable empirical findings and well-founded scientific studies of the various aspects involved in this issue. In this context, it is necessary to remedy considerable shortcomings in research. Religious pluralism is a characteristic feature of our society. The communities of the major world religions exist side by side with a host of smaller groups representing a wide variety of religious beliefs. This fact alone should not be a bone of contention that leads to governmental intervention. Instead, government must respect each individual's choice of a given religious belief. However, whenever laws are violated, whenever basic rights are infringed upon, or worse, whenever crimes are committed under the guise of religion, government cannot remain passive. The Commission feels that, below this threshold of imperative governmental interventions, government is called upon to provide support and assistance. While government must not impose any rules that dictate how individuals should live their lives, it can support its citizens in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world by providing information and education. The scope of governmental action in dealing with new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups ranges from education and information on the one hand, to specific legislative measures, on the other. This spectrum is reflected by the Enquete Commission's recommendations for action. They include both possible and necessary governmental interventions. The Commission's recommendations for legislative action draw attention to gaps in the current legislation and suggest ways of filling these gaps. The establishment of a foundation which is expected to bundle the various aspects involved when dealing with new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups is one forward-looking proposal. For any further work on this subject, it will be indispensable to open a dialogue across national borders. International co-operation will be necessary because the phenomenon will not remain limited to the Federal Republic of Germany; in fact, it is a symptom of modern Western societies. Helping individuals to find orientation and to cope with life is a challenge which government cannot master on its own. Instead, a government must both respect and insist on the personal responsibility of its citizens. To make this happen, politicians and all groups in society must interact closely. It is necessary to impart knowledge, to teach tolerance and solidarity, and to strengthen the individual's critical faculties as well as his or her ability to cope with conflicts. This will not only protect the individual from being drawn to problematic groups, but it will also give legitimate new religious and ideological communities the room for maneuver in our society that they deserve. I would like to thank all those who have constructively supported our efforts in a variety of ways and who have thus contributed to the successful completion of our work. (SIGNATURE) Ortrun Schätzle, MP Chairperson of the Enquete Commission on "So-called Sects and Psychogroups"
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