Dialog Center
Encyclopedia
The Dialog Center is a Christian counter-cult
organization founded by a Danish
professor of missiology
and ecumenical
theology
, Dr. Johannes Aagaard (1928-2007). Considered Christian apologetic and missionary
minded, the Dialog Center, led by Prof. Aagaard was for many years the main source of information in Denmark on cult
s, sect
s, and new religious movements.
In recent years Danish secular scholars of religion led by religious historian Mikael Rothstein
have begun to provide an alternative and somewhat contrary viewpoint. Rothstein cooperates with Eileen Barker
and Massimo Introvigne
. They tend to see new religious movements more as persecuted religious
minorities that have the same right to practice their faith as mainstream religions.
The Dialog Center, while agreeing in principle, tends to take a somewhat more critical view on New Religious Movements and focus on the problems that occur if they violate the law. Additionally, it recognises that the techniques employed in some sects may have more subtle psychological effects than would be expected from treating them on a par with 'mainstream religions' (see the article on the Scientology controversy
for an example of the complex claims and counterclaims encountered in this field).
The Dialog Center works together with countercult organizations abroad like the Spiritual Counterfeits Project
(see Tal Brooke) in United States
, etc. The Dialog Center International is a loose network of centers in Denmark
, the United Kingdom
, Ireland
, Germany
, and Russia
.
Christian countercult movement
The Christian countercult movement is a social movement of Christian ministries and individual Christian countercult activists who oppose religious sects thought to either partially abide or do not at all abide by the teachings that are written within the Bible. These religious sects are also known...
organization founded by a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
professor of missiology
Missiology
Missiology is the area of practical theology that investigates the mandate, message, and mission of the Christian church, especially the nature of missionary work...
and ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, Dr. Johannes Aagaard (1928-2007). Considered Christian apologetic and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
minded, the Dialog Center, led by Prof. Aagaard was for many years the main source of information in Denmark on cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s, sect
Sect
A sect is a group with distinctive religious, political or philosophical beliefs. Although in past it was mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and...
s, and new religious movements.
In recent years Danish secular scholars of religion led by religious historian Mikael Rothstein
Mikael Rothstein
Mikael Rothstein is an associate professor of religious history at the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2002 he was on the board of the Danish Association for the History of Religions and the editorial boards of the publications Renner Studies on New Religions and Nye...
have begun to provide an alternative and somewhat contrary viewpoint. Rothstein cooperates with Eileen Barker
Eileen Barker
Eileen Vartan Barker OBE, born in Edinburgh, UK, is a professor in sociology, an emeritus member of the London School of Economics , and a consultant to that institution's Centre for the Study of Human Rights...
and Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist and intellectual property consultant. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions , an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of tens of books and articles in...
. They tend to see new religious movements more as persecuted religious
Religious persecution
Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or lack thereof....
minorities that have the same right to practice their faith as mainstream religions.
The Dialog Center, while agreeing in principle, tends to take a somewhat more critical view on New Religious Movements and focus on the problems that occur if they violate the law. Additionally, it recognises that the techniques employed in some sects may have more subtle psychological effects than would be expected from treating them on a par with 'mainstream religions' (see the article on the Scientology controversy
Scientology controversy
Since the Church of Scientology's inception in 1954, numerous Scientologists have been involved in scandals, at times serving prison sentences for crimes, such as those committed in Operation Snow White...
for an example of the complex claims and counterclaims encountered in this field).
The Dialog Center works together with countercult organizations abroad like the Spiritual Counterfeits Project
Spiritual Counterfeits Project
The Spiritual Counterfeits Project is a Christian evangelical parachurch organisation located in Berkeley, California. Since its inception in the early 1970s it has been involved in the fields of Christian apologetics and the Christian countercult movement. Its current president is Tal Brooke...
(see Tal Brooke) in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, etc. The Dialog Center International is a loose network of centers in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.