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Proposed law in Russia threatens Krishna worship (2/2)
Excerpts form the Draft Law of the Russian Federation:
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Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations
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Article 4. State Protection of Right to Freedom of Conscience and
Religious Belief
4. The Present Law prohibits creation and activity of religious
organisations which: disturb public security and order, advocate war,
violence, hatred of mankind, enkindle social, racial, national or
religious dissension, make use of illegal coercion ways in their
activity, cause damage to physical, mental and moral health of
citizens, including using narcotic and other stupefying substances,
committing debauched and other actions insulting public morals, delude
citizens by means of concealment of nature and purposes of their
activity, impel citizens to perpetrate illegal actions, to decline
fulfillment of civil responsibilities stipulated by the law.
Excerpts from the report of a Special Committee established by the Moscow
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Duma to Investigate Sects in Russia.
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These excerpts provide us with evidence of the extreme reaction to ISKCON
by some sections of the Church and nationalists in Russia. They betray an
extreme ignorance of the facts, an obvious bias, a completely unscientific
approach to the study of religion and a gratuitous "lumping-in" of ISKCON
with groups with which it has nothing in common.
If you read these excerpts you will appreciate ISKCON's concern about
these issues and also the need for balanced representation to the
political and religious authorities in Russia.
A hint of bias?
"According to common consent and evidence presented by various Christian
denominations participating in the international Christian conference,
"Totalitarian Sects in Russia", held in May, 1994 in Moscow, such
institutions as the White Brotherhood, Our Lady Centre, Aum Sinrike,
Krishna Consciousness, Christ Church, etc. were declared to be anti-human
and anti-Christian in character."
The methodology of the Committee
"In order to solve the problem of the sects, the Committee has analysed
56 letters sent by parents of children involved in the above mentioned
institutions. These letters were original addressed to the Moscow
Committee for the Salvation of Youth, a 'Rabotchaya Tribuna Newspaper'
editorial, the public prosecutor's office and such other authorities."
[i.e. They have only taken evidence from parents of "victims"]
Charges against ISKCON
"In the Aum Sinrike and Krishna Consciousness institutions personal
influence by psychological techniques is widely used. These techniques are
taken from their mystical doctrines. The techniques include yoga, so
called initiations and early morning meditation, directed at altering the
of consciousness of the individual and thus turning them away from real
life."
"The capacity for critical thought is lost, while suggestibility is
increased. These methods are used by the religious institutions to make
people obey their particular dogma and become submissive to their
control."
"The libido of young people is destroyed. Women stop their menses and men
suffer from impotence. This is caused by caused by celibacy and
artificial libido suppression. This is viewed by this committee as a
mental from of castration in men and a form of permanent contraception in
women."
Conclusions
1. The activities of the White Brotherhood, Our Lady Centre, Aum Sinrike
and the Krishna Consciousness institutions result in serious damage to the
moral, psychic and physical health of the person and personality.
2. The damage caused by the activities of the above mentioned
institutions can be is seen in the increased states of delusion
experienced by members, excessively valued ideals and pathological
personality changes which create a basis for other diseases, including
damage to women's ability to conceive children.
3. The activities of the above mentioned institutions seriously damage the
health of those who are already suffering from psychic diseases and
persons with personality dysfunction. The result of this influence is an
increase in mental distortion.
4. Such damage to health and personality is caused as a
result of hidden mental violence and manipulation with a person's
consciousness performed in the guise of prayer, liturgy, ritual as well as
due to mass suggestions in artificially altered states, up to the deep
hypnotic and the state of self-hypnosis. These states are effected in the
course of specific psychological techniques and methods used during
liturgies, rituals, initiations and meditation.
Recommendations
1. To create a permanent, expert consulting group in the Moscow
Government, comprising representatives of the main traditional Russian
religious confessions as well, as psychiatrists, psychologists, religious
scientists and lawyers. This group would provide the function of a State
Monitor, controlling the activity of religious institutions all over
Russia. To ask the Moscow public prosecutor's office to begin legal
proceedings against these groups, according to Article 143-1 RSFSR
Criminal Code.
