Centre intercantonal d'information sur les croyances

Centre intercantonal d'information sur les croyances
Centre intercantonal d'information sur les croyances et sur les activités des groupements à caractère spirituel, religieux ou ésotérique
AbbreviationCIC
Formation2001; 24 years ago (2001)
HeadquartersGeneva
Location
  • Switzerland
Official language
French
Director
Manéli Farahmand
Websitecic-info.ch

The Centre intercantonal d'information sur les croyances (CIC) is a publicly funded Swiss organization based in Geneva that provides information on religious beliefs in French-speaking Switzerland. Founded after the deaths of many members of the Order of the Solar Temple cult in the 1990s, it aims to provide neutral resources on information related to religious beliefs, particularly when it comes to new religious movements. It was established in 2001.

History

CIC was founded when, following the Order of the Solar Temple deaths in the 1990s, the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Valais and Ticino decided to fund the creation of an information center focusing on religious beliefs in 2001.[1][2][3][4] There had been a report that showed a lack of information on cults in Switzerland in 1997 as a result.[2][5] The new organization aimed to both be preventative of future issues and to address the Swiss population's concerns following the Solar Temple deaths.[2][5]

Other cantons could join the proposal, though the Canton of Fribourg rejected it.[5][6] Government representatives of Fribourg argued that intervention on cults was needed on a country-wide level, not just in French-speaking regions, and that given Fribourg as a canton is bilingual it would not participate in an organization that would leave out its German speaking population. The state councilor further pointed out that they disagreed with the classification of some specific movements as dangerous (namely Jehovah's Witnesses and the Salvation Army).[6] The management committee of the National Council of Switzerland declared matters of beliefs were the responsibility of the cantons.[6]

The organization is based in Geneva.[7] The director at the time of its founding was Nicole Durisch.[7] As of 2024, the director of CIC is Manéli Farahmand.[8]

Operations

CIC mostly deals with new religious movements, migrant religion, as well as related ideas, such as spiritual therapies.[2][7] It receives an average of 500 reports a year, on a variety of groups and movements.[2][9][10] CIC staff are trained in the study and sociology of religion and the organization aims for cooperation with relevant academia; it is not an anti-cult group.[1] It aims to provide neutral information on religious beliefs.[11][2]

CIC provides consultation on the topic of religious beliefs, as well as documentation, research resources and referrals to psychological and legal help.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Wyttenbach, Christina (2023). "Expertise on NRMs in Switzerland: An Interstitial Space between the Religious and Scientific Fields". In Rota, Andrea (ed.). Religion and Academia Reframed: Connecting Religion, Science, and Society in the Long Sixties. Supplements to Method & Theory in the Study of Religion. BRILL. p. 101. ISBN 978-90-04-54657-8. ISSN 2214-3270.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Knobel, Brigitte (2013). "Switzerland and Religious Minorities: Legal, Political and Educational Responses". In Kirkham, David M. (ed.). State Responses to Minority Religions. Routledge. pp. 144–146. ISBN 978-1-351-89806-5.
  3. ^ Vonnez, Jean-Luc (31 October 2001). "Genève joue l'information contre les dérives sectaires" [Geneva provides information to combat sectarian aberrations]. Le Temps (in Swiss French). Geneva. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ Atmani, Mehdi (7 December 2009). ""Les cantons sous-estiment les peurs de la population face aux religions"" ["Cantons underestimate people's fear of religion"]. Le Temps (in Swiss French). Geneva. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Froidevaux, Khadija (22 January 2024). "L'information, clé contre les dérives et les discriminations" [Information, the key to combating abuses and discrimination]. Réformés.ch (in Swiss French). Lausanne. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Cesa, Battiste (10 August 2000). "Fribourg dit non au centre d'information sur les croyances" [Fribourg says no to belief information center]. Le Temps (in Swiss French). Geneva. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Maury, Nicolas (3 October 2006). "Garder un œil vigilant sur les groupes controversés" [Keep a watchful eye on controversial groups]. Le Nouvelliste (in Swiss French). No. 229. Sion. p. 24. ISSN 1661-500X. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via e-newspaperarchives.ch.
  8. ^ Andres, Camille (20 February 2024). "Manéli Farahmand, par-dessus les flammes" [Manéli Farahmand, above the flames]. Réformés.ch (in Swiss French). Lausanne. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Genève: Rapport 2008 du centre intercantonal d'information sur les croyances". cath.ch (in Swiss French). Lausanne. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ^ "432 demandes adressées au CIC l'an dernier" [432 requests submitted to the CIC last year]. cath.ch (in Swiss French). Lausanne. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  11. ^ Zuercher, Caroline (30 October 2001). "Un front commun contre les sectes" [A united front against cults]. SWI swissinfo (in Swiss French). Bern. Retrieved 19 July 2024.