New Religious Movements and Children

New religious movements seek to renew spiritual life and often adopt a stance of protest towards mainstream society, differentiating themselves in ways that can create tension and conflict. Child-rearing is among the most contentious issues. Movements take different approaches to children's upbringing and education, defining goals for future generations according to their teachings. They may cross customary boundaries and come into conflict with wider society. Just as movements influence children, children also influence the communities in which they grow up. Different relationships between movements and children are illustrated through Hare Krishna, the Twelve Tribes, Bhagwan Rajneesh's movement (Osho) and Scientology.

Mgr. Jitka Schlichtsová (born 1988) is a doctoral researcher at the Protestant Theological Faculty, Charles University in Prague. She teaches religious studies and psychology, belongs to the Czech Society for the Study of Sects and New Religious Movements, and edits the quarterly Dingir and the website Náboženský infoservis. Her long-standing interests particularly concern the activities of so-called cults in Czechia and Slovakia.

The lecture took place online and can be watched on YouTube:

Lecture date and time: 22. 2. 2023 at 17:30 – 19:00

The lecture series was supported using public funds by the Slovak Arts Council.