Modern Heretics: Persecution Continues
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Introduction: The Burnings Haven't Stopped
We like to think religious persecution ended with the Enlightenment—that the Inquisition, witch hunts, and heresy trials are medieval horrors we've outgrown. But the truth is darker: religious persecution continues today. People are still imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their beliefs. New religious movements are stigmatized as "cults." Spiritual seekers face discrimination, and in many countries, heresy is still a crime punishable by death.
The methods have changed—fewer stakes, more prisons and "deprogramming"—but the impulse remains: to punish those who believe differently, to enforce orthodoxy, and to crush spiritual freedom. The modern heretics are Baha'is in Iran, Falun Gong in China, Ahmadis in Pakistan, and countless others whose only crime is seeking truth outside approved channels.
This is the tenth and final article in our Heretics & Mystics series. We now examine contemporary religious persecution, the stigmatization of new religious movements, the balance between spiritual freedom and cult prevention, and how to protect the right to believe—or not believe—as we choose.
Contemporary Religious Persecution: Case Studies
Baha'is in Iran
Who they are: Followers of Baha'i Faith (founded 1863, Persia)
Beliefs:
- Unity of all religions
- Progressive revelation (Muhammad, Jesus, Buddha, Baha'u'llah all prophets)
- Equality of men and women
- Universal education and peace
Why persecuted in Iran:
- Considered apostates from Islam (Baha'u'llah claimed to be prophet after Muhammad)
- Islam teaches Muhammad is final prophet
- Iranian government views Baha'is as heretics
Persecution:
- Denied education (can't attend university)
- Denied employment (government jobs forbidden)
- Property confiscated
- Imprisoned, tortured, executed
- 200+ executed since 1979 Islamic Revolution
- Thousands imprisoned
Current status: Ongoing, one of worst persecuted groups in Iran
Falun Gong in China
Who they are: Spiritual practice combining qigong exercises, meditation, and moral teachings
Founded: 1992 by Li Hongzhi
Beliefs: Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance (Zhen-Shan-Ren)
Why persecuted:
- Grew rapidly (70-100 million practitioners by 1999)
- Chinese Communist Party saw as threat
- Independent organization outside Party control
- 1999: Banned as "evil cult"
Persecution:
- Arrested, imprisoned in labor camps
- Tortured to force renunciation
- Credible reports of organ harvesting from prisoners
- Propaganda campaign demonizing Falun Gong
- Estimated thousands killed, millions detained
International response: Human rights organizations condemn, but persecution continues
Ahmadis in Pakistan
Who they are: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (founded 1889, India)
Beliefs: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was Messiah and Mahdi (reformer, not new prophet)
Why persecuted:
- Mainstream Muslims consider them non-Muslim (heretics)
- 1974: Pakistan declared Ahmadis non-Muslim by law
- 1984: Ordinance XX criminalized Ahmadi religious practice
Persecution:
- Illegal to call themselves Muslim
- Illegal to use Islamic terminology
- Illegal to build mosques or call to prayer
- Blasphemy laws used against them (death penalty)
- Mob violence, murders
- Hundreds killed, thousands imprisoned
Current status: Ongoing, systematic discrimination
Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar
Who they are: Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar
Persecution:
- Denied citizenship (stateless)
- Ethnic cleansing (2017: 700,000+ fled to Bangladesh)
- Villages burned, mass killings, rape
- UN called it genocide
Religious dimension: Buddhist nationalism fueling violence against Muslims
Christians in North Korea
Situation: Christianity illegal, considered threat to Kim regime
Persecution:
- Possession of Bible = death penalty or labor camp
- Estimated 50,000-70,000 Christians in labor camps
- Three generations punished (family members imprisoned)
- Worst country for Christian persecution (Open Doors ranking)
New Religious Movements: Stigma and "Cult" Panic
What Is a "Cult"?
Problem: No clear definition
Popular usage: Any new, unfamiliar, or controversial religious group
Academic term: "New Religious Movement" (NRM) - neutral, descriptive
Pejorative use: "Cult" = dangerous, brainwashing, exploitative
Reality: Most NRMs are harmless; some are harmful; label often applied unfairly
Historical Pattern
Every major religion was once a "cult":
- Christianity (Jewish cult, Roman cult)
- Islam (Arabian cult)
- Buddhism (Hindu heresy)
- Mormonism (American cult, now mainstream)
Pattern: New = suspicious → Time + growth = legitimate
Modern "Cult" Panics
1970s-1980s:
- Anti-cult movement emerged
- "Deprogramming" (kidnapping and forced conversion)
- Satanic Panic (false accusations of ritual abuse)
Triggers:
- Jonestown (1978): 918 died in mass murder-suicide
- Branch Davidians (1993): 76 died in Waco siege
- Heaven's Gate (1997): 39 died in mass suicide
Result: All NRMs viewed with suspicion
Legitimate vs. Harmful Groups
Legitimate NRMs:
- Voluntary membership
- Transparent about beliefs
- Respect members' autonomy
- Allow members to leave freely
- No abuse or exploitation
Examples: Baha'i, Wicca, Scientology (controversial but legal), many others
Harmful groups (actual cults):
- Coercive control (BITE model: Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotional control)
- Isolation from family/friends
- Financial exploitation
- Physical/sexual abuse
- Preventing members from leaving
Examples: NXIVM, Children of God, Aum Shinrikyo
The Stigma Problem
Consequences of "cult" label:
- Discrimination in employment, housing
- Family estrangement
- Legal harassment
- Violence (attacks on "cult" members)
Who suffers: Often harmless groups labeled "cults" by mainstream
Spiritual Freedom vs. Cult Prevention
The Dilemma
Spiritual freedom requires:
- Right to believe anything
- Right to practice any religion
- Right to join any group
- Minimal government interference
Cult prevention requires:
- Monitoring groups for abuse
- Protecting vulnerable people
- Intervening when harm occurs
- Some government oversight
Tension: How to protect without persecuting?
Bad Approaches
Banning NRMs:
- Violates religious freedom
- Drives groups underground
- Government decides what's "acceptable" religion
Example: France's 2001 About-Picard law (criticized for targeting legitimate groups)
Forced deprogramming:
- Kidnapping and coercion
- Violates individual autonomy
- Often traumatic
- Mostly discredited now
Better Approaches
Education:
- Teach critical thinking
- Warn signs of abusive groups
- Empower individuals to make informed choices
Legal accountability:
- Prosecute actual crimes (fraud, abuse, violence)
- Don't ban beliefs, punish harmful actions
- Protect children and vulnerable adults
Exit support:
- Resources for those leaving groups
- Counseling and support networks
- No coercion, voluntary help
Transparency:
- Require financial disclosure (for tax-exempt groups)
- Investigate complaints
- Sunlight as disinfectant
Protecting Spiritual Freedom Today
International Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18):
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
Problem: Many countries ignore this
Blasphemy Laws
Still exist in 71 countries (as of 2019)
Examples:
- Pakistan: Death penalty for blasphemy
- Saudi Arabia: Atheism = terrorism
- Ireland: Blasphemy illegal until 2020
Effect: Criminalizes dissent, protects orthodoxy
Advocacy: Push to repeal blasphemy laws worldwide
Apostasy Laws
Definition: Leaving one's religion
Punishment in some countries: Death (Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.)
Effect: Traps people in religions, prevents freedom
What You Can Do
Support organizations:
- Amnesty International
- Human Rights Watch
- Freedom House
- International Humanist and Ethical Union
Advocate:
- Contact representatives about religious freedom
- Support refugees fleeing persecution
- Raise awareness
Practice tolerance:
- Don't assume unfamiliar = dangerous
- Respect others' beliefs (even if you disagree)
- Challenge stigma against NRMs
- Defend everyone's right to believe
Stay informed:
- Learn about persecuted groups
- Distinguish legitimate concern from prejudice
- Support evidence-based policy, not panic
Conclusion: The Eternal Struggle
The persecution of heretics and mystics did not end with the Inquisition. It continues today in Iran, China, Pakistan, Myanmar, North Korea, and many other countries. The methods have changed—fewer burnings, more prisons and laws—but the impulse remains: to punish those who believe differently.
We've also learned new forms of persecution: stigmatizing new religious movements as "cults," using deprogramming to force conformity, and creating moral panics that justify discrimination. The line between protecting people from harm and persecuting spiritual freedom is thin and easily crossed.
This series has explored 2,000 years of religious persecution—from Gnostics to Cathars, from the Inquisition to modern witch hunts, from Giordano Bruno to the Beguines. The pattern is clear: those who seek truth outside orthodoxy, who claim direct access to the divine, who challenge institutional power—they are always at risk.
But the heretics and mystics also teach us this: truth cannot be burned. The Gnostic gospels survived. The Zohar endured. Meister Eckhart's teachings spread despite condemnation. The Beguines' legacy lives on. And today, despite persecution, people still seek, still question, still dare to believe differently.
The struggle for spiritual freedom is eternal. But so is the human spirit's refusal to be caged.
For all who are persecuted for their beliefs today. For the heretics and mystics of every age. For the freedom to seek truth. We stand with you.
As you walk your own path of spiritual courage, know that you are never alone—the very same stars that guided the mystics of old still watch over you, and you can honor your inner heretic by syncing with the celestial flow through our cosmic alignment ritual kit for syncing with the celestial flow, grounding your resolve with the steady presence of the archangel michael tapestry, and deepening your self-understanding with the tarot journaling prompts 100 questions for self discovery to keep your inner flame burning bright against any storm.
