The Anti-Cult Discourse of Print Media: Problematization of the Role of the Anti-Cult Movement

Q3 Social Sciences

Sotsiologicheskiy Zhurnal Pub Date : 2021-06-29 DOI:10.19181/socjour.2021.27.2.8089

V. Martinovich

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

This article is devoted to analyzing the anti-cult discourse in the Republic of Belarus in 1996–2000. The print media and the anti-cult movement are selected as objects of research because of their significant role in this discourse. The main features when it comes to covering the topic of new religious movements by both actors are investigated by method of standardized survey of texts on a sample of 521 anti-cult articles from 57 Belarusian newspapers. The range of variability of religious organizations identified as new religious movements is revealed, and their distribution by type of structure is analyzed. The results are compared to the estimated population universe of new religions of the Republic of Belarus. The frequency of their mentions is established, as well as a group of organizations that are criticized by actors, but have never operated in the country. The range of variability and frequency of use of special terminology is disclosed. The influence of the anti-cult discourse on changes in the evaluative connotations of special terms is analyzed. Different facts from the history and modern practice of the anti-cult movement are examined, all of which are particularly important in terms of understanding the specifics of its representatives’ attitudes towards non-specialized print media. The ambivalent nature of the coverage of the topic of new religions in the press and its influence on the anti-cult movement is noted. Special care is taken defining the place and role of print media and the anti-cult movement in the complex system of society’s anti-cult discourse. Based on the data obtained, the dominant theory of the unilateral influence of the anti-cult movement on print media is criticized. An alternative hypothesis on the complex genesis of anti-cult discourse is proposed, in which the specifics of its main features as perceived by each subject are influenced by many different factors. Two methodological problems related to searching for and recording materials relevant for analyzing this discourse and verifying this theory are identified.

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印刷媒体的反邪教话语:反邪教运动角色的问题化

本文旨在分析1996-2000年白俄罗斯共和国的反邪教话语。印刷媒体和反邪教运动之所以被选为研究对象，是因为它们在这一话语中发挥着重要作用。通过对来自57家白俄罗斯报纸的521篇反邪教文章样本进行标准化文本调查的方法，调查了两个行为者报道新宗教运动主题的主要特点。揭示了被认定为新宗教运动的宗教组织的可变性范围，并分析了其按结构类型的分布。结果与白俄罗斯共和国新宗教的估计人口范围进行了比较。他们被提及的频率已经确定，还有一群受到行为者批评但从未在该国运作过的组织。公开了特殊术语的可变性范围和使用频率。分析了反邪教话语对专业术语评价内涵变化的影响。研究了反邪教运动的历史和现代实践中的不同事实，所有这些事实对于理解其代表对非专业印刷媒体的具体态度尤为重要。新闻界对新宗教主题的报道及其对反邪教运动的影响具有矛盾性质。在复杂的社会反邪教话语体系中，印刷媒体和反邪教运动的地位和作用得到了特别关注。根据所获得的数据，反邪教运动对平面媒体单方面影响的主导理论受到了批评。对反邪教话语的复杂成因提出了另一种假设，即每个主体所感知的反邪教话语主要特征的具体情况受到许多不同因素的影响。确定了两个方法论问题，即寻找和记录与分析这一话语和验证这一理论相关的材料。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Sotsiologicheskiy Zhurnal Social Sciences-Social Sciences (all)

CiteScore

0.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

37 weeks

期刊介绍： “Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal” publishes the articles on sociological disciplines. Interdisciplinary studies in sociology and related disciplines, such as social psychology, cultural studies, anthropology, ethnography, etc. — are also welcomed. The main emphasis is on the fundamental research in the field of theory, methodology and history of sociology. The regular rubric highlights the results of mass surveys and case studies. The rubric “Discussion”, which debated the controversial issues of sociological research, is regular as well. The journal publishes book reviews, and summaries, as well as lists of new books in Russian and English, which represent the main areas of interdisciplinary research in the social sciences. The journal aims to not only play samples of knowledge, considered regulatory and standards of internal expertise in the professional community, but also aims for opportunities to improve them. These rules, a tough selection and decision to print only a small portion of incoming materials allow “Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal” contribute to improving the quality of sociological research. Submitted manuscripts should show a high integrity in problem setting, problem analysis and correspond to the journal’s thematic profile and its scientific priorities.