Dialog Center International

The Dialog Center International (DCI) is a Christian counter-cult organization[1] founded in 1973 by a Danish professor of missiology and ecumenical theology, Dr. Johannes Aagaard (1928–2007).[2]

Considered Christian apologetic and missionary minded, the Dialog Center, led by Aagaard, was for many years the main source of information in Denmark on cults, sects, and new religious movements (NRMs). The Dialog Center is firmly against religious beliefs of cults but promotes dialogue between cult members and their families. It rejects deprograming, believing that it is counterproductive and ineffective, and can harm the relationship between a cult member and concerned family members. It is active in 20 countries. In Asia it also tries to spread Christianity with Buddhists.[3]

According to Mikael Rothstein, an associate professor of religious history at the University of Copenhagen, the Dialog Center International has been greatly influential in promoting a negative public opinion of cults in Denmark and other countries in Europe.[4] Aagaard regarded Scientology as being especially dangerous, but later in his life stated that Islam was an even greater threat. Other concerns included Satanism and New Age groups.

History

Aagaard retired from his position as leader of the organization in 2003 and was replaced by Svend Erik Erasmi Jacobsen (2003-2004), Jens Linderoth (2004-2008) and Tom Thygesen Daugaard (2009-).[5][6] The danish branch of the organization was discontinued in 2011.[7]

In 2012, the new president of DCI, Lutheran priest Thomas Gandow, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.[8]

Impact of DCI in Denmark

According to Mikael Rothstein and Armin W. Geertz, Aagaard had a large influence over Denmark's reaction to new religious movements in the late twentieth century. Rothstein and Geertz argue in an article in Nova Religio that Aagaard's push for public education and pedagogical resources on NRMs was a large factor in how the press, schools, and Christian congregations discussed and reacted to cults in Denmark.[9] For example, Jesper Aagaard Petersen argued that DCI had a strong influence over how satanism was perceived in schools and media in Denmark.[10]

Impact of DCI outside of Denmark

The DCI has had a major influence on the anti-cult movements outside of Denmark.

Rothstein and Geertz note that particularly in Eastern Europe and Russia the DCI was active before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union.[9][11] Russian anti-cultist Alexander L. Dvorkin, for example, was the co-Vice President of the DCI with now-current president Gandow.[9][12][13]

Solveiga Krumina-Konkova argues that the Dialog Center contributed significantly to the "rise of antisect hysteria" in Lithuania.[14]

DCI and its local branch in Ireland – Dialogue Ireland – replaced its largest anti-cult/counter-cult organization – the Catholic-ran Cult Awareness Centre – in 1992.[15]

References
  1. For classification, see Massimo Introvigne, "Strange Bedfellows or Future Enemies?", Update & Dialog on New Religious Movements 3 (1993): 13–22. p. 16.
  2. "In memoriam: Johannes Aagaard (1928-2007)". www.cesnur.org. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  3. Exploring New Religions, George D. Chryssides, Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001, ISBN 0-8264-5959-5, ISBN 978-0-8264-5959-6, pp. 353–4.
  4. Rothstein, Mikael in Regulating New Religion in Denmark' in Regulating religion: case studies from around the globe, edited by James T. Richardson, Springer, 2004, ISBN 0-306-47887-0, ISBN 978-0-306-47887-1, pages 229–231
  5. Egholm, CH. Dialogcentret under forandring. Kristeligt Dagblad, 09.11.2005. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  6. Kristeligt Dagblad editors. Dialogcentret holder årsmøde. Kristeligt Dagblad, 14.04.2008. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  7. Rasmussen, M. Dialogcentret bliver til sjælesorgstjeneste. Kristeligt Dagblad, 16.06.2011. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  8. Bundesverdienstkreuz für früheren Sektenbeauftragten Gandow de:Domradio 2012(in German)
  9. Armin W. Geertz and Mikael Rothstein, "Religious Minorities and New Religious Movements in Denmark," Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 4, no. 2 (2001): 298–309. p. 305.
  10. Jesper Aagaard Petersen, "Satanism in Denmark," in Western Esotericism in Scandinavia, edited by Henrik Bogdan and Olav Hammer, 463–73. Brill Esotericism Reference Library. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2016. p. 463.
  11. Marat S. Shterin and James T. Richardson, "Effects of the Western Anti-Cult Movement on Development of Laws Concerning Religion in Post-Communist Russia," Journal of Church and State 42, no. 2 (2000): 247–71. p. 259–60.
  12. Marat Shterin, "New Religions in the New Russia," in New Religious Movements in the Twenty-First Century: Legal, Political, and Social Challenges in Global Perspective, edited by Phillip Charles Lucas and Thomas Robbins, 99–116. New York and London: Routledge, 2004.
  13. Mikael Rothstein, "The Study of New Religions in Denmark: A Brief and Subjective Research History, 1985–2014," in Handbook of Nordic New Religions, edited by James R. Lewis and Inga Bårdsen Tøllefsen, 15–35. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2015. p. 19.
  14. Solveiga Krumina-Konkova, "New Religious Minorities in the Baltic States," Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 4, no. 2 (2001): 289–97. p. 295.
  15. "The cult watchdog". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2022-08-04.

See also
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