Cult studies in Belarus 1990-2023

The article is dedicated to describing the history of cult studies in the Republic of Belarus from 1990 to 2023. The main religious, social, and state actors involved in public reactions to new religious movements are identified. Their place and role in the general context of cult studies history are outlined. Particular attention is paid to the description of a range of minor actors and initiatives: a) those involved in the issue of sectarianism for short periods of time; b) those that did not rise to the level of public discussions about sectarianism. It is shown that highly organized and prominent cult experts and anticult organizations are nothing more than a derivative of broader public sentiments and reactions to the phenomenon of non-traditional religiosity. Their actions are characterized by a lack of coordination, high autonomy, insensitivity to religious diversity, and a focus on practical actions without fundamental theoretical elaboration of the material. The article notes the disproportionality of all initiatives and reactions to sectarianism compared to the actual processes taking place in the environment of new religious movements. In conclusion, the scale of cult studies discourse in the Republic of Belarus and the number of people involved in its creation and reproduction are identified.