Editing Massimo Introvigne

{{Short description|Italian sociologist of religion (born 1955)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox academic
| name = Massimo Introvigne
| image = Massimo Introvigne.jpg
| alt = head and shoulders photograph of a man
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|06|14}}
| birth_place = [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
| occupation = Author
| website = {{Official URL}}
| alma_mater = [[Pontifical Gregorian University]]<br/>[[University of Turin]]
| education = [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]], [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]]
| discipline = [[Sociology of religion]]
| sub_discipline = [[Academic study of new religious movements]]
| workplaces = [[CESNUR|Center for Studies on New Religions]] (CESNUR)
}}

'''Massimo Introvigne''' (born June 14, 1955) is an Italian [[Sociology of religion|sociologist of religion]],<ref name="Horowitz2019">{{Cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=2019-07-04 |title=A Clash of Worldviews as Pope Meets Putin Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/world/europe/pope-francis-putin.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200716181828/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/world/europe/pope-francis-putin.html |archive-date=2020-07-16 |access-date=2020-03-29 |work=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> author, and [[intellectual property]] attorney. He is a co-founder and the managing director of the [[CESNUR|Center for Studies on New Religions]] (CESNUR), a [[Turin]]-based nonprofit organization which has been described as "the highest profile lobbying and information group for controversial religions".<ref name="Kent2001">{{Cite journal |last=Kent |first=Stephen A. |author-link=Stephen A. Kent |date=January 2001 |title=The French and German versus American debate over 'new religions', Scientology and human rights |url=https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3742/3559 |journal=[[Marburg Journal of Religion]] |language=en |publisher=[[University of Marburg]] |volume=6 |issue=1 |page=15 |doi=10.17192/mjr.2001.6.3742 |access-date=2019-09-29}}</ref>

== Early life and work ==
Introvigne was born in [[Rome]], [[Italy]] on June 14, 1955.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-10 |title=Sì alla famiglia, Massimo Introvigne parla di un'istituzione in pericolo |trans-title="Yes to the family," Massimo Introvigne talks about an institution under threat |url=http://www.modenatoday.it/eventi/massimo-introvigne-famiglia-sassuolo-11-febbraio-2015.html |access-date=2020-03-29 |work=Modena Today |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-11-30 |title=Incontri con l'autore: Massimo Introvigne "Fondamentalismo islamico: martiri o terroristi?" |trans-title=Meet the Author: Massimo Introvigne "Islamic Fundamentalism: martyrs or terrorists?" |url=http://www.brundisium.net/notizie/shownotiziaonline.asp?id=7142 |access-date=2020-03-29 |work=Brundisium.net |location=Brindisi, Italy |language=it}}</ref> Introvigne earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[Philosophy]] from the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in Rome in 1975, and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of Turin]] in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avvocati - Massimo Introvigne |url=https://www.jacobacci-law.com/lawyers/Massimo-Introvigne |access-date=2019-12-08 |website=Jacobacci Avvocati |language=en}}</ref><ref name="WIPO"/> He worked for the law firm Jacobacci e Associati as an intellectual property attorney, specialized in [[domain names]].<ref name="WIPO">{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=WIPO List of Neutrals, Biographical Data, Massimo Introvigne |url=https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/amc/en/domains/panel/profiles/introvigne-massimo.pdf |access-date=2020-03-29 |website=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Olivero2003">{{Cite news |last=Olivero |first=Dario |date=2003-08-07 |title=Cliccavi su Jagermeister trovavi un portale porno |trans-title=Clicked on Jagermeister found a porn portal |url=https://www.repubblica.it/2003/h/sezioni/scienza_e_tecnologia/squatting/squatting/squatting.html?refresh_ce |access-date=2020-03-29 |work=[[La Repubblica]] |language=it}}</ref> In 1988 he co-founded the [[CESNUR|Center for Studies on New Religions]] (CESNUR), a nonprofit organization based in [[Turin]] that studies [[new religious movements]] and opposes the [[anti-cult movement]].<ref name="Chryssides2012">{{Cite book |last=Chryssides |first=George D. |author-link=George D. Chryssides |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WA12nHRtmAwC&pg=PA76 |title=Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-8108-6194-7 |page=76 |language=en |chapter=CESNUR |access-date=2024-08-20 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Introvigne is the group director of CESNUR.<ref name="Stausberg2009">{{Cite journal |last=Stausberg |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Stausberg |date=2009 |title=The study of religion(s) in Western Europe III: Further developments after World War II |journal=[[Religion (journal)|Religion]] |language=en |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=261–282 |doi=10.1016/j.religion.2009.06.001 |s2cid=144600043}}</ref><ref name="Arweck2006">{{Cite book |last=Arweck |first=Elizabeth |title=Researching New Religious Movements: Responses and Redefinitions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-138-05988-7 |location=London |page=28 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Garde2001">{{Cite news |last=Garde |first=Serge |date=2001-06-27 |title=Les liaisons dangereuses des universités lyonnaises |trans-title=The dangerous liaisons of Lyon universities |url=https://www.humanite.fr/les-liaisons-dangereuses-des-universites-lyonnaises-248466 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125172714/https://www.humanite.fr/les-liaisons-dangereuses-des-universites-lyonnaises-248466 |archive-date=2023-01-25 |access-date=2022-07-15 |work=[[L'Humanité]] |language=fr-FR}}</ref> 

He joined [[Alleanza Cattolica]] in 1972, a [[Conservatism in Italy|conservative]] [[Catholic lay organisations|lay Catholic association]], for which he has received much criticism. From 2008 to 2016, he was the vice-president of the association.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-04-28 |title=Massimo Introvigne non è più il reggente nazionale vicario di Alleanza Cattolica |trans-title=Massimo Introvigne is no longer the deputy national regent of Alleanza Cattolica |url=https://www.lafedequotidiana.it/massimo-introvigne-non-e-piu-reggente-vicario-di-alleanza-cattolica/ |access-date=2020-03-29 |work=La fede quotidiana |language=it}}</ref><ref name="Chryssides20122">{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2012 |title=Introvigne, Massimo (1955–) |encyclopedia=Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |last=Chryssides |first=George D. |author-link=George D. Chryssides |edition=2nd |pages=178–179 |language=en |isbn=978-0-8108-6194-7}}</ref> Beginning in 2012, Introvigne was listed as an "invited professor of sociology of religious movements" at the [[Salesian Pontifical University]] in Turin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Massimo Introvigne |url=http://torino.unisal.it/uni/index.php/docenti/docenti-invitati/item/123-massimo-introvigne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305051115/http://torino.unisal.it/uni/index.php/docenti/docenti-invitati/item/123-massimo-introvigne |archive-date=2016-03-05 |access-date=2014-06-09 |website=[[Salesian Pontifical University]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cocchi |first=Francesca |date=2013-10-16 |title=Le sette religiose, viste da "dentro" |trans-title=Religious sects, seen from the "inside" |url=https://www.rsi.ch/rete-due/programmi/cultura/laser/Le-sette-religiose-viste-da-%E2%80%9Cdentro%E2%80%9D-129146.html |access-date=2020-03-29 |work=[[RSI Rete Uno]] |location=Lugano, Switzerland |language=it}}</ref> Introvigne is a proponent of the theory of religious economy developed by [[Rodney Stark]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Introvigne |first1=Massimo |last2=Stark |first2=Rodney |author-link2=Rodney Stark |date=January 2005 |title=Religious Competition and Revival in Italy: Exploring European Exceptionalism |url=http://www.massimointrovigne.com/ijrr.pdf |journal=Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion |language=en |volume=1 |pages=1–18 |issn=1556-3723 |access-date=2024-07-13 |via=massimointrovigne.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bruni |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Bruni |date=2003-10-13 |title=Faith Fades where It Once Burned Strong |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/13/world/faith-fades-where-it-once-burned-strong.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240820041445/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/13/world/faith-fades-where-it-once-burned-strong.html |archive-date=2024-08-20 |access-date=2019-10-28 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2012, Introvigne was appointed chairperson of the newly-formed Observatory of Religious Liberty of the [[Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tornielli |first=Andrea |date=2012-06-20 |title=Nasce a Roma l'Osservatorio della libertà religiosa |trans-title=Observatory of religious freedom is born in Rome |url=http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/homepage/news/dettaglio-articolo/articolo/liberta-religiosa-religious-freedom-libertad-religiosa-16155/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621151047/http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/homepage/news/dettaglio-articolo/articolo/liberta-religiosa-religious-freedom-libertad-religiosa-16155/ |archive-date=2012-06-21 |access-date=2012-06-20 |work=[[Vatican Insider]] |publisher=La Stampa |language=it}}</ref> Beginning in 2018, Introvigne was editor-in-chief of the daily magazine on [[Religion in China|religious issues]] and [[human rights in China]] and elsewhere, ''[[Bitter Winter]]'', which is published by CESNUR.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-14 |title="Bitter Winter", in Italia un nuovo quotidiano online su religione e diritti umani in Cina |trans-title="Bitter Winter," a new online newspaper in Italy on religion and human rights in China |url=https://www.lastampa.it/vatican-insider/it/2018/05/14/news/bitter-winter-in-italia-un-nuovo-quotidiano-online-su-religione-e-diritti-umani-in-cina-1.34016836 |work=[[La Stampa]] |language=it}}</ref>

== New religious movements ==
Swedish academic {{ill|Per Faxneld|sv}}, writing for ''[[American Academy of Religion|Reading Religion]]'', described Introvigne as "one of the major names in the study of [[New religious movements|new religions]]."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Faxneld |first=Per |date=2017-03-07 |title=Satanism: A Social History, Review |url=https://readingreligion.org/9789004288287/satanism/ |journal=[[Reading Religion]] |language=en |access-date=2024-07-13}}</ref> Sociologist [[Roberto Cipriani]] has called Introvigne "one of the Italian sociologists of religion most well-known abroad, and among the world's leading scholars of new religious movements".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cipriani |first=Roberto |author-link=Roberto Cipriani |title=Nuovo manuale di sociologia della religione |publisher=Borla |year=2009 |isbn=978-88-263-1732-8 |edition=2nd |location=Rome |page=470 |language=it}}</ref> In [[George D. Chryssides]]'s ''Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements'', Introvigne is noted to be "regarded as a cult apologist" by members of the anticult movement.<ref name="Chryssides20122" />

In 2001, sociologist [[Stephen A. Kent]] described Introvigne as a "persistent critic of any national attempts to identify or curtail so-called '[[cult]]s'",<ref name="Kent2001"/> arguing that,
:"In the context, therefore, of the [[Scientology controversies|debate over Scientology]] in France and Germany, CESNUR is a [[think-tank]] and [[Lobbying|lobbying group]], attempting to advance Scientology's legitimation goals by influencing European and American governmental policies toward it. It is not a neutral academic association, even less so because on its web page Introvigne intermingles ideological positions within solid research and information. On issues, however, that are key to the religious human rights debates — [[Apostasy|apostates]], [[brainwashing]], undue influence, compromised academic research, '[[sect]]' membership and the potential for harm, critical information exchange on the Internet, etc. — he advocates doctrinaire positions that favour groups like Scientology."<ref name="Kent2001"/>
 
In the mid-1990s, Introvigne testified on behalf of Scientologists in a criminal trial in Lyon.<ref name="Kent2001"/> After Introvigne was critical of the publication of the 1995 report on cults by the French government, journalists described Introvigne as a "cult apologist", saying he was tied to the Catholic Alliance and [[Silvio Berlusconi]]'s then ruling party.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Faubert |first=Serge |date=1993-10-11 |title=Le vrai visage des sectes |trans-title=The true face of cults |work=L'Evenement du jeudi |pages=44–48 |language=fr |issn=0765-412X}}</ref> Introvigne responded that his scholarly and political activities were not connected.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |title="Cult Wars" in Historical Perspective: New and Minority Religions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-317-15666-6 |editor-last=Gallagher |editor-first=Eugene V. |editor-link=Eugene V. Gallagher |pages=23–31 |language=en |chapter=CESNUR: a short history}}</ref>

Introvigne has written on the concept of [[brainwashing]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gandow |first=Thomas |date=1998 |title=Die APA-Lüge – ein Wissenschaftsskandal |trans-title=The APA lie – a scientific scandal |url=http://www.religio.de/dialog/198/12_27.htm |access-date=2007-10-05 |magazine=Berliner Dialog |page=27 |language=de |volume=4 |issue=1–98 |issn=0948-0390}}</ref> CESNUR published the ''Encyclopedia of Religion in Italy'' in 2001, of which Introvigne was the main author.<ref name="Stausberg2009"/><ref name="Chryssides20122" /> Journalist and Scientology-critic [[Tony Ortega]] penned a series of 2018/19 articles criticizing ''The Journal of CESNUR'' as an unreliable "apologist journal".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortega |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Ortega |date=2019-06-19 |title=Ignore the apologists: Yes, L. Ron Hubbard lied about having an engineering degree |url=https://tonyortega.org/2019/06/19/ignore-the-apologists-yes-l-ron-hubbard-lied-about-having-an-engineering-degree/ |access-date=2019-11-05 |website=The Underground Bunker |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortega |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Ortega |date=2018-04-11 |title=A new academic book takes apart Scientology and pop culture, and the apologists hate it |url=https://tonyortega.org/2018/04/11/a-new-academic-book-takes-apart-scientology-and-pop-culture-and-the-apologists-hate-it/ |access-date=2019-11-05 |website=The Underground Bunker |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Chris |date=2019-06-21 |title=Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, 'Provost Marshal': Another apologist claim debunked |url=https://tonyortega.org/2019/06/21/scientology-founder-l-ron-hubbard-provost-marshal-another-apologist-claim-debunked/ |access-date=2019-11-05 |website=The Underground Bunker |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Introvigne is a [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |date=2021-03-20 |title=The Ghent Jehovah's Witness Decision: Dangerous for All Religions |url=https://bitterwinter.org/the-ghent-jehovahs-witness-decision-dangerous-for-all-religions |access-date=2021-03-20 |magazine=[[Bitter Winter]] |language=en}}</ref> Introvigne is also director of CESPOC, the Center for the Study of Popular Culture.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=CESPOC - Center for Studies on Popular Culture - Centro Studi sulla Popular Culture |url=http://www.popularculture.it |access-date=2018-10-05 |website=CESPOC |language=it}}</ref><ref name="Chryssides20122" /> He was the Italian director of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula, which included the leading academic scholars in the field of the literary and historical study of [[vampire]] myth.<ref name="Bidwell1997">{{Cite news |last=Bidwell |first=Carol |date=1997-07-23 |title=Coffin Break To Vampires Everywhere, Fangs For The Memories |work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Transylvania Society of Dracula: American and Canadian Chapters |url=http://www.afn.org/~vampires/tsd.html |access-date=2007-01-04 |website=Vampire Junction |language=en}}</ref> In 1997, [[J. Gordon Melton]] and Introvigne organized an event at the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles where 1,500 attendees came dressed as [[vampire]]s for a "creative writing contest, Gothic rock music and theatrical performances".<ref name="Bidwell1997" />

==Bibliography==

* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Le nuove Religioni |publisher=SugarCo |year=1989 |isbn=88-7198-090-5 |language=it |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Il cappello del mago: i nuovi movimenti magici dallo spiritismo al satanismo |publisher=SugarCo |year=1990 |isbn=88-7198-021-2 |language=it |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Les Mormons |publisher=Brepols |year=1991 |isbn=2-503-50063-3 |language=fr |author-mask=2|location=Turnhout, Belgium}}
*{{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Il ritorno dello gnosticismo |publisher=SugarCo |year=1993 |isbn=88-7198-216-9 |language=it |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Les Veilleurs de l'Apocalypse: Millénarisme et nouvelles religions au seuil de l'an 2000 |publisher=Claire Vigne |year=1996 |isbn=2-84193-024-6 |language=fr |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Pour en finir avec les sectes: Le débat sur le rapport de la commission parlementaire |publisher=Dervy |year=1996 |isbn=88-8523-711-8 |language=fr |editor-last=Introvigne|editor-first=Massimo|editor-last2=Melton|editor-first2=J. Gordon|editor-link=Massimo Introvigne|editor-link2=J. Gordon Melton|editor-mask=2}}
*{{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=The Unification Church |publisher=[[Signature Books]] |year=2000 |isbn=1-56085-145-7 |series=Studies in Contemporary Religions |language=en |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Stark |first1=Rodney |author-link1=Rodney Stark |title=Dio è tornato. Indagine sulla rivincita delle religioni in Occidente |last2=Introvigne |first2=Massimo |author-link2=Massimo Introvigne |publisher=Piemme |year=2003 |isbn=88-384-6584-3 |language=it |author-mask2=2}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Iannaccone |first1=Laurence R. |author-link1=Laurence Iannaccone |title=Il Mercato dei Martiri. L'industria del terrorismo suicida |last2=Introvigne |first2=Massimo |author-link2=Massimo Introvigne |publisher=Lindau |year=2004 |isbn=88-7180-514-3 |language=it |author-mask2=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Satanism: A Social History |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-90-04-28828-7 |language=en |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=The Plymouth Brethren |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-19-084242-0 |language=en |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Il libro nero della persecuzione religiosa in Cina |publisher=SugarCo |year=2019 |isbn=978-88-7198-753-8 |language=it |author-mask=2}}
*{{Cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |title=Inside The Church of Almighty God: The Most Persecuted Religious Movement in China |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-19-008909-2 |language=en |author-mask=2}}

== See also ==
* [[New religious movement]]
* [[Sociological classifications of religious movements]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Introvigne, Massimo}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian jurists]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian philosophers]]
[[Category:21st-century Italian jurists]]
[[Category:21st-century Italian philosophers]]
[[Category:Anti-cult movement]]
[[Category:CESNUR]]
[[Category:Italian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Italian sociologists]]
[[Category:Jurists from Turin]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of Catholic organizations]]
[[Category:Researchers of new religious movements and cults]]
[[Category:Sociologists of religion]]
[[Category:Western esotericism scholars]]
[[Category:Writers from Turin]]