[Recenzija]

Abstract

New religions in post-communist countries are diverse, and though they are often obscured by misunderstanding and mystification in the eyes of ordinary citizens. Lithuania, which is theoretically a secular country, generally holds an attitude of mistrust towards new religious movements (NRMs). Thus a scientific analysis of NRMs is necessary to remove the veils of mystification and mistrust. Milda Alisauskiene has written her doctoral dissertation on NRMs in Lithuania. Specific attention is given to the context of religion within post-communist and, especially, Lithuanian societies. In general, the topic of new religions is an important topic in the arena of research on Lithuanian religiosity. The Art of Living Foundation, which legally established itself in the country in 2006, was utilized as a case study for her dissertation, the first time a Lithuanian scholar has researched this group. The dissertation raised the following questions: What is modern religion? How is religiosity constructed in Western and post-communist societies? What are the primary similarities and differences?[...]