ABOUT I. II. III. IV. NOTES AUTHOR

Scientology and Religion

Christiaan Vonck, Ph.D.
Rector, Faculty for Comparative
Study of Religions

Antwerp, Belgium

1996

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Education

Marnixschool (Antwerp)

K. Atheneum (Antwerp)

Landbouwschool (Agriculture in Stabroek)

Institut Biblique Européen, Paris, France (1957–60)

Linguistics (S.I.L. in cooperation with University of London. 1959)

Seminario Teologica Baptista, Lisbon, Portugal (1960–61)

Ordained

United Protestant Church in Belgium (Genk, 1979)

Southern Baptist Convention (Phoenix, Arizona USA, 1980)

Protestantse Theologische Faculteit, Brussels, Belgium (1969–70)

Southern University, USA. Ph.D. thesis, “The Philosophy of Inmates based on the Theology of K. Barth & R. Otto” (1977)

Parthasarathy C. Academy, India: Honorary Ph.D. (1985)

Positions

Assistant Chaplain (C.I.B.I.) in the Belgian Army in Germany (1962–63)

Teacher of Protestant Religion, State Schools (1963–65)

Editor/Founder of the fortnightly magazine “Op Vrije Voeten” (1962–79)

Director/Founder of Op Vrije Voeten Youth Service (1963–79)

Founder/Administrator of the Independent Federation for Youth Services (until 1978)

Member of the Commission and Council in the Ministry of National Education and Culture (until 1978)

Founder and Chairman of the Belgian Surinam Committee (1975–92)

Administrator of the Flemish-Periodical Press Association (1967–83)

National Director of the International Christian Youth Exchange (1971–76)

National Correspondent of Ecumenical Youth Council Europe (1975–77)

Youth-minister of the Gospel Missionary Union (Zeist) for Belgium until 1970

National Director of Youth for Christ (1963–79)

Treasurer of the YFC-International Europe (1967–70)

Chaplain of the Prison System (1976–82)

Chaplain of Migrant Workers (1980–85)

Member of the General Assembly of the Schola Para Medicorum (1982–89)

Member of the U.P.C.B. (Brasschaat)

Member of the General Assembly of the Faculty for Comparative Study of Religions (1980– )

Rector of the Faculty for Comparative Study of Religions (1980– )

Professor of Philosophical Theology (1985– )

Member of Foundation “Craeybeckx, Detiège, Grootjans,” University of Antwerp (1995– )

Administrator of the World Congress of Faiths (1974– )

Administrator of the Friends of the Ethnographical Museum in Antwerp (1979– )

Member of the Ecumenical Workshop for Information in Europe (1974– )

Member of W.C.R.p. Belgium (1989– )

Advisor to the Commission Christianity-Islam of the U.P.C.B. (1981– )

Member of Baptists Ministers’ Fellowship (1979– )

Administrator of the Patronizing Committee —Jurisdiction of Antwerp (1982– )

Editor of “Acta Comparanda,” (1983– )

Reporter of “Kerk en Leven,” (1974– )

Pastor of the Multi-Lingual Baptist Church, Antwerp (1983– )

Member of the Antwerp Philosophical Association Werkgroep Kierkegaard (1990– )

Scientology, Social Science and the Definition of Religion

by James A. Beckford, Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick, England

Social Change and New Religious Movements

by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University

The Church of Scientology

by Juha Pentikäinen, Marja Pentikäinen, University of Helsinki, Finland

The Relationship Between Scientology and Other Religions

by Fumio Sawada, Eighth holder of the secrets of Yu-itsu Shinto, the oldest religion in Japan; President, Ahlul-Bait Center

The Religious Nature of Scientology

by Geoffrey Parrinder, Methodist minister, Professor, Comparative Study of Religions, University of London

Religious Philosophy, Religion and Church

by G.C. Oosthuizen, Professor of Science of Religion, University of Durban-Westville, Natal, South Africa

Scientology a New Religion

by M. Darrol Bryant, Department of Religious Studies, Renison College, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Apostates and New Religious Movements

by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University

Scientology: An Analysis and Comparison of its Religious Systems and Doctrines

by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University

The Reliability of Apostate Testimony About New Religious Movements

by Lonnie D. Kliever Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies

The Sea Organization and its Role Within the Church of Scientology

by Frank K. Flinn Ph.D. Adjunct Professor in Religious Studies

Brief Analyses of the Religious Nature of Scientology

by J. Gordon Melton, Baylor University, Samuel Hill, Gary Bouma, Irving Hexham

Congregational Services of the Church of Scientology

by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University

Is Scientology A Religion?

by Alan W. Black, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

Is Scientology a Religion?

by Dean M. Kelley, National Council of Churches

Religious Toleration & Religious Diversity

by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University

Scientology A Religion In South Africa

by David Chidester, Professor of Comparative Religion, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Scientology: A True Religion

by Urbano Alonso Galan, Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Gregorian University of Rome

Scientology: A Way of Spiritual Self-Identification

by Michael Sivertsev, Moscow Academy of Sciences

Scientology: A Worshipping Community

by Lonnie D. Kliever, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

Scientology and Contemporary Definitions of Religion in the Social Sciences

by Alejandro Frigerio, Professor of Sociology, Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires

Scientology and Islam an Analogous Study

by Fumio Sawada, Eighth holder of the secrets of Yu-itsu Shinto, the oldest religion in Japan; President, Ahlul-Bait Center

Scientology and Religion

by Christiaan Vonck, Rector, Faculty for Comparative Study of Religion, Antwerp, Belgium

Scientology: A Comparison with Religions of the East and West

by Per-Arne Berglie, Professor of History of Religion, University of Stockholm

Scientology Its Cosmology, Anthropology, System of Ethics and Methodologies

by Régis Dericquebourg, Professor of Sociology of Religion, University of Lille III, France

Scientology – Its Historical-Morphological Frame

by Dario Sabbatucci, Professor of History of Religions, University of Rome

Scientology: Its True Nature

by Harri Heino, Professor of Theology, University of Tampere, Finland

Scientology: The Marks of Religion

by Frank K. Flinn, Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies Washington University
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