While some notable government raids on religious communities, like the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidians, are recognized, the broader scope and frequency of such actions remain largely unknown. Following the 2008 Texas raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints, authors Stuart A. Wright and Susan J. Palmer compiled data on raids in Western democracies over the past sixty years, creating the first archive of these incidents. Their research revealed a shocking increase in raids, particularly since 1990, indicating a nearly exponential rise in state control over minority religions. This surge raises questions about its causes. Wright and Palmer argue that the rise in extreme enforcement corresponds with the activities of anti-cult organizations, which frame unconventional religions as threats. These organizations perpetuate narratives involving child abuse, brainwashing, and mass suicide, portraying targeted groups as more dangerous than they are and prompting overreactions from authorities. The authors examine the implications of increased state repression of minority religions in a multicultural and globalized context. As demographics shift within Western societies, the book warns against the dangers of state control over marginalized groups and sheds light on the often reactionary responses to these communities.
