Panel: Religious Fraud and Forgery

Religious Fraud and Forgery - Phil Lord, Stephen Kent, Maryam Razavy
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Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
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Abstract: This presentation argues for the importance of identifying fraud and forgery as analytical categories for the study of religion when examining data from the ancient world into the contemporary period. It builds upon the foundational work of Arthur J. Droge, a scholar of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and Bart D. Ehrman, a New Testament scholar, both of whom wrote about fraud and forgery in the ancient world. The discussion then expands to include a wide range of religions throughout history, including several contemporary sects, cults, and/or 'new religions.'
While the focus of work on the ancient world is primarily on textual frauds and forgeries, a broader examination of religion encompasses fraudulent artifacts and both embellished and falsified religious credentials. Recent analyses of criminal acts emphasize the prevalence of religiously based affinity fraud. Many of these frauds and forgeries challenge the legitimacy and authority claims made by religious leaders and their followers, and some have had significant social, legal, and political impacts.
Maryam Razavy will present a basic introduction to the topic of religious fraud, followed by a discussion of examples from major religious traditions. Stephen Kent will then extend the discussion to modern examples within sectarian groups. Phil Lord will conclude the presentation with a discussion of the legal treatment of religious fraud, highlighting several important cases.