ABSTRACT
The editor’s introduction examines what it means to be a religious minority, which is not the same as a new religious movement (NRM), although NRMs are examples of religious minorities. The author discusses the various ways in which religious minorities arise, and the issues that stem from their differences from the dominant religion and culture in which they are set. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights commits societies to allowing freedom of thought and religion, but the exercise of such a right can entail non-compliance with societal expectations. The various case studies, which are introduced here, illustrate how certain religious minorities are mapped and monitored, and how they are at times the victims of discrimination and even persecution.
