An atrocity story as defined by the sociologistsDavid G. Bromley and Anson D. Shupe is the symbolic presentation of action or events (real or imaginary) in such a context that they are made flagrantly to violate the (presumably) shared premises upon which a given set of social relationships should be conducted. The recounting of such tales is intended as a means of reaffirming normative boundaries. By sharing the reporter's disapproval or horror, an audience reasserts normative prescription and clearly locates the violater beyond the limits of public morality. Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups and societies. ... David G. Bromley, is a professor of sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. His primary area of teaching and research is sociology of religion, with a specialization in religious movements. ... Anson Shupe is an American sociologist who studies religious groups and the anti-cult movement. ...
References
Duhaime, Jean (Université de Montréal) Les Témoigagnes de Convertis et d'ex-Adeptes (English: The testimonies of converts and former followers, article that appeared in the book New Religions in a Postmodern World edited by Mikael Rothstein and Reender Kranenborg RENNER Studies in New religions Aarhus University press, ISBN 8772887486
Shupe, A.D. and D.G. Bromley 1981 Apostates and Atrocities Stories: Some parameters in the Dynamics of Deprogramming In: B.R. Wilson (ed.) The Social Impact of New Religious Movements Barrytown NY Rose of Sharon Press 179-215
The world is learning a long-overdue lesson: That atrocitystories are fabricated primarily for political and monetary gain, to function as "false flares", to divert attention from an inconvenient revelation, to deflect guilt onto an innocent bystander - or even to cause or to justify wars.
It later turned out that the much-publicized "eyewitness" was the daughter of a Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States, that she had not even been in Kuwait at the time the atrocity was said to have been committed, and that her story was entirely concocted.
Atrocity propaganda is one of the hallmarks of modern warfare, due mostly to the development of the mass media.
Feeds |
Contact