Gérard Dagon
Encyclopedia
Gérard Dagon was a French evangelical Protestant pastor
, teacher, author, publisher and long-time anti-cult activist. He was Master of Divinity
at the faculty of Protestant theology in Strasbourg.
He became pastor of the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine (Eral) in 1959, then directed the Union of Evangelical Churches Chrischona (Union des Églises évangéliques Chrischona). He also participated in the creation of the Evangelical Federation of France (Fédération évangélique de France) which he directed for a long time. He founded, alongside others such as Swiss pastor and former member of the ADFI Paul Ranc, the association Vigi-sectes in 1998 who fights against cults from an evangelical perspective. He published books about Protestant movements, about Christian-oriented groups he considered cult
s because of their supposed biblical errors, and an extensive encyclopedia on Christianity. He listed 150 people who have claimed to be the Messiah
from the first century.
Sébastien Fath
considered Dagon a "key figure of French evangelical Protestantism since the 1970s, and Émile Poulat
qualified him a "pioneer" in the religious issues. Although his works are often used by sociologists, he also received some criticisms. For example, Secretary of the French episcopate for the study of cults and new religious movements Jean Vernette
said that Dagon used his anti-cult fight to attract new followers to his church.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, teacher, author, publisher and long-time anti-cult activist. He was Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
at the faculty of Protestant theology in Strasbourg.
He became pastor of the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine (Eral) in 1959, then directed the Union of Evangelical Churches Chrischona (Union des Églises évangéliques Chrischona). He also participated in the creation of the Evangelical Federation of France (Fédération évangélique de France) which he directed for a long time. He founded, alongside others such as Swiss pastor and former member of the ADFI Paul Ranc, the association Vigi-sectes in 1998 who fights against cults from an evangelical perspective. He published books about Protestant movements, about Christian-oriented groups he considered cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s because of their supposed biblical errors, and an extensive encyclopedia on Christianity. He listed 150 people who have claimed to be the Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
from the first century.
Sébastien Fath
Sébastien Fath
Sebastien Fath is a French professional historian and a Ph.D at the Sorbonne University. Also trained in Sociology, he is the main French specialist in the study of Evangelical Protestantism. Author of fourteen books, he is a permanent researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research...
considered Dagon a "key figure of French evangelical Protestantism since the 1970s, and Émile Poulat
Émile Poulat
Émile Poulat , is a French historian and sociologist. Director of Studies at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales, he is also director of research at CNRS and historian of the contemporary church. He is a founding member of the Group of Sociology of Religion, director and member of the...
qualified him a "pioneer" in the religious issues. Although his works are often used by sociologists, he also received some criticisms. For example, Secretary of the French episcopate for the study of cults and new religious movements Jean Vernette
Jean Vernette
Jean Vernette , was a French priest of the diocese of Montauban. In 1973, he was appointed national secretary of the French episcopate for the study of cults and new religious movements. He published several books on cults and new therapies...
said that Dagon used his anti-cult fight to attract new followers to his church.
Main works
- Les Sectes en France, 1958
- Petites églises de France, Amneville, six volumes, 1960s-1970s
- Parlons sectes, Barnabas editions, 1991, ISBN 2-908582-04-X
- Panorama de la France Évangélique, Barnabas editions, 1993, ISBN 2-908582-07-4
- Les Sectes à visage découvert : Tome 1 , Yerres : Barnabas editions, 1995, ISBN 2-908582-09-0
- Les Sectes à visage découvert : Tome 2 , Dozulé :Barnabas editions, 1997, ISBN 2-908582-17-1
- Nouvelle Encyclopédie chrétienne, Gandrange, 2005, 1247 p., ISBN 2-9500197-3-0