The same remarks can be made for smaller religious communities. Most of them are harmless groups, even if their activities and teachings can be strange, both for atheists and believers of the traditional religions. To give and exchange information on the existence of these groups and on their activities is undoubtedly very useful and can prevent pain and sorrow for many individuals and families. Measures should accordingly be encouraged by the Council of Europe. Providing and broadcasting complete and relevant information on the activities of dangerous sects can prevent many troubles.
Many dangerous sects try to behave like absolutely new or newly recreated groups.
Revealing some facts and making a parallel with similar activities which led to tragedies in the past can change the mind of the would-be victims. The same remark could be made for sects. A threat for social cohesion 8. It is an old experience that the dangerous sects generally catch their victims from the ranks of ill, poor, lonely, vulnerable or socially excluded persons. There are exceptions when people from upper classes are victimised by those sects, but even in these cases there are clear signs of the lack of normal human contacts or social relationship.