[Note : traduction libre de la lettre adressée en français le 19 juillet 2002 au Directeur de publication de Larousse, Bordas, Gallimard par le professeur d’étude des religions de l’Université de Kansas, Timothy Miller]
July 19, 2002Le Directeur de publication
Larousse, Bordas, Gallimard
5, rue Sébastian-Botlin
75007 Paris
FRANCEGreetings:
It has come to my attention that in a recent publication, “Découvertes Junior, GRAND LAROUSSE JUNIOR, Vers le IIIe Millénaire” your organization has implied that the Aumist movement and its monastery of the Mandarom are comparable to Jonestown and the Peoples Temple.
As a university professor I have had contact with members of the Aumist religious movement and have visited the Mandarom monastery, the worldwide headquarters of Aumism. I have seen not the slightest evidence that the movement presents any danger to the public or to its own members. Until clear evidence of that nature appears, I would urge you to refrain from making unjustified comparisons and judgments and to let believers pursue their interests peacefully.
Sincerely,Timothy Miller
Professor of Religious Studies
University of Kansas
1300 Oread Street
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
U.S.A.
Fax : 864-5204
E-mail : tkansas@ku.edu