International Scholars Convene in Cape Town for 2025 CESNUR Conference

Cape Town, South Africa — The 2025 CESNUR Conference, recognized as one of the world’s largest international academic gatherings dedicated to the study of religion and new religious movements, took place from 14 to 19 November 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

As part of this year’s program, attendees participated in a dedicated session focusing on the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), titled “The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL): A New Shia-Derivative Religion and Its Religious Liberty Problems.” The session brought together leading scholars renowned for their expertise in this field.

Presentations included:

• Introduction — Alessandro Amicarelli (European Federation for Freedom of Belief, Italy)
• “Introduction to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light” — Massimo Introvigne (CESNUR, Torino, Italy)
• “The Making of a Believer: Conversion Narratives in Interviews with AROPL Members” — Susan Palmer (Concordia University, Montreal, Canada)
• “An Apocalyptic Advocate of the Qaim (Riser): The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Contemporary Shia-Islam” — David W. Kim (Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, and Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea)
• “AROPL and the Divine Just State” — J. Gordon Melton (Baylor University, Waco, Texas, retired)
• Respondent: Karolina Maria Kotkowska (Jagiellonian University, Poland)

The 2025 conference centered on the overarching theme “Spirituality, Religion, and New Religious Movements.” It was co-organized by the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), Africa Hidden Voices in Johannesburg, the African Forum for Religious and Spirituality Liberty (AFRSL), and the International Society for the Study of New Religions.