The Price of Belief

This article examines the ideological convergence between Rational Choice Theory (RCT) and “paleolibertarian” thinking in the prejudicial defense of high-demand religious groups. It argues that the Theory of Religious Economy (TRE) incorporates “libertarian” assumptions that presuppose rational choice by adherents and obscure the dynamics of manipulation and coercion in controversial religious settings. The critical analysis presented here draws on contributions from cognitive psychology, political theory, and the sociology of religion to show how RCT and TRE contribute to an ecosystem of “cult apologetics” that resists regulation under the banner of religious freedom and leads to a genuine exercise of soft power. Particular attention is paid to the network of transnational contacts and collaborations linking academic defenders of cults, libertarian think tanks, NGOs committed to the defense of religious freedom, anarcho-capitalist foundations, and non-governmental platforms, such as the International Religious Freedom Roundtable (IRF). They are thought to be working together to delegitimize criticism of high-demand religious groups and somehow redefine the hierarchy of rights. The analysis suggests that this alliance is not merely motivated by philosophical or ideological affinity but represents a deliberate political strategy to shield authoritarian religious groups from scrutiny. It thus raises urgent questions about the limits of religious freedom and the instrumentalization of human rights discourse for the purposes of deregulation.