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This chapter focuses on Western Europe, an area that has been a hotbed of controversy about new religions movements (NRMs) and other minority religions. France is the nation most critical of minority faiths, as shown by actions of its government over recent years and the public opinion of its citizens. Germany has been a major arena of conflict over NRMs and also some older groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses have been controversial there. Especially well known is the German campaign against Scientology.

This chapter explains the work of the German Enquete Commission on sects and the political processes that restricted it. The installation of the Enquete Commission on sects marked the culmination of a public debate in Germany that goes back to the early 1970s. At that time, a number of new religious movements was introduced into Germany. During the years preceding its installation, public fear of sects had increased.