Reender Kranenborg (1 June 1942 – 8 April 2020) was a Dutch theologian, pastor, and scholar of religion. He was editor of the magazine Religious Movement in the Netherlands published by the institute of religious studies of the Free University in Amsterdam. He researched cults as well as the anti-cult movement in the Netherlands.

Early life and education

Kranenborg was born 1 June 1942 in the city of Groningen. He studied at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, before becoming a pastor. He received his PhD in 1974, in the theological faculty about the subject of self-realization. He stated in the dissertation that he had attempted to research the subject following the norms of religious studies, not a theological one.

Works

He was an editor of the magazine Religious Movement in the Netherlands published by the institute of religious studies of the Free University in Amsterdam. He researched cults as well as the anti-cult movement in the Netherlands. He wrote several books on religious topics, including on Satanism and religions of the east. He retired in 2004. He had, until his retirement, a seat at the Comitato Scientifico (scientific committee) of the CESNUR.

Death

Kranenborg died on 8 April 2020.

Selected bibliography

Notes and references