# Jean-François Mayer

_Swiss historian_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/jean-francois-mayer
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Jean-François Mayer is a Swiss religious historian, author, and translator. He is also Director of the Religioscope Institute, which he founded. His writing focuses on religion, with a particular focus on new religious movements and cults, including the Unification Church, the Church of Scientology and the Pilgrims of Arès.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 25 April 1957 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Fribourg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Switzerland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P27))
- **Occupation:** historian; translator ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P106))
- **Education:** Jean Moulin University - Lyon 3 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P69))
- **Official website:** mayer.info ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P856))
- **Positions held:** president (2013–2015); director (2007–2025) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P39))
- **X (Twitter):** jfmayer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776#P2002))

## Questions

**When was Jean-François Mayer born?**  
Jean-François Mayer was born on 25 April 1957 in Fribourg.

**What positions has Jean-François Mayer held?**  
Positions held by Jean-François Mayer include: president (2013–2015); director (2007–2025).

**Where did Jean-François Mayer study?**  
Jean-François Mayer was educated at Jean Moulin University - Lyon 3.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Jean-François Mayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Mayer) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q3165776](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3165776) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Jean-François Mayer by Jerry McCrea, 1985.png by Jerry McCrea for The Star-Ledger (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Mayer_by_Jerry_McCrea,_1985.png)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Jean-François Mayer, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Jean-François Mayer by Jerry McCrea, 1985.png — Jerry McCrea for The Star-Ledger, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Jean-François Mayer". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/jean-francois-mayer. Retrieved 12 November 2026.