Anson David Shupe, Jr. (21 January 1948 – 4 May 2015) was an American sociologist and author noted for his studies of religious groups and their countermovements, family violence and clergy misconduct.
Shupe often collaborated with other scholars, notably David G. Bromley and Jeffrey K.
[5] Together with David G. Bromley, Shupe was considered one of the foremost social science authorities on the anti-cult movement, based on a series of books and articles on the topic he coauthored with Bromley.
[2][5] Other areas Shupe researched included the New Christian Right, religious broadcasting, and the political impact of fundamentalism; he also wrote about family violence and clergy misconduct, i.e. violent or exploitative behaviour on the part of pastors, ministers or gurus.
[4][5] He frequently acted as a consultant to attorneys in lawsuits involving issues of religious freedom or clergy abuse.