Marat Shterin is an author, doctor and researcher of cults and new religious movements.
As a youth, he showed promise as an athlete and gymnast, but chose instead to pursue his academic interests.
His particular area of expertise is the sociology of religion and new religious movements in former Soviet countries in eastern Europe.
Shterin is currently the leader of the Religion in Contemporary Society Master of Arts programme at King's College London.
[citation needed] Regarding new religious movements in Russia, he has said "some feel that the official Church does not live up to its salvationist mission and they get attracted to new prophecies and prophets.