Cults overview v3

Editor's Notes

• #3: Apologetics is the branch of Christianity that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith. Christian Apologetics is something every true believer should be involved in even if it is only a little. "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence," (1 Peter 3:15).
• #5: 1 Peter 3:15New International Version (NIV) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
• #7: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/07/15/Caught-up-in-the-cult-of-cults/ Q. What is a cult? And how does someone know if the faith they are following is harmful? A. The word cult has three definitions. First of all, it can simply be a group that loves something. When people refer to an "Elvis cult" or "The O.C. cult," they mean really devoted fans. The second definition is that of a religion whose beliefs differ from the majority around them. In the Roman Empire, Christians were sometimes considered a cult because they worshiped Jesus rather than the Roman gods. The third, and most commonly used definition, refers to a religious group that is: 1) Exclusive. They may say, "We're the only ones with the truth; everyone else is wrong; and if you leave our group your salvation is in danger." 2) Secretive. Certain teachings are not available to outsiders or they're presented only to certain members, sometimes after taking vows of confidentiality. 3) Authoritarian. A human leader expects total loyalty and unquestioned obedience. For the most part, this third definition of cult is being used less and less today. Experts who watch for dangerous or harmful religious groups now use the term new religious movements. The word cult can hurt people because it carries so much negative meaning. My sister was accused of being in a cult just because she preferred hanging out with Christian friends rather than going out drinking with other friends. She might have been in with a group of people that was unlike the norm (because they devotedly followed Christ), but she certainly wasn't following a harmful faith. My friend Jason, however, fell in love with a girl who was part of a church that was exclusive, secretive, and authoritarian. At first he was happy to tell me about what he was learning. But as he got further into that religious group, he told me less and less. When the leaders of that church told him that he had to quit our church to keep dating the girl, I got very suspicious. When he got married and his parents couldn't even attend the wedding because they weren't members of Jason's new religion, it was clear that this was harmful. Unlike that, Christians accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Still, they recognize that he has followers in many different Christian denominations and nondenominational churches who accept Christ. We don't believe that the truth is available only to a select few—instead, salvation through Jesus is open to everyone. We also believe that God is above any human leader. Marshall, a former pastor, is editor of Leadership Journal, a magazine for pastors.
• #8: The occult (from the Latin word occultus "clandestine, hidden, secret") is "knowledge of the hidden".[1] In common English usage, occult refers to "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable",[2] usually referred to as science. The term is sometimes taken to mean knowledge that "is meant only for certain people" or that "must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.[3] The terms esoteric and arcane have very similar meanings, and in most contexts the three terms are interchangeable.[4][5] It also describes a number of magical organizations or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and to a large body of current and historical literature and spiritual philosophy related to this subject. The word “occult” is generally associated with secret knowledge and practices dealing with the supernatural or “psychic” phenomena, often for the purpose of obtaining personal power. Some occult practices rely on demons or “spirits” to achieve their goals. Occultism is rapidly increasing throughout the world. There are now thousands of publishers of occultic books and magazines (not to mention Web sites). Interest in the occult has been promoted by the New Age movement, the rise of neo-paganism, movies and even some heavy-metal rock bands. More information What does the Bible say about the occult? Answer Please understand that the terms “occult” and “cult” refer to completely different things—although there can be crossover in some specific instances. That is, some cults have occultic practices.
• #9: Alchemy Animism Astrology Automatic speaking (through spirits) Automatic writing (spirit-guided) Cabalistic knowledge Calling up the dead Candomble Celtics (the religion, not the Celtic “race”) Channeling Chaos Magic Chiromancy Clairaudience Clairvoyance Crystalmancy Demon worship and consultation Discordianism Divination Eckankar Enchantments Fetishism Fortune telling Freemasonry Glass looking Gnostic wisdom Hermetic Traditions Horoscopes Hydromancy I Ching Illuminated organizations Illuminati Incantations Kabbalah Knights Templar La Regla Lucumi Lukumi Lycanthropy Macumba Magic, magick (magical arts) Mediums Mirror gazing Necromancy/necromancer Neo-paganism Omens Oracles Ordo Templi Orientis Ouija boards Paganism Palmistry Prognostication Psychometry Qabalah Quimbanda Radiestesia Rosicrucianism Runes Santeria Satanism Scrying Secret societies Sevi Lwa Shamanism Soothsaying Sorcery Spells (casting, conjuring) Spirit-guides Spiritists Spiritualism Tarot cards Tea cup reading Thelemite Umbanda Vedic astrology Vodun (Voodoo) White witchcraft Wicca Witchcraft Wizardy
• #10: All-knowing leadership. An individual or group of people claims to be sent by God to "rule" the one true religion—which only includes members of that particular cult. No room for differences. Cult members must believe exactly the same way and in exactly the same things; there is no room for disagreeing with the cult's rules or doctrines. A new and better way. Cults often claim they've been given a "special revelation" from God that's superior to the Bible, or explains what the Bible is really trying to say. Down on Christian doctrine. Cults often depict basic Christian doctrines and beliefs (like the Trinity, deity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith) as "full of holes" and completely illogical. Scriptures get an added twist. Bible verses are often taken out of context or twisted to mean something very different than what was originally intended.
• #11: "Christians are wrong." Cult members believe God has given their group the job of pointing out "heretical and evil" teachings of Christianity. Works prove faith. Cult members often claim their good works are superior to those performed by Christians, and they say their works prove their religion is the one-and-only truth. Salvation is a big unknown. Since cults often teach that salvation is based on performance, cult members can never know if they've done everything necessary to get to heaven. No exit. Leaving the cult is not an option, and intimidation is often used to keep cult members from even thinking about getting out.
• #16: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Kingdom Sky Kingdom (Malay: Kerajaan Langit) is the name of the commune and sect founded by Ariffin Mohammed in Malaysia. The commune, based in Besut, Terengganu, was demolished by the government of Malaysia in August 2005.[1] As of 2006, Ariffin Mohamed resides in exile in Narathiwat, Thailand, just over the border from Kelantan. Eighteen members of the Sky Kingdom commune remain at the mercy of the Malaysia's Higher Shariah Court, with 40 having received leniency upon renouncing the group.[2] Sky Kingdom attracted worldwide mass media attention in mid-2005, over concerns about efforts by the Malaysian government to suppress its followers as apostates from Islam.[3] The controversy brought to light the issue of whether sharia law superseded the right to religious freedom under Article 11 of the Constitution of Malaysia. This attention was coupled with considerable bemusement over followers' central objects of veneration, which include a large cream-coloured teapot,[4] prompting local and foreign media to dub the sect as the "teapot cult”.[5] Beliefs and practices[edit] A Muslim by birth, Ariffin, also known as Ayah Pin (Ayah is a common honorific meaning "father"), claims to have direct contact with the heavens and is believed by his followers to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Buddha, Shiva, and Muhammad. Devotees of Sky Kingdom believe that one day, Ayah Pin will return as the Imam Mahdi. His followers consider him the king of the sky, and the supreme object of devotion for all religions. A major emphasis of the Sky Kingdom religion is ecumenical dialogue and inter-religious harmony. People of different religious backgrounds have joined. Ayah Pin has visited several Hindu temples and the group once hosted a visit by a Christian group, a rare move by Malaysian standards[citation needed]. Ayah Pin accepts the existence of angels as well as a class of Malaysian forest fairies called Orang Bunian. Sky Kingdom also emphasises the importance of spiritual healing as well as dream interpretation. Ayah Pin used to conduct "sessions" on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. According to a witness, the sessions began with a special ritual whereby followers would usher Ayah Pin from the main building to a concrete boat in the compound in which he would lie. His followers would then start chanting for him until 4:00 am.[6] After this ritual, a lengthy question-and-answer period will take place, with Ayah Pin seated on a dais facing an audience. Hymns would also be sung during the session.
• #17: Christ incarnated. Must surrender their will, for ultimate salvation.
• #18: "Jonestown" was the informal name for the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project formed by the Peoples Temple, an American religious organization under the leadership of Jim Jones, in northwestern Guyana. It became internationally notorious when on November 18, 1978, 918[citation needed] people died in the remote commune, at the nearby airstrip in Port Kaituma, and in Georgetown, Guyana's capital city. The name of the settlement became synonymous with the incidents at those locations, and at the time of its occurrence, it was regarded to be one of the most infamous events in American history. A total of 909[citation needed] Temple members died in Jonestown, all but two from apparent cyanide poisoning, in an event termed "revolutionary suicide" by Jones and some members on an audio tape of the event and in prior discussions. The poisonings in Jonestown followed the murder of five others by Temple members at Port Kaituma, including United States Congressman Leo Ryan. Four other Temple members died in Georgetown at Jones' command. To a certain extent, the actions in Jonestown were viewed by the media as a mass suicide; some sources, including Jonestown survivors, regard the event as a mass murder (nearly 300 children were found among the dead, including many other bodies which showed signs of struggle).[1][2] It was the largest such event in modern history and resulted in the largest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act until September 11, 2001.[3] In recent years, the Jonestown massacre has been the subject of several conspiracy theories. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown
• #19: http://www.sltrib.com/news/2438384-155/wife-of-utah-polygamist-leader-files http://fldsmormons.com
• #20: Then there was Marshall Applewhite, who led the American UFO religious cult Heaven's Gate; he founded the cult in the early 1970s after a near-death experience. What is constant are the personal traits these cult leaders prey on, with the fear of the end of the world topping the list. Applewhite's message to his followers was to leave Earth with the help of some aliens before our home planet is “recycled”.
• #21: Ahn Sahng-Hong
• #22: 1.Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) - Brother of Lucifer. One of several gods created by the super god, Adam, an exalted man. 2.Jehovah's Witnesses - Michael the Archangel. 3.The Unification Church (Moonies) - Jesus was only a spiritual redeemer who failed to provide the physical redemption that the new messiah, Reverend Moon will supply. 4.The World Wide Church of God (Armstrongites) - Jesus is viewed as part of a Godhead that is open to perfected men. (See note at the end of this article.) 5.The Way International - Jesus was a created being who was sent by God to die for the sins of Man. 6.The Unitarian Church - Jesus was just a good moral man. 7.The Mind Sciences (Christian Science, Religious Science, Unity, Theosophy, etc.) - Jesus is viewed as only a man who manifested the Christ potential that resides in each person. One spiritist group has referred to Jesus as "a medium of the sixth sphere of the astro-projection"!
• #26: http://www.decision-making-confidence.com/mind-control-techniques.html
• #27: People who are dependent Unassertive or have a low tolerance for ambiguity(they don't like to feel uncertain, they want answers and the sooner the better). People who are idealistic or have a strong desire for spiritual meaning are also somewhat susceptible. An impaired ability to criticise what one is told or hears also puts a person at a disadvantage. The belief that 'it would never happen to me!'