In my recent class where we discussed the four theological marks of a cult we were also given information on several sociological marks of cult.  These marks show us how cults can socially affect people and people groups in ways that are beneficial to them. One of these social marks is for a cult group to have a “divinely inspired leader”.  This leader is expected to have full allegiance from followers and it is not acceptable for the followers to defy the teachings of the leader.  If one defies the leader he is in the realm of possibly losing his salvation.  Another mark is that the leader may use supernatural manipulation in controlling his people.  This can include consequences such as curses. Another aspect that the professor brought up was totalitarian purity.  With this mark we see a greater level of control being commanded on the people.  Their dress, behavior and speech are outlined for them in specific acceptable detail....

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  What marks a religion or a people group as a cult?  In order to call something a cult there must be some commonalties that take place in the cults. They have characteristics and attributes that can be directly pointed in order to identify them as a cult.  In a recent class that I took, the professor identified for us four theological marks that are present in cults. One of the marks of cultic theology is that of addition.  In addition, these cults will add to the theology of already established religious group. They will claim to have new books and new revelations to the truth that has previously been established.  They will also freely make corrections to doctrine in order to justify their cultic belief system. Next, there is the mark of subtraction.  In this view they will freely  take away from the doctrine and belief systems of another religion in order to fit it into their belief system.  We will see in several cult groups that they fre...

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Among the different sects and cults are the anti-body/messiah groups.  These groups hold onto the main belief that Jesus work of atonement is only offered through their particular belief system.  With their theology they believe that Jesus’ work on the cross was insufficient and still needs to be fulfilled by others that are yet to come.  The anti-messiah groups also believe that salvation cannot be found through any other religion except for theirs.  In trying to understand these groups and learning to relate with them there are some things to keep in mind.  When we talk with these people they hold to the belief that you are not saved because you are not a part of their belief system.  Laymen in these groups may not have as great of an understanding of the whole doctrine of their faith and may even be unaware of beliefs such as this.  They are also into retraining people that switch denominations so that they buy into their particular belief s...

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            In the apologetic world of Christianity the doctrines of the Christian faith are constantly under attack, groups are always attempting to refute them, or in the least attempt to.  These attacks are perpetrated by different, newer religions, that are attempting to either replace Christianity with a new “truth” that has been revealed to them or they are trying to fix Christianity because it is wrong or it was correct and has now been corrupted.              Of course in a complex world there are many different systems of spiritual thought that will doctrinally disagree with Christianity on different areas.  They will have focuses of disagreement which will overshadow all of the rest.  These false religions will attack the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, the trinity etc.  They will attack with the goal of bringing God down from ...

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                Rather than write out individual letters to each one of you, I have decided to write a letter to my group of SLD’s and RA’s.  Let’s be serious, to write something to you individually would more than likely wind up in one of many ways.  It could in fact be great, inspiring and awesome, but more than likely it would be cliché, cheesy, false, rhetorical, bad, lame, boring, and un-funny or garbage. And frankly I didn’t like my odds to be able to individually inspire you. Though some of you think very highly of me there are others that find me sarcastically insensitive and immaturely unintelligent.  We will in fact make the attempt to swim against the current of this reality.                 Some people will offer you the option of the good news or the bad news first.  You do ...

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