Replies

You're quite right! I always knew that the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses were spreading false doctrines, but I did not really view them as cults until our Sunday School class did a study of cults one summer. It was very enlightening. That was when I realized how "crazy" Scientology was and why it was not hard for me to believe that that Scientologists were involved in the death of Terri Schiavo.

Unfortunately, the study caused one class member to leave our class (and the church) because he did not agree with groups that he had considered just another denomination when he was growing up being labeled as a "cult". Using the definition of cult used by the author of the book on which the study was based, all of these groups qualify as cults.

Just for the purpose of letting other readers know what I’m talking about in terms of “cult groups” and what is being defined here..., it’s *not* the meaning of “cult” in terms of the popular press is concerned (you know..., like “Jim Jones” and the Kool-Aid drinking people).

The meaning of “cult groups” would be in terms of Christian doctrine, the basic, historic and foundational doctrines that even Christian groups of different denominations agree to.

One of the most *abused* and *distorted* doctrines that cult groups like to hammer away at — is the Christian doctrine of Trinity and that Jesus is one of the three of the One God of Scripture. That is the one that will most likely *always* be found to be in error in cult groups. That’s definitely so with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism (as they both disagree with the Doctrine of the Trinity, as summarized and stated for the Christian Church in the Council of Nicea and on). It’s one of the core doctrines of Christianity.

So, defining “cult group” isn’t necessarily about wanting to drink Kool-Aid and kill yourself because the leader says so, or whatever. In terms of Christianity — a cult group is any group which denies these foundational doctrines of Christianity.

Now, anyone (at least here in this country) is actually *free* to form whatever cult group that they want. That’s not the real problem, here. The *real problem* — is when these cult groups try to fool other people into believing that *they* alone — are the “true Christians” and all those other Christian churches (who have adhered to the basic, historic and foundational doctrines of Christianity) are the “false ones”.... to “such you into” their group, *exclusively* as the *true group*....

So, *be a cult group* if you want (whomever may read this...) — but — don’t try to fool other people into thinking that “this” (whatever the “cult”) is the true Christianity...

—

Anyone want to bet how long it will take before someone “challenges” the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Jesus is actually God, incarnate, one of the three of the One God of the Trinity? And I’ll bet it’s a “FReeper” too, that tries to challenge that doctrine of Christianity. So, yes, we’ve got *cult groups* right here on Free Republic, too...

Oh, and by the way, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are the two largest cult groups in the United States. And, they were both *started* right here in the United States. So, this is their “home territory” and they have subverted Christianity for many years, fooling many people into believing that they are simply another “denomination” when they reject basic, historic and foundational Christian doctrine and are not even teaching “Christianity” in the first place.

—

This is a post I did regarding Mitt Romney and about how a very large segment of Christians are not going to vote for a “cult group member” for President of the United States and how the GOP would certainly lose the election if they tried to run Romney...

The cult definition is well-established and is beyond any doubt...

Anyone who has studied Christian cult groups knows that the two biggest cult groups in the United States are the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

For documentation and the exact reasons and the heresies involved — there’s a standard and well-used and respected work that has been around in Christian Seminaries for decades.

Kingdom of the Cults
by Walter Martin
[author is dead now, but a husband/daughter team carries on the ministry, and the reference worked has been updated by Ravi Zacharias...]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764228218

You can verify the information yourself, if you want and see the exact reasons for it. It’s very well documented.

No matter how conservative (or even liberal) a group is — it’s a *cult* on the basis of their rejection of the basic and core Christian doctrines, which has nothing to do with being nice people or voting for nice Republicans...

Mormons are a cult-group, and any candidate who is a cult-member (of that group), that candidate will *not* get the vote of a very large and significant number of Christians.

This is what Steele was trying to tell the GOP and the GOP would be well-served to recognize that and not try to run *cult members* for President.

[ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2254280/posts?page=159#159 ]

So, it’s not only Islam that Christians have to be concerned about, but there are other cult groups in the United States that Christians have to be concerned about, too...