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"Cult"
is a frightening word and it should be. Over one million American
young people joined religious cults in one year's time! In the
midst of many sincere spiritual leaders, there are predators
who come as "wolves in sheep's clothing."
Some cults are
dangerous; all are misleading as far as spiritual answers are
concerned. We want the general public to be able to recognize
the religious counterfeits. It is our hope that these "danger
signs" will help test the voices around us. Watch out if
a religious organization asks you to:
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"Follow one human
leader" |
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Beware
of the "personality cult religion" that focuses on
a man (woman) rather than God. Is he (she) building lives or
building an empire?
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"Dilute the Bible" |
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Cults
often use as their authority the Bible plus another book or revelations
(prophecies). They do not trust you with the Bible alone.. you
need their "special help" to understand.
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"Desert Your
Family" |
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The
Family was the first institution God created.. He isn't about
to forget about it now. "Honor your father and mother"
is the Biblical foundation. Divorce is not sanctioned by God.
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"Forget the Church" |
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Religious
counterfeits lead you from the "fundamental born again believer's
churches to their own large or small ultimately a "substitute
church."
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"Believe New
Revelations" |
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Cults
seem to say believers have been missing part of the truth for
20 centuries.. but now "the hidden truth" has been
revealed.. to their leaders, of course.
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"Park Your Mind" |
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Religious
organizations run by false prophets don't like questions or doubts.
They ask you to "believe it because we believe it."
Matters of faith are sometimes beyond our reason, but not contrary
to it.
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"Keep Our Secret" |
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The
deeper you go into cult teachings, the more secret those teachings
become. Look out for those leaders who hide their spiritual "mysteries"..
God openly reveals Himself to us - He has nothing to hide.
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Ultimately,
most young people are attracted not to the beliefs of the cults,
but to the love they seem to offer. If a young person feels really
loved by important adults in his or her life, he or she won't
need another "family." |
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22
Characteristics of a Cult |
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Persecution
Complex |
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Claim to
be "the only true church |
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Divine Books
(Esoteric documents, additional revelations) |
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Denying
lifesaving medical care or doing bizarre practices |
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What and
when you eat certain food has to do with salvation |
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Abstinence
from tobacco and alcohol is critical to getting to heaven |
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Modes dependent
on evolution of any kind |
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New Revelations |
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Idol worship:
Saints, Sabbath, forces, statues, angels, works |
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Deify man
(man is a god or will become one) |
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Humanize
God (limit God to a body) |
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Unswerving
loyalty to leaders |
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Taking oath
or making promises |
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Elite society
(creates a racist or caste system by means of earthly temples.
Only select few go to heaven |
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"Man"
restoring the kingdom of God on earth |
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Abnormal
sex practices (celibacy, polygamy and free sex) |
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"Good
works" as a means to salvation (In the beginning Jim Jones
of the people's temple was commended by local and state officials
for his "good works" |
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Salvation
and exaltation comes only through their organization |
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Encourage
members to abstain from reading materials of opposing view (not
faith promoting). Cults are often a financial empire and the
myth must be promoted at all costs to keep 95% at the bottom
from realizing they support 5% at the top. They often promote
doctrine of surrendering all worldly goods for the benefit of
the membership and require tithing. |
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A subtle
doctrine (now very prevalent) of the cults is the "CHURCH-STATE"
connection instituted to volunteer your services and dollars
to change the world, allowing them to spend millions toward that
goal (propaganda, buildings, lands, banks, etc.) under the guise
of Christianity. |
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Taking Bible
verses out of context and building doctrines on those verses |
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