Welcome to ON TRUTH A ministry of Dr. Cky J. Carrigan devoted to Apologetic Evangelism which seeks to equip the saints for the work of evangelism through a rigorous pursuit of TRUTH motivated by LOVE. HOME
Copyright 1999 by Cky J. Carrigan. All Rights Reserved.
This Doc Is 43 Printed Pages
Lecture Notes for Introduction to Cults and Sects
By Cky J. Carrigan, Ph.D.
--JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES-
I. WHO ARE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES?
A. OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION
1. WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY (WBTS) OF NEW YORK, INC
2. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
3. WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
B. FOUNDER: CHARLES T. RUSSELL (1852-1916)
C. CURRENT LEADER: MILTON G. HENSCHEL (b. 1918)
D. WORLD HQ: "BETHEL" BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
E. ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS (PUBLISHERS)
1. WORLDWIDE: 5.6 MILLION IN 232 COUNTRIES
2. N. AMERICA: 1.1 MILLION
F. PUBLICATIONS
1. THE WATCHTOWER (16.5 MIL IN 120 LANGUAGES)
2. AWAKE (16 MIL IN 78 LANG)
3. KINGDOM INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION
4. NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
G. HISTORY
1. 1870, RUSSELL BEGINS BIBLE STUDY GROUPS FOCUSED ON THE SECOND COMING
2. 1884, RUSSELL PRESIDENT OF ZION WATCH TOWER AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC
3. RUSSELL WROTE STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES WHICH SET FORTH HIS PROGRAM OF THEOLOGY
4. FOUR PRESIDENTS SUCEEDED RUSSELL TO THE PRESENT
II. WHAT DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BELIEVE?
A. ABOUT THE BIBLE
1. DIVINELY INSPIRED
2. INFALLIBLE
3. 66 BOOKS OF OT AND NT
4. SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE
5. NEW WORLD TRANSLATION IS THE MOST ACCURATE TRANS OF ORIGINAL LANGUAGES
6. NWT REFLECTS WBTS THEOLOGY (CF JOHN 1:1, "AND THE WORD WAS A GOD")
B. ABOUT INTERPRETATION
1. THE GOVERNING BODY OF WBTS IS THE ONLY CHANNEL OF ACCURATE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
2. SALVATGION DEPENDS UPON ASSOCIATION WITH THIS EXCLUSIVE CHANNEL
C. ABOUT GOD
1. JEHOVAH IS THE NAME OF THE TRUE GOD
2. HE IS A SPIRIT BEING WITH A SPIRIT BODY
3. HE IS NOT OMNIPRESENT
4. THE TRINITY IS A GROSS MISREPRESENTATION OF THE NATURE OF GOD
D. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
1. CREATED BY JEHOVAH
2. JESUS CREATED ALL "OTHER" THINGS
3. SPENT AGES WITH JEHOVAH AS MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL BEFORE COMING TO EARTH AS A MAN
4. BORN OF A VIRGIN
5. BECAME MESSIAH AT BAPTISM
6. EXECUTED AS A "RANSOM FOR MANY"
7. IMPALED ON A "TORTURE STAKE," NOT CRUCIFIED
8. ROSE AGAIN SPIRITUALLY, NOT BODILY
9. PRESENTLY A REIGNING KING WHO WILL SOON RETURN
E. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. NOT A PERSON, BUT….
2. AN ACTIVE AND POWERFUL FORCE TO ACCOMPLISH
JEHOVAH'S WILL
F. ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF MAN
1. THE SPIRIT, OR LIFEFORCE, OF MAN DEPARTS AT DEATH
2. THERE IS NO CONSCIOUS EXISTENENCE AT DEATH (SOUL SLEEP)
G. ABOUT SALVATION
1. REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION IN ADDITION TO FAITH
a. BAPTISM BY IMMERSION
b. ACTIVE ASSOC WITH WBTS
c. RIGHTEOUS CONDUCT
d. ABSOLUTE LOYALTY TO JEHOVAH
2. NO ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, ONLY HOPE OF RESURRECTION
3. TWO CLASSES OF SAVED PEOPLE
a. "ANNOINTED CLASS"
(144k WHO BYPASS INTERMEDIATE STATE OF SOUL UNCONSCIOUS-NESS & GO DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN AT DEATH TO RULE WITH JESUS)
b. "GREAT CROWD" (WILL BE RESURRECTED AFTER ARMEGEDDON & THE MILLENNIUM, & LIVE FOREVER IN PARADISE ON EARTH
4. THOSE WHO REJECT JEHOVAH IN PRESENT LIFE WILL BE RESURRECTED AT THE END OF MILLENNIUM & ANNHILATED
5. THOSE IGNORANT OF JEHOVAH WILL BE RESURRECTED BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM AND JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR OBEDIENCE TO JEHOVAH DURING THE MILLENNIUM, THE UNFAITHFUL WILL BE ANNHILATED AND THE FAITHFUL WILL ENTER PARADISE ON EARTH
H. ABOUT HELL
1. PLACE OF THE DEAD
2. NOT A PLACE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
3. ALL THE UNFAITHFUL WILL BE ANNIHILATED WITH SATAN, THEIR LEADER
I. OTHER DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES
1. DO NOT CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS OR CHRISTMAS
2. DO NOT VOTE OR PARTICIPATE IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT
3. DO NOT PLEDGE ALLIEGENCE TO THE FLAG
4. DO NOT VOLUNTEER FOR ARMED FORCES
5. DO NOT HAVE PROFESSIONAL CLERGY
6. MEETING PLACE CALLED "KINGDOM HALL"
7. VERY ACTIVE IN DISTRIBUTION OF WBTS PUBLICATIONS
8. DO NOT ACCEPT BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS
9. WATCHTOWER PREDICTED ARMEGEDDON SEVERAL TIMES FROM 1914 TO 1975
10. ONCE A YEAR, ONLY THOSE IN THE "ANNOINTED CLASS" MAY TAKE THE LORD'S SUPPER
III. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGIES
A. DEVELOP SINCERE RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
B. LET THEM OBSERVE GENUINE CHRISTIANITY IN YOU
C. BE PREPARED TO USE SCRIPTURE TO EXPLAIN AND DEFEND KEY CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
D. FOCUS ON BIBLICAL DOCTRINES OF CHRIST & SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
E. INVITE THEM TO TEST THEIR BELIEFS BY SCRIPTURE ALONE, WITHOUT CONSULTING ANY EXTRA-BIBLICAL MATERIALS FOR 30 DAYS
F. GENTLY UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN NWT BY USING THEIR INTERLINEAR TO SHOW THAT MANY NWT TRANS-LATIONS REGARDING CHRIST ARE ERRONEOUS
G. GENTLY UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN WBTS BY NOTING ERRORS IN PROPHECY AND CHANGES TO KEY DOCTRINES
--MORMONS--
I. Who Are the Mormons?
A. Official Name: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS
B. Founder: Joseph Smith Jr.(1805-1844)
C. Key Early Leader: Brigham Young (1801-1877)
D. Current Leader: Gordon B. Hinckley (b. 1910)
E. Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
F. Membership: 10 million in 162 countries, 5 million in North America
G. Temples: 52 Worldwide
H. Congregations: 29,000 Wards
I. Annual Converts: 300,000 not including children of Mormon families
J. Missionaries: 56,000
K. Involvement
1. About half of all Ward members are Temple-Worthy
2. About half of all Temple-Worthy members are presently active in their Wards
II. What Do Mormons Believe?
A. Doctrine of God
1. The Heavenly Father is an exalted man with a physical body of flesh and bones
2. God is not a Tri-unity or Trinity
3. The Father, Son and "Holy Ghost" are three absolutely separate entities
4. The Trinity is not one in essence, rather, it is are one in purpose only
B. Doctrine of Jesus Christ
1. There was a time when the Son of God was not
2. Jesus was the spiritual first born Son of God in the preexistence
3. Like all of mankind, Jesus was a product of an event between the Heavenly Father and His Heaven-ly Wife in the preexistence
4. Jesus was also the physical offspring of the Heavenly Father and Mary by means of the usual procreation process on earth
5. The fullness of salvation is not the result of the work of Christ
6. His death on the cross only provides for the immortality of all people in a universal resur-rection, but not the fullness of salvation resulting in an eternal presence with the Heavenly Father
7. Full salvation is the result of faithful efforts to adherence to Mormon teachings
C. Doctrine of Scriptures & Authority
1. Revelation is continuing
2. In addition to the Bible "translated correctly," three other Standard Works are regarded as authoritative
a. The Book of Mormon
b. The Doctrine and Covenants
c. The Pearl of Great Price
d. And other declarations by any of the several presidents (prophets) are authoritative as well
D. Doctrine of Man
1. All men are the preexisted spiritual offspring of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother
2. They are begotten of heavenly parents and reared in heavenly mansions prior to coming to the earth in temporal bodies
3. Man is born basically good, "a god in embryo"
4. "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become"
E. Doctrine of Sin
1. Sin is disobedience to God's laws and eternal life is given to those obedient to Mormon teaching
2. Adam's fall was a part of God's plan
3. Adam did not fall away from innocence but toward it
4. The fall was necessary in order for man to advance toward deification through the knowledge of good and evil
F. Doctrine of Salvation
1. Jesus' atonement, or death on the cross, only restores immortality to all men
2. It does not provide the fullness of salvation, called exaltation, to all men
3. Exaltation (godhood, or entrance into the celestial kingdom) is only available to Mormons by means of obedience to Mormon teachings
a. Faith
b. Baptism
c. Endowments
d. Celestial marriage
e. Tithing
4. The Fullness of Salvation, or Exaltation includes these blessings
a. Eternal presence with the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
b. Deification
c. Eternal family relationships (husbands, wives and children)
d. Fullness of joy
e. All the attributes of Deity: all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge
f. Baptism, endowments and marriage for the dead provide postmortem salvation for non-Mormons as well.
G. Doctrine of Life After Death
1. There are three "Levels of Glory" after death
a. The Celestial Kingdom is the abode of Exalted Ones and is reserved for faithful Mor-mons, Heavenly Father and Jesus are present here
b. The Terrestrial Kingdom is theplace of non-Mormon people who were honorable but deceived by craftiness, Father and Jesus are not present here
c. The Telestial Kingdom is theabode of the wicked and un-godly, but this place is not hell
H. Doctrine of the Church
1. The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS is the only one true church on the face of the earth
2. It is the restored church of Scripture
3. Jesus told Joseph Smith that all
other churches were wrong in belief and practice . . .
4. Their creeds were an abomination and all who professed those creeds where corrupt
III. How Do Faithful Mormons Practice Their Religion?
A. Tithe and attend their Wards Meetings on Sundays
B. Observe the Lord's Supper (bread and water) called Sacrament Services each Sunday and meet for various training sessions
C. Convene weekly family sessions in their homes where they teach and reinforce Mormon beliefs
D. Ethical conduct is generally moral and law abiding
E. Encourage and equip their young adults to devote two years to missions (eighteen months for young women)
F. Make pilgrimages to one or more of the fifty-two Mormon Temples in the world and go through the Temple ceremonies (once on behalf of themselves, and several times on behalf of the dead).
IV. What Are Some Helpful Strategies For Witnessing To Mormons?
A. Prepare yourself with a thorough grounding in genuine Christian doctrine and in the most prominent features of Mormon doctrine and terminology
B. Emphasize objective Biblicaldoctrines about Christ and salvation as a governor over subjective feelings or personal religious experience, because much of the Mormon myth is based on the testimony of their own personal religious experience
C. Emphasize salvation by grace alone through faith alone that results in good works
D. Use the Bible to undermine confidence in Mormon teachings
E. Use the Book of Mormon itself to undermine confidence in Mormon teachings
F. Use Mormon History to undermine confidence in key Mormon concepts and Mormon prophets Joseph Smith and Brigham Young
HINDUISM BRIEF
I. NO CONSTANT CORE BELIEFS
II. "HINDU" = RELIGIONS OF INDIA
III. THREE COMMON FEATURES
A. PRO-VEDA (ANCIENT SCRIPTURES)
B. PRO-CASTE SYSTEM
C. VENERATION OF DIETIES & SPIRITS
IV. THREE HINDU PERIODS
A. RITUAL HINDUISM
B. THEORETICAL HINDUISM
C. DEVOTIONAL HINDUISM (MODERN)
V. DEVOTIONAL HINDUISM (BHAKTI)
A. TRIMURTI: BRAHMAN (ULTIMATE REALITY) MANIFESTED 3 MALE GODS & THEIR FEMALE CONSORTS
1. BRAHMA: CREATOR
2. VISHNU: PRESERVER (POPULAR)
3. SHIVA: DESTROYER
B. SCRIPTURES: BHAGAVAD-GITA
C. PRACTICE MARKED BY DEVOTION TO ONE DIETY (OFTEN KRISHNA)
D. ASSOCIATED ABSTRACT IDEAS
1. BRAHMAN: IMPERSONAL, ULTIMATE, INFINITE, REALITY
2. MAYA: NOT-BRAHMAN (ILLUSION)
3. ATMAN: TRUE-HUMAN SELF "ATMAN IS BRAHMAN"
4. SAMSARA: ETERNAL TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS OR REINCARNATION
5. KARMA: NEXT-LIFE STATUS RELATED TO THIS-LIFE ACTIONS
6. MOKSHA: RELEASE FROM SAMSARA ACHIEVED BY ENLIGHTENMENT
7. ENLIGHTENMENT: ACHIEVED BY STRICT SEPARATION & CONTEMPLA-TION, PRODUCES SELF-AWARENESS OF ATMAN-BRAHMAN IDENTITY
8. NIRVANA: STATE OF SUPREME BLISS ACHIEVED BY MOKSHA
BUDDHISM BRIEF
I. U.S. CELEBRITIES: JOAN BAEZ, TINA TURNER, RICHARD GERE, LARRY HAGMAN, HARRISON FORD
II. 1,000 U.S. TEMPLES, CENTERS & MONESTARIES
III. BUDDHA = "ENLIGHTENED ONE"
IV. FOUNDER: SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA (B. 563-483 BC) (B.? 623-24 BC)
VI. THERAVEDA
A. CLASSIC, TRADITIONAL
B. S.E. ASIA, SRI LANKA
C. SCRIPTURES: TRIPITAKA
D. ONLY MONKS REACH NIRVANA
VII. MAHAYANA
A. UN-TRADITIONAL
B. CHINA, JAPAN, W. HEMISPHERE
C. SCRIPTURES: LOTUS SUTRA
D. ANYONE CAN REACH NIRVANA
VIII. FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
A. TO EXIST IS TO SUFFER
B. SUFFERING CAUSED BY DESIRE-ATTACHMENT
C. TO EXTINGUISH SUFFERING, EXTINGUISH DESIRE-ATTACHMENT
D. EIGHTFOLD PATH IS WAY TO EXTINGUISH DESIRE-ATT'MENT
IX. CLASSIC BELIEFS
A. MIDDLE WAY: NOT EXTREMIST
B. ULTIMATE REALITY IS ILLUSION
C. FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING IS ACTUALLY NO-THING
D. TRUE SELF IS ILLUSION
E. FOUNDATION OF SELF IS ACTUALLY NON-SELF
F. NON-SELF REINCARNATION BASED ON KARMA
G. ENLIGHTENMENT IS REALIZATION OF SELF-EXTINCTION
H. ENLIGHTENMENT YIELDS NIRVANA (EXTINCTION) AT DEATH
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
I. PANTHEISTIC FORM OF ANCIENT GNOSTICISM
A. PANTHEISM: ALL IS GOD
B. GNOSTICISM
1. SPIRIT BETTER THAN MATTER
2. SALVATION IS KNOWLEDGE
II. FOUNDER: MADAM BLAVATSKY (1831-91)
III. SOCIETY ORGANIZED NYC 1875
IV. KEY LITERATURE: BY BLAVATSKY THE SECRET DOCTRINE
V. THREE CHIEF OBJECTIVES
A. BROTHERHOOD OF HUMANITY
B. PROMOTE STUDY OF COM-PARATIVE RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY & SCIENCE
C. INVESTIGATE UNEXPLAINED LAWS OF NATURE & LATENT HUMAN POWERS
VI. NON-SECTARIAN, ANTI-DOGMA, ANTI-CREEDAL
VII. CHARACTERISTIC POSTIONS
A. PANTHEISM
B. MONISM: ALL IS ONE
C. NIRVANA: GOAL IS MYSTICAL ABSORPTION WITH IMPERSONAL WORLD SOUL
D. DEIFIED MAN
E. CHRISTOLOGY
1. JESUS IS THE OUTER MAN
2. CHRIST IS THE DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS IMMANENT IN JESUS AND ALL MEN
3. REJECT SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT
F. REINCARNATION: CONTINUOUS REBIRTH AFTER DEATH
G. KARMA: NEXT-LIFE STATUS RELATED TO THIS-LIFE ACTIONS
--NEW AGE-
I. WHAT IS THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT?
A. NOT AN INSTITUTION OR SINGLE ORGANIZATION
B. LARGE NUMBER OF AUTONOMOUS GROUPS & INDIVIDUALS
C. HUNDREDS OF GROUPS & RELIGIOUS LEADERS
D. NAM IS A WESTERNIZED FORM OF EASTERN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS COMBINED WITH OCCULTIC PRACTICES, SELF-HELP, HOLISTIC MEDICINES, & ASTROLOGY
E. NOT "NEW" IN TIME, BUT NEW TO WESTERN TRADITIONS
F. AMERICAN ORIGINS
1. C. 1800'S
2. NEW THOUGHT MOVEMENT
3. SPIRITUALISM
4. THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
5. COUNTERCULTURE MOVEMENT OF 1960's - 70's ADOPTED THE ABOVE NEW IDEAS
G. ESTIMATED THAT 1 IN 5 AMERICANS HOLD SOME NAM TENETS, BUT MOST DO NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES NEW AGERS
II. EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS
A. PANTHEISM
1. GOD IS ALL
2. ALL IS GOD
3. GOD IS IMPERSONAL
4. SINCE YOU ARE SOMETHING, YOU TO ARE GOD
B. MONISM
1. ALL IS ONE
2. ALL DISTINCTIONS ARE MERE ILLUSIONS
C. REINCARNATION
1. WILL BE REBORN AS A NEW BABY, AFTER DEATH, AND LIVE AN NEW LIFE
2. PAST LIVES
3. FUTURE LIVES ARE IMPROVED BY POSITIVE KARMA IN THIS LIFE AND VISA-VERSA
4. GOAL OF REINCARNATION IS PROGRESS TOWARD ONENESS WITH THE "ALL" (GOD)
D. PEOPLE ARE DIVINE
1. SENSATION OF FINITENESS IS ILLUSION
2. HUMANITY HAS FORGOTTEN ITS DIVINITY
3. ENLIGHTENMENT IS DISCOVERY OF DIVINITY
4. ENLIGHTENMENT ACHIEVED BY MEANS OF YOGA, MEDITA-TION, PAST LIFE REGRESSION, SOUL TRAVEL, CHANNELING SPIRIT GUIDES
E. MORALITY IS RELATIVE
1. NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN GOOD/EVIL, RIGHT/WRONG
2. THERE CAN BE NO ARBITER OF ETHICS
3. ACTIONS SIMPLY "ARE," THEY ARE NOT GOOD OR EVIL
4. IN ABSENCE OF AN ETHICAL ARBITER, THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON DECIDES WHAT IS "GOOD" FOR HIM
F. DISTINCTION BETWEEN JESUS "THE MAN" FROM "CHRIST "SPIRIT"
1. CHRIST SPIRIT IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO HAS SELF ACTUALIZED HIS DIETY
2. SOME BELIVE THAT JESUS WAS A HINDU GURU CRUCIFIED FOR SUCH
G. A NEW AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT & TRANSFORMATION IS COMING
1. THIS WORLD IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO A TRANSFORMATION TO A HIGHER LEVEL
2. THIS TRANSFORMATION WILL BE THE RESULT OF A WORLDWIDE SHIFT TO THE NEW AGE PARADIGM
H. PLURALISM
1. ALL RELIGIONS ARE EQUALLY ONE & TRUE
2. ESSENCE OF ALL RELIGION IS THE SAME
III. EVANGELISM STRATEGIES
A. BECAUSE OF DIVERSITY, FIND OUT THE PARTICULAR BELIEFS OF THE RECIPIENT AND BEGIN FROM THERE
B. BE PREPARED GENTLY TO UNDERMINE THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM (PANTHEISM, MONISM) BY POINTING OUT NECESSARY IMPLICATIONS
C. GENTLY POINT OUT THE INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN BELIEF AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PRACTICE
D. POINT OUT SELF DEFEATING CLAIMS OF MORAL RELATIVISM
E. OFFER THE GENUINE UNIQUE JESUS AS THE SOLUTION TO ALL THEIR CONCERNS
F. SHARE YOUR OWN GENUINE EXPERIENCE OF FAITH AND
REPENTANCE & LIVING IN CHRIST
--WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD--CULT OR CHRISTIAN?
I. WCOG, FORMERLY A CULT, IS PRESENTLY A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOC OF EVANGELICALS
A. HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG (1892-1996) WAS THE FOUNDER OF WCOG DURING ITS CULTIC PERIOD
B. JOSEPH W. TKACH, SR. (1927-95) LED THE CHURCH AWAY FROM CULTIC ARMSTRONGISM TOWARD EVANGELICALISM FROM (85-95)
C. TKACH, JR. LED WCOG INTO EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY IN 1995
D. DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRE-95 WCOG & POST-95 WCOG
1. PRE-95 WCOG IS CULTIC "ARMSTRONGISM"
2. POST-95 WCOG IS EVANGELICAL
3. THERE ARE ALSO MORE THAN 90 SPLINTER GROUPS FROM THE PRE-95 WCOG THAT ARE CULTIC "ARMSTRONGISM"
II. THEREFORE, WCOG IS EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN & VARIOUS REMAINING FORMS OF "ARMSTRONGISM" ARE CULTIC
--WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD---EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN SECT-
I. LEADER: JOSEPH W. TKACH, JR
II. HEADQUARTERS: PASADENA, CA
III. PUBLICATIONS
A. PLAIN TRUTH (130K CIRC) (DOWN FROM 8 MILL)
B. THE WORLDWIDE NEWS
IV. MEMBERSHIP:
A. 40-70K IN 100 COUNTRIES (DOWN ABOUT HALF FROM 1985)
V. DOCTRINAL STATEMENT: STATEMENT OF BELIEFS OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD (1995, 1998)
THIS IS GENERALLY AN EVANGEL-ICAL STATEMENT OF FAITH, BUT IT REMAINS NEUTRAL ON LORD'S DAY WORSHIP, THE INTERMEDIATE STATE & ANNIHILATIONISM AND IT PERMITS THE CELEBRATION OF FEASTS AND FESTIVALS
IN ANOTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENT (1996), WCOG ALSO REJECTED THE ANGLO-ISRAELISM OF ARMSTRONG
--CULTIC ARMSTRONGISM--
I. FOUNDER: HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG (1892-1996)
II. MAIN SPLINTER GROUPS FROM PRE-95 WCOG
A. CHURCH OF GOD, INTER-NATIONAL, TYLER, TX (LEADER: GARNER TED ARMSTRONG)
B. PHILADELPHIA CHURCH OF GOD, EDMOND, OK (LEADER: GERALD FLURRY)
C. GLOBAL CHURCH OF GOD, SAN DIEGO
D. UNITED CHURCH OF GOD, ARCADIA, CA
III. CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS OF CULTIC ARMSTRONGISM
A. ON GOD
1. GOD IS NOT A TRINITY
2. THE "GOD FAMILY" IS THE FATHER AND SON ALONE
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NO PERSON
4. GOD HAS THE SAME FORM & SHAPE AS A HUMAN BEING
B. ON JESUS CHRIST
1. WAS FIRST BORN AGAIN SAVED PERSON
2. STOPPED BEING VERY GOD, CONVERTED TO FLESH, THEN BECAME VERY GOD AGAIN
3. THE CROSS DOES NOT INSURE ETERNAL LIFE, IT ONLY PAYS FOR PAST SIN
C. ON MAN
1. THE HUMAN RACE OF "BORN AGAIN" PERSONS WILL BE DIVINE & COMPLETE THE
"GOD FAMILY"
2. BY RESURRECTION, MAN BE-COMES "BORN GOD PERSONAGES"
D. ON SCRIPTURE
1. BIBLE IS "CODED JIGSAW PUZZLE"
2. H.W.ARMSTRONG DECODED
E. ON DIVINE ORIGIN OF WCOG
1. H.W.A. WAS SOLE CHANNEL OF DIVINE TRUTH
2. H.W.A. WAS THE LATTER-DAY "ELIJAH" PREPARING FOR THE RETURN OF THE LORD
F. ON PROPHETIC UTTERANCESH.W.A. MADE MANY SPECIFIC PREDICTIONS THAT DID NOT MATERIALIZE, INCLUDING SEVEVERAL RELATED TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST
G. ON SALVATION
1. CHRIST SAVES US FROM THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT
2. ONLY THOSE WHO GROW, DEVELOP, DO THE WORKS OF CHRIST & ENDURE TO THE END WILL BE GRANTED IMMORTALITY
H. ON ANGLO-ISRAELISM
1. TEN ISRAELITE TRIBES WERE LOST WHEN JEWS WERE TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY BY SARGON, THE ASSYRIAN IN 722 BC
2. THE TEN LOST TRIBES CALLED SAXAE OR SCYTHIANS WERE ACTUALLY THE SAXONS THAT INVADED BRITAN FROM N. EUROPE
3. THE BLESSINGS & SPIRITUAL STATUS DUE EPHRAIM (BRITIAN) & MENASSEH (U.S.) ARE DUE TO BRITIAN & THE U.S.
4. KING DAVID'S THRONE BECAME THE THRONE OF ENGLAND
IV. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. UNDERSTAND ARMSTRONGISM
B. MAKE A DEFENSE FOR GENUINE CHRISTIANITY
1. TRINITARIANISM
2. ETERNAL DIETY OF THE SON
3. PERSONHOOD OF HOLY SPIRIT
4. SALVATION BY GRACE & FAITH ALONE
5. SUFFICIENCY & PERSPECUITY OF SCRIPTURE ALONE
C. UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN H.W. ARMSTRONG AS FOUNDER OF ARMSTRONGISM
1. PERSONAL INTEGRITY
2. FAILED PROPHECY
3. BIBLICAL ILLITERACY
D. THE BIBLE & CRITICAL HISTORY DO NOT SUPPORT ANGLO-ISRAELISM
--SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM--
I.SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
II. FOUNDER: ELLEN G. WHITE (1827-1915)
III. CURRENT PRESIDENT: ROBERT S. FALKENBERG
IV. HEADQUARTERS: GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, SILVER SPRINGS, MARYLAND
V. MEMBERSHIP
A. 9.3 MIL WW
B. 42.2K CHS IN 230 COUNTRIES
C. 850K IN 4700 N. AMER CHS
VI. ASSOCIATED MINISTRIES
A. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
B. KETTERING COLLEGE
C. LOMA LINDA COLLEGE
D. RADIO & TELEVISION
1. THE VOICE OF PROPHECY
2. AMAZING FACTS
3. IT IS WRITTEN
E. PUBLICATIONS
1. SIGNS OF THE TIMES
2. LIBERTY
3. VIBRANT LIFE
4. ADVENTIST REVIEW
5. MINISTRY
F. BOOKS BY ARTHUR MAXWELL
1. THE BIBLE STORY
2. UNCLE ARTHUR'S BEDTIME STORIES
VII. SAC NOT CLEARLY A CULT BUT AT LEAST A SECT WITH SEVERAL SERIOUS ERRORS
VIII. DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES
A. ORIGIN OF SCA
1. ELLEN G. WHITE "PROPHET"
2. INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
a. MILLERITE (2ND ADVENTISM)
b. SEVENTH-DAY SABBATARIANISM
3. WHITE COMBINED HER VISIONS W. (a & b) TO FORM SAC IN 1861
B. REMNANT CHURCH: THOUGH RCC CORRUPTED CHRISTIANITY MARKED BY MOVEMENT OF SABBATH TO SUNDAY ……THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A REMNANT. TODAY'S REMNANT IS SAC
C. SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH: SABBATH MUST BE OBSERVED ON 7TH DAY (FRI PM TO SAT AM).
THOSE WHO WORSHIP ON SUN-DAY WILL BEAR THE "MARK OF BEAST" IN THE LAST DAYS
D. SALVATION MAINTAINED BY WORKS: SALVATION MAY BE LOST IF FAIL TO OBSERVE SABBATH ON 7TH DAY OR KEEP DIETARY RESTRICTION & ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL, DRUGS & TOBACCO
E. THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT: THE 2ND PERIOD OF JESUS ATONING WORK THAT BEGAN IN 1844. JESUS EXAMINES THE DEAD & LIVING FROM THE HEAVENLY "HOLY OF HOLIES"
NOTE: THIS DOCTRINE WAS NEC-ESSARY BECAUSE OF THE FAILED MILLER-E.G.WHITE PREDICTION OF THE 2ND COMING IN 1844
F. SOUL SLEEP: INTERMEDIATE STATE OF UNAWARENESS BETWEEN DEATH & RESUR-RECTION
G. THE SECOND COMING: LAST DAYS ARE PRESENTLY NEAR. THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY ……(THE MARK OF THE BEAST) WILL PRECEDE THE END
H. FINAL JUDGMENT: THE UN-REDEEMED WILL BE ANNHILIATED AFTER THE MILLENNIUM
IX. RESPONSE
A. CRITICAL HISTORICAL RE-SEARCH DOES NOT SUPPORT SACs ASSERTION THAT THE RCC CHANGED THE SABBATH, OR THAT THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A "REMNANT" OF TRUE CHURCH SABBATARIANS
B. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ASSERTION THAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS SUNDAY WORSHIP
C. THE MAINTAINANCE OF SAL-VATION IS NOT A MATTER OF EXTERNAL LEGALITIES LIKE THE KEEPING OF 7TH DAY SABBATH
(ROM 13, 14; GAL 4, COL 2)
D. SALV IS WHOLLY A MATTER OF GRACE ALONE & FAITH ALONE (EPH 2, 2TIM 1)
E. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ASSERTION OF THE INVEST-IGATIVE JUDGMENT. CALVARY'S WORK "IS FINISHED"
F. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SUPPORT SOUL SLEEP. "TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD" (2 COR 5) (1THES 4, PHIL 1)
G. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SUPPORT ANNIHILIATIONISM. THE UN-REDEEMED ARE DOOMED TO AN ETERNAL STATE OF CONSCIOUS PRESENCE IN HELL (REV 20-22; JOHN 3,14; MAT 18, 25; MK 9)
X. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. PREPARE TO DEFEND GENUINE CHRISTIANITY
B. UNDERSTAND SCA BELIEFS
C. UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN FOUNDER(S) MILLER, E.G. WHITE & THEIR FAILED PREDICTION OF THE SECOND COMING IN 1844-7
D. EMPHASIZE THE SOLE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE ALONE FOR DOCTRINE OVER AGAINST THE "REVELATIONS" OF A "LATTER-DAY PROPHET" E.G. WHITE
E. FOCUS ON BIBLICAL DEFENSE FOR SALVATION BEGUN & SUSTAINED BY GOD BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE
--EXTREME CHARISMATICISM--
I. NOT ONE INSTITUTION, BUT SEVERAL MOVEMENTS
II. NOT STRICTLY A "CULT" BUT SERIOUS SECTARIAN ERROR
III. THREE MANIFESTATIONS OF EC
A. ONENESS PENTACOSTALISM
B. WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT
C. COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL
IV. ONENESS PENTACOSTALISM
A. UNITED PENTACOSTAL CHURCH INTERNATIONAL
B. MERGER OF PENTACOSTAL CHURCH, INC. & PENTACOSTAL ASSEMBLIES OF JESUS CHRIST
C. MEMBERSHIP OF UPCI
1. 2.6 MIL WW IN 137 COUNTRIES & 21.4K CHURCHES
2. 600K IN 3,900 CHURCHES IN N. AMERICA
3. FAST GROWING DENOMINATION WITH 500 INT MISSIONARIES
D. HEADQUARTERS: HAZELWOOD, MISSOURI
E. PUBLISHING: PENTACOSTAL PUBLISHING HOUSE
F. ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS
1. NINE BIBLE COLLEGES
2. ORPHANAGE
3. YOUTH REHABILITION CENTER
4. ALCOHOL & DRUG REHAB CNTR
5. PRISON MINISTRIES
G. ORIGINS OF "ONENESS-ISM"
1. 2ND CENT MODALISM/SABELLIANISM (BUT NOT STRICTLY SAME DOC)
2. 1913, R.E. McALISTER PREACHED "ONENESS SERMON" (ACTS 2:38)
3. F.E. EWART & G.A. COOK BAPTIZ-ED "IN JESUS NAME" ONLY
4. 1945, MERGER OF PCI & PAJC
H. DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS
1. REJECTS "SECOND WORK OF GRACE" DOCTRINE MOVEMENT
2. REJECTS HIST TRINITARIANISM IN FAVOR OF ONENESS DOC
3. ONENESS DOCTRINE
a. "THE ONE GOD WHO REVEALED HIMSELF IN THE OT AS JEHOVAH REVEALED HIMSELF IN HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. THUS JESUS CHRIST WAS AND IS GOD…. …JESUS IS THE ONE TRUE GOD MANIFESTED IN FLESH."
b. "THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD WITH US & IN US."
c. "THUS GOD IS MANIFESTED AS FATHER IN CREATION AND AS THE FATHER OF THE SON, IN THE SON FOR OUR REDEMP-TION, AND AS THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR REGENERATION."
4. REJECTS TRINITARIAN FORMULA FOR WATER BAPTISM IN FAVOR OF "JESUS ONLY" FORMULA
5. AFFIRM "SPEAKING IN TONGUES" AS INITIAL SIGN OF RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
I. BIBLICAL DEFENSE OF HISTORIC TRINITARIANISM
1. ALL THREE PERSONS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESENT AT THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST (MAT 3)
2. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER & SON
3. TRINITARIAN BAPTISMAL FORMULA (MAT 28:19)
4. ALL THREE PERSONS ARE CO-ETERNAL & CO-EQUAL
VI. WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT
A. NOT ORGANIZED INSTITUTION
B. PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS IN GNOSTICISM
C. EARLIEST MODERN ADVOCATE WAS E.W. KENYON (B. 1860), A PENTACOSTAL HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY METAPHYSICAL MIND SCIENCE CULTS - CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, NEW THOUGHT & UNITY SCHOOL
D. "BIG FOUR" MAJOR LEADERS
1. KENNETH HAGIN *
2. KENNETH COPELAND *
3. FREDRICK PRICE
4. DAVID PAUL YONGII CHO
E. OTHER WELL-KNOWN LEADERS
1. GLORIA COPELAND
2. ROBERT TILTON
3. JOHN OSTEEN
4. MARILYN HICKEY
5. MORRIS CERULLO
6. DWIGHT THOMPSON
7. ORAL & RICHARD ROBERTS
8. PAUL & JAN CROUCH
9. ROD PARSLEY
10. BENNY HINN
11. RODNEY HOWARD-BROWN
12. JOHN WIMBER
F. PROMINENT MAGAZINES
1. BELIEVERS VOICE OF VICTORY (COPELAND)
2. THE WORD OF FAITH (HAGIN)
G. OTHER NAMES OF MOVEMENT
1. WORD-OF-FAITH
2. POSITIVE CONFESSION
3. FAITH-FORMULA
4. HEALTH & WEALTH GOSPEL
H. DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS
1. ON GOD: "BIG MAN"
a. DESCRIBED FROM VISIONS AS A BIG MAN (COPELAND-CERULLO)
b. OBLIGATED TO OBEY FAITH-FILLED COMMANDS & DESIRES OF BELIEVERS (COPELAND)
c. OBLIGATED TO KEEP ABRAHAM-IC COVENANT TO "BLESS" (COPELAND)
2. ON MAN: "LITTLE GOD"
a. ADAM WAS AN EXACT DUPLI-CATE OF GOD (COPELAND--CAPPS--CERULLO)
b. MAN IS SAME CLASS OF BEING AS GOD (HAGIN)
c. MAN IS VERY GOD, NOT JUST GOD FILLED (COPELAND)
d. MAN IS AN INCARNATION OF GOD, LIKE CHRIST (HAGIN)
3. ON PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST
a. DIMINISHES THE UNIQUENESS OF THE INCARNATION (2d)
b. JESUS DID NOT CLAIM TO BE GOD (COPELAND)
c. JUST A MAN WHILE ON EARTH (PRICE)
4. ON ATONEMENT OF CHRIST
a. JESUS TOOK ON NATURE OF SATAN AT CALVARY
b. IT WAS JESUS' "SPIRITUAL DEATH" NOT PHYSICAL DEATH THAT PAID FOR OUR SINS
5. OTHER DOCTRINES
a. POSITIVE CONFESSION: ALSO CALLED THOUGHT ACTUALIZ-ATION OR RHEMATOLOGY IS THE INHERENT POWER OF WORDS & THOUGHTS
b. GOSPEL OF HEALTH: BASED ON ISA 53, NO BELIEVER WITH ENOUGH FAITH SHOULD EVER BE SICK
c. GOSPEL OF WEALTH: GOD WILLS THE FINANCIAL PROSPERITY OF EVERY CHRISTIAN.
I. BIBLICAL RESPONSE
A. GOD IS THE UNIQUE, SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE (1 TIM 6) & IS ESSENTIALLY SPIRIT (JOHN 4). HE IS UNCREATED & SELF-EXISTENT.
B. MAN IS UNIQUELY CREATED (GEN 1, 9), BUT NOT ESSENTIAL-LY DIVINE. MAN, BEING CREAT-ED, IS BY NATURE NOT UN-CREATED OR SELF-EXISTENT.
C. CHRIST IS ETERNAL, ONLY BE-GOTTEN SON & ONLY INCARN-ATION OF GOD (JOHN 1, COL 1)
D. CHRIST ATONED FULLY ON THE CROSS (NOT IN HELL). "IT IS FINISHED" (JOHN 19)
E. GOD DOES NOT "HAVE FAITH" ONLY GOD CREATES REALITY BY POWER OF WORD, HEB 11-MK 11
F. THE USE OF WORDS TO ALTER REALITY BY MECHANICAL "INCANTATION" IS OCCULTIC (SPELLS, WITCHCRAFT, ETC.
VII. COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL
A. AKA "THE THIRD WAVE"
B. PERSONALITIES AND GROUPS
1. JOHN ARNOTT, TORONTO AIRPORT VINYARD CHURCH: TORONTO BLESSING & TB CHURCHES
2. JOHN WIMBER & VINYARD CHS
3. MICHAEL BROWN & BROWNS-VILLE ASSEMBLY OF GOD OF PENSECOLA & BROWNSVILLE CHURCHES
4. BOB JONES & KANSAS CITY PROPHETS
5. OTHERS: BENNY HINN, KENNETH COPELAND, RODNEY HOWARD-BROWNE (ORIGINAL SOURCE OF LAUGHTER MOVEMENT), PAUL & JAN CROUCH (TBN), JOHN AVANZINI, MORRIS CERULLO, ROD PARSLEY, RANDY CLARK , JOHN KILPATRICK, STEVE HILL, KENNETH HAGIN, MARILYN HICKEY, BISHOP EARL PAULK, ORAL ROBERTS, PAUL YONGII CHO, KARL STRADER, CHARLES CAPPS, JOHN OSTEEN, FRED PRICE, RICHARD ROBERTS MIKE EVANS, JERRY SAVELLE, ROBERT TILTON, W.V. GRANT, PETER POPOFF, CHARLES HUNTER, JACK DEERE, RICK JOYNER, PAUL CAIN, JOHN SCOTLAND, PAT ROBERTSON
C. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
1. WORD-FAITH ASSOCIATION
2. DOMINION ESCHATOLOGY: THE ANNOINTED CHURCH TAKES DOMINION OVER THE EARTH OR "RESTORES" THE KINGDOM
3. "THE ANNOINTING" OR "SECOND BLESSING" OR "SPIRIT BAPTISM"
4. DIRECT REVELATION FROM GOD
5. DIEFICATION OF MAN
6. MAXIMIZES SUBJECTIVE REL-IGIOUS EXPERIENCE & MIN-IMIZES OBJECTIVE PRO-POSITIONAL BIBLICAL TRUTHS
7. MANIFESTATIONS OF MIRACULOUS SIGN GIFTS
8. STRANGE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN MEETINGS
9. SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT
10. DRUNK IN THE SPIRIT
11. RODNEY HOWARD-BROWNE'S LAUGHTER MOVEMENT
"As long as something is happening it really does not matter if it is of God, of man or of the devil." Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter, Personal Freedom Outreach, PO Box 26062, St Louis, USA Pages 3, 4 and 5.
12. GOLD DUST MOVEMENT
13. VOMITTING MOVEMENT
D. GENUINE REVIVAL VS. COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL
1. G.R. IS SUPERNATURAL WORKS OF GOD--C.R. MAY BE SUPERNATURAL WORKS OF SATAN, OR WORK OF MAN
2. G.R. PRODUCES GREAT MEN OF INTEGRITY & EVANGELISM--C.R. PRODUCES MEN OF WEALTH & STATUS
3. G.R. PRODUCES NEW EVANGEL-ISTIC METHODS--C.R. IS NOT EVANGELISTIC IN ITS APPROACH AT ALL
4. G.R. PROMOTES LAY INVOLVE-MENT--C.R. PRODUCES "GIFTED STARS"
5. G.R. PROMOTES SALVATION OF THE LOST--C.R. PROMOTES EXPERIENCE OF ALL
6. G.R. PRECEDED BY PRAYER--C.R. MINIMIZES PRAYER IN FAVOR OF REL EXPERIENCE
7. G.R. MAKES NOTABLE IMPACT ON THE CULTURE--C.R. NOT
8. G.R. FOUNDED UPON HIST ORTHODOX DOCTRINE--C.R. NOT THEOLOGICALLY ORIENTED, BUT EXPERIENCE ORIENTED
9. G.R. PRODUCES RADICAL OBEDIENCE--C.R. DOES NOT
EVANGELICAL RESPONSE TO C.R.
1. WORD-FAITH IS NOT BIBLICAL
2. POSTMILLENNIAL-DOMINION ESCHATOLOGY IS NOT BIBLICAL
3. MAN IS NOT ESSENTIALLY DIVINE
4. REVELATION IS COMPLETE & CLOSED IN SCRIPTURE
5. ALL BELIEVERS RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AT THE TIME OF SALVATION. ONE BAPTISM, MANY FILLINGS
--CHRISTIAN SCIENCE--
I. CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
II. FOUNDER: MARY BAKER EDDY (1821-1910)
III. HEADQUARTERS: FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST OF BOSTON, MASS. OR "MOTHER CHURCH" (EST. 1890)
IV. BRANCHES: 2,300 IN 68 COUNTRIES
V. READING ROOMS: 2,300 NEAR EACH BRANCH CHURCH
VI. MBRS: 150-400,00 IN 68 COUNTRIES
VII. U.S. MBRS: 100-200,000
VIII. "PRACTITIONERS" 3,000 WORLD
IX. GOVERNING BODY: 5 PERSON BOARD OF DIRECTORS
X. CHM OF BOARD: VIRGINIA HARRIS
XI. PUBLICATIONS:
A. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
B. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE JOURNAL
C. HERALD OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
D. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SENTINEL
E. WORLD MONITOR
F. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY
XII. NO PROFESSIONAL CLERGY EACH BRANCH HAS 2 "READERS"
A. FIRST READER READS ASSIGNED BIBLE PASSAGE EACH SUNDAY
B. SECOND READER READS ASSIGNMENT FROM CS QUARTERLY
XIII. AUTHORITATIVE WRITINGS:
A. HOLY BIBLE (EDDY INTERPRETED)
B. SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES (S&H)
C. MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS
D. MANUAL OF THE MOTHER CHURCH
XIV. EDDY HISTORY
A. EDDY WAS FRAIL & OFTEN ILL
B. 1ST HUSBAND DIED YELLOW FEVER
C. DIVORCED 2ND HUSBAND
D. P.P. QUIMBY INFLUENCED MBE TOWARD POSITIVE-THOUGHT SELF HEALING METHODS
E. 1866, DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF "DIVINE SCIENCE" AFTER BEING HEALED FROM A CRIPPLING FALL (SYMPTOMS RETURNED
F. 1875, FOUNDED CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ASSOC. & PUB. S&H
G. 1890, FOUNDED "MOTHER CHURCH"
H. 1910, "MOVED TO ANOTHER PLANE"
XV. KEY DOCTRINES
A. ON GOD
1. "ALL-NESS OF GOD" (NEAR PANTHEISTIC)
2. EMPHASIZE IMPERSONAL ASPECTS OF GOD: PRINCIPLE, LIFE, TRUTH, LOVE, MIND
3. BUT, ACKNOWLEDGE PERSONAL ASPECT OF FATHER
B. ON JESUS CHRIST
1. HIS HUMANITY WAS ILLUSION
2. MANIFESTED "CHRIST IDEAL"
3. HE IS THE "WAY-SHOW-ER" & THE "HEALER"
C. ON THE WORLD
1. ONLY "SPIRIT" IS REAL
2. MATTER IS UNREAL (ILLUSION)
D. ON MAN
1. MAN IS DIVINE (IN GOD'S IMAGE & LIKENESS)
2. MAN IS SPIRIT ONLY, NOT FLESH
E. MAN'S BASIC PROBLEM IS ESCAPING LIFE'S ILLUSIONS:
1. MATTER 4. SICKNESS
2. SIN 5. DEATH
3. EVIL
F. SOLUTION (SALVATION) IS CASTING OUT ALL ILLUSIONS IN FAVOR OF THE REAL (SPIRIT)
G. LIFE AFTER DEATH
1. DEATH IS AN ILLUSION
2. THOSE WHO CAST OFF ALL ILLU-SIONS, MERELY MOVE INTO ANOTHER PLANE TOWARD FUL-FILLMENT IN LOVE, LIGHT & TRUTH
H. ETHICS: EACH SCIENTIST SOLEMNLY PROMISES TO . . .
1. WATCH & PRAY FOR THE MIND OF CHRIST
2. OBEY THE GOLDEN RULE
3. BE MERCIFUL, JUST & PURE
I. ILLNESS
1. ALL ILLNESS & INJURY IS AN ILLUSION
2. TO RECEIVE TREATMENT WOULD BE TO SUCCUMB TO THE ILLUSION
3. DENIAL OF ILLNESS RESULTS IN HEALING
4. THE ONLY FAITHFUL RESPONSE TO ILLNESS IS TO CONSULT A "PRACTITIONER" WHO WILL PRAY & PROMOTE REALIZATION OF THE ILLUSION WHICH IN TURN PRODUCES HEALING
XVI. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. PREPARE TO DEFEND GENUINE BIBLICAL CHRISTIANTY
1. TRINITARIAN MONOTHEISM
2. FULL HUMANITY OF CHRIST
3. PERSONAL NATURE OF GOD
B. UNDERSTAND CCS
1. BASIC NON-MATERIALST WORLDVIEW
2. SUBJECTIVE INTERPRETION OF SCRIPTURE
C. GENTLY UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE M.B. EDDY
1. HER FOUNDATIONAL DISC-OVERY OF DIVINE SECRET
2. HER CONTINUED ILLNESS
3. HER "DEATH" & BURIAL
4. HER SUBJECTIVE, NON-UNIVERSAL INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
D. DEMONSTRATE THE ABSURDITY OF THE NON-MATERIALIST WORLDVIEW UPON WHICH THE WHOLE CCS IS BUILT
--SCIENTOLOGY--
I. CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL (CSI)
II. FOUNDER: L.RON HUBBARD (1911-1986)
III. HEADQUARTERS
A. LOS ANGELES, CA
B. CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
C. 2K CENTERS WW IN 130 COUNTRIES
D. 100 CENTERS U.S.
IV. CURRENT LEADERS
A. DAVID MISCAVIGE, CA (1960-)
B. HEBER C. JENTZSCH, FL(1935-)
V. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
A. 8 MIL ACCUMULATIVE PARTICIPANTS WW SINCE 1954
B. 640K ANNUAL PARTICIPANTS WW
C. 50K ACTIVE MEMBERS WW
D. 8-10K ACTIVE MEMBERS U.S.
E. 13K STAFF WW
VI. ORG'S ASSOCIATED WITH CSI
A. APPLIED SCHOLASTICS
B. ASSOC FOR BETTER LIVING & EDUCATION (ABLE)
C. CITIZENS COMMISION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
D. CONCERNED BUSM'EN AMERICA
E. HUBBARD DIANETICS CENTERS
F. NARCONON & CRIMINON
G. RELIGIONS TECHNOLOGY CNTR
H. STERLING MNGMT SYSTEMS
I. THE WAY TO HAPPINESS
J. THE SEA ORGANIZATION
VII. PUBLISHING ORG'S
A. NEW ERA PUBLICATIONS
B. INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE PUB'S
VIII. KEY PUBLICATIONS
A. DIANETICS: THE MODERN SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH (1950, HUBBARD)
B. WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? (1978, CSI STAFF)
C. MAGAZINES (6.6MIL TOTAL CIRC)
1. SOURCE 3. AUDITOR
2. ADVANCE 4. FREEDOM *
IX. HUBBARD HISTORY
A. 1911, BORN IN NE TO NAVY OFF.
B. 1920'S, INTRODUCED TO EASTERN PHIL & REL IN ASIA
C. CAREER SCI-FI AUTHOR
D. INFLUENCED BY JACK PARSON'S BLACK MAGICK CULT IN CALIF & FREUDIAN PSYCHOANALYSIS
E. 1950, WROTE DIANETICS
F. 1954, FOUNDED CSI
G. LED RECLUSE LIFE AT SEA
H. 1986, ADV TO HIGHER PLANE
X. CSI TERMS
A. ANALYTICAL MIND: CONSCIOUS, RATIONAL
B. AUDITING: COUNSELING SESSION USING DIANETIC TECHNI-QUES & E-METER TO READ ENGRAMS
C. AUDITOR: LEADS AUDITING
D. CLEAR: LIBERATED FROM ALL ENGRAMS
E. DIANETICS: METHOD FOR ELIMINATING ENGRAMS
F. ELECTROPSYCHOMETER: MEASURES ENGRAMS IN AUDITING
G. ENGRAM: UNCONSCIOUS MENTAL IMAGE STORED IN REACTIVE MIND THAT HAS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON LIFE
H. M.E.S.T: MATTER, ENERGY, SPACE & TIME OF PHYSICAL UNIVERSE THAT HOLD THATEN CAPTIVE
I. PRECLEAR: AUDITING PERSON
J. REACTIVE MIND:UNCONSCIOUS MIND
K. THETAN: IMMORTAL HUMAN SOUL, THE TRUE TIMELESS SELF
L. OPERATING THETAN BRIDGE (OT LEVEL-BRIDGE): THE STATUS OF ONE PAST CLEAR
XI. KEY BELIEFS
A. HUBBARD'S WRITINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY AUTHORITATIVE
B. "GOD" IS A VAGUE PANTHEISTIC PRINCIPLE OF INFINITY
C. IMMORTAL MAN IS …
1. MIND: ALL EXPERIENCES FROM PAST LIVES & PRESENT LIFE
2. BODY
3. THETAN: SOUL
D. MAN'S PROBLEM IS STORED ENGRAMS IN REACTIVE MIND WHICH PREVENTS HAPPINESS, REALIZATION OF DIETY & USE OF ANALYTICAL MIND
E. SOLUTION IS AUDITING TO ELIMINATE ENGRAMS (1K/HR)
F. ULTIMATE GOAL IS ABSORPTION WITH THE INFINITE BY LIBERA-TION FROM M.E.S.T.
G. ONE WHO HAS REACHED STATEOF TRANSCENDENTAL NEAR PERFECTION IS SAID TO BE AN O.T.
XII. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. PREPARE TO DEFEND GENUINE CHRISTIANITY
B. UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN HUBBARD
C. DEMONSTRATE CSI INCOMPATI-BILITY WITH GEN CHRISTIANITY FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT WANT TO SUPPLIMENT CHRISTIANITY WITH CSI
1. DIFFERENT IDEA OF GOD
2. DIFFERENT UNIVERSE (MATTER NOT EVIL)
3. NO REINCARNATION OF THETAN
4. DIFFERENT PROBLEM: SIN VS. STORED ENGRAMS
5. DIFFERENT SOLUTION: CHRIST & REPENTANCE VS. AUDITING
6. DIFFERENT GOAL: ETERNAL BODILY PRESENCE WITH GOD, NOT LIBERATION FROM M.E.S.T. & ABSORPTION WITH "INFINITE"
D. DEMONSTRATE SUPERIORITY OF CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW VS. CSI WORLD VIEW
--UNIFICATION CHURCH--
I. HOLY SPIRIT ASSOCIATION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF WORLD CHRISTIANITY (MOONIES)
II. FOUNDER: KOREAN BORN, REV. SUN MYUNG MOON (1920--)
A. 1936 EASTER, HAD REVELATION THAT HE HAD BEEN CHOSEN TO COMPLETE JESUS' UNFULFILLED MISSION
B. 1948, BECAME INDEPENDENT PREACHER IN KOREA
C. 1972, MOVED TO U.S.
D. 1982, IRS CONVICTION
E. TITLES
1. "LORD OF THE 2ND ADVENT"
2. "FATHER"
3. "TRUE PARENT(S)"
4. "MESSIAH"
III. MBRS: 2 MM, 150 COUNTRIES
IV. MBRS U.S: 30-50,000
V. INTERNATIONAL HEADQUATERS IN NEW YORK CITY, NY
VI. UNIFICATION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
VII. PUBLICATIONS:
A. UNIFICATION NEWS
B. TODAY'S WORLD
C. C.A.R.P. MONTHLY
D. WASHINGTON TIMES
E. INSIGHT
F. THE WORLD AND I
VIII.SCRIPTURE: HOLY BIBLE INTERPRETED BY DIVINE PRINCIPLE (MOON'S CHIEF WORK)
IX. THREE CORE THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
A. ON THE WORLD: CREATION
1. DIVIDED INTO 2 EXPRESSIONS FROM 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD
a. INNER, INVISIBLE, FEMININE
b. OUTER, VISIBLE, MASCULINE
2. PURPOSE OF CREATION IS TO EXPERIENCE JOY THAT COMES IN LOVING
B. MAN'S PROBLEM: THE FALL & JESUS INCOMPLETE MISSION
1. ADAM-EVE DID NOT REALIZE GOD'S PURPOSE
2. ADAM & EVE FELL BY ADULTERY WITH SATAN
3. JESUS FAILED TO MARRY & SO CAN ONLY OFFER SPIRITUAL SALVATION
C. SALVATION: RESTORATION
1. REV. MOON OFFERS COMPLETE SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL SALVATION BECAUSE HE HAS MARRIED
2. MAN PARTICIPATES IN RESTORATION BY ALIGNING WITH MESSIAH (MOON)
3. ALIGNMENT ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH PROCESS OF-INDEMNITY & PREPARATION FOR ENTERING RESTORED KINGDOM
a. SACRIFICIAL WORK
b. ABSOLUTE CELIBACY
4. MEMBERS MATCHED BY MOON & MARRIED BY "TRUE PARENTS" (SACREMENT OF SALVATION)
X. OTHER BELIEFS
A. ON GOD: ONLY ONE PERSON WITH 2 CHARACTERISTICS (POS/NEG & MALE/FEMALE)
B. ON JESUS CHRIST
1. A PERFECT MAN
2. FAITHFUL TO GOD
3. ATTAINED DEITY
4. NOT EQUAL TO GOD
5. HIS MISSION INCLUDED MARRIAGE TO FULLY RESTORE MANKIND TO GOD
6. FAILED TO MARRY, SO FAILED TO FULLY RESTORE
C. ON ETERNITY: ALL MEN WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME DIVINE IN AN EARTHLY KINGDOM OF GOD
XI. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. PREPARE TO DEFEND GENUINE BIBLICAL CHRISTIANTY
1. TRINITARIAN MONOTHEISM
2. ETERNAL DIETY OF SON
3. WORK OF CHRIST COMPLETE
B. UNDERSTAND UNIFICATIONISM
C. GENTLY UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN REV. MOON
1. HIS FOUNDATIONAL VISIONS
2. HIS PERSONAL MORALITY
3. HIS PLAN OF SALVATION
--UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM--
I. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOC
II. ALMOST ENTIRELY N. AMERICAN RELIGIOUS GROUP
III. MEMBERSHIP
A. UUA OFFICIALLY REPORTED: 205K WW
B. SELF-DESCRIBED (based on polling data): 502K U.S.
C. CONGREGATIONS: 1,036 WW
D. CANADA: 10K
E. MASS: 34K REG UU IN 145 CHS
IV. HISTORY
A. ROOTED IN 16TH CENT ANTI-TRINITARIAN RADICAL REFORMER, FAUSTUS SOCINUS
B. ENGLISH UNITARIANISM, 1650
C. AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOC FOUNDED 1825, W.E. CHANNING
D. 1850, R.W.EMERSON'S TRANSCE-NDENTALISM & REL PLURALISM MOVED MERE "UNITARIANISM" TOWARD UNIVERSAL RELISM
E. 1948, MASS UNIVERSALIST CONV REDEFINED "UNIVERSALISM" TO MEAN "UNIVERSAL WORLD REL"
F. 1961, MERGER BETWEEN AM UNIT ASSOC & MASS UNIV CONV
V. BELIEFS (GEN NON-CREEDAL) BUT, AFFIRM . . .
A. UNIVERSAL WORLD RELIGION OR PLURALISM
B. RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
C. RELIGIOUS SKEPTICISM
D. PERFECTABILITY OF MANKIND
E. CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY
F. GOD IS AUTHOR OF REASON & RELIGION
G. WORTH OF ALL INDIVIUALS
H. EQUALITY IN RELATIONSHIPS
I. FREE SEARCH FOR TRUTH & MEANING
J. PROMOTE HUMANISM & SOCIAL ACTIVISM
K. NEO-PAGANISM IS PERMITTED
L. HISTORICALLY, NON-EVANGELISTIC BUT PRESENTLY, VERY PROMOTIONAL (GROWING 4%/YR)
M. DEFINE GOD DIFFERENTLY
1. UNITARIAN MONOTHEISM
2. PANTHEISM
3. PANENTHEISM
4. DEISM
VI. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. PREPARE TO DEFEND KEY GENUINE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
1. RELIABILITY & AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURES
2. UNIQUENESS OF THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD
3. NECESSITY OF FAITH & GRACE
4. EXCLUSIVITY OF CHRISTIANITY
5. DEMONSTRATE REASON-ABLENESS OF CHRISTIANITY
B. UNDERMINE FLAWED DOCTRINE
--INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES--
--OF CHRIST--
I. ICOC A.K.A.
A. INT'L CHURCH OF CHRIST
B. BOSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST
C. BOSTON MOVEMENT
II. FOUNDER & PRESENT LEADER: KIP McKEAN (1954--)
III. CHURCH ELDERS: KIP McKEAN, BOB GEMPEL, AL BAIRD
IV. WORLD HEADQUARTERS: LOS ANGELES, CA
V. MEMBERSHIP: 175K WW, 333 CHS,140 COUNTRIES
VI. PUBLICATIONS
A. DISCIPLESHIP PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, (DPI)
B. UPSIDE DOWN MAGAZINE
C. KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK(KNN)
VII. ICOC MINISTRIES
A. HOPE FOR CHILDREN (ADOPTION)
B. KINGDOM KIDS
C. HOPE WORLDWIDE
D. RADICAL CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND
VIII. ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS IN N. AMERICA FROM 1 CHURCH WITH 30 MEMBERS IN 1979, TO 175K IN ATTENDANCE IN 333 CHURCHES IN 140 COUNTRIES
IX. HISTORY
A. McKEAN WAS CAMPUS MINISTER FOR CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN PENN & ILL IN THE LATE 70'S
B. 1979, McKEAN WENT TO LEXINGTON, MASS TO SERVE AS CAMPUS & PULPIT MINISTER OF CONGREGATION OF 29. THIS WAS BEGINNING OF "RESTORA-TION" OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
C. DEVELOPED "KEY" OR "PILLAR" PLAN FOR DISCIPLESHIP & CHURCH GROWTH IN LEX, MASS
D. MOTHER CHURCH IN LEXINGTON PLANTED CHURCHES IN LON-DON, CHICAGO, NY, TORONTO & MOSCOW
E. 1983, McKEAN'S CHURCH BEGAN TO MEET IN BOSTON OPERA HOUSE & CHANGED NAME TO BOSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST
F. 1988, McKEAN'S HOME CHURCH (CROSSROADS COC IN GAINSVILLE, FLA), BROKE FELLOWSHIP WITH McKEAN
G. 1991, INCORPORATED ICOC & MOVED HEADQUARTERS TO LA
X. ICOC IS PRIMARILY A CAMPUS RELATED MOVEMENT
XI. ICOC DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS
A. ON SCRIPTURE
1. HIGH VIEW OF SCRIPTURE
2. ONLY BIBLICAL INTERPRET-ATIONS OF McKEAN AND ICOC ARE PERMITTED
B. ON SALVATION
1. SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE IS REJECTED
2. ONLY TRUE DISCIPLES ARE TRUE CHRISTIANS. TRUE DISCIPLES "MUST" PRACTICE…
a. TOTAL SELF-DENIAL
b. BAPTISM 4 REMISSION OF SINS
c. ACCEPTANCE OF PERSECUTION
d. TITHING
e. UNQUESTIONED LOYALTY TO ICOC CHURCH AUTHORITY
f. SUBMISSION TO A "DISCIPLER. ALL NEW CONVERTS OR PROS-PECTS MUST CONFESS ALL KNOWN SIN TO THEM, SPEAK DAILY WITH THEM & SUBMIT ALL MAJOR DECSIONS TO THEM
g. FAILURE TO PRACTICE ANY OF THE ABOVE PUTS ONE IN DANGER OF LOSING SALVATION
3. SALVATION MAY BE LOST
C. ON BAPTISM
1. LIKE ALL COCs, BAPTISM BY IMMERSION FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS IN COC CHURCH IS A PREREQUISITE FOR SALVATION, BUT…
2. THE ICOC REQUIRES ABOVE BAPTISM EXCLUSIVELY IN AN ICOC CHURCH FOR SALVATION
3. THUS, NECESSARILY, ONLY ICOC MEMBERS ARE SAVED
XII. EVANGELISTIC STRATEGY
A. PREPARE TO UNDERSTAND ICOC DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES
B. PREPARE TO DEFEND GENUINE CHRISTIANITY
1. SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE
2. BAPTISM AS A CONCRETE SYMBOL OF A SPIRITUAL EVENT (REPENTANCE & REGENERATION)
3. GENUINE BELIEVERS WALK IN THE STREAM OF OBEDIENT DISCIPLE-SHIP TO CHRIST AS EVIDENCE OF ETERNAL REGENERATION, NOT AS A PRECONDITION TO IT
4. GENUINE DISCIPLES PERSEVER TO THE END BECAUSE THEY ARE PRESERVED BY THE POWER OF GOD
5. LOYALTY TO THE LORD HIMSELF & SCRIPTURE ALONE SUPER-CEDE ANY LOYALTY TO AN INSTITUTION OR PERSONALITY
C. PRACTICE LOVE & MINISTRY ESP
TO THOSE WHO MAY BE VERY HURT BY AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LEGALISM & HYPER- AUTHORITARIANISM OF ICOC, & OFFER GENUINE GOSPEL OF GRACE & FAITH ALONE
D. WATCH FOR THIS MOVEMENT ON OR NEAR UNIVERSITY CAMPI