| Author |
Message |
Free2dance
Registered user
Username: Free2dance
Post Number: 670
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - 2:30 pm: |     |
Here is some more meat to chew on from this book. It is a WONDERFUL description of why it is SO HARD to pin down the problems with Adventism when talking to a member who says, "We don't teach that anymore!". It also helps to explain why ultimately, most large cults are mainly known for their life-styles rather than their unorthodox teachings. It explains the double-talk and morphing in a wonderful way. Here you go!
"The origins and history of the cults help explain some of the things we encounter in them. The better we understand them, the more likely it will be that we can communicate with those involved in them. Keep in mind that, as with any generalities, there are always exceptions to that which follows.
The cults have generally sprung up around powerful and overwhelming personalities. They rarely are grassroots, popular movements. Without Mary Baker Eddy, there would be no Christian Science. Jehovah's Witnesses owe their existence to Charles Taze Russell. Elizabeth Clare Prophet and David Koresh are sources of personality cults in our day.
In addition, if a cult is to survive after it's founders death, he or she must inevitably leave behind some authoritative writings. Such writings also need interpretation by authority figures, for the average cult member has little to say about the direction of the cult. Cults are virtually always maintained "from the top down"...
"...There is little new under the sun. Many cults are simply rehearsing heresies condemned long ago. Of course, to understand a heresy means that one must also know what the original orthodoxy is. An understanding of Hinduism helps understand Hare Krishna. Knowing something of both Islamic and Eastern religious thought helps to understand Baha'is...
"...An authoritative structure also is needed as the cult's new way of living develops. Someone must be able to interpret writings, supervise life together, and maintain the community as the founder had intended. The community cannot sustain itself with an "anything goes" attitude. With some cults, the inner structure is quite rigid; with others, it is a bit more moderate. It must always, however, develop an inner discipline to hold the community together in a tight-knit way.
This inner structure maintains a sense of closeness and "orthodoxy" and helps the fellowship clarify any truth that may seem obscure. If the cult survives many years, new interpretations of the founder's teachings will be needed. A rather rigid authoritarianism and set mode of transferring authority must then emerge. Provisions are made in this way for continuing the original message with any necessary modifications to accommodate the message to new situations. An "orthodox belief system" becomes established. Patterns of life become regimented. A system of initiating new members into the cult develops.
In this way commitments eventually are made more to a rigidly established set of teachings and life-styles rather than to the originating authority figure. Yet these developments and interpretations retain their point of reference in the original founder and his/her writings. Such developments may lead on occasion to division and separation within the group. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is an example. It separated from the Salt Lake City community of Mormons over teachings that Mormon leaders developed after the death of Joseph Smith.
The development of "orthodoxy," calling for more and more detailed formulations of doctrine, becomes deeply encrusted with meanings unique to the cult. This, in turn, becomes the origin of the double-talk we have mentioned already. This refinement of the cultic position, perhaps already begun by the founder, leads to an increasingly unique sage of words and ideas. By this time the cult may be on its way to becoming a new world religion-- as seems to be the case with the Latter Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses."
(Message edited by Free2dance on February 27, 2013) |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 8096
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - 6:23 pm: | |
And there again, Adventism is not mentioned, although it is just as much of a cult as Mormon or JW. Its really makes me wonder why it has gone on so long by and large un-noticed.
Perhaps because they don't go door to door as much as Mormon and JW? Could it be that simple?
River |
Free2dance
Registered user
Username: Free2dance
Post Number: 676
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2013 - 4:01 pm: | |
I think if this guy knew Adventism he wouldn't hesitate to call it a cult. I think that a majority of Christians let Walter Martin do all the thinking for them and I believe that is the problem. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 14306
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2013 - 9:56 pm: | |
I think you're right, Free2dance. Before Walter Martin, Christians generally considered Adventism a cult.
Those are amazing descriptions. They most certainly do describe Adventism!
Colleen |
Leonie
Registered user
Username: Leonie
Post Number: 65
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2013 - 10:31 am: | |
Those photos you linked to are horrible! And I remember how shocked I was by them, since I saw them right after the massacre of 79 persons in Norway on July 22.nd the same summer....
Simply tasteless and poor judgement to expose children to that kind of impressions! |
Punababe808
Registered user
Username: Punababe808
Post Number: 320
Registered: 4-2012
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2013 - 6:03 pm: | |
How do i get the brochure "10 Questions And Answers "? |
Mjcmcook
Registered user
Username: Mjcmcook
Post Number: 985
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2013 - 8:18 pm: | |
Punababe808~
Here is the web address~
http://www.rose-publishing.com
When you reach the site click on Pamphlets
Then click on Cults and Religions
Scroll down until the "10 Questions and Answers" comes up.
~mj~ |
Mjcmcook
Registered user
Username: Mjcmcook
Post Number: 990
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, March 02, 2013 - 10:22 pm: | |
Punababe808~
Have you had the opportunity to check out the link to Rose Publishing Co.
that I posted above?
~mj~ |
Gcfrankie
Registered user
Username: Gcfrankie
Post Number: 921
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2013 - 12:07 pm: | |
I think the reason the sda is no longer classified as a cult lies in the book by Martin who was worked over by the GC people and after the book was published this gave the sda the chance to come out of the dark into the light. In the 50+yrs since they have come out they have learned christian language to convince others they are christian when they are not and this is how they get people sucked in.
I live in a small town and when I have tried to talk to some of the pastors their attitude is we are all in the same town and need to get along. In a church I attended for a couple of years after coming out of sda I offered to give a book by Dale about the sda to the pastor and his answer to me was thanks but not thanks as he already has too many books to read. I just walked away shaking my head because the bible tells us to warn others about false teachings.
I am now in another church and in the Pastors bible study and before I say anything I ask him to correct me if I am off base because sometimes I doubt myself as to whether it is from the bible or egw. |
Punababe808
Registered user
Username: Punababe808
Post Number: 322
Registered: 4-2012
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2013 - 5:32 pm: | |
Dear MJ, not yet. I have to drive eleven miles to the nearest computer. I use my dumb phone to read on here and my dumb phone doesn't open windows. But, when i go into town next i plan on stopping at the library to look that up. Do they have a phone number? I could then call. Thank-you |
Mjcmcook
Registered user
Username: Mjcmcook
Post Number: 1002
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2013 - 9:09 pm: | |
Punababe808~
Rose Publishing Company phone # (310)353-2100
Address~ 4733 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, Ca 90503
The first ISBN code is, ISBN-13:978-159636-422-6
The second ISBN code is, ISBN-10: 159636-422-X
I hope this helps!
~mj~ |
Mjcmcook
Registered user
Username: Mjcmcook
Post Number: 1004
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Friday, March 08, 2013 - 2:25 pm: | |
Punababe808~
Have you had the opportunity to either call (using the phone number I provided) Rose Publishing Co.
or perhaps write to the Co. or, get the information you want "online"?
~mj~ |
