Page 1 Cults of America – Kevin Lewis Introduction to the Study of Cults: Part I I. CLASSIFICATION OF CULTIC STUDIES IN THE THEOLOGICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT 1. Polemical & Elenchtic Theology a. A polemic is an attack on another theological system. b. Elenchtic theology is a confutation or logical refutation leading toward a positive statement. 2. Heresiology a. Heresiology focuses on identifying and explaining false doctrine. b. It is often included as a component of elenchtic theology. 3. Philosophical Theology a. Philosophical theology uses philosophical methodology and categories to develop or analyze theological ideas. b. Philosophical theology often includes discussions of natural theology in addition to its analysis of orthodox and heretical theology. 4. Contemporary Theology a. Contemporary theology examines contemporary theological movements and systems. b. Examples of these movements would include discussions of Neo-Orthodoxy, Emergent Theology, Liberation Theology, and Feminist Theology. 5. Apologetics a. Apologetics is assigned the task of vindicating the Christian system of truth—in all of its essential dogmas—against the attacks of false philosophy and science. b. As a distinct discipline, Christian Apologetics is often difficult to place in the theological encyclopedia. c. Some place it in exegetical theology, some in dogmatics, some in practical theology, and some place it as an adjunct to systematic theology. d. Some would add the subdivision of Christian Evidences to Apologetics. Page 2 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 2 II. BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION TO THE CULTS A. SCRIPTURES RELATED TO THE STUDY OF CULTS 1. Since spiritual wolves seek to devour the sheep, good shepherds must protect the flock. 2. There is a Biblical mandate to oppose and refute false doctrine. a. The Warnings of Jesus (1) Matt. 7:15-23: Against false prophets who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing (2) Matt. 24:23-24 False Prophets b. The Warnings of the Apostle Paul (1) Acts 20:28-31 “savage wolves among the flock” (2) II Cor. 11:3-5, 13-15 “another Jesus, a different Spirit, and a different gospel” (3) Gal. 1:6-9 “a different gospel” (4) Gal 2:4 “false brethren” (5) I Tim. 1:3-7 “men teaching strange doctrines” c. The Warnings of the Apostle Peter (1) II Peter 2:1-3 “false teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies” (2) II Pet.3:16-17 “Untaught and unstable twist Scripture” d. A Mandate for Christian Teachers (1) II Tim. 4:2-3 “Preach the Word…for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2) Titus 1:9-11 “able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” e. Related Scriptures (1) Matthew 12:25 (2) II Corinthians 4:3-4 (3) II Thessalonians 2:9-12 (4) II Timothy 2:24-26 (5) II Timothy 3:1-5, 12-13 (6) II Timothy 4:1-8 (7) I Peter 3:15 (8) II Peter 3:14-17 (9) Jude 3 Page 3 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 3 B. DEALING WITH FALSE TEACHERS IN THE CHURCH 1. Identify the false teacher by name. (II Tim 1-4) 2. Tell the church publicly what the false teachers are saying (II Tim 2:16-18) 3. Publicly refute their false teaching. (Titus 1:9) 4. Do what you are able to prevent them from spreading their heresy. (Titus 1:10-11; II John 9-11) C. PUBLICLY EXPOSING V . PRIVATELY REBUKING THE FALSE TEACHER ? 1. Matthew 18:15-17--Private Rebuking Personal Sin 2. Galatians 2:11-14--Public Rebuking False Teaching Page 4 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 4 III. CLASSIFICATION OF THEOLOGIES & GROUPS A. THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES OF COUNTER -CULT APOLOGETICS & HERESIOLOGY 1. Philosophical Apologists tend to focus on issues and groups outside the church, such as attacking atheism and skepticism. Most Christians support this kind of activity. 2. Polemical Theologians and Counter-Cult Apologists tend to focus on issues and groups inside the church. Many Christians believe this is unbiblically divisive. B. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS : HERESY & ORTHODOXY 1. A Primary Reason for Doctrinal Development a. Doctrine is often developed and clarified when heretics challenge the orthodox understanding of a particular teaching. b. This theological attack forces orthodox Christians to be more precise in our doctrinal formulation. 2. Definition of the word “Heresy” a. The English word “heresy” is derived from the Greek word hairesis which means: (1) A “choice” (Lev. 22:18, 21, LXX); (2) A sect or party that holds distinctive doctrines (I Cor. 11:19; Gal. 5:20); (3) Or a false doctrine that is destructive and divisive (II Pet. 2:1). 1 3. Two Kinds of Heresy & Heretics a. Material Heresy: Material heresy is a false belief held in ignorance. b. Formal Heresy: Formal heresy is “a deliberate denial of revealed truth coupled with the acceptance of error.” 2 This definition comports with the definition of heresy in II Pet. 2:1- 3. 1 W. R. M. Farrer, "Heresy," in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1984), 508. This work will subsequently be referred to as EDT. 2 Ibid., 508. Page 5 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 5 4. The Limits of Heresy a. The charge of heresy is limited to the essentials or dogmas of the Christian system considered in the analysis. b. In the beginnings of Christianity, the word “heresy” was employed to mean a separation or split resulting from a false faith (1 Cor. 11:19; Gal. 5:20). c. Thus, heresy did not refer to simply any doctrinal disagreement, but to doctrines and parties that rejected the essence of Christianity. 3 5. Orthodoxy a. The English word “orthodoxy” comes from the Greek word orthodoxia (from orthos, “right,” and doxa, “belief” or “opinion”) and means right belief, as opposed to heresy. 4 b. The importance of orthodoxy increased simultaneously with the rise of heresies, beginning with Gnosticism and then later increasing in importance when the several Trinitarian and Christological errors arose. c. If true Christianity were to be preserved, then a strict “rule of faith” (regula fidei) was required. This “rule of faith” defining the essentials of the faith was found in the ecumenical creeds, such as the the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, and the Apostles’ Creed. 6. The Role of Councils and Creeds a. The Development of the Creeds (1) The word “creed” is derived from the Latin credo, which means “I believe.” (2) An important reason for the development of creeds was that Christians wanted to be able to express their faith briefly and succinctly, but not imprecisely or inaccurately. These short declarations of the faith eventually became “creeds.” (3) The creeds were often used as catechetical (instructional) tools for new believers. Assent to a short creed was usually required for converts before baptism. (4) The creeds were formed for the purpose of informing prospective converts regarding the essential truths of Christianity. (5) Another reason for developing the creeds was to have a Rule of faith to combat doctrinal error in the church. This was the most powerful reason for developing creeds in the early church. b. Church Councils (1) A church council is a conference called by the leaders of the church to give guidance to the church. (a) A council can be ecumenical, representing the entire Christian church. (b) or it can be regional, representing the local area. (2) Two of the most influential ecumenical councils are the Council of Nicea (AD 325) and the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451). 3 Harold O. J. Brown, Heresies, (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1984), 2-3. Italics mine. 4 J. I. Packer, "Orthodoxy,” in EDT, 808. Page 6 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 6 IV. FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH A. INTRODUCTION 1. One of the primary purposes for identifying fundamental Christian doctrines is to provide a foundation for genuine Christian unity. 2. Another purpose for the discussion is to provide a basis for discussing orthodoxy and heresy. B. DEFINITION OF TERMS COMMONLY EMPLOYED IN THE DISCUSSION 1. Essence & Essential (essentia) a. Essence is the whatness or quiddity of a thing. b. It is the properties or qualities that make a thing or being precisely what it is and not something else. c. As an applied definition, the essentials of Christianity are those doctrines that make Christianity “Christian” and not something else. 2. Fundamental Articles (articuli fundamentales) a. Fundamental articles are those doctrines without which Christianity cannot exist and the integrity of which is necessary to the preservation of the faith. 5 b. These doctrines should be distinguished from secondary or logically derivative doctrines. 3. Nonfundamental Articles (articuli non-fundamentales) a. Nonfundamental articles are doctrines the denial of which does not endanger salvation. b. These doctrines are grounded in Scripture and, if correctly stated and understood, are edifying to the church. 6 4. Adiaphora 7 a. Adiaphora are issues over which one may be indifferent. b. Differences of opinion are permitted on these matters as long as they do not become an obstacle to preaching the Gospel and true doctrine. c. Genuine adiaphora are neither commanded nor forbidden by the Scriptures. d. Adiaphora usually fall into the domain of practices, not of substantive doctrines. e. Scriptural References Related to Adiaphora (1) I Cor. 8:1-9:23 (2) Gal. 2:3-5 (3) Gal. 5:13-15 (4) Col. 2:16-23 5 DLGTT, 45. 6 Ibid., 46. 7 Ibid., 25-26. Page 7 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 7 C. EXCESSIVE & DEFECTIVE APPROACHES TO FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES 1. The Error of Excess a. This error occurs when a group or system identifies doctrines as fundamental, when they are not, in fact, fundamental doctrines. b. Example: Roman Catholicism (1) Unum Sanctum (1302): Boniface 8 th (Papal Bull) “We declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” 2. The Error of Defect a. This error occurs when a group or system fails to include a genuine fundamental article in its articles of faith. b. Example: Unitarian-Universalism Here, Justification of the sinner is by “death alone.” Repentance and faith in Christ is not required. D. MINIMALIST APPROACHES 1. Introduction a. A minimalist methodology attempts to reduce the number of required items to the smallest number possible. b. Practically considered, setting a minimal number of doctrines helps to determine a clear line of demarcation for inclusion or exclusion in the system 2. Types of Theological Minimalism a. Salvific Minimalism (1) Here the question is: What are the minimal number of doctrines that must be understood for one to be able to be saved? (2) Scriptures: (a) Luke 23:39-43 (b) Acts 2:14-42 (c) Acts 10:34-48 (3) Application b. Systemic Minimalism (1) Here the question is: Which doctrines identify Christianity as a complete and distinct religion? (2) For example, how is Christianity, as a system, distinguished from Judaism, Islam, Unitarianism, and Deism? (3) Application Page 8 Cults of America Introduction: Part I Page 8 E. PRACTICAL APPLICATION : PRIMARY , SECONDARY &TERTIARY DOCTRINE 1. Primary Doctrines (Fundamental or Essential) a. Definition (1) See the above discussion of minimalism. (2) One may use this category to determine a genuine Christian church or system. b. Examples (1) Authority of Scripture (2) Trinity & the Person of Christ (3) Creation of Man & Sin (4) Vicarious Satisfaction (Atonement) (5) Bodily Resurrection of Christ (6) Salvation by Grace through Faith (7) Miracles (8) Which doctrines are logically connected to the essential doctrines? Cults of America – Kevin Lewis Introduction to the Study of Cults: Part II I. TAXONOMY OF RELIGION A.. CHURCH,, DENOMINATION,, SECT & CULT Term Sociological Definition Theological Definition Church An established religion which is the dominant institutional religion of a society. The universal church is that group of orthodox believers, as opposed to heretics, which are united in a common identity of origin, essential doctrine, purpose, and lordship. 1 Denomination “A structurally independent institutional and sociological organization within a larger religious tradition, usually holding an interpretation of the religion distinctive in certain particulars . . .” 2 “In a denominational society, a number of parallel denominations comprise the great majority and represent the society’s established religion.” 3 “Denominations are associations of congregations. . .that have a common heritage. . . . A denominational heritage normally includes doctrinal or experiential or organizational emphases and also includes common ethnicity, language, social class, and geographical origin.” 4 Sect “a religious body, esp. one that has separated from a larger denomination.” 5 “Within the Christian tradition, the sect constitutes a distinctive, persisting and separately organized group of believers who reject the established religious authorities, but who claim to adhere to the authentic elements of the faith.” 6 Thus, the term “sect” can refer to genuinely Christian groups that “have distanced themselves from churches, and to some degree the predominant culture they represent, in order to emphasize one or more beliefs or practices they feel have been lost.” 7 Cult “Cults are defined as religious organizations that tend to be outside the mainstream of the dominant religious forms of any given society.” 8 “A cult . . . is any religious group which differs significantly in some one or more respects as to belief or practice, from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture.” 9 “A cult of Christianity is a group of people claiming to be Christian, who embrace a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible.” 10 1 Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 2 II. THEOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS OF CULTS A.. PREFERRED THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION 1. A cult of Christianity is a group of people, claiming to be Christian, who embrace a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central (essential) doctrines of the Christian faith, as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible (Gomes, Unmasking the Cults, 7). 2. Key Elements of the Definition a. A cult of Christianity b. is a group of people, c. claiming to be Christian, d. who embrace a particular doctrinal system e. taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, f. which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) g. one or more of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, h. as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 3 III. THEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTS A.. DOCTRINE IS THE ESSENTIAL ISSUE 1. Be careful in applying these characteristics. 2. Not all are equally serious. a. Denial of the Trinity is far worse than. . . b. Fixation with end times 3. Some traits are found in genuinely Christian groups a. Some Charismatic groups tend to emphasize experience over doctrine (1) Slain in the Spirit/Holy Laughter/Barking in the spirit (2) This trait can lead to more serious errors (i.e., Copeland: Denial of the Trinity, Born Again Jesus, et al.) b. Snake Handlers (Mark 16:18) do not necessarily deny any essential doctrine. B.. THE COMMON THEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTS 1. Denial of the Trinity a. What is the Doctrine of the Trinity? (1) See Trinity Syllabus 2. Denial of Salvation by Grace Through Faith a. Usually connected with the devaluation of the work of Christ 3. Devaluation of the Work of Christ 4. Denial of the Bodily Resurrection 5. Reduction of the Absolute Authority of Scripture a. One must do this if you are going to teach false doctrine; you must place something in authority over the Scriptures. b. Ways to Reduce the Authority of Scripture If you were a cult leader and wanted to reduce the authority of Scripture, what would you do? (1) Add Books to the Canon while claiming the Bible (old light) contains errors and is unreliable: Mormons Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 4 (2) Purposely Mistranslate the Scriptures (a) If you don’t like what it says, change the text itself (b) The Bible is authoritative, but you have changed it, placing the editor over Scripture (c) JW NWT (d) Mormon “Inspired” Version (3) Claim Revelation Knowledge as a guide for biblical interpretation (4) Others? 6. Redefinition of Biblical Terminology 7. Exclusivistic Belief System 8. Compartmentalization of Conflicting Facts 9. Rejection of the Doctrine of Eternal Conscious Punishment 10. Emphasis on Experience Over Doctrine 11. Emphasis on Direct Revelations and Visions from God Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 5 12. Claims of Miracles, Signs, and Wonders 13. Fixation with the End Times 14. Denial of the Priesthood of the Believer 15. Disregard for Sound Hermeneutical Principles 16. Syncretism (& Eclecticism) Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 6 17. Involvement in Spiritism/the Occult a. Magic/Sorcery b. Divination/Fortune Telling c. Spiritism/Necromancy d. Deut 18:9-13 18. Tendency to see Scripture as Alluding to Their Cultic Movement 19. Emphasis on Minor Points of Theology Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 7 IV. SOCIOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS OF CULTS A.. SUGGESTED DEFINITIONS 1. "Cults are defined as religious organizations that tend to be outside the mainstream of the dominant religious forms of any given society" (Enroth). a. Weakness— This definition makes what is and is not cultic relative to culture or "societal." b. According to this definition, orthodox Protestantism would have been a cultic movement during the Reformation, since it was "outside the mainstream of the dominant religious forms [i.e., Roman Catholicism]" at that time. For that matter, even Christianity itself was "outside the mainstream" at its inception! 2. "A cult . . . is any religious group which differs significantly in some one or more respects as to belief or practice, from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture." B.. THE LIMITATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY FOR STUDYING CULTS AND DEFENDING THE FAITH 1. Sociology is descriptive, not prescriptive. 2. Imprecise sociological definitions may be falsely applied to legitimate Christian groups. 3. Sociological factors are subordinate to theological ones. Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 8 C.. SOCIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTS 1. Authoritarianism 2. Psychological Manipulation 3. Stripping of Past Associations 4. Sensory Deprivation 5. Guilt Trips 6. Mental Illness 7. Unusually High Degree of Commitment and Zeal 8. Communal Lifestyle 9. Paranoia or "Persecution Complex" 10. Physical Violence (Occasional) 11. Use of Strong Familial Imagery Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 9 12. Antagonism toward Orthodox Christian Denominations 13. Opposition to Autonomous Thinking 14. Fraud & Deception Cults of America Introduction: Part II Page 10 D.. CULTS & CRIME
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