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158 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

"CULT"

From Latin: to care for or adore

"CULT" meaning in the Roman world

giving reverence to a diety

"CULT" in today's usage

Problem of definition:



- Theological definition


- Sociological definition


- Popular media's definition

How do we define "Cult"? (Quotes)

"If you believe in it, it is a religion or perhaps 'the' religion; And if you do not care one way or another about it, it is a sect; But if you fear and hate it, it is a cult"



Also look at quotes from:


-Robert Bowman


-Stark & Bainbridge


-Hexham

How do we define "Cult"?

A small, recently created religious organization, which is often headed by a single charismatic leader and is viewed as a spiritually innovative group.



-So a cult may simply be a new religious movement on its way to becoming a denomination

How do we define "Sect"?

"A religious body in a relatively high state of tension with their environment but which remains within the conventional religious traditions of their country."



-Stark

Types of religious organizations

- Established Churches



- Sects or denominations



- Ethnic religions



- NRMs

Two types of NRMs

1. World-rejecting



2. World-affirming

World-rejecting NRMs Characteristics

- Apocalyptic expectation



- Separation from society



- Subordination of self



- Highly authoritarian

World-affirming NRMs Characteristics

- Lack developed theology



- Focus on individual improvement

Other terms for "Cult"

- Alternative religious movement



- Emergent religion



- Faith group

Christianity Today 1990 editorial called for evangelical Christians to stop using the term "Cult", Why?

- Spirit of fair plays says we should refer to groups as they refer to themselves



-Unwise to use disparaging terms for people we hope to evangelize

The Church of Wells: Sociological features of the group that are cult-like

-Exclusivity



-Isolation of members from family/outsiders



-Promise of special knowledge



-Strict obedience to leaders



-Dress Code

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Early Church

- Christianity itself begins as a new, dangerous, controversial cult (suffered 3 cent. of persecution)



- Early struggles over "true" vs. "false" Christianity (I.e. what is orthodoxy)

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Orthodoxy

- Ortho = right, true, straight



- Doxy = thinking, praise



- Heresy = teaching that is contrary to established, orthodox belief


(Heresy in early Christianity included Arianism, Gnostic Christianity, and Montanism)

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Medieval Church

- Heretics include Albigenses, Waldensians, Lollards, and Hussites



- Formal split between roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches over theological differences

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Protestant Reformation

- Protestants denounced by Catholics as heretics



- Catholics denounced by Protestants



- Radical Protestants (e.g. Anabaptists) denounced by everyone as heretics



- Christianity divided over differences in theology, organization, practice, etc.

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Puritan New England

- Puritans established Massachusetts Bay Colony as part of their quest for religious liberty



+ Refuse to extend religious liberty to those who disagree with them



+ E.g. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchison



- Arrest, torture, execute, and expel Quakers and other "heretics"



+ Quakerism = capital crime in 1658

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Anne Hutchison

- Put on trial for undermining order of society



-She relies on scripture and tradition like everyone else, but she also relies on RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE, which is something that was not tangible to the outside community



+ Religious experience takes a long time to become accepted as a valid practice, explanation, and common to the Christian community.

A Brief Overview of Christianity and Heresy:



Enlightenment Era

- Increased acceptance of idea of freedom of religion and individual conscience



+ Still, Shakers and others beaten and kicked out of town in New England



+ Baptist jailed and beaten in Virginia



William Miller



(19th-century America)

- Baptist preacher living in western NY in 1820s and 30s



- Began to predict the return of Christ



- Would happen in 1843, he argued

William Miller's Prediction



(19th-century America)

- Based on literal and creative reading of Daniel and Revelation



- When Jesus didn't show up, he recalculated



- Set new date for 1844



- "The Great Disappointment"

What group emerged out of William Miller's followers?



(19th-Century America)

Seventh-Day Adventists

Seventh-Day Adventists



(19th-century America)

- Ellen White = young girl who had vision of Adventists moving towards New Jerusalem



- Ellen White became the leader of the movement



- The group had a special focus on proper diet and healthy living



- The group had a strong apocalyptic emphasis

The Shakers



(19th-century America)

- Began in England and moved to NY in late 1700s



- Led by Mother Ann Lee



- Taught that perfection was possible

Utopian communities - Oneida Community



(19th Century America)

- Founded by John Noyes in 1848 in NY



- He argues that the return of Christ has already happened



- Believes that we left on earth are Saints



+ Need to Celebrate because this is like heaven on earth



- Remembered for silverwork



- "Complex marriage"



+ Every man is married to every woman



+ Discouraged making kids

Utopian communities - Brook Farm



(19th century America)

- Transcendentalist influence



- Utopian communities provided escape from modern world and traditional restrictions



-Folded in 1846, but followed by Fruitlands

Utopian communities - The Rappites



(19th century America)

- A.k.a. The Harmony Society



- Founded by Johann Georg Rapp



-Embraced celibacy

Fourierists



(19th Century America)

- Charles Fourier



- coined the term "feminist"

Owenists



(19th Century America)

- Robert Owen



- anti-Christian but was a spiritualist (ability to communicate with other worldly spirits and the dead)

Which areas had the most NRMs?



Which areas had the fewest NRMs?

- The North East had the majority of the NRMs



- The south had very few NRMs

The Theosophical Society



(19th Century America)

- Founded in NYC, 1875



- Established International Headquarters in Avdar, Indai 1879



- The Theosphical Society in America is a non-profit membership organization



-110 branches and study centers around the country

The Theosophical Society: Helen Blavatsky



(19th century America)

- Russian Noble



- World traveler



- Medium and truth seeker



- Founded theosophy

The Theosophical Society: Colonel Olcott



(19th Century America)

- Co-founder of theosophy



- Civil war veteran



- Lawyer



- Agriculture Specialist



- Army investigator

Spiritualism



(19th century America)

- The Fox Sisters



- 1848 - sisters begin to interpret strange rapping sounds in house



- 1888 - one sister sells story of how they faked it



- Whole thing became big in the US after the Civil war particularly

Time period of the The Mormons beginnings

19th century America

The Mormons founder

- Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith

- Born in Vermont in 1805


- Moved to NY at 10



- Claimed to start receiving revelations from God in his 20s



- Founded Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) -- aka The Mormons

What book did Joseph Smith Publish?

the Book of Mormon in 1830

Was Joseph Smith Persecuted and if so by whom?

Faced persecution from larger society

What did Joseph Smith believe was the "Promise Land"?

The West

Did Joseph Smith face persecution as he kept moving west?

Yes

What did Joseph Smith do in Nauvoo, IL?

- Established a colony for his followers



- Created his own little army to defend the settlement

Did Smith run for president?

yes

How many women did Smith marry?

50 women

What did Smith do as he continued West?

created his theology



picked up followers along the way

What did Smith Reinstitute?

OT practices



- Polygamy

What eventually happened to Smith?

Jailed and murdered by a mob

Who replaced Smith?

Brigham Young

What did Brigham Young do after replacing Smith?

Continued moving west



Settled in Great Salt Lake basin in Utah

What did Brigham Young see America as?

the New Jerusalem

Mormonism's Four-fold cannon Consists of what four points?

1. The Bible



2. The Book of Mormon



3. The Pearl of Great Price



4. Doctrines and Covenants (Open to additions and changes)

What movement and time period does The Kingdom of Matthias center around?

Calvinism and the Second Great Awakening

John Calvin brought ___________ to ______________.

Reformation



Geneva, Switzerland

After bringing Reformation to Geneva, Switzerland, what did he do there?

Imposed strict order and discipline

Predestination

5 points of Calvinism



TULIP

What was the counterpoint to Calvinism?

Arminianism

Who is the main proponent for Arminianism and what does he emphasize through it?

Jacob Arminius



Emphasis on free will

Charles Grandison Finney was a key figure in what?

Lawyer who converted to calvinism in 1821



Became a revivalist and started using "new measures"



Key Figure in The 2nd Great Awakening

When do UFOlogical moments begin to emerge and why?

Post WWII



Space race, nuclear arms race, and holocaust combine to:



-increase people's pessimism about human future



-fule people's fascination with idea of extraterrestrial life

5 Examples of UFOlogical Movements

1. Unarius Science Academy


2. Aetherius Society


3. Raelians


4. Share International


5. Scientology (to some extent)

When and where was the Unarius Science Academy founded?

- Est. 1945



- Escondido, California

Who founded the Unarius Science Academy?

Ernest L Norman



&



Ruth E. Norman

How did the Unarius Science Academy get started?

Ernest Norman receives "channeled" messages from higher-intelligence beings who exist on different plane



- The Voice of Venus, etc.



- Receives communications from Mal-Car of Venus who takes him on tour of Venus



- Humans = descendants of aliens from Mars

When Ernest Norman dies in 1971 who assumes leadership?

Ruth E. Norman

Ruth E. Norman and two ____________ continue to receive communications.

"Sub-channels"

What was Ruth E. Norman's name changed to?

URIEL



Universal Radiant Infinite Eternal Light

What are the Unarius Science Academy's beliefs?

- All souls are psychic



- We are born with greater intelligence



- Reincarnation


+ countless past lives


+Self-healing


+ Psychic Amnesia

Who founded the Aetherius Society and when?

Founded by George King in London in 1995

What did George King claim to have encountered?

An extraterrestrial being named Aetherius

Who is Aetherius?

A Cosmic Master who wanted to enlighten lesser worlds



Loud voice told him: "Prepare yourself! You are to become the voice of Interplanetary Parliament."

George King got a mysteriously visited by a _______ 8 days after __________.

Yogi Master



receiving his message

What did George King do after receiving his visit and after being visited by a Yogi master mysteriously?

Left old life behind an became a channel for higher beings



Lectured extensively and built a following

Two Key Aetherius Principles

1. Service to Humanity



- healing, education, etc. through manipulation of kundalini, primary life force



2. Radiation of "spiritual energies" back to Mother Earth



- To repay for the energy humans have sapped from earth over ages

What is kundalini?

Primary life force

Writings of the Aetherius Society

The 12 Blessings



- A cosmic concepts that expands one's consciousness to the higher aspects of creation



- Teaches prayers are not limited to Earth but reach out to other stars and planets.



Printed into a book, aka the book of prayers....

Holy Mountains in the Aetherius Society

Operation Darklight



- King was instructed to visit mountains around the globe in the late '50s



- Mountains were considered to be charged power centers - spiritual batteries


Teachings of the Aetherius Society

Purpose of the society: to create a path for the next cosmic master coming (don't know who or what it will look like)



George King is given Divine Status



Society is here with a mission to heal mother earth



the manipulations of Karma would evolve mankind



The power of the cosmic master is available to everyone (this energy is what will evolve the Human Race and save humanity)

Who is the leader of the Raclian Movement?

Claude Vorilhon



-born september 30, 1946



-singer/songwriter and sports car journalist

Claud Vorihon

Contacted in 1974 by Eloha, a visitor from another planet



-Member of the Elohim



-Changed his name to Rael



-became a messenger of Elohim



-Wrote Extraterrestrials Took Me to Their Planet

What is the message of the Raclian Movement?

Life on earth is not the result of random evolution, nor the work of a supernatural God



Humans were deliberately created by the extra-terrestrials using advanced technology and DNA



After creation the Elohim left humanity to progress on its own but sent prophets to keep us on the right track (Mohammed, Moses, Buddah)

What is the Embassy in the Raclian Movement?

We are now mature enough the Elohim want to be in official contact with us



Contact only made possible through an embassy



They won't come until we build it

What are Raelian beliefs?

Sexual Self Determination



- "Rael's Girls"



+ Support prostitution

What is Clonaid in the Raelian Movement?

Founded in 1997



In 2002 claimed a baby, Eve, was the first human ever cloned



We will create a new race, just like Elohim created us

What is the Happiness Academy in The Raelian Movement?

"Be happy for no reason"

What are Awakening Seminars in the Raelian Movement?

Rael travels the world holding conferences

Share International is a member of ___________.

Member of Aetherius Society 1957-1959

Share International has been _______ and ________ since 1974.

Speaking



Writing

Share International believe in 1982 that:

"Christ is now here"



Day of Declaration didn't happen

Share International believes that UFO's __________

make crop circles, give us energy directly from the sun

Where are Share International's headquarters?

Amsterdam

Who is Maitreya?

"The World Teacher" - Messiah for all religions

Maitreya is at the _______ of his group of the ____________.

Head



Masters of Wisdom

Share International believes that Maitreya seeks to establish what on earth and wants humankind to do what?

Perfect civilization



"Share and save the world"

Share International believes that Maitreya gives humankind what in order to recognize him?

Gives Creme mental messages and hints about how to recognize him

Share International believes that Maitreya descended from where?

Descended from Himalayas in 1977

Share International believes that Maitreyas is currently where?

Currently in India-Pakistani community in London

Share International believes that Maitreya is emerging _________ in order to not infringe on humanity's __________.

Emerging slowly to not infringe on humanity's free will

Share International believes that Maitreya caused major changes like:

Fall of the Soviet Union



Environmentalism



Etc.

Share International believes that in 1988, in Nairobi, Kenya, Maitreya was responsible for:

Healing springs of water



Weeping and Bleeding Statues



Healing crosses of Light



Divine Messages inscribed by seeds inside fruits and vegetables

Share International believes that on the "Day of Declaration" what will happen?

Maitreya will speak on TV - world will hear in their minds



Energy of love will enter our hearts



Hundreds of thousands of hearings will happen

In January 2010, Share International made statements that Maitreya would soon do what?

Maitreya would soon show his face on a well known program on a major network



- First of many appearances, watch by millions (approx. 10-14 million)

Who is Raj Patel?

British born American journalist and social justice advocate


What are the two pieces that Raj Patel has written?

"Stuffed and Starved: the Hidden Battle for the World Food System"



"The Value of Nothing"

On January 12, 2010, what popular TV show did Raj Patel appear on and how did the Share International followers respond?

Appeared on The Colbert Report



Followers took Creme's remarks and see Patel as Maitreya -- He denies that he is

Who is the Founder of The Church of Scientology?

L. Ron Hubbard

What book is L. Ron Hubbard well known for writing and what does he say about it?

"Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" (1950)



Most important discoveries in human history:


1. Fire


2. Dianetics


3. The wheel


4. The arch

What does L. Ron Hubbard believe Dianetics did?

Unlocked keys to achieving optimal state of wellbeing, or "clear"

When was the First Church of Scientology started?

1953

What is "Thetan" and where did it come from?

A life energy force that lives in us all



+We have forgotten our true nature



Thetans came from space and got trapped in MEST (matter, energy, space, and time)

L. Ron Hubbard says that Negative experiences of pain leave ____________.

Enegrams

What are "enegrams"?

The building up of enegrams leads to physical and psychological illness

L. Ron Hubbard states that the therapy for enegrams is called __________.

Auditing

What does Hubbard say the goal of auditing is and what does it do?

Goal = come to realize our true identity



Over come painful experiences from past lives



Can also produce both mental and physical healing

What are E-meters used for?

E-meters are used to help relieve these painful experiences

What are the levels that Hubbard says in "The Master" (2012) that we progress through?

Operating Thetan Levels:



- Pre-clear



- Clear



- Operating Thetan

Progressing through OT (Operating Thetan) levels gives you greater mastery over what?

Greater mastery over the MEST universe.



(Matter, energy, space, and time)

The Church of Scientology holds these four specific controversial beliefs:

- Reject approaches to mental health other than Dianetics



- Death of Lisa McPherson in '95



- Charges of physical, mental, and financial abuse



- Conflict with IRS - denied tax-exempt status from 1967-1993

What are the six Radical and fringe Christian movements of the 20th century?

- The Jesus Movement



- Family of God



- The Way



- Alamo Christian Foundation



- Concerned Christians



- The Local Church

Radical Christianity in the 1960s/70s brought about what movements, social changes, and terms?

Evangelical revival movement


+1967 on the West Coast (primarily in Cali.)



Other independent communities pop up



Terms such as "Jesus People" or "Jesus Freaks"

What is the Hollywood Free Paper, What Christian movement is it affiliated with, Who Funded it, How large was it's reach, and what terms did they coin?

A paper used as an Evangelism Tool



The Jesus People USA



Funded by Duane Pederson



Circulation - 500,000 at one point



Coined the terms "Jesus People" and "Jesus Freaks"

When and where did the Jesus Movement Grow and Decline?

Growth = "Explo" 1972 - Dallas, Texas



Decline = started in late 1970s, early 80s during Nixon's resignation, end of Vietnam, etc

What were four of the more extreme movements that emerged out of this more radical Christianity found in the Jesus Movement?

- The Jesus People



- The Way International



- The Alamo Christianity Foundation



- Concerned Christians

Part of a larger Jesus Movement of the 1960s/70s, the Jesus People (JPUSA) is classified as ____________ Christianity.

Counter-Culture Christianity

JPUSA beliefs include:

Evangelistic



Apocalyptic



Pre-Millennial

JPUSA practices include:

Exuberant Prayer Meetings



Ocean Baptisms



Introduced new style of Christian music

Who founded The Children of God (now know as The Family International) and when and where was it founded?

Founder = David "Moses" Berg



Founded in = California in 1968

The Children of God (The Family International) beliefs are in line with _________ _________, to some degree.

in line with CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANITY

The most committed members of The Children of God (The Family International) live how?

They live communally

What is "Litnessing"?

Witnessing but with literature

The Children of God's (The Family International's) controversial practices include:

The "Law of Love"



"Flirty Fishing"


+ "Jesus babies"



Spirit Helpers



Keys of the Kingdom

What is the "Law of Love"

Love supersedes any other biblical law



- So if you are doing something out of love that is normally unlawful it now becomes lawful because of the Love driven intentions

What is "Flirty Fishing"?

Female members of the group were encouraged to go pick up guys in public places (bars, etc.), bring them back to the commune, have sex with them, and try to integrate them into the community

What are "Jesus Babies"?

Children born out of this free love mentality

What are "Spirit Helpers"?

Beings who are able to help us in the spiritual warfare that we were engaged with on a daily basis (names of angels, departed humans, or even mythological figures)

What is the idea of "Loving Jesus in The Children of God (The family International) movement?

As a woman you are supposed to visualize as you are having sex, being (having sex with) with Jesus



As a man you were supposed to visualize yourself as a woman having sex with Jesus

Who was the founder of "The Way" Christian movement?

Victor Wierwille

The Way began as a __________ ___________ in 1942.

Radio Broadcast

What did Victor Wierwille hear?

Heard audible voice of God saying that through him the Word would be proclaimed in a way it hadn't since 1st Century.

Founder, Victor Wierwille visited Haight-Ashbur in '68 and what happened?

he attracted many new followers

What Christian belief does The Way reject?

Rejects the Trinity

What type of a Christology does The Way maintain?

Arian Christology

Influenced by Pentecostalism, The Way accepts what practice?

Accepts speaking in tongues

The Way views original sin as what?

Lesbianism

What is the practice of "Love bombing" used by The Way?

a practice that popularized finding people who have some kind of need in their life and showering them with love and embrace



Through this process you hall create bonds and bring them into your friend groups in an effort to get that person to join the group

Who were the founders of The Alamo-Christian Foundation?

Tony & Susan Alamo in 1969

What was the Alamo-Christian Foundation latter called?

Music Square Church

Members of The Alamo-Christian Foundation took vows of ___________.

Poverty

Who founded Concerned Christians?

Founded by Monte Kim Miller in 1980s as an anti-cult group concerned about rise of New Age thinking

What type of characteristics did the anti-cult group, the Concerned Christians, begin to take on?

Began to take on cult-like characteristics itself when he announced that he was God's spokes man

What were two of Monte Kim Miller's predictions?

1. Predicted that an earthquake would wipe Denver off the map



2. Predicted that he, himself, would die in 1999 in Jerusalem then would be resurrected 3 days later

In 1998 about 80 members of his group mysteriously ________ from their homes?

Disappeared



- A few months later they all turned up in Jerusalem

What happened to the 80 members that that all turned up in Jerusalem after disappearing from their homes in 1998?

They were deported for allegedly planning to blow up a mosque as part of their "Operation Walk on Water" to bring about Second coming

Where are the remaining followers of the Concerned Christians?

Now in Greece and Philly

Who founded The Local Church Movement?

Founded by Witness Lee, disciple of Watchman Nee in China

What is The Local Church Movement know to insiders as?

"The Lord's Recovery"

What did Lee claim to receive from God?

Revelations



- Only one true church per city

True or False: There is Debate on whether to call The Local Church Movement a "cult" or not>

True