Teaching Night: Cults, Clans, Sects, & Other Religions

When I was in college I co-hosted a weekly radio show comparing cults, sects and other religions with biblical Christianity.  We did this because most “cults” do not promote themselves as “anti-Christian” or “another religion,” they simply call themselves “Christians” and that can be very confusing.  So we spent our time clarifying who believed what and how that affected their teachings and followers.  People would call in and tell us what classes they were taking, clubs they had joined or what books they were reading and we would tell them if it was harmless or if it was a “cult.” 

For example, most people don’t know that Mormons really believe Satan is Jesus’ misunderstood half brother and they reject many of the core beliefs of the Christian faith, yet they call themselves Christians. Another example is many Karate classes teach kids much more than concentration and physical discipline.  They teach the mystic principles of the cult known as the Moonies or even the “yin and yang” principles of the ancient pagan gods of East Asia.  Yet many parents just drop their kids off to learn how to break bricks, never knowing what indoctrination is going on.  In my time as a host for this show I have amassed a great deal of information on cults, sects and other religions masking themselves as helpful or good. Our next Teaching Night will walk through how to identify these groups within our culture.  Hopefully this whimsical and compelling discussion on who believes what will help you as you give your life away in our culture.  See you there!