The Four Major Cults: Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Seventh-Day Adventism

Rating:
Summary: A major work worth your careful consideration!
Review: Anthony Hoekema was a brilliant theologian. I would caution other readers not to readily dismiss this book or any other simply because one reads things dissimilar to one's prior understanding. Hoekema points out that cults so often have leaders (groups or individuals) who are elevated to a level of unquestioned authority based on supposed private or exclusive revelation from God concerning salvation and other critically important concerns. Members aren't encouraged to , and are often disuaded from thinking for themselves...after all they don't operate on the same spiritual plane as their more enlightened leaders, or so they're told. God's grace becomes all but non-existent, Christ's righteousness imputed to believers is either forgotten, denied or downplayed, and legalistic obedience to LAW (commandment keeping to ensure salvation, etc.) fills the void.
God used this book to bring me out of my association with the unbiblical cult of
the Jehovah's Witnesses over twenty-five years ago. Read this book. Check out Hoekema's references and determine what is true by comparing the teachings of these groups with that of inspired Scripture. Think for yourself!

Rating:
Summary: Hardly cults...
Review: Clearly biased. I was presented this book by a pastor when I'd mentioned to him my attendance of a Seventh-Day Adventist church. This book, along with people's misunderstandings perpetuate the idea of Adventism being classified among these other movements. While Adventism most distinguishes itself among other denominations, its foundation is the very same as other Protestant churches. Perhaps this is overlooked because all four of these churches arose during the same time period and differ to varying degrees from the traditional Sunday church.
To call any of these organizations a cult is a far cry from the truth, however Adventists are clearly Christian and not cultists. A better view of cults are Koresh or that Taiwanese movement in Texas that believed in boarding UFOs.
I gave this book a three due to its unfounded conclusions but offered a comprehensive introduction. Perhaps this book might come in hand to those interested in apologetics?

Rating:
Summary: Hardly cults...
Review: Clearly biased. I was presented this book by a pastor when I'd mentioned to him my attendance of a Seventh-Day Adventist church. This book, along with people's misunderstandings perpetuate the idea of Adventism being classified among these other movements. While Adventism most distinguishes itself among other denominations, its foundation is the very same as other Protestant churches. Perhaps this is overlooked because all four of these churches arose during the same time period and differ to varying degrees from the traditional Sunday church.
To call any of these organizations a cult is a far cry from the truth, however Adventists are clearly Christian and not cultists. A better view of cults are Koresh or that Taiwanese movement in Texas that believed in boarding UFOs.
I gave this book a three due to its unfounded conclusions but offered a comprehensive introduction. Perhaps this book might come in hand to those interested in apologetics?

Rating:
Summary: Wrong from the first use of the word "cult" and descriptions
Review: My first inclination upon finding this book here on Amazon was to just refer the reader to the book "Are Mormons Christians?" by Stephen E. Robinson, ISBN 088494784X, and available here on Amazon. But I quickly changed my mind because the type of bigoted, intolerant, uninformed people who bash other people's religion wouldn't read it, let alone purchase it. I hope I'm wrong. I hope you will purchase it, and read it with an open mind. However, I will quote or paraphrase some points in the book for those who will at least read this much to see how wrong this "cult" book is.

The following are a few points from the book "Are Mormons Christians?" They are counter points to just a few of one critic's ten characteristics of cults:

There are no objective criteria for distinguishing cults from religions. By checking synonym finders, dictionaries, and thesauri one can quickly see that the terms "cult", "sect", "denomination", and "religion" are synonymous; completely interchangeable.

The term "cult" does not describe what a religion is; only that it is regarded as "a religion that I don't like." Any objective definition of "cult" applied to any sect can also be applied to the Christian church of the New Testament and to most of today's mainline denominations when they were in their infancy. The Jews were just as incensed at the Christian's additions to God's word in the period of the early Church as anti-Mormon critics are at the Book of Mormon (and others) today. From the viewpoint of the Jews and Romans both the movement of John the Baptist and that of Jesus were "cults".

"Cults" have been accused of having a system of doctrine and practice which is in some state of flux. Christianity has, of course, held many councils to determine or to clarify its doctrines and policies, from the Council of Nicaea to the Second Vatican Council. All of these councils settled questions neither asked nor answered in the Bible. Many sects of the Protestant persuasion have argued for centuries over these points of doctrines. This is one way, along with persecution of those who disagree with whichever sect is in power, that we get all the Protestant sects.

Now, before you "Christian" intolerants check "no", this review wasn't helpful to you, stop and think. It is either helpful to you for a better understanding of name-calling used by bigots, or you are stating that you think dictionary definitions and historical facts are wrong. If you still check "No", then please leave a review stating that you have read the book and why you think it is wrong, and what evidence you have that makes you think it's wrong, and why you think it's OK to call other people names just because they think differently. Please, don't "review" the book "Are Mormons Christians" without reading it, or mark "No", it wasn't helpful without seriously considering what kind of person that makes you out to be. And please don't do as so many religious bigots do and not give your name. That says something about you also.


Rating:
Summary: One Of The Few Correct Cult Books
Review: The author has done an excellent job, especially in identifying Seventh Day Adventists as a cult. A number of authors on this subject have left them out and at least one has deleted them from his newest editions. The S.D.A. has ALL the earmarks of a cult and I know this first hand. I was a pastor in a small town in California which had a large Adventist population. Like most other Christians, I thought the only difference I had with them was our day of worship. Boy, did I find out otherwise. While one reviewer is technically correct is saying that the S.D.A. church wasn't founded at the time of the Great Disappointment, he is wrong is saying that no "Adventists" were involved. They did take part as followers of William Miller. Ellen Harmon (later White) and her family were dismissed from their Methodist church because of their "strange beliefs", so they were not really Methodists, either. At that time were not observing the Saturday Sabbath. That would not come until Ellen White had one of her "visions" in which she came to the conclusion that the Sabbath must be kept (it never is according to Old Testament regulations and that's because it was intended ONLY for the Jews!). She had this vision so that she and her husband could get the patronage of a wealthy retired sea captain, Joseph Bates . . . and it worked. At a time when most Protestant churches were teaching that the papacy was the mark of the beast, Bates began teaching that the "mark" was Sunday-keeping. Ellen and her husband James jumped on his band-wagon, got his financial support and the Seventh Day Adventists were born.

Also, regarding this book, I was raised a Christian Scientist and my grandfather was the "reader" of a large metropolitan church. I was pleased to see the expose on this group. Even though their numbers have dropped from almost 300,000 in the early 1900 to their current 100,000 they are an insidious cult which appeal to the intellectuals of today. They should be called "Anti-Christian Science Fiction".

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Few Correct Cult Books
Review: The author has done an excellent job, especially in identifying Seventh Day Adventists as a cult. A number of authors on this subject have left them out and at least one has deleted them from his newest editions. The S.D.A. has ALL the earmarks of a cult and I know this first hand. I was a pastor in a small town in California which had a large Adventist population. Like most other Christians, I thought the only difference I had with them was our day of worship. Boy, did I find out otherwise. While one reviewer is technically correct is saying that the S.D.A. church wasn't founded at the time of the Great Disappointment, he is wrong is saying that no "Adventists" were involved. They did take part as followers of William Miller. Ellen Harmon (later White) and her family were dismissed from their Methodist church because of their "strange beliefs", so they were not really Methodists, either. At that time were not observing the Saturday Sabbath. That would not come until Ellen White had one of her "visions" in which she came to the conclusion that the Sabbath must be kept (it never is according to Old Testament regulations and that's because it was intended ONLY for the Jews!). She had this vision so that she and her husband could get the patronage of a wealthy retired sea captain, Joseph Bates . . . and it worked. At a time when most Protestant churches were teaching that the papacy was the mark of the beast, Bates began teaching that the "mark" was Sunday-keeping. Ellen and her husband James jumped on his band-wagon, got his financial support and the Seventh Day Adventists were born.

Also, regarding this book, I was raised a Christian Scientist and my grandfather was the "reader" of a large metropolitan church. I was pleased to see the expose on this group. Even though their numbers have dropped from almost 300,000 in the early 1900 to their current 100,000 they are an insidious cult which appeal to the intellectuals of today. They should be called "Anti-Christian Science Fiction".

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate and mixed up!
Review: This is a book that everyone should read who is likely to come across these groups (and who doesn't?).

It is unusual in that it takes an unaggressive and fair-minded look at the teachings of each group in turn, together with an indication of where they differ from Christianity.

There are also chapters on the general nature of cults and how to approach cult members.

It is the first book I turn to when I wish to read up on these groups.

Rating:
Summary: Another CROCK of DOODY! :)
Review: This is total delusion, and a total waste of time and money.

Rating:
Summary: no title needed
Review: You're not actually reading that garbage are you? People call the SDA a cult simply because we choose the 7th day the sabbath day.

If I had grown up in a cult (all my life) then I would probably killed myself by now. I think to hard about these things. The Adventists follow the Bible, and that's why I'm proud to be one. No one can take away the care and love my parents and my church family as well has given me while I was growing up. I have my own views, and there are times when I question those myself.

Nobody likes to be judged, and I'm one of them. I'm glad you are looking into it, though. I've been told the Seventh Day Adventists were a cult before, at which time I nearly fainted because I've been going to and loving my church for my whole life. The Seventh Day Adventists do so much mission work and donate so much money to good causes for the betterment of third world countries. The thanks they get is a lot of hatred (also stated in the Bible. Jesus said it would happen to his followers)