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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Contemporary non-Christian & para-Christian cults & sects > General
On the morning of November 19, 1978, the bodies of over 900
Americans were found scattered all over a small commune in
northwestern Guyana, South America by the Guyana Defense Force. It
was clear that Jim Jones and his followers had committed what he
called "revolutionary suicide" the night before in the single
greatest loss of civilian life in American history, bested only by
the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Among the dead were over 250
children. How could something that started out with such good
intentions end so badly? If you are already familiar with Jim Jones
and Jonestown, this book is going to be a refresher course and
quick reference guide to the group. It is intended to be a primer,
a springboard towards other research, not an exhaustive book on the
subject.
Interweaving three centuries of transatlantic religious and social
history with historical and present-day ethnography, Luis Nicolau
Pares traces the formation of Candomble, one of the most
influential African-derived religious forms in the African
diaspora, with practitioners today centered in Brazil but also
living in Europe and elsewhere in the Americas. Originally
published in Brazil and not available in English, The Formation of
Candomble reveals cultural changes that have occurred in religious
practices within Africa, as well as those caused by the
displacement of enslaved Africans in the Americas. Departing from
the common assumption that Candomble originated in the Yoruba orixa
(orisha) worship, Pares highlights the critical role of the vodun
religious practices in its formation process. Vodun traditions were
brought by enslaved Africans of Dahomean origin, known as the Jeje
nation in Brazil since the early eighteenth century. The book
concludes with Pares's account of present-day Jeje temples in
Bahia, which serves as the first written record of the oral
traditions and ritual of this particular nation of Candomble.
At first, the Watchtower Society seemed harmless to William J.
Schnell, even valuable as a way to develop his faith in God and
pass it on to others. This book is Schnell's fascinating account of
his involvement with the cult, which effectively enticed him in the
1920s and continues to lure countless individuals today. Readers
will learn, as Schnell did, that the Jehovah's Witness religion he
had joined was anything but innocent. For thirty years he was
enslaved by one of the most totalitarian religions of our day, and
his story of finally becoming free is riveting.
Readers will be alerted to the inner machinations, methods, and
doctrines of the Watchtower Society, arming them to forewarn others
and witness to their Jehovah's Witness friends, relatives,
neighbors, and the stranger at the door. With more than 300,000
copies sold, "30 Years a Watchtower Slave" is truly one of the
classic testimonies of freedom from a powerful cult.
Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, the Evil One... Pick the name and they
all refer to the same thing, or person, or being, or whatever the
Devil is supposed to be. Feared, worshipped or dismissed, the Devil
remains a presence in our world. But who is he? Is evil an essence,
an objective reality? Does Satan rule the world? Is there an
absolute evil set against absolute good, generating all other
evils? Is Satan roaming the earth "seeking whom he may devour?"
What is Satanism? Who are the true worshippers of Satan? Does
demonic possession exist? Were the witches executed during the
Middle Ages really worshippers of Satan? Have people really killed
in the name of Satan? The works of the Devil are an amazing complex
and often frightening puzzle that has been worked on by
theologians, philosophers, psychologists and sociologists for
centuries. The puzzle has never been truly solved but in this
chilling occult book by author Troy Taylor, he'll be taking the
readers on a roller coaster ride into the horror of the belief in -
and works of - the Devil. From a biography of Lucifer to the
history of Hell itself, the book includes black mass and devil
worship, black magic, necromancy, sorcerers, witchcraft, evil
spirits, demonic possession, the Nazis and the Occult, Aleister
Crowley, Anton LaVey, Satanic murders and much more The Devil has
been with us since the beginning of recorded time. Today, we
believe that we have shed the superstitions of pagan times, but
this book will shatter that illusion. Our rational age of science
and reason is marked by a staggering number of tales of
supernatural events, horrific discoveries and nameless horrors that
all have their roots in antiquity - and all of which can be traced
to our belief in the Devil and his evil works. You may think you've
read frightening books by Troy Taylor before, but we promise that
this will be the scariest book you'll read this year
Rizwan Qureshi is from Columbus, Texas, USA. He writes all his
personal knowledge, experiences, and 100 percent true information
about demons, pains, painless diseases, and cancer/infection
insects. He writes pure truth and only those things in this book
and in book 1, whatever he was dealing and experiencing by himself.
His source of knowledge is purely his own experiences with dealing
with supernatural, invisible demons, different kinds of invisible
pains and painless diseases. According to him, cancer is a very
easily treatable and curable disease. As he sees it, thousands of
demons are residing in our houses around us. According to him,
demons cannot perform any physical activity by themselves. He
explains that, by nature, demons are very arrogant and extremely
negative. The author suggested several practical ideas, procedures,
and theories for common people and medical and modern science on
how they can learn and handle demons, pains, painless diseases, and
insects responsible for cancer by themselves. The author is 100
percent sure that after reading his books, everyone will be aware
and will be able to control the invisible parallel world around
them. In this book, he writes clear instructions for individuals on
how they can communicate and interact with the demons around them,
how to make demons around them their friends, and how to ask demons
to do some stuff for them. Author describes in detail how much
stuff we can expect our demon friends to do for us. Author writes
very clear and very easy instructions for an individual once
someone decides to learn how to communicate with demons. He advises
everyone to start practicing.
This is the remarkable story of a young woman's harrowing
experience in a religious sect and how she overcame the devastating
effects that sought to take control of her life. August, 1977, Faye
Thomas was the fortunate recipient of a full scholarship to study
abroad in Madrid, Spain. Anticipating the opportunity to soak up
the culture and pursue her studies, Faye was unprepared for the two
years of manipulation and mind control forced upon her and dozens
of other women caught in the deceptive and destructive web of the
Children of God. Today, many young adults will be introduced to
religious cults. Cult members approach their victim by highlighting
the supposed attributes of their organization, such as communal
living, shared financial responsibilities and the freedom to
dedicate one's life one hundred per cent to God by dropping out of
school or society. Written from personal experience, this book will
empower ex-cult members as they work to rebuild their life while
educating the Christian believer to have a greater awareness of the
signs of cultic activity within a religious organization.
Compelling, informative, and thoughtfully written, The Children of
God is a must read for anyone in need of a guiding light.
Publisher's website: http: //sbpra.com/FayeThomas
Based on a true story. This book is written to expose a church that
elicits wrongful acts among its congregation: the House of Prayer
in Atlanta, Georgia. It gives graphic and horrifying details of the
realities of life inside a cult. The House of Prayer made headline
news in 2001. Several networks, stations and people got involved
which included but not limited to Dateline NBC, CNN, Fox News,
Atlanta Journal Constitution, BBC, People Magazine, Bryant Gumbel,
Bill O'Reilly, Sally Jessy Raphael and Nancy Grace.
Since its first publication in 1623, no alchemic tract has been
more widely read than The Hermeticum Arcanum, and no other has been
so often reprinted, in Latin, German, French and English - to
include a preface by William Wynn Westcott in this edition -
Help for Cult Survivors and the People Who Care About Them
There are 3000 to 5000 cults in the US alone, with millions of
members. Those who become disenchanted and leave often experience
profound distress. The Leave the Cult Handbook offers solace,
insight, and practical guidance to former members and their
families. It also provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings
of cult-like groups and how they affect followers for anyone
wanting to know.
What's In the Book? Readers find chapters on cult characteristics,
cult leaders, assessing whether their group was a cult, evaluating
losses and gains, and moving forward. A free, downloadable Workbook
comes with the package, providing readers a chance to process their
own journey and use the links to resources.
What Readers Are Saying on Amazon "With sensitivity and
compassion, the author brings one through the self-misgivings that
accompany the decision to sever affiliation with an organization
that is no longer providing emotional, psychological and spiritual
happiness. Having made her own way through the healing process and
counseled others through the same journey, the author is able to
concisely lay out a process for restoring one's faith in life and
oneself such that wellness can be regained in the most expedient
manner possible. I found it very helpful." -- Mary Goodyear
"Very insightful, great book for parents, friends or anyone who is
in a group and wondering if they are in a "high demand group." --
Samuel Bradshaw
"This is a wonderful handbook, and I only wish it had been
available when I left a cult and struggled through much what the
author describes on my own. I hope others find this when they need
it, and that they use this guide as they listen to their own inner
wisdom to build and rebuild their lives outside of a cult." -- Anni
Gardner
About the Author Hiyaguha Cohen spent 23 years inside of an
Eastern cult before making the difficult decision to leave. She
since pursued a doctorate in human development and professional
coaching and wrote her doctoral dissertation on helping survivors
of cults. She has written this book with an insider's eye. Dr.
Cohen lives in Hawaii and writes engaging books that help people.
CHECKMATE means it's over - you are lost, without hope. When
playing chess, one must observe the rules of play. Why is Checkmate
... the only book of its kind? The rules In "Bible Chess" the rules
of play (the context rule and the harmony rule) are the referees
that keep the players from "moving the king more than one space at
a time." The goal of Checkmate ... is for your opponents to see the
conflict between what they have been taught and the truth of God's
Word. Are you willing to take God at His Word? "In 40 years of
speaking with Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses," Dave says, "I never
found one who believed John 1:3 - All things were made by him Jesus
Christ]; and without him was not any thing made that was made. All
things would include matter and Michael the Archangel. One cannot
believe in a false god or a false Jesus and have true salvation.
Jesus said, I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your
sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins
(John 8:24). A missionary since 1982 with Macedonia World Baptist
Missions, Inc., Braselton, Georgia, Dave Weeks founded Baptist
World Cult Evangelism (BWCE) in 1994. BWCE is a helps ministry to
reach the unreached, who are knocking at your door, with the true
Jesus of the Bible, the Eternal Son of God.
Mitt Romney's run for President of the United States created
enormous interest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. In spite of enormous media focus during the so-called
Mormon Moment, coverage was often shallow and misleading, even from
the LDS Church. Few reporters dug deep enough to deal with the
evidence that the Mormon Church is in a deep crisis, not only
because of members leaving but because of increasing proof of lies,
fraud, false teaching, and criminality at the start of Mormonism.
James Beverley tells the Mormon story as few can. He has studied
Mormonism for over 35 years and has consulted frequently with other
experts on Mormonism, both LDS and outside the LDS Church. His
research trips to Utah have included interaction with polygamous
Mormons, major LDS scholars, and the Attorney General of the State
of Utah. Mormon Crisis deals with major issues about Joseph Smith,
the first LDS prophet, provides sustained critique of Mormon
Scripture, examines flaws in the LDS understanding of Church
leadership, and probes unique doctrines and practices, including
the secret temple ceremonies. The book offers a serious indictment
of the current LDS belief system but also a way out of the current
crisis facing one of Americas most famous and controversial
religions.
This book is the testimony of a former Mason. Someone who was once
deceived by the false and unbiblical teachings of Freemasonry.
Great insights of the Masonic lodge are provided with biblical
perspectives.
After many years of silence, Mahaleyah Goodman dares to reveal the
shocking facts about a community she lived in for over twenty
years. The internationally renowned community called the African
Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem has been shrouded in mystery from
the very first day they arrived in Israel. The world will finally
discover the disturbing truth about a major cult residing in
Israel, right in plain sight.... Mahaleyah's autobiography weaves a
fantastic tale of innocence, betrayal, and sacrifice, as she opens
our eyes to the secret agenda of one of this century's most
diabolical cult leaders. You will share this writer's most tender
moments as a child and daughter... Then witness her transformation
into a mindless cult follower. The eyes of Israel have been
deceived, but not for long. When the real truth hits the fan, you
can honestly say, you read it here first...
The Cult Around the Corner is dedicated to bringing reason,
understanding and open communication to an often explosive subject:
the involvement of oneself, a friend or loved one in a group that
might be called a "cult."
This is the story of a young man who was raised as a Jehovah's
Witness, seemingly destined to spend the rest of his life following
the instruction of God's 'Spirit Directed Organisation'. He soon
came to discover however, that things were not as they had first
seemed. Following a patch of doubt and subsequent in-depth
investigation into the religion, the young man began to realise
that the things he had previously accepted without question no
longer made sense. His eyes were opened to the various powerful
methods that were, and still are being used to control the minds of
the faith's followers. The story contained within these pages
describes the author's life, from his upbringing as a Jehovah's
Witness, his struggles along the way, and the challenges he faced
as he tried to break free. His extensive research into the
religion's history is also documented, including apparent accounts
of questionable teachings and manipulative methodologies.
This book is the true account of how I gave my life to a cruel and
criminally insane cult leader, and how I was miraculously able to
take it back and emerge a stronger and more compassionate person.
Escape is the first book that tells an insider's story of daily
life ruled by a psychopathic cult leader. The book shows how easy
it is to become brainwashed by a charismatic personality into
thinking that torture, starvation, and complete isolation are
essential to a spiritual life. It is also a cautionary tale for the
parents and family members of anyone belonging to a cult, and for
people recovering from cults, extreme religions, or abusive
relationships.
This research explored how identity transitions are accomplished
when individuals experience distress in relationship to the social
systems in which they are embedded. Study participants grew up in
cultic groups, where they were parented by committed members.
Twenty-two people who chose to leave or were ejected from 12 groups
provided low point, high point, and turning point stories for an
exploratory narrative analysis. Life story narratives revealed a
jarring disconnect between what participants were expected to
believe and become and how they experienced themselves. The
research interviews provided richly textured data about the
experience of growing up cult, the process of leaving, and what
helped or hindered as participants navigated new social contexts. A
categorical content analysis showed that participants experienced
pressure and a sense of isolation. Adverse events such as neglect,
abuse, and violence were reported. Many experienced the loss of
family and friends as the exit cost for leaving. The research
showed that a crystallization of discontent motivated participants
to leave despite resource deficits and considerable uncertainty.
During the process of constructing identities more congruent with
an emerging sense of self, participants rejected worldviews
inculcated during childhood. Results challenge theories that
situate identity negotiation as a stage-specific dilemma that
occurs during adolescence. The analysis indicates that exposure to
diverse views and role models; exploration of personal truth and
experimentation; and skill development in critical thinking and
reality testing were important to successful adaptation. A key
finding suggests that existing therapeutic approaches grounded in
cult education and recovery from abuse would benefit from a
complementary focus on identity development.
A book that questions whether the current activities and practices
in the Osho International Ashram in Pune, India are what Osho would
really sanction today.
The first critical treatment of Scientology that seeks to identify
and correct what is wrong with it rather than to merely expose or
advocate against the subject. A handbook for former, current and
prospective members. The book can help to heal any damage done by
misuse while rehabilitating any positives derived from Scientology.
The book also serves to proof up an individual against being harmed
by misapplication of Scientology in the future. As the first
simple, accurate description of the philosophy from its
introductory to its most advanced levels, the book will inform
those interested in Scientology as no other available work has.
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