|
|
Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems > Contemporary non-Christian & para-Christian cults & sects > General
Each year thousands of young people serve as door-to-door witnesses
to spread their "restored gospel." Have you ever wondered what you
would do if the Mormon Missionaries knocked on your door? Do you
know enough to carry on a conversation with them? If not, then this
book is for you. In this second and updated edition, author Janis
Hutchinson goes behind the appearances to examine the Mormon
missionary program, from its unorthodox theological beliefs and
political agenda for America, to its carefully planned strategies
to win converts. The book contains updated statistics, and is
heavily researched and documented with 46 pages of endnotes. "A
researcher's dream " stated one reviewer. It also includes a new
chapter not found in the first edition that describes the LDS
Church's present evangelistic manual, Preach My Gospel, in which it
outlines the missionaries' lesson material, pointing out how it
differs from the 1986 Uniform System for Teaching the Gospel, used
up until 2003. "One of the most impressive aspects of this book,"
another reviewer said, "is the respect that Ms. Hutchinson shows
toward members of the Mormon Church."
The Ghosts from Mama's Club is a fast-moving tell-all story about
escaping from the clutches of a cult. Children molded by a
high-control religious experience are cursed with toxic
residue-ghosts-that make it a challenge, crazy at times, to walk
away unscarred, as adults. This book is a sequel to Growing Up in
Mama's Club, a memoir about the author's sixteen-year experience
growing up as a Jehovah's Witness. Ghosts not only chronicles Mr.
Kelly's unlikely adulthood but the improbable lives of his wife of
forty-eight years and a sister who paid dearly for her
dysfunctional childhood.
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.
What a strange and seemingly contradictory title for the latest
book in the hard-hitting, Pat Regan collection. In this
controversial, no-nonsense attack on fundamentalism Pat Regan
illustrates how the international public has been hoodwinked by the
devious forces of monotheism into blindly accepting alleged truths,
which are in fact nothing of the sort. Myth, Pagan traditions and
the bogus nature of world religions are all dealt with in the
illuminating pages of this book. Even life after death comes within
the exclusive sphere of this revolutionary work. The Devil God's
Best Friend takes us to new heights of spiritual awareness about
Planet Earth, the place we know as our organic home. Pat Regan's
unique Pagan background ensures that he is well-placed to openly
hammer out radical issues, such as the serious likelihood that
Jesus Christ was just a shrewd but extremely fraudulent invention;
created by 1st century myth-makers to promote their sectarian
agenda. The 'Devil' may be in the detail, yet the details are
stripped bare in this ground-breaking work. Also highlighted are
numerous compelling facts, such as how the Bible was a greatly-
adulterated fallacy, expediently finalised during a time when any
old lady living alone was fair game for witch-burning zealots. The
Devil God's Best Friend is an audacious book by a very
controversial author who is never afraid to 'tell it like it is '
This engrossing study will open minds and cut through the fog of
religious propaganda and ambiguity inflicted on humanity by the
self-righteous followers of one-god cults such as Christianity,
Islam and Judaism. The Devil God's Best Friend will potentially
provoke outrage everywhere and bring the fundamentalist lobby out
of the woodwork in droves It will also tell you 'why' the Devil
truly is God's best friend
A major, perhaps the major, focus of early research on New
Religious Movements (NRMs) was on the people who joined. Most of
the field's pioneer researchers were sociologists. However, the
profile of NRM members had changed substantially by the
twenty-first century - changes largely missed because the great
majority of current NRM specialists are not quantitatively
oriented. Sects & Stats aims to overturn the conventional
wisdom by drawing on current quantitative data from two sources:
questionnaire research on select NRMs and relevant national census
data collected by Anglophone countries. Sects & Stats also
makes a strong argument for the use of longitudinal methods in
studying alternative religions. Additionally, through case studies
drawn from the author's own research projects over the years,
readers will be brought into a conversation about some of the
issues involved in how to conduct such research.
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.
As a Mormon, I carried a Bible to church with me for thirty years.
I was told that it had been translated incorrectly. I did not
realize the pearl of greatest price that I had in my hand. The
Bible and Mormon doctrine cannot stand together - one must fall.
When held up against the Bible, Mormon doctrine crumbles. A sure
foundation found only in Jesus Christ emerges. This book will
answer the question - What does the Bible say about Mormon
doctrine? Why can the Bible be trusted? What does the the Bible
teach about prophets and prophecy? What does it say about
priesthood and temples? Who is the God of the Bible? What is the
Trinity? What are covenants? What is the difference between law and
grace? What does the Bible teach about the Church? Most important
of all - What is the Biblical plan of salvation? Are you carrying a
Bible around and don't really know what it says about these
doctrines? If you read this you will realize that you may already
have the pearl of greatest price and not even realize it. Do you
really know the truth?
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.
Life inside the Osho International Ashram in Pune, India. Remember
Bhagwan Rajneesh, the infamous guru with sixteen Rolls Royces, who
set up camp in Oregon, USA? Although he died many years ago, his
cockeyed philosophies live on at his "International Meditation
Resort" in India. Read about a much different ashram experience
than you read about in Eat, Pray, Love (by Elizabeth Gilbert).
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 -
What do divorce, alcoholism, kidnapping, radio evangelism, ancient
prophecies, the collapse of the Soviet Union, church schism and the
Stockholm Syndrome have in common with the music of the Beatles?
The People of he Sign effortlessly weaves these together, proving
once and for all that truth really is far, far stranger than
fiction.
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.
|
|