Kingdom of the Cults, The

Like his partner, John Warwick Montgomery, Walter Martin was a great apologist, but was naïve about politics and theology. There is a study here of the cults but no mention about the catalyst of their origin. Ravi Zacharias's update is worthless since it fails to correct these defects in the book. The defects are as follows. Walter Martin seems blind to the fact that freemasonry and cabala underlie all of these cult systems. For example, the Lance Owens demonstrated the cabalistic sources Joseph Smith of Mormonism relied upon. Similarly, Bent Corydon and Brian Ambry showed the cabalistic sources L Ron Hubbard of Scientology relied on. A prominent feature of Swedenborg was the cabalistic doctrines he found so fascinating in freemasonry. Yet, these matters are passed over in silence. In fact, it borders on the preposterous. Ellen White's Seventh Day Adventism was drowned in freemasonry. With all due respect to Walter Martin, the book seems to be a mere paraphrase of the 1930's book of Jan Karel Van Baalen `s "The Chaos of the Cults." I don't think it is a case of Cryptomnesia (which is just junk science that lawyers use to defend their clients, along the lines of belated memory syndrome or the twinky defense). Although Dr. Martin did some original research, it wasn't much of an improvement except for the fact that the man himself, Dr. Walter Martin, was an articulate defendant of this apologetic. On one of his tapes, Walter Martin alludes to a possible second Creation regarding the dinosaurs, asserting them as a product of satanic meddling in God's Creation which God had destroyed. This is the so-called Gap Theory which Dr. Martin clearly got from his mentor Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse. This probably was a case of cryptoamnesia. Nevertheless, it too is a serious defect of clear thinking. Walter Martin failed to include three other dangerous cults: Freemasonry, Rabbinical Judaism, the New World Order Cult (which has infiltrated our entire federal government and economic infrastructure - John F. Kennedy alluded to this cult in his speech on secret societies). I recall Walter Martin saying that Roman Catholic countries were impoverished because of Catholicism. Here, his naiveté in politics is evident. He overlooks the role Freemasons and Communists played in bringing about dereliction in these Catholic countries. Even President Fox (2000-2006) of Mexico noted this in his autobiography. Glenn Beck demonstrated that the juwes are employing the Cloward-Piven strategy to bring economic collapse in America. George Soros is clearly involved in this, based on his interviews where he says he wants China to lead the New World Order and undercut the value of the U.S. dollar. Catholicism has nothing to do with it. In fact, Catholics, as shown in the marvelous case of Mother Teresa, have been spending their time and resources rebuilding what the cults (such as Hinduism and Communism) have destroyed. Evangelicals complain that Dr. Martin didn't include Catholicism in his book as a prominent cult, yet not one of the evangelicals considers rabbinical Judaism as a cult. This shows the fractured logic that runs that institution of kooks. Here, Walter Martin seemed blind to the heresy of Scofieldism. Any theologian worth his salt would have included Scofieldism, with its rapture nonsense and glorification of the juwes (in spite of Christ's words to the contrary) as the first chapter in this book. I give the book three stars for its practical value of reaching some of the cultists. However, in the long run it shortchanges the Christian Church as a whole by blinding us to the disease and focuses only on the symptoms. Like his partner, John Warwick Montgomery, Walter Martin was a great apologist, but was naïve about politics and theology. There is a study here of the cults but no mention about the catalyst of their origin. Ravi Zacharias' update is worthless since it fails to correct these defects in the book. The defects are as follows. Walter Martin seems blind to the fact that freemasonry and cabala underlie all of these cult systems. For example, the Lance Owens demonstrated the cabalistic sources Joseph Smith of Mormonism relied upon. Similarly, Bent Corydon and Brian Ambry showed the cabalistic sources L Ron Hubbard of Scientology relied on. A prominent feature of Swedenborg was the cabalistic doctrines he found so fascinating in freemasonry. Yet, these matters are passed over in silence. In fact, it borders on the preposterous. Ellen White's Seventh Day Adventism was drowned in freemasonry. With all due respect to Walter Martin, the book seems to be a mere paraphrase of the 1930's book of Jan Karel Van Baalen `s "The Chaos of the Cults." I don't think it is a case of Cryptoamnesia (which is just junk science that lawyers use to defend their clients, along the lines of belated memory syndrome or the twinky defense). Although Dr. Martin did some original research, it wasn't much of an improvement except for the fact that the man himself, Dr. Walter Martin, was an articulate defendant of this apologetic. On one of his tapes, Walter Martin alludes to a possible second Creation regarding the dinosaurs, asserting them as a product of satanic meddling in God's Creation which God had destroyed. This is the so-called Gap Theory which Dr. Martin clearly got from his mentor Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse. This probably was a case of cryptoamnesia. Nevertheless, it too is a serious defect of clear thinking. Walter Martin failed to include three other dangerous cults: Freemasonry, Rabbinical Judaism, the New World Order Cult (which has infiltrated our entire federal government and economic It is the purpose of this book to evaluate the so-called cults and isms that today are found in abundance in America and on the great mission fields of the world. My approach to the subject is threefold: (1) historical analysis of the salient facts connected with the rise of the cult systems; (2) theological evaluation of the major teachings of those systems; and (3) apologetic contrast from the viewpoint of biblical theology, with an emphasis upon exegesis and doctrine. - p. 18. Since the first edition was published in 1965, Walter Martin's The Kingdom of the Cults has been the leading reference work on the major contemporary cult systems. With an emphasis on the currently active, proselytizing cults, The Kingdom of the Cults continues to be a crucial tool in counter-cult ministry and evangelism. While remaining true to Walter Martin's original tone and text, this updated edition includes substantial new information. Relevant and accurate materials have been reintroduced from the original editions, preserving Dr. Martin's unique voice and defense of the faith. Scholarly yet readable and engaging, The Kingdom of the Cults evaluates each cult's history and beliefs, contrasting individual teachings with true biblical theology. Readers will find apologetics help in dealing with cults not only at home but also overseas. An invaluable reference work for both scholars and laypeople. - Jacket flap. 67.15.42.48......Page 0 THE KINGDOM......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR......Page 3 ABOUT THE GENERAL EDITOR......Page 4 ABOUT THE MANIGING EDITOR......Page 5 ABOUT THE RESEARCH CONTRIBUTORS......Page 6 PUBLISHER......Page 7 GENERAL EDITOR......Page 8 CHAPTER 1 The Kingdom of the Cults......Page 11 CHAPTER 2 Scaling the Language Barrier......Page 21 CHAPTER 3 The Psychological Structure of Cultism......Page 28 CHAPTER 15 The Apocalyptic Cults......Page 47 CHAPTER 6 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter......Page 68 Bibliography......Page 148 CHAPTER 4 1 Critiquing Cult Mind......Page 182 CHAPTER 5 Jehovah......Page 223 CHAPTER 7 Christian Science......Page 338 CHAPTER 8 The Theosophical Society......Page 383 CHAPTER 9 Buddhism......Page 402 CHAPTER 10 The Baha......Page 426 CHAPTER 11 The New Age Cults......Page 441 CHAPTER 12 The Unification Church......Page 463 CHAPTER 13 Scientology......Page 481 CHAPTER 14 Eastern Religions......Page 501 APPENDIX B The Word Faith Movement......Page 521 CHAPTER 16 The Cults on the World Mission Field......Page 551 CHAPTER 17 The Jesus of the Cults......Page 565 CHAPTER 18 Cult Evangelism......Page 575 CHAPTER 19 The Road to Recovery......Page 591 APPENDIX A The Worldwide Church of God......Page 606 Walter Martin......Page 641 APPENDIX D Islam......Page 764 APPENDIX E Unitarian Universalism1......Page 789 The Kingdom Of The Cults -- Scaling The Language Barrier -- The Psychological Structure Of Cultism -- Jehovah's Witnesses And The Watchtower Bible And Tract Society -- Christian Science -- Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) -- Spiritism -- The Theosophical Society (gnosticism) -- Buddhism -- The Baha'i Faith -- Unitarian Universalism -- Scientology -- Unification -- Eastern Religions -- New Age -- Islam -- The Cults On The World Mission Field -- The Jesus Of The Cults -- Cult Evangelism--mission Field On Your Doorstep -- The Road To Recovery -- Appendix A: The Worldwide Church Of God: From Cult To Christianity -- Appendix B: The Puzzle Of Seventh-day Adventism -- Appendix C: Swedenborgianism -- Appendix D: Rosicrucianism. Walter Martin ; Ravi Zacharias, General Editor. Completely Updated For The 21st Century--jacket. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [649]-680) And Indexes. The kingdom of the cults Scaling the language barrier The psychological structure of cultism Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Christian Science Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) Spiritism : the cult of antiquity The Theosophical Society (Gnosticism) Buddhism : classical Zen and Nichiren Shoshu The Baha'i Faith Unitarian Universalism Scientology The Unification Church Eastern religions The New Age cult Islam : the message of Muhammad The cults on the world mission field The Jesus of the cults Cult evangelism : mission field on your doorstep The road to recovery Appendixes. The Worldwide Church of God : from cult to Christianity The puzzle of Seventh-Day Adventism Swedenborgianism Rosicrucianism The authoritative reference work on major cult systems for nearly forty years. Working closely together, Ravi Zacharias and Managing Editors Jill and Kevin Rische (daughter of Dr. Martin) have updated and augmented the work with new material. This book will continue as a crucial tool in countercult ministry and in evangelism for years to come. Among cults and religions included are: Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, New Age Cults, the Unification Church, Baha'i Faith, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and more. Newly updated, this definitive reference work on major cult systems is a crucial tool in countercult ministries and evangelism for teachers, pastors, and lay Christians. Scholarly yet readable and engaging, it continues to be the gold standard text on cults A definitive reference volume on cults, major fundamentalist religions, and non-Christian faiths includes coverage of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, and Hinduism, outlining their major beliefs while offering advice on countercult ministry.