Apologetics Index

A Response to the Christian Research Journal’s Recent Defense of the “Local Church” Movement

apologeticsindex.org — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:58:22 +0000

If you are puzzled about the Christian Research Institute's defense of the Local Church movement, which theologically is a cult of Christianity, you're not alone.

CRI's whitewashing of the movement undermines and contradicts its own mission statement, and in doing so the organization has sacrificed its credibility as both a discernment- and countercult ministry.

Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Ron Rhodes have published a response that shows why CRI will have to use the phrase "We Were Wrong" again...

International Cultic Studies Association launches new magazine

apologeticsindex.org — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:37:08 +0000

ICSA, the primary network of lay and professional cult experts, has announced it is launching ICSA Today -- a new glossy magazine to be published three times a year.

The organization also will sharpen the focus of its scholarly journal, which will be renamed to International Journal of Cultic Studies.

Wife of Ted Haggard: “I was cut off by my church family at the time I needed them most”

apologeticsindex.org — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:37:29 +0000

On November 2, 2006, Gayle Haggard’s life changed forever when her husband, Ted Haggard, founder of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, was publicly exposed in a scandal.

“I felt I was twice damaged,” Gayle Haggard said. “First, by the knowledge that my husband had a secret life, and second, by the fact that I was cut off by my church family at the time I needed them most.”

The Atheist’s FCC Petition Hoax… again!

apologeticsindex.org — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:39:18 +0000

More than 14 years after she was murdered, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, founder of American Atheists is still being victimized by a long-running hoax.

Chapter 5: “Next Christmas, We’ll Get a Tree”

apologeticsindex.org — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:44:53 +0000

Recovering From Churches That Abuse: "The most important thing in my recovery has been the need to get the proper balance between the heart and the head. In the Christian life, the mind is not something to be subjected to the heart.

It is false to say you cannot know or understand the Word of God unless you have the proper inner attitude, or unless you surrender and submit, and that only when you get to that place will God break through and show you the way."

Christian Research Institute (CRI) descends deeper into error and controversy

apologeticsindex.org — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:39:22 +0000

With its stance on the Local Church -- which could be seen as whitewashing a cult of Christianity -- the Christian Research Institute (CRI) descends deeper into error and controversy

The Shack, by William P. Young — reviews and other research resources

apologeticsindex.org — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:02:24 +0000

Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says, "When it comes to The Shack, the really troubling fact is that so many readers are drawn to the theological message of the book, and fail to see how it conflicts with the Bible at so many crucial points. All this reveals a disastrous failure of evangelical discernment."

We provide a number of research resources on the book.

Conditional prophecies; CRI gets it wrong; Religious freedom vs. ban on cults; and Cold case detective does apologetics

apologeticsindex.org — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:28:42 +0000

In this issue: • Examining the "Word of the Lord for 2010," by the 'Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders.' • CRI gets it wrong (and continues to support a cult of Christianity. • Cult expert Steve Hassan on the issue of human rights violations vs. religious freedom, and • Interview with cold case detective Jim Wallace of PleaseConvince.com

Chapter 4: Grace to People Who Know They Need It

apologeticsindex.org — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:39:27 +0000

Many of the people Ron Enroth interviewed for his books, Churches That Abuse and Recovering From Churches That Abuse were undecided whether to leave an abusive situation or stay in the hope that their presence might make a difference.

But by remaining in an unhealthy environment for whatever reason people help perpetuate a system they have experienced as destrucive. Those who are contemplating leaving an abusive situation need to make a complete break and flee.

Lawsuit calls Dahn Yoga chain a cult

apologeticsindex.org — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:52:55 +0000

By all accounts Dahn Yoga is a successful company with an impressive business track record.

But, writes David Fitzpatrick, of CNN's Special Investigations Unit, what to make of a federal lawsuit by 27 former employees who allege Dahn Yoga is a “a totalistic, high-demand cult group” that demands large sums of money from its followers and enshrines Lee as an “absolute spiritual and temporal leader.”

Updated: Abusive Churches / Spiritual Abuse

apologeticsindex.org — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:04:42 +0000

Our collection of research resources on abusive churches and spiritual abuse is one of the most-visited pages at Apologetics Index. We have now updated the links, cleaned up the page and increased the font-size.

Plus, in this entry we quote Ken Blue's observations about why otherwise sensible and intelligent people submit to spiritual abuse.

Landmark Education links updated

apologeticsindex.org — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:23:07 +0000

Researching Landmark Education and its Landmark Forum? We've just updated our links to critical resources on this organization.

Prosperity Gospel: Christianity’s ‘cargo cult’

apologeticsindex.org — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:16:15 +0000

Oral Roberts taught that money and material things donated to his organization were the seeds of prosperity and material blessings from God, and that God promises to multiply in miraculous ways whatever is given--and give many times more back to the donor.

It was a simple, quasi-spiritual get-rich-quick scheme that appealed mainly to poor, disadvantaged, and desperate people, John MacArthur explains.

Is the Bible True? Why Should I Believe The Bible Is True?

apologeticsindex.org — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:38:47 +0000

Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias adresses the questions: Is The Bible True? Why Should I Believe The Bible Is True? Why Should I Read The Bible Instead Of Other Books? [video]

Apologetics Blogs

apologeticsindex.org — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:52:08 +0000

A fast and easy way to keep up with your favorite apologetics-related blogs.