COURSE: Cults
TEXTBOOK: The Kingdom of the Cults
AUTHOR: Walter Martin
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
PUBLICATION DATE:
ISBN #: 0-89693-814-X
Syllabus:
This course study is designed to help the student gain a firm grasps on the doctrines of the Bible. This textbook presents a systematic overview of such doctrines as God, the Bible, Angels, Satan, demons, Man, sin, Jesus Christ, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, The Church and future events to come. This is a systematic theology course text written in plain English.
Instructions:
Answer all questions related to this course.
*FAILURE TO FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING SUBMISSION OF COMPLETED ASSIGNMENTS WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE.
Course Introduction
Our Text, “The Kingdom of the Cults’ epitomizes the best in classic cult apologetics pioneered and refined by Dr. Walter Martin. The student will find a storehouse of very useful information, and will be able to utilize this information as a more effective witness for Jesus Christ. Many cult statistics, practices and beliefs are carefully explained and refuted from God’s Word. The line of demarcation between the kingdom of the cults and the kingdom of Christ is not only being blurred, it is being obliterated. It is our sincere desire that the student will use this course as his or her ammunition depot for the continuing battle of Christ’s one and only Church, versus our cultic society of today.
Chapter One
1. Tell us what Dr. Charles Braden has to say regarding the term, “Cult”. What does the author add to this statement?
2. According to the author, what is the purpose of this book?
3. Does the author agree with the term “All roads that lead to God are good”? Explain.
4. Quote in its entirety, Matthew 7:15-23.
5. What did Dr. Lee Belforde say regarding the cults?
Chapter Two
6. The student of cultism must be prepared to scale the language barrier of terminology. What does this statement say to you?
7. Complete this sentence: “The careful Christian will thoughtfully _____________________.”
8. What should one always remember when encountering a cultist?
9. Tell us what a cultist will hardly ever discuss. In your opinion, why is this true?
10. Duplicate the chart found on page 32 of your text.
11. What four facts emerge regarding cult semantics?
Chapter Three
12. Define three regions or levels that psychologists generally recognize in any belief or disbelief system.
13. What should Christians learn above all else regarding cults?
14. Give an example from the Christian Science Church that involves contradiction.
15. Give us an example of who the Jehovah’s Witnesses can condition their adherents to respond to the “outside world” of unbelievers.
16. What is an important point regarding Jehovah’s Witnesses convictions toward Christians?
17. In the mind of the Christian Scientist, what is Selective Perception?
Chapter Four
18. Name the four components of mind control.
19. What difference does Eileen Barker point out regarding mind control?
20. Give two ways in which the brainwashing and mind control models differ.
21. Complete the following sentence: “Kidnapping and forcible deprogramming have.”
22. In your opinion, what is exit counseling?
23. What is one of the core assumptions of the cult mind control model?
24. What is the “Frye” legal standard?
25. Why could the exit counseling approach be called self-refuting?
26. How does Paul Martin illustrate how ex-cultists are taught that they have been mind controlled?
27. What is important about Matthew 11:28-30?
28. List five (5) ways we can be protected from the lure of a cult.
29. Name two (2) things that Christians have in common when used by God to reach those in a cult.
Chapter Five
30. Give a brief history of C. T. Russell.
31. What is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?
32. What was the “Miracle Wheat” fraud?
33. Who was the Reverend J. J. Ross and what did he publish. Why was it published?
34. Give a brief history of Russell’s successor.
35. How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses repudiate the charge of “Russellism”?
36. Give at least one major contradiction concerning the Jehovah’s Witness organization.
37. Give the statistics of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society as of the end of 1996.
38. Why are all society publications now issued without any author’s credit.
39. How are the followers of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society managed?
40. Define the following: “Congregations”, “Ministerial Servants”, “Kingdom Halls”, “Presiding Overseer”, “Service Overseer”, “Overseer” and “Circuits”.
41. Give an over-view of the society’s assets.
42. What do the Witnesses believe regarding the Holy Trinity?
43. What do they believe regarding the Deity of Christ?
44. What do they believe regarding salvation by grace?
45. What do they believe regarding the existence of hell and eternal punishment?
46. What do they believe regarding the “144,000”?
47. What is the difference (if any) between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the “Russellites”?
48. Why is the Trinity Doctrine a problem to the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
49. Give a brief summary of the word “Mystery” as used in your text on page 114.
50. How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses render John 1:1?
51. The Watchtower denies the Holy Spirit’s personality. Give scripture that will refute this statement.
52. What do the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe regarding the resurrection and atonement of Christ?
53. Give a summary of the section entitled “Satan – The Devil”.
54. Give at least two examples of “misapplied terms”.
Chapter Six
55. From pages 179-192 of your text, tell us in 250 words or more the history of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”.
56. Give some scientific evidence against the Book of Mormon.
57. Give some archaeological evidence against the Book of Mormon.
58. List at least two examples that indicate plagiarism of the King James Version of the Bible.
59. What is the Mormon Doctrine of God?
60. Give three examples of what the Mormon’s mean when they speak of “God”.
61. In what terms do the Mormons describe the Holy Ghost?
62. What does the Mormon doctrine of salvation involve?
63. Who is the Mormon Savior?
64. Give a brief summary of the topic entitled: “Salvation by Grace”.
65. Where will the Mormons be at the second advent of Christ?
66. Quote the last two (2) paragraphs of this chapter.
Chapter Seven
67. Where is the Christian Science church located, and who is the current president as of the publication of your text?
68. What types of turmoil did the Christian Science church experience in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s?
69. From pages 248-249 of your text, tell us about Mary Baker Eddy.
70. What was the “Third source” mentioned by the author that may have been plagiarized by Mary Baker Eddy?
71. How did Eddy discover Christian Science?
72. Was there opposition to Eddy’s reign? If not, what happened soon after she was deceased?
73. From your text on pages 259-262, give the belief system of the following topics:
1. The Trinity and Deity of Christ. 2. The Atonement of Jesus Christ. 3. The Doctrine of Eternal Salvation.
74. What did Eddy write concerning the existence of Satan, Evil and Sin?
75. What is the central claim of Eddy and Christian Science?
76. Complete this sentence: “Most illnesses “cured” by Christian Scientists are ____________.
77. Did Eddy believe in a personal God?
Chapter Eight
78. What is “Theosophy”, and according to J. H. Russell, what are its teachings?
79. What are the “three declared objects” of the Theosophical Society?
80. When was the Theosophy introduced and what of its history?
81. Who was Helena Blavatsky?
82. Summarize L. W. Roger’s writing concerning man as a part of God.
83. What does the theosophist desire regarding the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus?
84. Contrasted to the Biblical picture of sin, salvation and prayer, what is the position of Theosophy?
85. Discuss the resurrection versus re-incarnation.
86. Quote the last paragraph of this chapter.
Chapter Nine
87. Who is Siddharetha Gautama?
88. From pages 303 – 306 of your text (in your own words), give us the legend of Guatama.
89. According to the Buddha, what is the “self”?
90. What is the Fourth Noble Truth?
