New religions or contemporary cults

Part of : Θεολογία : τριμηνιαία έκδοση της Ιεράς Συνόδου της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος ; Vol.55, No.2, 1984, pages 459-479

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459-479
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Definition: A«cult» is religious perversion; it is devotion to a religious view or leader centered in false doctrine. «It is organized heresy.» It is a system of worship centering in devotion or homage to a person or an object.The theology of the cults is formulated by the founder —prophet or guru —on whom the members absolutely depend. The cults demand «obedience» rather than belief or understanding. They promise the followers a «secret» knowledge to enable them w attain mew consciousness ».The cults are non-Christian because they reject Jesus Christ as the second person of the Holy Trinity and as Savior.The cults use deception and several brainwashing tactics to gain new converts. Those who follow these cults lose completely their free will— έλενθέρα βούλησις —and become slaves to some religious «dictator» leader who exploits the youth to gain personal material wealth , power and glory.The true yardstick for measuring religious truth is Orthodox Theology as proclaimed by the Apostles, as is written in the Scriptures, as taught by the Holy Fathers, and preserved by the One, Holy, Orthodox, Catholic and Apostolic Church. In the Gospel of St. John 16:13 we read: « When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. God the Holy Spirit guides the Church into the truth.»Be aware of deceivers and false self-proclaimed gurus. The Holy Bible warns us: «But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction » (2 Peter 2:1). The most effective way to combat the cults is by strengthening the unity of the family, the fellowship of the Church and especially by growing in the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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