Due to the fact, that the
Constitution of the United States guarantees every citizen freedom to his
political and religious beliefs and the ability to spread them, there is no
easier way to get a few followers and receive a legal registration for a new
religious organization or political party. A Religious Organization is tax
exempt, therefore, quite frequently, in USA appear organizations or cults, that
cover themselves with some religious ideas in order to conduct some form of
business.
As an example we can add the sects of Moon (known as the "Church of
Unification"), society of Scientology the ("Church of
Scientology") and a multitude of other tele-evangelistic organizations
that are headed by preachers, pretending to be miracle workers and prophets.
It is difficult to describe their teachings in such a short article, and the
scope of their worship. Some of them, as the PTL ("Praise The Lord")
preach similarly to Pentecostal’s principals but definitely have a commercial
attitude (12-45% of its time is used for money collections. The financial
resources grow very rapidly, so that its leaders live in unbelievable wealth,
and from time to time cause various scandals that show their immoral and
criminal activity.
"The Church of Unification" (proclaiming a new Messiah) was
originated in USA in 1972 by the Korean preacher Sun Moon. A teaching of this
sect is described in the book "Divine Principle" and is an amalgam
(conglomerate) of ideas of eastern religions and small parts of Christian
elements. Moon’s followers consider him a messiah that came to save the world.
People who join his Church of Unification are treated with an intense
psychological workout, that is aimed to make them loyal to Moon in spreading
his ideas. His organization has a very complicated administrative structure
with a conspiratorial attitude, and under many aliases deals with heavily
commercial activities. Very cunningly they recruit young people, taking them
away from families, pressuring them to collect money for the Unification
Church. This pseudo-religious organization has crippled many young lives.
"The Society of Scientology" has nothing to do with religion.
Organized in 1954 by L.Ron Hubbard, they only use a cross as a cover up for a
few Christian slogans. The real aim of this society openly described by its
originator: "Money, money! Bring more money; force the others to get us
money." A financial side of this organization could make jealous any
commercial company. Scientologists spread books like "Dianetics,"
"Path to Happiness," and others; the aim of which is to engage people
to take various courses, that are very expensive, which suppose to help a
person to achieve spiritual and psychological regeneration. The courses bring
millions of dollars. They promise to clean a soul, enlighten with wisdom, bring
a good feeling of some accomplishment, bring confidence and discover the secret
of happiness. People with low faith and self-esteem, who have some
psychological problems are willing to take a chance to get some meaning in
life. Some people spend hundreds, thousands and even a hundred thousand
dollars, attending unending lessons and some form of health recovery classes.
Auto-suggestion — is the main method for "healing" in scientology.
Eventually, this type of leadership by pseudo-religious societies renders a
very poor service to our society, because for personal profits they destroy the
faith in God.
The beginning of 1970 blossomed with a multitude of all kinds of societies
with pagan ideology in USA. There were also societies of hinduism, theosophy,
pseudo-science, astrology and purely satanic. We notice how fast most radical
ideas and cults grow in USA. It is worth ro remember, what the St. Apostle Paul
said: "...in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Tim. 4:1-2); "shun
profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And
their word will eat as doth, a cancer" (2 Tim. 2:16-17); "they will
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to
themselfes teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned aside to fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
The long years of Church persecution in Russia brought a multitude of
aggresivly growing sects and various cults. Since 1989 the press started to
write about penetration to the countries of Eastern Europe and Russia:
Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Tele-evangelists, followers of Moon and others.
All of them try to take advantage of the spiritual vacuum created by communism.
It will be not easy to fight them, since they (sects and cults) have enormous
financial means and experience how to spread their propaganda and pseudo-religious
ideas.
More information about history, teaching and work of various
"churches," sects and contemporary religions may be obtained from the
organization, that is called Christian Research Institute P.O. Box 500, San
Juan Capistrano, CA 92692 USA Tel (714) 855-9926. One book that is recommended
is "The Kingdom of the Cults."
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