Centers For Apologetics Research - Christianity, Cults & the Occult

The printed version of this eBook is the Christianity, Cults & the Occult pamphlet, ISBN-13: 9781596360532

General Editor: Paul Carden Executive Director, The Centers for Apologetics Research

Contributors: Brooks Alexander, Marcia Montenegro, Eric Pement, Marcelo Souza.

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• Can be read in 30 minutes or less, and compares the beliefs of 11 groups with biblical Christianity.
• Includes the origins, founder, writings, beliefs, practices and other information on each religion.
• Shows scriptural passages and warnings about the occult.
• Provides definitions of 26 important terms.

Origins

Jesus Christ. Founded about AD 3033 in the Judean province of Palestine (Israel today) under the Roman Empire. Followers of Jesus Christ became known as Christians.

Key Writings

The Bible, written originally in Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament).

Key Beliefs

The one God is Triune (that is, one God in three Persons, not three gods): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Often the title God designates the first Person, God the Father. God is a spiritual being without a physical body. He is personal and involved with people. He created the universe out of nothing. He is eternal, changeless, holy, loving, and perfect.

Jesus is God, the second Person of the Trinity. As God the Son, He has always existed and was never created. He is fully God and fully man (the two natures joined, not mixed). As the second Person of the Trinity, He is coequal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. In becoming man, He was begotten through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is the only way to the Father, salvation, and eternal life. He died on a cross according to Gods plan, as full sacrifice and payment for our sins. He rose from the dead three days later, spiritually and physically immortal. During the next 40 days Jesus was seen by more than 500 eyewitnesses. His wounds were touched and He ate meals. He physically ascended to Heaven. Jesus will come again visibly and physically at the end of the world to establish Gods kingdom and judge the world.

The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or energy field. He comforts, grieves, reproves, convicts, guides, teaches, and fills Christians. He is not the Father, nor the Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is by Gods grace, not by an individuals good works. Salvation must be received by faith. People must believe in their hearts that Jesus died for their sins and physically rose again, which is the assurance of forgiveness and resurrection of the body. This is Gods loving plan to forgive sinful people.

After death, believers go to be with Jesus. All people await the final Judgment. Both saved and lost people will be resurrected. Those who are saved live with Jesus in Heaven. Those who are lost suffer the torment of eternal separation from God (Hell). Jesus bodily resurrection guarantees believers that they, too, will be resurrected and receive new immortal bodies.

Basic teachings are summed up in ancient, universal statements of Christian belief, especially the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, and Definition of Chalcedon.

Key Practices

Include group worship, usually in churches. No secret rites. Baptism and Lords Supper (communion). Active voluntary missionary efforts. Aid to those in need: the poor, widows, orphans, and downtrodden. Christians believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah promised to Israel in the Old Testament (Tanakh).

Jesus said His followers would be known by their love for one another.

Origins

No one founder. Freemasonry is a secret society which claims descent from the stonemasons of medieval Europe or Solomons Temple, but which actually started in London in 1717 as a lodge with initiations, symbols, and degrees. Masons pass the Blue Lodge first and may continue into Scottish Rite or York Rite . In the U.S.A., the Grand Lodge of each state is the highest authority. Estimated 3.2 million Masons worldwide; about 1.8 million in the U.S.A.

Key Writings

Ceremonies often use a Bible, but may use other holy books instead. Popular writings: The Builders by Joseph Fort Newton (1914); Introduction to Freemasonry by Carl Claudy (1931); Coils Masonic Encyclopedia (1961); and Mackeys Revised Masonic Encyclopedia (1966). The Grand Lodge of each state publishes a Monitor of rituals to use (these are similar, but not identical).

Key Beliefs

Masonry claims to transmit secret teachings from ancient times. The Masonic Edition of the Bible says, Masonry is descended from the ancient mysteries. Masonry requires belief in a Supreme Being and treats all religions as though they believe in the same God, whom Masons call by such titles as Great Architect of the Universe and Jah-Bul-On (supposedly His secret name).

When the Bible is quoted, references to Jesus are omitted; public prayers must not use Jesus name. In several rituals Jesus is made equal to Zoroaster, Buddha, or Muhammad. Salvation to the Grand Lodge above is achieved by living an upright life, without explicit faith in Christ.

Loyalty binds Masons to one another, and Masons promise by oath of gory death never to reveal their secret rituals to outsiders (curses that are symbolic today). Masonic vows include protection to fellow Masons, even in cases of crime.

Occult Practices