Index-of-Cults-and-Religions
Contents
Index of Cults and Religions
By the Staff of Watchman Fellowship, Inc.
Introduction
This Index contains brief definitions, descriptions or cross references on over 1,200 religious organizations and beliefs, as well as world religions (including Christianity) and related doctrines. Watchman Fellowship is a Christian apologetics and discernment ministry; thus, many references ("Jesus," "Gospel," "Christianity," etc.) contain definitions that reflect the beliefs of Watchman's staff. While Watchman Fellowship does not hold to the beliefs of non-Christian religions and doctrines, we also attempt to describe these beliefs factually, fairly and accurately. Readers are asked to assist in this effort by suggesting corrections or improvements.
This is by no means a complete list of cults and religions. Watchman Fellowship maintains over 10,000 files and a research library of over 25,000 books and periodicals on religions, cults, new religious movements and related teachings. The absence of a religious movement from this index does not mean that Watchman Fellowship endorses the organization.
How To Use This Index
Begin your search by clicking on the highlighted letter below that is the first letter of the term for which you are searching (or, if your browser will do so, perform a word search for the term). If the term is listed, it will be followed by a brief definition. Most of these definitions contain highlighted words that are linked to the definitions for those words; clicking on the highlighted word will take you directly to that definition.
http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#A">A</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#B">B</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#C">C</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#D">D</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#E">E</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#F">F</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#G">G</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#H">H</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#I">I</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#J">J</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#K">K</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#L">L</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#M">M</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#N">N</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#O">O</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#P">P</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Q">Q</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#R">R</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#S">S</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#T">T</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#U">U</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#V">V</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#W">W</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#X">X</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Y">Y</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Z">Z</a>
Some Definitions
By using the terms "cult," "occult," and "New Age," Watchman Fellowship is in no way implying that the followers or leaders are necessarily evil or immoral people. It simply means that such groups seem to promote doctrine or practices which may be considered outside the realm of historic Christianity.
<a name="Cult" id="Cult"></a>
Cult
By its primary dictionary definition, the term cult just means a system of religious beliefs or rituals. It is based on a farming term in Latin meaning cultivation. Sociologists and anthropologists sometimes use the term cult to describe religious structure or belief patterns with meanings (usually non-pejorative) unique to their disciplines. In modern usage, the term cult is often used by the general public to describe any religious group they view as strange or dangerous. Thus, cult can describe religious leaders or organizations that employ abusive, manipulative, or illegal control over their followers' lives. In addition to these usages, Christians generally have a doctrinal component to their use of the word. Cult in this sense, is a counterfeit or serious deviation from the doctrines of classical Christianity. Watchman Fellowship usually uses the term cult with a Christian or doctrinal definition in mind. In most cases the group claims to be Christian, but because of their aberrant beliefs on central doctrines of the faith (God, Jesus, and salvation), the organization is not considered by Watchman Fellowship to be part of orthodox, biblical Christianity. http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//cultismm.htm">Research material</a> and http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//profiles/patterns-in-the-cults/">Profile</a> are available.
<a name="Occult" id="Occult"></a>
Occult
The term, "occult" comes from the Latin occultus or "hidden."
Generally the word is used of secret or mysterious supernatural powers or magical, religious rituals. The word "occult" in this publication is used to describe any attempt to gain supernatural power or knowledge apart from the God of the Bible. Generally it refers to http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Wicca">witchcraft</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Satanism">satanism</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Neopagan">neo-paganism</a>, or various forms of Psychic discernment (astrology, seances, palm reading, etc.). http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//articles/occult/">Research material</a> available.
<a name="New" id="New"></a>
New Age
New Age is a recent and developing belief system in North America encompassing thousands of autonomous (and sometime contradictory) beliefs, organizations, and events. Generally the New Age borrows its theology from pantheistic Eastern religions and its practices from 19th century Western occultism. The term "New Age" is used herein as an umbrella term to describe organizations which seem to exhibit one or more of the following beliefs: (1) All is one, all reality is part of the whole; (2) Everything is God and God is everything; (3) Man is God or a part of God; (4) Man never dies, but continues to live through reincarnation; (5) Man can create his own reality and/or values through transformed consciousness or altered states of consciousness. http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//articles/new-age/">Research material</a> and http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//profiles/new-age-movement/">Profile</a> are available.
Index of Cults and Religions
<a name="A" id="A"></a>
A
3H0: See http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Healthy">Healthy, Happy, and Holy</a>.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People: A book by http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Covey">Stephen Covey</a>.
Aaronic Order, Maurice Glendenning, Murry, UT: Splinter group from http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#LDS">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)</a>, founded in 1942 by Glendenning after he was excommunicated by the LDS Church for receiving and publishing revelations later known as the Levitical Writings.
Abaddon: (Hebrew for "The Destroyer"; in Greek, Apollyon) A http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Demons">demon</a> described in the http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Bible">Bible</a> as "the angel of the bottomless pit" (Revelation 9:11).
<a name="Thelema" id="Thelema"></a>Abbey of Thelema, Old Greenwich, CT: http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Esoteric">Esoteric</a> http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Magic">magic</a>, teachings of http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Crowley">Aleister Crowley</a>.
Abode of the Message, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, New Lebanon, NY: http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Sufism">Sufism</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Alchemy">alchemy</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Dowsing">dowsing</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Meditation">meditation</a> to lead to "inner attunement," http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#NatAm">Native American spirituality</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Sweat">sweat lodge</a>.
Academy for Guided Imagery, Martin L. Rossman & David E. Bresler, Mill Valley, CA: Healing by http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Altered">altered states of consciousness</a>, imagery training (i.e., http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Visualization">visualization</a>), http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Hypnosis">hypnosis</a> and http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Magic">magic</a>.
<a name="AcRelPsych" id="AcRelPsych"></a>Academy of Religion and Psychical Research, Evanston, IL: Organization founded in 1956 to explore http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Psychic">psychic</a> occurrences and http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Metaphysics">metaphysical</a> experiences while evaluating the growing interest in occult phenomena in Christian churches. See http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Frontiers">Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Spiritualism">Spiritualism</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Divination">Divination</a>.
Actualism: http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#New">New Age</a> teaching based on http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Panentheism">panentheism</a>, according to which all human beings possess the divine http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#ChristCon">Christ-consciousness</a> and are united with the Mother-Father-Creator God.
<a name="Accupressure" id="Accupressure"></a>Acupressure: See http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Acupuncture">Acupuncture</a>.
<a name="Acupuncture" id="Acupuncture"></a>Acupuncture: Chinese system of healing using needles or hand pressure (acupressure) applied to certain points on the body, traditionally believed to balance the http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Yin">yin and yang</a> energies in the body by opening blocked meridians (apexes in the pathways). Once the http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Chakras">chakras</a> (key points or intersections) are open, the http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Chi">chi</a>, or energy, supposedly can then flow through the body bringing all things into harmony. While some limited physical effects (mostly anesthetic) can be attributed to this practice, these effects have scientific, physiological explanations totally unrelated to the mystical explanation, which derives from http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Taoism">Taoism</a>. See http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Holistic">Holistic Health</a>. http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//profile/acupro.htm">Profile</a> available.
Adams, Dennis, Mt. Shasta, CA: http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#New">New Age</a>, man is God.
Adelphi Organization, Dallas, TX: http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#New">New Age</a> teachings on http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Atlantis">Atlantis</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Karma">karma</a>, seven planes of existence. See http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Stelle">Stelle Group</a>.
Adeptco, Chuck McDonald, Omaha, NE: http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Yoga">Yoga</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Crystal">crystals</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Reincarnation">reincarnation</a>, http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Karma">karma</a> and http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Kabbalah">Kabbalah</a> teachings.
Advanced Organization of Los Angeles (AOLA): Promotes http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#Scientology">Scientology</a> philosophy.
Advanced Systems, Inc.: See http://www.wicwiki.org.uk//index-of-cults-and-religions#ZenMaster">Zen Master Rama</a>.