CULTS & OTHER RELIGIONS

• ARTICLES & OTHER RESOURCES

• RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• WEBSITES

• SPECIFIC CULTS & RELIGIONS

ARTICLES & OTHER RESOURCES
America's disappearing unity	President Obama has said: "Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation.  We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers." Is that true? What does it mean? [760 words]
Global Warming as Religion: You Had To See It Coming	News and commentary from BreakPoint. By Chuck Colson. [515 words]
Idol Worship	"What we worship defines us and controls us.  And sometimes figuring out what we really worship isn't easy." [1,100 words]
Islam and the West: Will history repeat itself?	"What is clear is that the [Islamic] Resurgence represents a reinvigorated Islam that intends to win the conflict [between Islam and Christianity] once and for all. It is, in the words of one prominent Indian Muslim, 'the struggle for a new world order.' One wonders how many in the West are seeing the historic struggle as clearly as Muslims do." By Ed Vitagliano. [1,460 words]
NCC wrong on Christian Zionism	What is "Christian Zionism" and how is the National Council of Churches wrong in its treatment of the topic? [1,190 words]
Neither Faith Nor Healing	A first-hand account of Todd Bentley's "healing ministry." [1,265 words]
KWANZA	The politically incorrect truth about Kwanzaa [820 words] Revisionist holiday history [730 words]
The Prosperity Gospel	The Prosperity Gospel What is the "prosperity gospel," and why is it so popular? Does the Bible really teach that any/every Christian is entitled to abundant wealth and pristine health?   Called to be Rich? Some of the Bible verses misused by prosperity gospel proponents, along with their correct interpretation.
'The Shack' & the missing art of evangelical discernment	"When it comes to The Shack, the really troubling fact is that so many readers are drawn to the theological message of the book, and fail to see how it conflicts with the Bible at so many crucial points." By R. Albert Mohler Jr. [1,650 words]
Should Christians 'respect' other religions?	"The world we now know is marked by religious pluralism and the clash of worldviews. The modern world brings individuals and groups of different belief systems into both proximity and potential conflict. How should Christians respond when asked about this? Should Christians 'respect' other religions?" [835 words]
THE WATCHMAN EXPOSITOR: Yoga: Exercise or Religion?	What is the origin of yoga? What is unique about the Western version of yoga? How does yoga's concepts of God, salvation, etc. compare to biblical Christianity? [4,890 words] *NOTE: PDF (105 KB). Requires the free Adobe Reader.*
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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (descriptions from CBD)
Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century	Best-selling author [Hank] Hanegraaff explores what he believes is a dangerous trend that's eating away at the body of Christ worldwide. Asserting that biblical truth is being replaced with diseased substitutes offered by the "Faith Movement," he offers scriptural proof that exposes the deadly errors being preached by some of today's most popular Christian speakers. These are not obscure teachers that Hanegraaff unmasks. We know their names. We have seen their faces, sat in their churches, and heard them shamelessly preach and promote the false pretexts of a give-to-get gospel. They are virtual rock stars who command the attention of presidential candidates and media moguls. Through make-believe miracles, urban legends, counterfeit Christs, and twisted theological reasoning, they peddle an occult brand of metaphysics that continues to shipwreck the faith of millions around the globe: "God cannot do anything in this earthly realm unless we give Him permission." "Keep saying it -- 'I have equality with God' -- talk yourself into it." "Being poor is a sin." "The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews!" "You create your own world the same way God creates His. He speaks, and things happen; you speak, and they happen." Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century exposes darkness to light, pointing us back to a Christianity centered in Christ. From the Preface: "Having lost the ability to think biblically, postmodern Christians are being transformed from cultural change agents and initiators into cultural conformists and imitators. Pop culture beckons, and postmodern Christians have taken the bait. As a result, the biblical model of faith has given way to an increasingly bizarre array of fads and formulas."
Handbook of Denominations 12th edition	A perennial favorite. Accurate, objective, and comprehensive, this helpful resource tells you all you need to know about American Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religious groups, including their history, traditions, doctrines, and pertinent statistics. Organized chronologically according to denominational "families," it's filled with information provided by the various organizations themselves.
Handbook of Today's Religions	One of the best reference books available on the religions and cults present in our time, Handbook of Today's Religions combines, for the first time, four books by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart on religions, cults, and the occult into one easy-to-use volume. The four books, which each became a section of the compilation, are: Non-Christian Religions; The Occult; Secular Religions; The Cults. Powerful individually, together the books are a powerhouse of vital information for Christians on those worldviews which challenge and attack Christianity.
The Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion	Now you can have an authoritative, A-to-Z guide to the world's religions in one easy-to-use book! Entries were written by 250 leading authorities from the American Academy of Religion and thoroughly cover the people, places, concepts, practices, and writings of the entire religious world.
Kingdom of the Cults, revised & updated edition	Ranging in topics from the structure of cults to how cults are encountered on the mission field, many cults and movements are described in full, and intimate details of the inner workings can sometimes be indicative of where a cult may be leading. For anyone considering joining any of these groups or looking for more information for a friend or family member, this is an invaluable resource.
The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library on CD-ROM	Instantly access Dr. Geisler's renowned expertise and defend your faith amidst a relativistic, agnostic, and cult-filled culture! Twelve volumes -- over $250 worth of printed editions -- including: Why I Am a Christian Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics Roman Catholics and Evangelicals When Skeptics Ask When Critics Ask When Cultists Ask Miracles and the Modern Mind Come, Let Us Reason Worlds Apart: A Handbook on Worldviews Introduction to Philosophy Christian Apologetics Answering Islam, Second Edition

ISLAM

North American Mission Board Resources (The below resources require the free Adobe Reader.)

• BELIEF BULLETIN: Islam [40 KB]

• A COMPARISON CHART: Islam & Christianity [95 KB]

• BELIEF BULLETIN: The Nation of Islam [35 KB]

News & Commentary

Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities [link] ONE NEWS NOW 07-19-2010

Opponents pack hearing on mosque near ground zero [link] ONE NEWS NOW 07-14-2010

White House denies NASA remark on Muslim outreach [link] ONE NEWS NOW 07-12-2010

Activist: Islam on the rise, compliments of Obama [link] ONE NEWS NOW 07-09-2010

A Long Catalog of Injustice: Morocco and Christians (by Chuck Colson) [link] BREAKPOINT 07-09-2010 (search for: A Long Catalog of Injustice)

Muslim pandering 'not good for the country' (ref: NASA) [link] ONE NEWS NOW 07-08-2010

Yousef relies on God, obtains asylum [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-30-2010

PayPal not much of a pal to Islam critics [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-29-2010

Caner out as Baptist school dean [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-26-2010

Thomas More to represent arrested Christians [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-22-2010

Sharia vote a 'preemptive strike' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-22-2010

Sharia - 'the root of the problem' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-22-2010

Rights restored to Michigan pastor [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-18-2010

The Imam's Daughter: Witnessing to Muslims (by Mark Earley) [link] BREAKPOINT 06-22-2010 (search for: The Imam's Daughter)

Europe's rise of anti-Islam sentiment [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-18-2010

Poll shows Obama outreach to Muslim world not working [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-17-2010

Reports say Obama admitted he's a Muslim [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-17-2010

Suspension of Muslim student group 'encouraging' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-16-2010

Slouching towards jihad (by Peter Heck) [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-14-2010

AIG bailout alleged to aid sharia-compliance [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-11-2010

Leftists, Islamists - cohorts in crime [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-10-2010

'Follow the Islamic way to save the world,' Prince Charles urges environmentalists [link] DAILY MAIL (UK) 06-10-2010

Islam and the White House (by David Aikman) [link] ONE NEWS NOW 06-08-2010

Pakistani gov't ordered to block Facebook [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-22-2010

Congressman urges aid to Morocco stop [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-20-2010

Christian leader faces questions about Muslim past [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-18-2010

Appeals court backs removal of Muslim detainee's headscarf [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-09-2010

Mosque going up in NYC building damaged on 9/11 [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-07-2010

The jihadists' deadly path to citizenship (by Michelle Malkin) [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-05-2010

Reaction to Times Square terror arrest 'ridiculous' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-05-2010

Tech exchange a bit one-sided [link] ONE NEWS NOW 05-04-2010

Hillary mum on Islam's treatment of women [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-30-2010

'South Park' bleeps references to Mohammed [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-28-2010

'Enshrinement' of sharia a major threat [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-28-2010

 Graham disinvited to Pentagon service [link] BAPTIST PRESS 04-23-2010

Leaving Islam? Look for bus ads... [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-23-2010

Problems with multiculturalism unveiled [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-21-2010

Rifqa: An example for other 'would-be apostates' (Rifqa Bary) [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-19-2010

Muslims don't blend well with Western society [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-16-2010

Harassment allegation 'totally groundless' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-14-2010

Nat'l security and 'language dancing' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-13-2010

Religious terms being removed from security document [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-10-2010

Free-speech victory for 'Cole' victim [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-06-2010

Like some Christians, some Muslims spiritually ignorant [link] ONE NEWS NOW 03-19-2010

Culture clash: European art provokes Muslims [link] ONE NEWS NOW 03-15-2010

'Jihad Jane' discarded it all [link] ONE NEWS NOW 03-12-2010

Muslim cleric delivers House invocation [link] ONE NEWS NOW 03-04-2010

Israel confronts Spanish anti-Semitism [link] ONE NEWS NOW 03-05-2010

God of Islam is 'biggest terrorist' [link] ONE NEWS NOW 03-04-2010

Nothing 'contentious' expected at religious summit [290 words] ONE NEWS NOW 03-03-2010

Libyan leader calls for jihad against Switzerland [120 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-27-2010

Terror expert: 'No basis' for engaging Syria again [230 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-18-2010

'Islamophobes' unwelcome at Fox News [290 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-17-2010

Islam and the West: Will history repeat itself? [1,460 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-16-2010

Obama names envoy to Muslim nations [405 words] BAPTIST PRESS 02-16-2010

No Valentine's: Saudi religious police see red [135 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-14-2010

Minister refuses French nationality over Muslim veil [115 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-03-2010

Ft. Hood report omits important factor: Islam [270 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-03-2010

Muslim parents reject deal with Christian daughter (Rifqa Bary) [115 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-30-2010

Islam opposition could mean criminal charges [300 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-26-2010

Poll shows Muslim prejudice [255 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-25-2010

Runaway Ohio girl to remain free of Muslim parents (Rifqa Bary) [135 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-20-2010

CAIR complains of profiling [255 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-11-2010

Mass. college bans head coverings that block face [145 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-06-2010

Egyptian Christian women forced to marry, convert, reports say [565 words] BAPTIST PRESS 12-14-2009

Bowing to 'world opinion' [750 words] ONE NEWS NOW 11-19-2009

If he talks & behaves like a terrorist ... [760 words] BAPTIST PRESS 11-13-2009

Blind diversity equals death [850 words] ONE NEWS NOW 11-11-2009

'Muslim Mafia' unveiled in CAIR documents [245 words] ONE NEWS NOW 10-23-2009

Christian group battles state over restrictions [245 words] ONE NEWS NOW 10-06-2009

School cancels speech from conservative activist [120 words] ONE NEWS NOW 10-05-2009

Congressman rebukes fellow Muslim for linking Islam to terrorism [135 words] ONE NEWS NOW 10-02-2009

Islam on the march in DC [935 words] ONE NEWS NOW 09-21-2009

'Honor killing' could await Rifqa in Sri Lanka (Rifqa Bary) [280 words] ONE NEWS NOW 09-21-2009

Rifqa Bary investigation 'politically motivated' (Rifqa Bary) [250 words] ONE NEWS NOW 09-17-2009

Judge rules against Muslim school administrator [240 words] ONE NEWS NOW 09-09-2009

Yale under fire for removal of Muslim cartoons [785 words] ONE NEWS NOW 09-08-2009

Suicide of the West? [720 words] ONE NEWS NOW 09-01-2009

Bauer: Obama ignores Islamic threat (President Obama's Ramadan message) [220 words] ONE NEWS NOW 08-26-2009

Disaster in the making (President Obama's "amateurism and immaturity") [695 words] ONE NEWS NOW 07-29-2009

Ramadan -- a Christian's perspective [780 words] BAPTIST PRESS 07-24-2009

Sharia-intent extremists convene in Chicago [285 words] ONE NEWS NOW 07-23-2009

Warren panders to Muslim group, omits gospel [300 words] ONE NEWS NOW 07-09-2009

No friend of freedom [1,500 words] ONE NEWS NOW 07-02-2009

Imam on the move [880 words] BAPTIST PRESS 06-24-2009

Obama's Rhetoric Versus Reality (the Cairo speech) [1,050 words] AC21DOJ 06-05-2009

Climate of hate, world of double standards [805 words] ONE NEWS NOW 06-03-2009

Should Christians 'respect' other religions? [835 words] BAPTIST PRESS 05-18-2009

Obama's rhetoric re: Islam labeled 'naïve' [300 words] ONE NEWS NOW 04-07-2009

Does AIG bailout violate Establishment Clause? [305 words] ONE NEWS NOW 04-06-2009

Obama's Overtures: Why the Islamic World Isn't Listening (by Chuck Colson) [530 words] BREAKPOINT 02-26-2009

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JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

North American Mission Board Resources (The below resources require the free Adobe Reader.)

• BELIEF BULLETIN: Jehovah's Witnesses [49 KB]

• A CLOSER LOOK: Jehovah's Witness View of Christ [49 KB]

• A CLOSER LOOK: The New World Translation (the JW's Bible) [92 KB]

• BELIEF BULLETIN: Glossary of Jehovah's Witnesses' Terms [162 KB]

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MORMONS

North American Mission Board Resources

• Comparison Chart: Mormonism and Christianity (online article by Tal Davis)

• Mormon Plan of Salvation (online article by Phil Roberts)

• The Book of Mormon (online article by Tal Davis)

• The Mormon Concept of God (online article by Francis J. Beckwith)

• The Truth About Mormonism (What You Have NOT Been Told) (online article by Dennis and Rauni Higley)

News & Commentary

Latter-day Saints back 'gay rights' ordinance [290 words] ONE NEWS NOW 11-12-2009

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NEW AGE & EASTERN RELIGIONS

North American Mission Board Resources (The below resources require the free Adobe Reader.)

• BELIEF BULLETIN: New Age [65 KB]

• A CLOSER LOOK: New Age Channeling [34 KB]

• BELIEF BULLETIN: New Age Glossary [30 KB]

Eckankar and Other New Age Religions [2,260 words]

How do New Age religions in general and Eckankar in particular compare to historical, biblical Christianity?

The Gospel According to Oprah [link to Watchman Fellowship article]

Oprah Winfrey "is clearly in the process of deconstructing Christianity and reframing it into a New Age perspective."

THE WATCHMAN EXPOSITOR: Yoga: Exercise or Religion? 

What is the origin of yoga? What is unique about the Western version of yoga? How does yoga's concepts of God, salvation, etc. compare to biblical Christianity?

*NOTE: PDF (105 KB). Requires the free Adobe Reader.*

News & Commentary

'Last Song' is good, with one small problem (by Phil Boatwright) [link] BAPTIST PRESS 03-31-2010

'The Shack' & the missing art of evangelical discernment [1,650 words] BAPTIST PRESS 02-15-2010

Pagan 'chapel' at Air Force Academy [210 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-08-2010

Ouija board a controversial toy for tots [245 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-03-2010

Fortuneteller sues - doesn't say how it will turn out [240 words] ONE NEWS NOW 01-31-2010

Oprah & a jealous God [940 words] BAPTIST PRESS 05-29-2008

Oprah labeled 'false prophet' and 'conduit ... to Hell' [740 words] ONE NEWS NOW 03-27-2008

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WORD FAITH (aka WORD OF FAITH)

• AC21DOJ: Word Faith: Turning Truth Into Mythology (an excerpt from Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century, by Hank Hanegraaff)

• APPRISING MINISTRIES: Apprising Ministries' Joel Osteen page (online resource)

• BIBLE.org: The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical and Theological Ethics (online resource)

• AC21DOJ: The Prosperity Gospel | Called to be Rich? (online resources)

• CROSS+WORD: Ten Reasons to Reject Word-of-Faith Teachings (online resource)

• APOLOGETICS INDEX: Word Faith Movement (online resource)

• CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE: Word Faith Movement (online resource)

• WATCHMAN FELLOWSHIP: Word-Faith Movement (online resource)

News & Commentary

Wife of televangelist Benny Hinn files for divorce [160 words] ONE NEWS NOW 02-19-2010

Pastor Osteen speaks out on Mormonism [430 words] ONE NEWS NOW 12-25-2007

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OTHER

News & Commentary

Ritual sacrifice of children on rise in Uganda [link] ONE NEWS NOW 04-04-2010

Embracing Dread: Paganism vs. the Gospel (by Chuck Colson) [link] BREAKPOINT 04-01-2010 (search for: Embracing Dread)

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