In another topic here in this forum, the UPC is being referred to as a cult.

What is a cult?

Here is a definition that I found.

quote:

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Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

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In a nutshell according to the above definition all eligion can fall under this category, but I would like add the following which is found in the Bible, and after cross referencing it in a dictionary is synonymous with cult, and that is the word sect:

quote:

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Acts 24:5
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

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quote:

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Acts 28:22
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

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God Bless,
Will

Most all Christian religions/denominations have one or a few people who can be thought of as the head(s) or originator(s) of that religion/denomination. Christians have Jesus Christ. Catholics have Peter (or so they claim). Lutherans have Martin Luther, Presbyterians have John Calvin, Methodists have John Wesley. SDAs have the Whites and other pioneers, and before them William Miller.

But normally at the head of a cult there is a charismatic leader who teaches things that are contrary to Inspiration, and this leader demands obedience in a fashion contrary to that expected by God. Jim Jones and his People's Temple cult in Guyana in the late 70s is one example. People are brainwashed, the free will of believers is not respected. Those who want to leave these groups often find that they're unable to do so without a lot of problems. The leaders are often discovered to be immoral people who use their power for personal gain, earthly prestige and riches.

In mainstream Christianity the term cult or sect denoted those that did not consider Christ part of the Godhead, one with God. Some denominations such as the Latter Day Saints, the Jehovah Witnesses and the Seventh-day Adventist Church were among those that were considered a cult not following the correct view of Christ.

According to Walter Martin first book on cult denominations we as Seventh-day Adventists fell in that group. It had to do with the human nature of Christ that was the problem.

During the 50's that changed to some degree because of Walter Martin and some thought leaders within the SDA church that changed the wording of our belief regarding the nature of Christ. Since that time it has been a battle topic within the church of what we are.

In Martin's book called "The Kingdom of the Cults" are also listed religions that fall into the what he termed as cults.

For the time being though because of what happened in the 50's we are far more accepted within mainstream Christianity than we were back then.

Liane, the Zoo Mama

Hi Liane,
Can you describe what we as SDA's changed regarding our belief in the nature of Christ pre-50's and post-50's? I find this interesting and want to know what we said\changed vs.what the Bible teaches.
God Bless,
Will

Will,

You could read this for a start:

http://www.greatcontroversy.org/columns/c-lk031120.php3

http://www.greatcontroversy.org/reportandreview/kir-qod-atonement.php3

Claudia,

You must have posted as a visitor, therefore, as you are still a registered member of MSDAOL, I sent to you by email your username and password information.

Thank you Claudia for the links. They are well written and needed in such a time as these.

Next to Love, the understanding of the Nature of Christ and what happened in our church is very important and much needed in these times.

The truth of Christ's nature is the whole foundation of all our other doctrines such as the state of the dead, the Sanctuary and many more. It is the foundation of knowing the true Christ for these days and our work is being cut out for us by the return of Questions On Doctrines.

What a sad day for us with so many other issues that are vital to the witness we need so much to do out in the world yet are troubled by so much inside the church.

As stated in the Spiriti of Prophecy, we have far more to fear from within than we do from without and it was our own that reached out to the outside and worked with those to undo the work God had given us and the truth needed for these times.

Liane, the Zoo Mama

The QOD people also tried to change the sanctuary doctrine. Some more good reading on the subject is M.L. Andreasen's Letters to the Churches, online at

http://members.cox.net/jhowardjr/sda/Andreasen.pdf

Hi John:

That is an excellent booklet written by him.

It was sad what he had to go through for the truth, but we have been blessed because of him those that were able to read what happened.

Liane, the Zoo Mama