Very interesting observation posted from another site

[Voo]

In the last century, there has been an explosion of religious cults that claim to be Christian, while simultaneously denying Christ.

Most call themselves 'Christians' use the Bible as their Sacred Scripture, and may even have the name of Christ in the title of their church... but they say that "Jesus is not God", or that Jesus Christ is god as much as you and I are god, like the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses.

A research paper entitled, 'Churches and Church Membership in the United States, 1990' ranked the Jehovah's Witnesses 9th among the top 10 religious bodies with the most churches in the US.

The Mormons ranked 8 among the top ten, whereas the Episcopal Church, the American branch of the Church of England, ranks 10th.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the official name for the 'Jehovah's Witnesses' was founded by Charles Taze Russell in 1852, with the first formal organization being founded in Pittsburgh in 1872. They now number three million worldwide and growing, based on the following doctrine:

Jehovah's Witnesses see the doctrine of the Trinity as a demonic doctrine. Their theology strips Jesus of His Deity, claiming He is not God, but 'a god' a created being on a par with Lucifer. They deny the physical resurrection of Christ, and deny the doctrine of an eternal hell.

In the past, they have officially announced the date of the Second Coming of Christ and Armageddon on six different occasions: 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, and 1975. Yet their membership is among the most active, and their ranks continue to swell.

The Mormons are officially called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." Numbering over ten million, they are one of the fastest growing religious cults in the world. Among their doctrinal teachings is that God was once a man who became God.

The Mormon god has a physical body, as does his wife, the heavenly mother. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate gods.

Worthy men may one day become gods themselves. Jesus was married and had children with the two sisters of Lazarus, Maria and Martha... and Jesus became God. And so can a Mormon.

"As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man can become", is one of the most famous aphorisms of the Mormons. This elevation to godhood is only open to faithful male Mormons, but this concept of "every man is god", has been taken up by the New Age Movement, (but using different methods to become god.)

Man as god is also the central tenet of secular humanism, another 'religious' cult that has taken root and thrived in the very heart of our global institutions, as well as most national governments.

Then there are the others; Christian Science Church, founded in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy. The cult is neither Christian, scientific, nor a church, but wields huge influence through its prestigious daily newspaper, "The Christian Science Monitor."

The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It's doctrine states that Mankind is descended from a race of interplanetary omnipotent gods called "thetans".

Gradually they evolved by reincarnation to become humans who could not remember their deified state, but every human is a god! The problem is the "engrams", the traumatic experiences in past lives, which impede spiritual progress, and they are the reason of all diseases.

The only remedy is 'auditing' which is very expensive. Auditing runs about $300 per hour, and courses, high level courses, of up to $10,000 or $50,000.

In Scientology, Jesus is not the creator. He was in control of supernatural powers, "cleared" from mental defects, but he was not an "operating thetan". Initially, Hubbard taught that Jesus did not exist. When Hubbard later acknowledged his existence, he claimed Jesus was gay. The Holy Spirit is not mentioned. Salvation comes after many "auditings."

The Worldwide Church of God was founded in 1934 by Herbert W Armstrong. At his death, his son, Garner Ted Armstrong took over the leadership of the Church. It teaches that the 10 lost tribes of Israel are the British and that the American descendants of the British are the "Chosen People of God". England is "Ephraim", and the USA is "Manasseh."

The WWCG teaches that all other churches teach in error. They deny the existence of the Trinity, and include keeping the Jewish feasts, the Sabbath, and keeping kosher. Armstrong once taught that Queen Elizabeth now sits on the Throne to which Christ will lay claim at His return.

Each of these former cults are now part of mainstream American Christianity, with huge influence that is translating into rapid growth.

Scientology's apologists include people like Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Isaac Hayes, Patrick Swayze and even Greta Van Susteren of Fox News.

Christian Science has the 'Monitor'; the Jehovah's Witnesses sell 100,000 tracts every day door to door; and the Mormons have their own state, Utah, complete with senators and congressmen.

Armstrongism has its "Plain Truth" Magazine, "The World Tomorrow" television program and Garner Ted Armstrong's "Philadelphia Trumpet" and "Key of David" television program.

The point is this. Each of these cults, claims to be Christian, while simultaneously denying His Deity. Each is in a position of tremendous influence.

While some of the media organs are currently benign, it wouldn't take much for them to be retooled as propaganda tools to advance the concept of Christians Without Christ as a workable religious system.

The proof is in the preponderance of them that exist already.

[Devious Viper]

Hmm, some quite interesting observations indeed..!

...all other churches teach in error. They deny the existence of the Trinity, and include keeping the Jewish feasts, the Sabbath, and keeping kosher.

You've made me feel like I belong to a doomsday cult! Because I firmly believe that all other churches but my own "teach in error"...  Although I do believe in the existence and nature of the Trinity, I also, however,  believe that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath of the Lord our God, commencing at sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. And observe the New Testament Passover on the night of the 14th of Abib, the anniversary of the death of our Savior; and believe in the commanded observance of the seven annual Holy Days that were given to ancient Israel by God; were kept by Jesus Christ, the apostles and the New Testament Church; and will be observed by all mankind during Christ's millennial reign.

Kosher? Well, I believe that those meats that are designated "unclean"
by God in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 are not to be eaten. Which is sometimes frustrating because in my youth I adored bacon sarnies!

I also believe that Scripture, both the Old and New Testament, is God's revelation and His complete expressed will to humanity; that it is divinely inspired in thought and word, infallible in the original writings; is the supreme and final authority in faith and in life; and is the foundation of all truth.

Am I a weirdo???

~Viper~

[emptyvoid]

I would say you are not a weirdo, but one with strong faith.  To me it is not about the "religion" or "doctrine" but about faith.  Christian, pagan, buddist, whatever, without true faith the point is mute.  The basic law is harm none.  If a particular "religion" harms someone through whatever means, then I feel it is a cult.  Empty Void  *SMILE*