Kingdom of the Cults The
The authoritative reference work on major cult systems for nearly forty years. Working closely together, Ravi Zacharias and Managing Editors Jill and Kevin Rische (daughter of Dr. Martin) have updated and augmented the work with new material. This book will continue as a crucial tool in countercult ministry and in evangelism for years to come. Among cults and religions included are: Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, New Age Cults, the Unification Church, Baha'i Faith, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and more.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Wonderful Resource
Kingdom of the Cults is a must have resource for anyone dealing with religious or modern societal issues. Though the authors are slanted a bit too far to the conservative protestant fundamentalist wing to make the book a scholarly objective work, it is nonetheless a valuable and exhaustive resource on a multitude of religious movements. This is a must have for every serious professional or personal theological library.
2 Stars Everyone else is wrong?
Kingdom of the Cults, The
I have lived with this book since the year 2003 when I first purchased it at a local book store.
The author seeks to show why most of the other religions, that is to say, other than the mainstream, traditional Christian religions are wrong and all non-Christian religions, well . . . they don't even count.
The only ones I know of who go him one better are the Jeohvah's Witnesses who take the view that all religions, that is to say, all non-Watchtower systems are false, whether they claim to be Christian or otherwise. To the Jehovah's Witnesses, the harlot of The Revelation is not the Pope or someone else, but to quote them, it is "the world-wide empire of false religion." Both he and they seem to me to be rather arrogant in their similar assertions.
In his article on the Watchtower Society, he seeks to show that the Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong in their denial of the truth of the Trinity doctrine. This section of his book is replete with many scripture citations from mainly the New Testament.
I have looked up all his references including the ones he cites as used by the Watchtower theologians in support of their Arian point of view. In both cases, his and theirs, none of the texts are conclusive, some are only promising, and many assertions supposedly supported by a New Testament text turn out to be merely non-sequiturs.
I recently attended a Bible study group who use a weekly outline for study published by a Lutheran (LCMS) source. One weekly outline made the almost astounding statement that 'the Trinity doctrine confuses more than it explains and needs to be rethought for the 21st century.' Nevertheless, this comment displays a willingness to re-examine an historic, theological concept in the present era. And even more astounding when you consider Lutheranism would probably be grouped by Dr. Martin with traditional, mainstream Christianity. Personally, I don't see that the Trinity doctrine, as formulated, is explicitly taught in the New Testament.
Dr. Martin's tome sets out to prove that all other religions are simply wrong . . . worse, malicious and demoniacal in intent. He sets aside some space in which he counsels that true Christians need to approach cult members in a loving, caring manner. It mystifies me that after one has been exposed to (and possibly absorbed) so much of his evangelical bile, and blatant contempt, that such one could be expected to approach a cult member in a Christian spirit. His approach more resembles that of the "sons of Zebedee" who are referred to in the New Testament as the 'sons of thunder,' according to one translation. But then, their ancient example seems to have more to do with judgmentalism, denunciation and condemnation rather than Christian love.
And, he seems to be contemptuous of women, not entirely surprising, since the church has marginalized women from the outset–he cites such women as Marie Russell, Elena Blavatsky, Mary Baker Eddy, Myrtle Fillmore and other women as founding a specific religion or excercising undue influence on men who have founded a religion. He does make an exception in the case of Ellen G. White and Seventh Day Adventism. In the case of this chuch, he seems to cut it just a little bit of slack. Curious.
Then, he makes certain pronouncemnts on the psychology of some of the religious founders, such as Charles T. Rusell of the Watchtower Society, or Mary Baker Eddy of Christian Science. However, he presents no credentials which would indicate he has studied extensively in the field of psychology, normal or abnormal. And his psychological assessments of these individuals proceeds from what they have written or what has been written about them. Has he interviewed any of them?
And the book is replete with arguments "ad hominem" which I define . . . as discrediting the messenger before attempting to discredit the message. This from a man who holds a doctorate in the field of Comparative Religion is not a little surprising and is certainly disturbing.
In short, he resorts to some of the unscrupulous tactics of the systems and theologians he seeks to discredit or refute, which tactics he decries in his book. This has the effect of undermining his arguments. He is, I think, not one of Christianity's better apologists.
To summarize . . . If one wants to get an idea of some of the major religious thought that is out there, this book can be useful, but I would ad the caveat . . . do not accept uncritically all the ideas advanced. Reading between the lines is not a bad policy to be guided by in the case of this book or any other similar work. And checking out original sources is a good idea, too.
I remain unconvinced of his fundamental premises, but I do agree with him when he says that . . . 'the cults are the unpaid debts of the [traditional, Christian] churches.'
1 Star False representation in the name of God?
This volume, apparently the primary literary source upon which the countercult industry has been built, first appeared in 1965.
It has been reissued in revised editions in 1977 and 1985. In 1997, after Martin's death, Hank Hanegraaff, who had immediately taken control of Martin's massive Christian Research Institute (CRI), served as general editor of a "revised, updated, and expanded anniversary edition."
But Hanegraaff was not a loyal follower of the late "Dr." Walter Martin.
There was soon an ugly, acrimonious falling out between Hanegraaff (and his supporters) and Martin's family (aligned with many former CRI employees).
In this edition of Martin's most influential book, Hanegraaff has been replaced as general editor by Ravi Zacharias, who has his own lucrative international ministry and who is a popular writer and spectacular stump speaker.
Zacharias is not known as a countercultist. He indicates that it was for him "a great privilege to be asked by [Martin's] family to serve as general editor of this volume" (p. [9]). He seems merely to have lent his name to the project.
Kevin Rische and Jill Martin Rische, Walter Martin's daughter, did the editing for this edition. They indicate that "several chapters removed from previous editions were updated and included in this new edition" (p. [13]).
What is not said is that essays by Hanegraaff and his supporters (for example Gretchen Passantino and Richard Abanes, among others) were summarily removed from this edition without comment. The role of Kurt Van Gorden, who reportedly "began his work in Christian Apologetics under Dr. Walter Martin's ministry in 1976 as a staff researcher, writer and missionary" and who also "served as Dr. Martin's teaching assistant and directed his Bible classes" (p. [7]) has been upgraded and emphasized–he is now described as the senior researcher.
If you appreciate sloppy research and unverified sources this is your book. It is filled with half-truths, innuendo, and misrepresentation of a people's faith position. If this is your cup of tea–enjoy!
4 Stars Isn't it great
Kingdom of the Cults, The
To start with, I think this is a great book. To see that the reviews are mixed is great. Any good this has mixed views. To see how upset people are shows that this book hit the mark. This book is backed by biblical support and these cult's books as well. When people get mad like this, it is for a reason. That reason is because it hits home with them, either personally or with someone they know. The truth is in the bible and if your "religion" trys to distort or twist the bible, its wrong. If you have to write a book that "goes along" with the bible, it really isn't right. This thing of getting upset because Christians claim to be the only one that is right is dumb. If we didn't think we were right, we wouldn't be Christians would we. We believe in the bible and Jesus Christ and there isn't room for anything else because God said that their isn't. We base our lives and faith off Jesus and the bible and anything else is non Christian. We do not hate anyone, but we do not agree with other teachings, it's just that simple. Books like this show that we love and care enough to inform others of the truth. Every religion does it, but not everyone does it out of love. Could their be things that were not true in the book, added out of error? It is very possible. Everything in life comes with a margin of error. We are only human trying to do the best with what we have. What is right for you might not be right for me. That doesn't change the fact that we need to love and dissagree with that in mind.
5 Stars kingdom of the cults review
the book ordered was in flawless condition, and was delivered in a timely manner. I was very pleased with the service i recieved.
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