Expose

Cults

Cults are everywhere. Some are mainstream and widely accepted. Others are isolationist and hide from examination at great expense. They are growing and flourishing. Some cause great suffering while others appear very helpful and beneficial. Which ever group it is, the ultimate end is their destruction when the Lord returns to claim His own.

What is a cult?
1. Generally, it is a group that is unorthodox, esoteric, and has a devotion to a person, object, or a set of new ideas.
  1. New Teaching - has a new theology and doctrine.
  2. Only True Teaching - often considers traditional religious systems to be apostate and it alone possess the complete truth.
  3. Strong Leadership - often an individual or small but powerful leadership group holds control of the group’s teachings and practices.
  4. Asset Acquirement - often requires tithing and/or property transfer to the religious system.
  5. Isolationist - to facilitate control over the members physically, intellectually, financially, and emotionally.
  6. Controlling - exercises control over the members. Sometimes this is through fear, threatening lose of salvation if you leave the group. Sometimes through indoctrination.
  7. Indoctrination - possesses methods to reinforce the cult’s beliefs and standards where opposing views are ridiculed and often misrepresented.
  8. Apocalyptic - to give the members a future focus and philosophical purpose in avoiding the apocalypse or being delivered through it.
  9. Experience - various practices including meditation, repetition of words and/or phrases, and ‘spiritual’ enlightenment with God are used as confirmation of their truth.
    1. Depravation - sleep and food deprivation which weakens the will of the subject.
    2. This is uncommon, though practiced by more severe cults
  10. Persecution - predictions of being persecuted and often combined with claiming any opposing views demonstrated against them as a form of persecution.
2. Many have a non-verifiable belief systems
  1. For example, they would teach something that cannot be verified.
    1. A space ship behind Hale-Bop comet
    2. Or, that God, an alien, or angel appeared to the leader and gave him a revelation
    3. The members are seeded angels from another world, etc.
  2. Often, the philosophy makes sense only if you adopt the full set of values and definitions that it teaches.
    1. With this kind of belief, truth becomes unverifiable, internalized, and easily manipulated through the philosophical systems of its inventor.
3. The Leader of a Cult
  1. Often charismatic who is considered very special for varying reasons:
    1. The leader has received special revelation from God.
    2. The leader claims to be the incarnation of a deity, angel, or special messenger.
    3. The leader claims to be appointed by God for a mission
    4. The leader claims to have special abilities
  2. The leader is often above reproach and is not to be denied or contradicted.
4. Cult ethos
  1. Usually seek to do good works, otherwise no one would join them.
  2. They are usually moral and possess a good standard of ethical teaching.
  3. Many times the Bible is used or additional "scriptures" are penned.
    1. The Bible, when used, is always distorted with private interpretations.
  1. Many Cults recruit Jesus as one of their own and redefine him accordingly
5. Cult groups vary greatly.
  1. From the ascetic to the promiscuous.
  2. From esoteric knowledge to very simple teachings.
  3. From the rich and power to the poor and weak.
Who is vulnerable to joining a cult?
1. Everyone is vulnerable.
  1. Rich, poor, educated, non-educated, old, young, previously religious, atheistic, etc.
2. General Profile of cult member (some or all of the following)
  1. Disenchanted with conventional religious establishments.
  2. Intellectually confused over religious and/or philosophical issues
  3. Sometimes disenchanted with society as a whole
  4. Has a need for encouragement and support
  5. Emotionally needful
  6. Needs a sense of purpose.
  7. Financially needful
Recruitment techniques
1. They find a need and fill it. One of the ways they do this is called
1. Many Cults use the influence of the Bible and/or mention Jesus as being one of their own; thereby adding validity to their system.
  1. Scripture twisting
    1. Those that use the Bible take verses out of context
    2. Then mix their misinterpreted verses with their aberrant philosophy.
2. Gradualism
  1. Slow altering of thinking processes and belief system through repeated teaching
    1. People usually accept cult doctrines one point at a time.
    2. New beliefs are reinforced by other cult members.
Why would someone join?
1. The cult satisfies various needs:
  1. Psychological - Someone could have a weak personality, easily lead.
  2. Emotional - Someone could have recently suffered an emotional trauma
  3. Intellectual - Someone has questions that this group answers.
2. The cult gives them approval, acceptance, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
3. The cult is appealing for some reason. It could be . . .
  1. Moral rigidity and purity
  2. Financial security
  3. Promises of exaltation, redemption, higher consciousness, or a host of other rewards.
How are they kept in the cult?
1. Dependence
  1. People often want to stay because the cult meets their psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs.
2. Isolation
  1. Outside contacts are reduced and more and more of the life of the member is built around the cult.
  2. It then becomes very easy to control and shape the member.
3. Cognitive Reconstruction (Brainwashing):
  1. Once the person is indoctrinated, their thinking processes are reconstructed to be consistent with the cult and to be submissive to its leaders.
  2. This facilitates control by the cult leader(s).
4. Substitution
  1. The Cult and cult leaders often take the place of mother, father, priest, teacher, and healer.
  2. Often the member takes on the characteristics of a dependent child seeking to win the approval of the leader and or group.
5. Indebtedness
  1. The member becomes indebted to the group emotionally, financially, etc.
6. Guilt
  1. The person is told that to leave is to betray the leader, God, the group, etc.
  2. The person is told that leave would mean to reject the love and help the group has given.
7. Threat
  1. Threat of destruction by God for turning from the truth.
  2. Sometimes physical threat is used, though not often.
  3. Threat of missing the apocalypse, or being judged on judgment day, etc.
How do you get them out?
1. The best thing is to try not to let them get trapped in the first place.
2. If you are a Christian, then pray.
3. But, to get a person out of a cult takes
  1. Time, energy, and support.
4. Teach them the truth.
  1. Give them a true replacement for their aberrant belief system
  2. Show the cult group's philosophic inconsistencies
  3. Study the group and learn its history seeking clues and information.
5. Try and get them physically away from the cult group.
6. Give them the support they need emotionally.
7. Alleviate the threat that if they leave the group they are doomed or in danger.
8. Generally, don't attack the leader of the group...that comes later.
9. Converts often feel a loyalty and respect for the founder of the group.
10. Confront them when needed.

Hopefully, this basic outline will give you information to see how Cults work and how to avoid them. If you have someone who is lost in a cult, you need to pray and ask the Lord to remove them and give you the insight and tools needed. It can be a long and arduous task and very often ends in failure. This is not an easy ministry.

Mormonism
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Mormon Doctrines

There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163); There is a mother goddess, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443); God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321); After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 345-347, 354); God resides near a star called Kolob, Pearl of Great Price, pages 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428.)

The Bible says there is only one God (Is. 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5). God is a trinity of persons, not three gods. God is eternally God (Psalm 90:2), therefore, He was never a man. God knows of no other gods (Is. 44:8). You cannot become a god (Is. 43:10). Mormonism is wrong.
One God verses

Isaiah 43:10, “You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me."
Isaiah 44:6, "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me."
Isaiah 44:8, "Do not tremble and do not be afraid; have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.”
Isaiah 45:5, "I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God."

The Trinity is three separate gods, (James Talmage, Articles of Faith, p. 35); God is increasing in knowledge, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 120); God has the form of a man, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3).
God the Father has a body of flesh and bones, (Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22); God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children, (Mormon Doctrine p. 516); We were first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born naturally on earth, (Journal of Discourse, Vol. 4, p. 218).

The Bible says that God is spirit (John 4:24) and that a spirit does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). Therefore, God doesn't have a body of flesh and bones and he isn't married to a goddess wife.

Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163); There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 188); There are three levels of heaven: telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348).
The Holy Ghost is a male personage, (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, p 118; Journal of Discources, Vol. 5, page 179); Baptism for the dead, (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. II, p. 141). This is a practice of baptizing each other in place of non-Mormons who are now dead. Their belief is that in the afterlife, the "newly baptized" person will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven.

Joseph Smith boasted he did more than Jesus to keep a church together.

Joseph Smith said, "I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet." (History of the Church, Vol. 6:408-9).

Mormonism condemns other religions

(Joseph Smith's first vision) "...I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right — and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight. . ." (History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 5-6.)
"But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong." (Brigham Young, "Journal of Discourses," Vol. 2, page 171. - 1855)

Mormons has a different Jesus

"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.'" (LDS Church News Week ending June 20, 1998, p.7)

Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith said, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (History of the Church, Vol. 4, page 461).
If the book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible and you can get closer to God by following it (History of the Church, 4:461), why does it not mention plurality of Gods, Word of Wisdom, God is an exalted man, celestial marriage, men may become Gods; three degrees of glory; baptism for the dead; eternal progression, the Aaronic Priesthood, and the Melchizedek Priesthood?
Changes in the Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 11:18, (1830 edition) "And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of [. . . . ] God, after the manner of the flesh." VERSES (1981 edition) "And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh."
1 Nephi 13:40, (1830 edition)"...and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is [. . . . ] the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world..." VERSES (1981 edition) "...and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the World..."
1 Nephi 20:1 (changed in 1964 ed.) "Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah,[. . . . ] which swear..." VERSES (1981 EDITION) "Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear..."
Alma 29:4, (1830 edition)"...yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills..." VERSES (1981 edition) "...yea, I know that he allotteth unto men [ . . . .] according to their wills..."
3 Nephi 22:4 (1830 edition) "...for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, [. . . . ] and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more." VERSES "...for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more."

Questions for Mormons

Why was Joseph Smith still preaching against polygamy in October 1843 after he got his revelation in July 1843 commanding the practice of polygamy? (Doc. & Cov. 132; and History of the Church Vol. 6, page 46, or Teachings of the Prophet, page 324).
If the Book of Mormon is true, why do Indians fail to turn white when they become Mormons? (2 Nephi 30:6, prior to the 1981 revision).
How did Joseph Smith carry home the golden plates of the Book of Mormon, and how did the witnesses lift them so easily? (They weighed about 230 lbs. Gold, with a density of 19.3 weighs 1204.7 lbs. per cubic foot. The plates were 7" x 8" by about 6". See Articles of Faith, by Talmage, page 262, 34th ed.)
If Moroni devoutly practiced the Mormon Gospel, why is he an angel now rather than a God? (Doc. & Cov. 132:17,37)
If Jesus was conceived as a result of a physical union between God and Mary, how was Jesus born of a virgin? (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 50).
How did Nephi with a few men on a new continent build a temple like Solomon's while Solomon needed 163,300 workmen and seven years to build his temple? (1 Kings 5:13-18 and 2 Nephi 5:15-17).
God rejected the fig leaf aprons which Adam and Eve made (Gen. 3:21). Why do Mormons memorialize the fall by using fig leaf aprons in the secret temple ceremonies?

Verses worth noting from LDS Scripture

Book of Mormon

Sufficiently Humble, "Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?," (Alma 5:27).
Mocking Brother, "Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless. 30 And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? 31 Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!" (Alma 5:29-31).

Doctrine and Covenants

Celestial Law, "For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory," (DC 88:22). --- following are excerpts from LDS.org, search on celestial law requirements

"If we are fully obedient to celestial law, fulfilling the laws of Christ, we will be worthy of a celestial glory. But for those who do not fully comply with celestial law, other lesser degrees of glory have been prepared..." (Delbert L. Stapley, “The Blessings of Righteous Obedience,” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 18).
"respect the opposite sex so that even lustful thoughts are foreign to the mind," (C. Kent Dunford, “Are You Ready to Be a Disciple of Christ?” New Era, Apr. 1975, 26)
"Obedience to Celestial Law Tithing is a part of the celestial law referred to in this revelation. Obedience to it is a prerequisite to being quickened in the resurrection by the fulness of the celestial glory," (Marion G. Romney, “The Blessings of an Honest Tithe,” New Era, Jan.–Feb. 1982, 45).
"When we talk of the celestial law which is revealed from heaven, that is, the Priesthood, we are talking about the principle of salvation, a perfect system of government, of laws and ordinances, by which we can be prepared to pass from one gate to another, and from one sentinel to another, until we go into the presence of our Father and God...(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 18: The Priesthood, 125)
"But what the scriptural account means is that to gain celestial salvation we must be able to live these laws to the full if we are called upon to do so. Implicit in this is the reality that we must in fact live them to the extent we are called upon so to do," (Bruce R. McConkie, “Obedience, Consecration, and Sacrifice,” Ensign, May 1975, 50).

Relativism

     Relativism is perhaps the easiest of all positions to refute. When someone states that all truth is relative or that there are no absolute truths, then it is a simple matter of demonstrating the illogic of their position. These short replies to their statements are just what you need.


"All truth is relative"

If all truth is relative, then the statement "All truth is relative" would be absolutely true. If it is absolutely true, then not all things are relative and the statement that "All truth is relative" is false.

"There are no absolute truths"

The statement "There are no absolute truths" is an absolute statement which is supposed to be true. Therefore it is an absolute truth and "There are no absolute truths" is false.
If there are no absolute truths, then you cannot believe anything absolutely at all, including that there are no absolute truths. Therefore, nothing could be really true for you - including relativism.

"What is true for you is not true for me"

If what is true for me is that relativism is false, then is it true that relativism is false? If you say no, then what is true for me is not true and relativism is false. If you say yes, then relativism is false.

If you say that it is true only for me that relativism is false, then I am believing something other than relativism; namely, that relativism is false. If that is true, then how can relativism be true?
If you say that it is true only for me that relativism is false, then am I believing a premise that is true or false or neither? If it is true for me that relativism is false, then relativism (within me) holds the position that relativism is false. This is self-contradictory and can't be true.
If it is false for me that relativism is false, then relativism isn't true because what is true for me is not said to be true for me.
If you say that what is true for me is neither really true or false, then relativism isn't true since it states that all views are equally valid and by not being, at least true, relativism is shown to be wrong.
If I believe that relativism is false, and if it is true only for me that it is false, then you must admit that it is absolutely true that I am believing that relativism false. If you admit that it is absolutely true that I am believing relativism is false, then relativism is defeated since you admit there is something absolutely true.
If I am believing in something other than relativism that is true, then there is something other than relativism that is true - even if it is only for me. If there is something other than relativism that is true, then relativism is false.

"No one can know anything for sure"

If that is true, then we can know that we cannot know anything for sure which is self defeating.

"That is your reality, not mine"

Is my reality really real or not?   If it is, then my reality states that relativism is false. If my reality is not true, then relativism isn't true either since it states that my reality is true.
If my reality is different than yours, how can my reality contradict your reality? If yours and mine are equally real, how can two opposite realities that exclude each other really exist at the same time -- especially since reality is that which is true?

"We all perceive what we want"

If we all perceive what we want, then how do you know that statement is true since I can want to perceive that your statement is false?
If we all perceive what we want, then what are you wanting to perceive? If you say you want to perceive truth, how do you know if you are not deceived? Simply desiring truth is no proof you have it.

"You may not use logic to refute relativism"

Why may I not use logic to refute relativism? Do you have a logical reason for your statement? If not, then you aren't being logical. If you do, then you are using logic to refute logic and that can't happen.
Can you give me a logical reason why logic cannot be used?
If you use relativism to refute logic, then on what basis is relativism (that nothing is absolutely true) able to refute logic which is based upon truth since you must assume relativism is absolutely true to be able to refute logic.
If you use relativism to refute logic, then relativism has lost its relative status since it is used to absolutely refute the truth of something else.

"We are only perceiving different aspects of the same reality"

If our perceptions of reality are contradictory, can either perception be trusted?
Is truth self contradictory? If it were, then truth wouldn't be true because it would be self refuting. If something is self refuting, then it isn't true.
If that is true that we are perceiving different aspects of the same reality, then am I believing something that is false since I believe that your reality is not true? How then could they be the same reality?
If you are saying that it is merely my perception that is not true, then relativism is refuted. If I am believing something that is false, then relativism is not true since it holds that all views are equally valid.
If my reality is that your reality is false, then both cannot be true. If both are not true, then one of us (or both) is in error. If one or both of us is in error, then relativism is not true.

"Relativism itself is excluded from the critique that it is absolute and self-refuting"

On what basis do you simply exclude relativism from the critique of logic? Is this an arbitrary act? If so, does it justify your position? If it is not arbitrary, what criteria did you use to exclude it?
To exclude itself from the start is an admission of the logical problems inherent in its system of thought.

Roman Catholicism

There is so much about the Catholic Church that is fascinating. They teach many orthodox things, and then they teach so many non orthodox doctrines.

Baptism saves

". . Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that 'we too might walk in newness of life,'" (Catechism of the Catholic Church par. 977).
"Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God's mercy," (CCC, par. 2020).
But the Bible says:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast," (Eph. 2:8-9).
"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).

Grace

"Sanctifying grace is the gratuitous gift of his life that God makes to us; it is infused by the Holy Spirit into the soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it" (CCC, par. 2023).

Islam

The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day." (CCC, par. 841)

Justification

"Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God's mercy," (CCC, par. 2020).
"If any one saith, that it is an imposture to celebrate masses in honour of the saints, and for obtaining their intercession with God, as the Church intends; let him be anathema. (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 5)
"If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9).
"If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema." (Canon 14).
Verses on Justification to counter the RC position

"being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 3:24).
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," (Rom. 3:28).
"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," (Rom. 4:3).
"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness," (Rom. 4:5).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).
"Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him," (Rom. 5:9).
"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved," (Rom. 10:9).
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).

Trent anathematized anyone who claimed assurance of salvation (Canon 14 on Justification), contrary to the Bible (1 John 5:13). In Roman Catholic salvation initial justification is granted to you via baptism (Catechism of the Catholic Church par 2020; 1247), successive sacred rites (CCC 1248), not by faith alone (CCC 1815), but with service (CCC 1816).
am am amJustification can be lost by sinning. To regain the grace of justification you must participate in the sacraments and perform penance (CCC, par. 1446; Council of Trent (Sess. XIV, c. i).

Mary per Catholicism

"Holy Mary, Mother of God...we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us as she prayed for herself: 'Let it be to me according to your word.' [Lk 1:38] By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her: 'Thy will be done,' (CCC 2677).
"By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the 'Mother of Mercy,' the All-Holy One. We give ourselves over to her now, in the Today of our lives. And our trust broadens further, already at the present moment, to surrender 'the hour of our death' wholly to her care." (CCC 2677).
[Mary] "Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation .... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.'" (CCC, par. 969)
Mary is "The mother of the members of Christ," (CCC par. 963). She was "Preserved free from all stain of original sin," (CCC, par. 966). She is "Queen over all things" (par. 966). By Mary’s prayers, she delivers souls from death (par. 966). Mary, "...by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation....
"The Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix" (CCC par. 969). "The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, are an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel,’" (par. 971).
Mary, "...when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven..." (par. 974). "...when she [Mary] is the subject of preaching and worship she prompts the faithful to come to her Son..." (Vatican Council II, p. 420).
"Mary has by grace been exalted above all angels and men to a place second only to her Son" (Vatican Council II, p. 421). "This mother...is waiting and preparing your home for you," (Handbook for Today’s Catholic, p.31).

Mary per the Bible

Mary, the very blessed woman, lost her virginity. "And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, ²⁵ and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus," (Matt. 1:25).
Mary the very blessed woman, needed a savior. Only sinners need saviors: "And Mary said: 'My soul exalts the Lord, ⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,'" (Luke 1:46-47).

Jesus' brothers

There are many arguments pro and con concerning Jesus’ siblings. But the issue cannot be settled without examining Psalm 69, a Messianic Psalm. Jesus quotes Psalm 69:4 in John 15:25, "But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’"
Clearly, Psalm 69 is a Messianic Psalm since Jesus quoted it in reference to Himself two times. The reason this is important is because of what is written between the verses that Jesus quoted.

Penance

"Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification..." (CCC, par. 1446).
"By Christ's will, the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of penance ," (CCC par. 986).
"As a means of regaining grace and justice, penance was at all times necessary for those who had defiled their souls with any mortal sin. . . .The Council of Trent (Sess. XIV, c. i).

Purgatory

The 2nd Vatican Council, p. 63, "The truth has been divinely revealed that sins are followed by punishments. God’s holiness and justice inflict them. Sins must be expiated. This may be done on this earth through the sorrows, miseries and trials of this life and, above all, through death. Otherwise the expiation must be made in the next life through fire and torments or purifying punishments."

Salvation

"We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere 'to the end' and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works
"Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification," (CCC, par. 2010).

Terms

Assumption
Masss - a reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross in a ceremony performed by a priest. This ceremony is symbolically carried out by the priest and involves
Mortal Sin - a serious and willful transgression of God's Law. It involves full knowledge and intent of the will to commit the sin. If left unrepentant, can damn someone to eternal hell. '
Purgatory - a place of temporary punishment where the Christian is cleansed from sin before they can enter into heaven.
Rosary - A string of beads containing five sets with ten small beads. Each set of ten is separated by another bead. It also contains a crucifix. It is used in saying special prayers, usually to Mary where the rosary is used to count the prayers.
Transubstantiation - The teaching that the bread and wine in the communion supper become the body and blood of the Lord Jesus at the Consecration during the Mass.
Venial Sin - A sin but not as bad as Mortal Sin. It lessens the grace of God within a person's soul.

Tradition

". . .the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, ‘does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence'." (CCC, par. 82.)
Verses dealing with Tradition

Matt. 15:4-6, Jesus said, "For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death 5But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or mother, Anything of mine you might have been helped by has been given to God, 6he is not to honor his father or his mother. And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition."
Mark 7:8-9, "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. ⁹He was also saying to them, You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition."
Col. 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."

Refuting Tradition

"But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater," (Heb. 7:7). The context deals with Melchizedek blessing Abraham, but the principle that the lesser is blessed by the greater is still true. If the Catholic appeals to scripture to validate tradition, then he is appealing to scripture as the superior source in order to validate his tradition, the lesser being tradition.

Transubstantiation

Verses they use to support it.

Matt. 26:28, "for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins."
John 6:52-53, "The Jews therefore began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” ⁵³ Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves"

Yet, Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life," (John 6:63).

1 Cor. 11:27, " Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord."

Re: Transubstantiation: 1st, the Supper was instituted before Jesus' crucifixion; hence, how could it be a re-sacrifice since it hadn't happened when Jesus instituted it? 2nd, transub. violates Levitical law forbidding drinking of blood (Lev. 17:14). 3rd, it violates the incarnation - for a man (Jesus) cannot be physically omnipresent as transub. would physically require.

Eucharist

How is it possible for the Eucharist to be the body and blood of Christ? Isn't a man only in one place at one time as Jesus was in the incarnation? He is still a man (1 Tim. 2:5). Therefore, the incarnation means that the man Jesus is only at one place at a time. Therefore, the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist violates the doctrine of the incarnation of Christ.

The Eucharist is the broken body and shed blood of Christ, right? When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper he said it was his body and blood, but how can that be since he was sitting right there? Was he sitting there and also physically in the bread and wine, too?

The Eucharist is the broken body and shed blood of Christ, right? When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper he said it was his body and blood, but he hadn't yet been crucified, so how could it be his shed blood and broken body?

Oneness

Baptism - Oneness groups teach baptism (in Jesus' name) is necessary for salvation

If baptism is necessary for salvation, then why are we justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) and not faith and baptism?
"In Jesus' name" is a reference to authority, not method. Acts 4:7 shows that people were asking “By what authority, or in what name, have you done this?” To Baptize in Jesus' name means to Baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit just as Jesus commanded in (Matt. 28:19)
If baptism is essential for salvation, then what happens to someone who repents of sin, accepts Jesus as Savior, walks across the street to get baptized but is killed by a car. Does he go to heaven or hell?

If he goes to heaven, then baptism isn't a requirement is it?
If he goes to hell, then faith in Christ isn't sufficient to save him is it?

Trinity

We use the term "person" regarding each member of the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), because each of them displays attributes of personhood, i.e., each speaks, is aware of others and himself, possesses a will, has emotions, etc. Hence, the term person.

Questions for Oneness people

Is Jesus His own Father? If so, how can He be the Father of Himself?
If God is only one person, why did Jesus say in John 14:23, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." If God is only one person, why does Jesus say, "we"?
If you say He is the Father of the flesh, then how can that be a real incarnation? If it isn't a real incarnation, then the atonement cannot save.
If God is only one person, then how can the one person have two separate and distinct wills at the same time on the exact same subject? Jesus said, "Not my will but your will be done," (Luke 22:42), when speaking to the Father.
Was Jesus praying to Himself in the Garden of Gesthemene? If so, how is it possible to do that? Jesus was not praying to Himself. We see in Scripture, Jesus praying to the Father.
If the flesh of Jesus was talking to the spirit of Jesus when He prayed "Not my will but your will be done" (Luke 22:42), then how is Jesus really the incarnation of God since you have the flesh arguing with the spirit and they seem to be totally distinct and separate?
Regarding Isaiah 9:6, If Jesus' name is "Eternal Father," then why don't we call Jesus "Eternal Father"? For that matter, why don't we call his name "Wonderful counselor," or "Mighty God," or "Prince of Peace"?

Isaiah 9:6, "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

Is Jesus in physical, human form right now? Since the Bible teaches us that Jesus is in bodily form now (Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5), then how does the Oneness person maintain that God is in the form of the Holy Spirit?
If baptism is essential for salvation, then what happens to someone who repents of sin, accepts Jesus as Savior, walks across the street to get baptized but is killed by a car. Does he go to heaven or hell?

If he goes to heaven, then baptism isn't a requirement is it?
If he goes to hell, then faith in Christ isn't sufficient to save him is it?

What is the name of God, according to God Himself? "The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you,’” (Ex. 3:13-14). God's self-given name is I AM.
If Jesus is the Father and the Father judges no one, then Jesus could not be judge. Isn't that right?

Verses Examined

Matt. 28:19,"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

This is the formula that Jesus commanded that we use. If the Oneness people are so biblical, why do they not obey Jesus' own words.

John 3:5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

How can John 3:5 refer to Christian baptism when it hadn't been instituted yet. The only baptism known at that time was the Baptism of John the Baptist and it was about repentance.
The context of John 3:5 refers to natural birth and spiritual birth, fleshly birth and spiritual birth which is why Nicodemus referred to his mother's womb, and Jesus says in verse 6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 2:38 simply says that repentance and forgiveness of sins are connected. In the Greek, "repent" is in the plural and so is "your" of "your sins."
Regarding Acts 2:38, the Bible Knowledge Commentary says, "The preposition used here is eis which, with the accusative case, may mean "on account of, on the basis of." Therefore, you get baptized on because of repentance.
Acts 2:38, check out Acts 2:39 which deals with the covenant of baptism and its relation to the children. This is covenant language.

Acts 22:16, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Regarding Acts 22:16, our sins are washed away by calling on Jesus name, not by being dunked in water.

1 Pet. 3:21, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Look at the context of verses 18-20. What saved Noah, the flood or the Ark? It was the Ark. Peter says in like manner baptism saves you. Noah entered the Ark by faith which is why Peter goes on to say, "not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience."

Many people claim to have been helped through going on the Alpha course and believe it has brought them an understanding of God and how to respond to Him. Testimonies and accounts of wonderful things that have happened to individuals abound. In the light of all this, surely there cannot be anything wrong with it? With so many in today's society gripped by materialism and atheism, can Alpha be anything other than a good thing?

Many people have been greatly impressed by the Alpha course. Designed to be an introduction to the Christian faith through talks, video presentations, small-group discussions and a special weekend-away, lots of churches are now employing it as part of their outreach. In the eyes of many it has been a 'run-away-success' and its fame has spread far beyond the UK, and Holy Trinity Brompton, the London church where it originated. It is no exaggeration to say it has spread right across the world and is now finding friends in several continents. It has been adapted so as to be accessible to young people and has also proved versatile enough to be used in prisons, schools and places of work. Churches in inner cities and rural areas have found it sufficiently flexible for their needs. Future plans for expansion suggest that Alpha is very much here to stay.

What is more, many people claim to have been helped through going on the Alpha course and believe it has brought them an understanding of God and how to respond to Him. Testimonies and accounts of wonderful things that have happened to individuals abound. In the light of all this, surely there cannot be anything wrong with it? With so many in today's society gripped by materialism and atheism, can Alpha be anything other than a good thing? As young people become hopelessly enmeshed in a godless culture, should we not applaud the efforts of Alpha and help make it a success?

We wished that the answers to these questions could be an emphatic 'Yes'. But closer examination of Alpha prevents such a clean bill of health being given to it. Why this concern? There are six vital reasons we would like to bring to your attention.

1. The God of Alpha is not the God of the Bible.
Alpha quotes from the Bible a lot. It cannot be faulted on that. But for all this it does not present us with the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible. There is much we could say about the God of the Scriptures. He is the Creator of the universe and the one who upholds it and maintains it. He is a great King and Sovereign over all He has made. We are challenged to ponder,

To whom then will you liken me.
Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of his might and the strength of his power;
Not one is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)

He is high and holy. He dwells in heaven and is all-glorious. Nothing impure can live in His presence. For those that fall short of His glory and perfection, there is judgement that follows (Romans 6:23).

Now of course much more could be said. But you will have to search hard and long in Alpha to find a God that resembles the One just described. Nothing about Him as Creator, nothing about Him as a great King. He is assumed rather than described. The Bible tells us 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God' (Hebrews 10:31). But we would not be any wiser of this from going on the Alpha Course. It simply fails to tell us anything we need to know about God.

2. The plight of man in Alpha is not as serious as in the Bible.

Man's state until he is reconciled to God is not a happy one. Psalm 7:11 tells us:

God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
The gospel of John makes this abundantly plain:
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe
the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

Man without God is subject to the wrath of God. We are not slightly displeasing to Him. It is not that we have occasional faults and foibles that surface. It is what we are by nature. The apostle Paul explains that we are '...by nature children of wrath...' (Ephesians 2:3). This is very strong language and leaves us in no doubt. We have offended against God and broken His holy law. We are sinners in His sight and deserve condemnation. It is as straightforward as that.

By contrast, Alpha does not use strong terms and leaves us rather unclear about where we stand. As one follows its argument, sin is more to be seen in the way we have 'messed up our lives' (Gumbel 1994: 44,47). It is an inward-looking description of man's state that majors on his feelings of fearfulness (Gumbel 1994:22). It is a picture of man predominated by his feelings of sadness and unhappiness (Gumbel 1994:12-22). 1

Now of course these things are all true. This is what life is like for sinners. It is a miserable life for them. Yet this is to major on the consequences of sin rather than sin itself. These are the miseries that follow inevitably because we are sinners. The problem, however, is more serious than simply sin's consequences. Alpha fails to tell us that ultimately we have offended God and courted His displeasure. We have sinned against God and are justly under His judgement. We are people '...having no hope and without God in the world' (Ephesians 2:12). For all the gravity of sin, Alpha never allows us to feel too bad about ourselves. It never permits us to see ourselves in God's sight. That is a big omission.

3. The Jesus Christ of Alpha is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.

This may surprise us. Alpha appears to have quite a lot to say about the Lord Jesus. It tells us what He did, what He said, the claims He made about Himself and establishes beyond doubt that the resurrection actually took place. But despite having part of the course entitled 'Why did Jesus die?', it is unable in the final analysis to answer this question. This is a core issue.

Christ died because God's holy justice required it. Our lives were forfeit. We had sinned and were helpless. Christ had to die in the place of sinners who truly deserved to bear the penalty for their sin. Christ's death propitiated or appeased the wrath of God (Romans 3:25,1 John 2:2). Alpha has not described God to us and therefore has no meaningful place for God's wrath. Christ's death ends up having to satisfy some abstract principle of justice that has somehow become detached from God Himself.

Alpha's own illustrations and attempts to explain get us no closer to the heart of the matte