Mostrando títulos en Cultos

It’s 1970, and Jerry Walker is six years old. His consciousness revolves around being a member of a church whose beliefs he finds not only confusing but terrifying. Composed of a hodgepodge of requirements and restrictions—including a prohibition against doctors and hospitals—the underpinning tenet of Herbert W. Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God was that its members were divinely chosen and all others would soon perish in rivers of flames.

When he first met the man who called himself David Koresh, David Thibodeau was a drummer in a local a rock band. Though he had never been religious in the slightest, Thibodeau gradually became a follower and moved to the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. He remained there until April 19, 1993, when the compound was stormed and burned to the ground after a 51-day standoff with government authorities. In this compelling account - now with an updated epilogue that revisits remaining survivors - Thibodeau explores why so many people came to believe that Koresh was divinely inspired.

This book will explore the stories and role of demonic beings in different world cultures and religious traditions. Each chapter will detail dark creatures from all corners of the world and explore the symbolic meanings and cultural impact of these entities, showing how they reflect human fears, moral dilemmas, and spiritual beliefs. So what awaits you on this journey? Ancient Mesopotamian Demons Demonic Figures in Hindu Mythology Biblical Demons and Angels Demons in Islamic Texts Dark Creatures of Japanese Folklore Norse Mythology’s Dark Beings Dark Creatures in Slavic Mythology Spirits ...

Are you concerned about the doctrines of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (JSM)? With respect to the Scripture and sensitivity to people, this book gives a detailed account of the history of JSM with an in-depth analysis of Swaggart's teachings. While this writing compares Swaggartism to biblical Christianity, this is not a treatise against Christians who follow Swaggart. Rather, it is written to help believers recognize that some of the doctrines espoused by Jimmy Swaggart may hinder a close walk with Jesus. Jimmy Swaggart was one of the most famous televangelists of the 1980s. He has made a ...

In Walking with Daemonic Spirits, I introduce my unique system for working with daemonic spirits—a practice designed to deliver better and more consistent results. Traditional grimoire-based magic often relies on coercive methods for interacting with daemons. While this approach may yield some results, it comes with significant downsides, such as the need for constant vigilance and unpredictable outcomes. My approach takes a different path, encouraging the cultivation of long-term, collaborative relationships with daemonic spirits. In this book you will learn: My practice of effortless ...

Each year, the Jehovah's Witnesses spend about 2 billion hours evangelizing their communities around the world in 357 languages. Many think that they know the Jehovah's Witnesses, but the sources are usually twofold: (1) They are misinformed Bible scholars who have read books and websites by disgruntled ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. (2) They have read books or comments by disgruntled ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. Herein you will learn a lot that you may have not known and learn some things about how to better evangelize them, or if you are even up to evangelize them. Moreover, we will use some ...

The Culture of Cults Our current malaise raises questions: • Are we all soul-stained with selfishness... or is it just a healthy survival instinct? • Where is the line between normal self-interest and full- blown Narcissism? • How do we distinguish strong leadership from manipulation? Community from Cult? Drawing upon court cases and real world experiences, this book shows how cult gurus and “cult cultures” fit a predictable pattern, a common template of destructive traits and tactics. By studying Cult Culture, the author argues, we gain insight into current politics and Fascist ...

In Part I, I dive into Adventist doctrines about the nature of death, the nature of man, the intermediate state, annihilation, and the final punishment of the unsaved. Adventism subscribes to the doctrine of soul sleep, the nonexistence of an immaterial, conscious human spirit that survives the death of the body, and annihilation of the unsaved in the final judgement.

Born into the Church of Immortal Consciousness, Danny Rensch spent his childhood navigating the isolated confines of a cult. Despite psychological manipulation, physical abuse, and neglect, he persevered. An international chess master and world-class commentator, Rensch's remarkable journey led him to being the face of Chess.com, one of the largest online gaming platforms in the world. With unflinching honesty, Rensch recounts his life, starting from the moment he discovered chess in the summer of 1995, all the way up to being at the center of the most explosive cheating scandal in history.

Mania surrounding messianic prophets has defined the national consciousness since the American Revolution. From Civil War veteran and virulent anticapitalist Cyrus Teed, to the dapper and overlooked civil rights pioneer Father Divine, to even the megalomaniacal Jim Jones, these figures have routinely been dismissed as dangerous and hysterical outliers. After years of studying these emblematic figures, Adam Morris demonstrates that messiahs are not just a classic trope of our national culture; their visions are essential for understanding American history.

In 1971 Paulette Cooper wrote a scathing book about the Church of Scientology. Desperate to shut the book down, Scientology unleashed on her one of the most sinister personal campaigns the free world has ever known. The onslaught, which lasted years, ruined her life and drove her to the brink of suicide. The story of Paulette's terrifying ordeal is told in full for the first time in The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.

Belief and Cult argues that belief isn't uniquely Christian but was central to ancient Roman religion. Drawing on cognitive theory, Jacob Mackey shows that despite having nothing to do with salvation or faith, belief underlay every aspect of Roman religious practices—emotions, individual and collective cult action, ritual norms, social reality, and social power. In doing so, he also offers a thorough argument for the importance of belief to other non-Christian religions.

Exploring the Dark Feminine: Lamaštu and Lilith This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the mythological figures Lamaštu and Lilith, tracing their origins, roles, and transformations across various cultures and time periods. Chapter One introduces Lamaštu, an ancient Mesopotamian demoness, detailing her characteristics, names, and the types of activities attributed to her. It also covers related figures like Dimme and Pašittu, and delves into the forms and nature of Lamaštu, including her role in black magical theurgy. Chapter Two shifts focus to Lilith in Mesopotamia, ...

Nostradamus predicted the re-election of Donald Trump! It was because of this new finding in his prophecies that this second edition became mandatory. It is now clear that Nostradamus foresaw the rise to power of Trump. But why would a 16th century astrologer pay any attention to a 21st century president of the United States? Because Donald Trump in his first term in office set into motion the probable downfall of democracy and put in place the structure on which to build an autocratic state. He carried through with this plan in his second administration. This is critically important to the...

Randall Balmer's Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory is an insightful and engaging journey into the world of conservative Christians in America. Originally published 25 years ago and the basis for an award-winning PBS documentary, this timely new edition arrives just as recent elections have left an ever-growing number of secular Americans wondering exactly how the other half thinks.

While Waco remains notorious more for the federal agents’ siege of David Koresh’s compound and the deaths of the Branch Davidians, it was followed a few years later by a mass suicide carried out by one of the most notorious doomsday cults in American history. On paper, the extraordinarily unorthodox ideology spouted by Heaven's Gate ranks near the top of the list of most outlandish end-of-the-world prophecies, and it was built on a blend of Christian, Gnostic, supernatural, New Age, and extraterrestrial lore.

At the heart of being human is the desire to belong. It can make us unspeakably vulnerable to the manipulations of others. Cult leaders prey on this desire, but so do many unscrupulous operators hiding in plain sight. Sarah Steel, the creator of the popular 'Let's Talk About Sects' podcast, has researched the cults you've heard of—and dozens you haven't. What strikes her most are not the differences between bizarre cult behaviour and 'normal' behaviour but the depressing similarities. Her work reveals that we are all susceptible to the power of cult dynamics.

One of the most amazing stories in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ concerns the WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD. Never before in the history of Christianity has there been such a complete move to orthodox Christianity by un unorthodox fringe church. This group has done a complete turnabout since the death of its Founder and Leader, Herbert W. Armstrong, who died in 1986. They have abandoned all their former doctrinal and legalistic teaching and are busy transforming themselves into an evangelistic denomination. Who are they? And what do they believe? The Plain Truth: What Do They Believe?...

Peter Macdonald Blachly takes us on an amazing adventure, documenting the 17 years he spent in a spiritual cult, while providing candid insights into the circumstances and conditions that made him vulnerable to manipulation by a charismatic sociopath. His understanding of psychology and human weaknesses, and the lessons he draws from his own experiences are universal, making his memoir highly relevant today. The book provides a riveting account of Blachly’s introduction to yoga, his arranged marriage, and a thrilling and entertaining view of India during the 1970s and 1980s.

Discover a story of healing and personal transformation. Marlena’s childhood was full of contradictions. Her father was both a heroic doctor for people with leprosy and an abusive parent. Her Mennonite missionary community was both a devoted tribe and a controlling society. And Marlena longed to both be accepted in Paraguay and escape to somewhere new. In Nothing Bad Between Us, follow Marlena’s journey as she takes control of her life and learns to be her authentic self, scars and imperfections included.