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| Kingdom of the Cults, The | 
 enlarge | Author: Walter Martin
Creator: Ravi Zacharias
Publisher: Bethany House
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99 (70.60 RON)
Buy New: $19.79 (46.59 RON)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  133 reviews
Sales Rank: 26165
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Rev Upd
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 704
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.5
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.1 x 2.2
ISBN: 0764228218
Dewey Decimal Number: 209
EAN: 9780764228216
ASIN: 0764228218
Publication Date: October 1, 2003
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Product Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 128 more reviews...
 kingdom of the cults review August 9, 2008
the book ordered was in flawless condition, and was delivered in a timely manner. I was very pleased with the service i recieved.
 Everyone else is wrong? August 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 individual-but-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 psyhology 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 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 Religions 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.'
Submitted for whatever it might be worth to any reader.
Wonderful Resource June 19, 2008
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.
Great book to learn about how cults were created and work May 27, 2008
This book is very good for those who really want to know about how cults work and were created. Being a young Christian man, I have always wondered how many cults I have heard about started, and also how they have used and twisted Biblical scriptures to help support what they do. The book talks about many religious cults and other cults that I had never heard of before. It offers supporting Biblical text to support the argument against all of the cults mentioned in the book.
Reading other reviews I have seen good and bad reviews about the book. Some said it was harsh, some like it for what it is, the truth. I can logically see how a mormon or RCLDS or buddhist might take offense to the book, because it exposes the lies behind religious and some none religious cults. But reading through it, it sheds light on what people are falling for, and the founders of these cults who make money off of the lies they tell people and the information they keep from them.
I recommend this book to all who want to know the truth about what or who they believe in. Better to know this info now than to live and believe lies your whole life, then on judgment day find out you were wrong.
A must buy May 15, 2008
I originally bought this book years ago. And, I recently bought it for several members of our bible study. A well researched book on the different sects claiming to call themselves Christians. Bible based, factual, contains infomation to understand why their belief systems stand. It doesn't preach hate or ridicule, only gives the facts. Great book!
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