The Barriers of Belief
© Brian Allan 2003
It is perhaps due to an innate human desire for spiritual focus that a variety of religious belief systems were created. Depending upon your lights, some are good and some are bad, but all require one specific element to exist, faith, for without blind, unquestioning faith none can exist. Although this description is normally used to define the three great monotheistic religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, it also encompasses fringe doctrines, e.g. cults and sects and these perhaps even more so. It is also fair to suggest that at least in its infancy, Christianity, in common with all small and unusual beliefs was originally regarded as a Jewish cult founded on the teachings and philosophy of an unorthodox rabbi.
The crossover from cult status to that of conventional mainstream religion lies primarily in the acceptance of the spiritual validity and tenets of the cult by the majority of those outside it. Conversely, if a cult grows sufficiently powerful and populous, then any dissent is effectively silenced, sometimes by absorbing the opposition. In the case of Christianity this was especially true and the argument that cults only venerate, recognise or worship a single charismatic figure, usually the cult leader, is circumvented because Jesus (Yeshua) and God are deemed as different aspects of the same entity, therefore there is no apparent contradiction. Although this generally holds good, even powerful, mainstream religions like Roman Catholicism can and do splinter into internal cult-like schisms. Despite being officially discouraged, cults dedicated to the Virgin Mary and certain saints are a case in point. In fact, devotion to the mother figure, irrespective of whether it is the mother of Christ or not, is common throughout history.
However, before examining some smaller extreme groups, it is worthwhile examining the beliefs of a few larger, nominally Christian, non-mainstream denominations. There are also some organisations; the ‘Church of Scientology’ and one of its splinter group, ‘The Process Church of the Final Judgement’ which comprises former Scientologists, are good examples that do not actually promote a scripture based faith at all. Instead, they (legitimately) invoke the term ‘church’ for purposes invented by their founders to legitimise their actions. Where scripture is used it is always after the event and then only when it can be distorted or misinterpreted to fit the secular premise. At this juncture it is probably as well to make the point that despite filling a perceived spiritual need, control of the specific group is behind all religions irrespective of size, legitimacy or otherwise. In the case of mainstream religions however, the element of control is implicit rather than overt.
The Unification Church
To claim that size alone constitutes a claim to religious or spiritual validity is doubtful; there are many examples of unorthodox belief claiming hundreds of thousands, even millions of adherents, however, this still does not elevate them beyond cult
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status. This category includes ‘The Unification Church’, better known as ‘The Moonies’ after the founder the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, ‘The Mormons’ sometimes (and more correctly) known as ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints,’ the ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses,’ and many much smaller groups. In the case of these particular beliefs, worship of a deity, any deity, is secondary to control. This is particularly true of the ‘Unification Church,’ whose billionaire founder, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, (the term ‘reverend’ is a courtesy title) claims among other things to have exerted a powerful influence on the election of former US president George Bush. Indeed, it is on record that ex-president Bush and his wife Barbara regularly speak on behalf of organisations subsidiary to the Unification Church.
When challenged about this, Bush stated through his spokesman Jim McGrath, that “the former president and his wife are aware of the Federation’s (Women’s Federation for World Peace) origins and also complaints by anti cult groups and relatives of Moon’s followers, but do not intend to change their speaking plans. They are aware that the group has some ties to Sun Myung Moon, but the purpose of the group is not that of the Unification Church”. [Houston Chronicle July 26, 1995]. Despite the continued protests at his actions, Bush continued to speak at Unification Church/Moon sponsored events. However, the protests apparently had some effect, because through McGrath, Bush stated that his fee from a Moon sponsored event in 1996 would be donated to charity, his fees at that time were currently estimated to be $80,000 per speech. [Washington Post, July 30, 1996]. This, while appearing magnanimous did not reflect his true earnings from the series of six speeches, which were in fact estimated at $1,000,000. An example of the money involved can be judged from a speech given at the Tokyo Dome in Japan where over 50,000 people paid between $105 and $196 for admission [The Washington Post, August 4, 1996].
Other notable people who have spoken at Moon sponsored events include former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, Correta Scott King, (the wife of Martin Luther King), comedian Bill Cosby, astronaut Sally Ride and singer Pat Boone with his family. In fairness, Cosby tried to withdraw from the proposed event, but when faced with the prospect of litigation for breach of contract, he did actually appear. The teachings of the Unification Church state that Christ did not complete his mission during his time on earth and Moon will complete what Jesus did not. Another standard piece of Unification theology states that “Christ was the outcome of a relationship between Mary and her cousins husband Zacharias”. In a February 7th 1995 address given in Washington DC, Moon said, “Who was the father of Jesus? Zacharia.” Continuing, “The result of the relationship between Zacharia and Mary was the birth of Jesus Christ”, [Today’s World, April 1995]. Evidently the Christ of the Unification Church is not the biblical Christ. It is vital to Moon and his aims to be seen associating with the wealthy and powerful since it increases the legitimacy of the Unification Church in the minds of waverers.
The Mormons
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, sometimes simply known as the ‘LDS’, is an equally curious organisation whose seeds were sown in the United States in 1823 following the appearance of an angel, ‘Moroni’, to Joseph Smith, then in his late teens. The ‘angel’ revealed the location of a hidden book consisting of gold plates containing ‘the fullness of everlasting gospel’ which would reveal the identity of the former inhabitants of the continent and the source from whence they came.When Smith eventually set out to recover
the golden tablets in 1827, he discovered they were written in ‘reformed Egyptian’, a lost language. Since Smith could not translate it into English, according to which information one uses, Moroni thoughtfully presented him with either two ‘magic stones’ called ‘Urim’ and ‘Thummim’, in effect a form of Rosetta stone or a magical translating device sometimes referred to as ‘the divine spectacles’. Unlikely as it may seem, it should also be noted that it has also been
claimed elsewhere that ‘Urim’ and ‘Thummim’ are parts of an ancient laser device, so their provenance and legitimacy is doubtful in the extreme. The only possible link is in their alleged use as optical devices.
The translated message revealed that around 600BC, a group of Hebrews migrated to America led b a prophet ‘Lehi’. The group split into two factions, the ‘Lamanites’ and the ‘Nephites’. The Nephites prospered while the Lamanites did not, this situation eventually culminated in a war between them which the Lamanites won, and eventually evolved into the Native Americans. Prior to this, Jesus (following his ascension into heaven) had appeared to the Nephites and taught them his truths. These teachings were then collected and abridged by the prophet Mormon, added to by his son Moroni who in turn buried them. Following Moroni’s death, he eventually returned as an angel and revealed their location to Joseph Smith and the rest is history. It is perhaps fortuitous for the LDS, that Smith returned both the gold plates and the translating device to Moroni who took them back to heaven, thereby conveniently removing both the evidence and any source of disagreement with Smiths translation. Critics of this explanation are told that eleven of Smith’s original followers were shown some of the symbols that Smith wrote down during the translation; this is held to be sufficient proof and verification of their physical existence.
The hierarchical structure of the LDS contains two distinct classes of priesthood, the Aaronic and the Melchizedck. The Aaronic is entirely involved in the day to day logistics of running the church, while the Melchizedck tends to the purely spiritual needs. Prior to 1987, blacks did not attain either class of priesthood, although since then, to avoid accusations of racism, this unwritten policy was changed. One of the fundamental tenets of the Book of Mormon states that each of the faithful is a saint, and that God was once human, ‘As man is, God once was, As God is, Man may become’, [The Book of Mormon]. Currently with a congregation of around 10 million, they keep accurate genealogical records to enable converts to baptise their ancestors. As is common with faiths like this, they also preach that their teachings are the only way by which man can attain his ‘just reward’. Perhaps uncharitably, non-Mormons assert that Smith invented the entire book of Mormon on his own account, while another body of opinion holds that the book is based on the manuscript of a novel authored by the Rev. Solomon Spaulding. While there is no doubt that the majority of adherents to these cults have the best motives and intentions, there is likewise no doubt that the motives of the hierarchy bear stringent examination. I hasten to point out that the lifestyle of the average practising Mormon is above reproach, they are clean living and industrious, they do not drink alcohol, coffee, (although, perhaps decaffeinated coffee may now be sanctioned) or tea. Neither do they approve of contraception, this was doubtless not due to any religious constraints, but rather a perceived need to produce more of the faithful.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses
Before leaving this collection of non-mainstream faiths, there is one more that promotes unconventional theology, ‘The Watchtower and Bible Tract Society’, better known as ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’. This ‘faith’ founded in 1914 by Charles Taze Russell, is notable for, amongst other things, incorrectly predicting the end of the world (Armageddon) no fewer than five times, in 1914, 1918, 1925, 1985 and 1989 respectively. Prior to Russell’s first prediction in 1914, he justified this by writing, ‘In the view of this strong bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world and the full establishment of the Kingdoms of God, will be accomplished by the end of AD 1914’. [The Time is At Hand, pp99]. He went on to say, ‘Thus the end of the world or the battle of Armageddon will end in 1914’, [Ibid. pp 101].
When each successive Armageddon failed to appear they promptly modified the prophecy, which caused many adherents to leave the faith, however, many did not. One thing that is curious about his assertion is the timing, which of course presaged the beginning of the First World War, was this a genuine demonstration of prescience which he moulded to fit his own paradigm? Due to their refusal to recognise or celebrate Christmas or birthdays, the Witnesses are often, perhaps unfairly, branded as austere and joyless. Their explanation for this doctrine lies in the conviction that these times of celebration from a fundamentalist aspect are based on ancient pagan and therefore godless rituals. The Witnesses categorically refuse to take up arms or fight in wars for any government, preferring to remain steadfast conscientious objectors, likewise, they do not normally vote in elections.
Apocalyptic and Doomsday Cults
It is unfair to single out the Witnesses as the sole purveyors of apocalyptic/doomsday announcements because there are many more examples and it is amongst these that the really extreme nature of cult mentality begins to emerge.
The Children of God
The ‘Children of God’ (now known as ‘The Family of Love’) ‘The Worldwide Church of God’ and the ‘End Time Ministries’ are three typical examples. In 1974, the ‘Children of God’ founder; self-styled ‘Moses’ David Berg predicted the total annihilation of America by the comet ‘Kohoutek’. He wrote, ‘But it will be a 40 day warning, culminating somewhere in January, most likely between the11th and 21st of January’. [The third letter of Moses on the Comet, 12 November 1973 pp1]. Immediately prior to the impending apocalypse, the cult moved to Europe where, in spite of the failed prophecy, it continued to recruit members. It was during this period that it gained notoriety with its so-called ‘Hookers for Christ’ policy dreamed up by Berg. Female cult members were encouraged to have sex with prospective recruits, a form of holy ‘honey trap’.
Another self-styled messiah, Herbert W. Armstrong, the founder of the ‘World-wide Church of God’ prophesied that before 1975, America would be struck by a massive drought. He wrote that this drought would be even more devastating than he originally foresaw, and that it would strike sooner than 1975, probably between 1965 and 1972. ‘This will be the very beginning, as Jesus said, of ‘The Great Tribulation.’ He even specified the nature of the ‘Great Tribulation’, ‘Here is exactly how catastrophic it will be: One third of our entire population will die in this famine and disease epidemic’. [1975 In Prophecy, pp10, 12].
The End Time Ministries
The End Time Ministries founded in the early 1970’s by Charles Meade is specifically a doomsday cult. According to Joni Cook a former cult member, ‘He calls himself the Moses of the end time, the Elijah, the one true apostle on earth, better than
the Apostle Paul, second only to Jesus’. [‘Lake City Reporter’, 18 November 1988]. In 1993, the ET’s’ as they are known, had around 1,000 members based in the Lake City and surrounding counties of North Florida. Although Meade preaches the folly of formal education, many of his followers appear to be well-educated, middle-income professionals and many were recruited from a bible study group at Northwestern University in Chicago. They include geologists, electronics technicians, company directors and Airforce Academy graduates; the one unifying factor appears
to be remarkable gullibility and herein lies the power of the cult. When one submits exclusively to an authority claiming a power equal to that of God on earth, then anything true or false, good or bad, no matter how ridiculous could be taught and believed. Apart from believing that Meade is the chosen voice of God on earth, his followers also accept that newspapers, radio and television are the devils work, and animals, even pictures of animals harbour demons. According to one former member, ‘I placed masking tape over the teddy bears painted on my child’s cot in case the demons would leave the teddy bears and enter my child’. [The Sun Sentinel, 19th May 1991]. They also believe that tiredness is a sin because God’s chosen people are empowered with supernatural stamina. Likewise it is sinful to cry, because to do so is to admit you have ‘Lost your joy’ and the common practise of isolation is enforced where contact with family or parents outwith the group is strictly forbidden.
Cynically, Meade, whilst advocating the renunciation of worldly pleasures amongst his followers, does not appear to include money in this ban. He preaches that his end-time army, like the Israelites leaving Egypt, should take the enemy’s riches, ‘When God sets you free, you see what He did to them. He gave them silver and gold and gave them plenty, taking it right from the enemy and giving it right to His people. I’m telling you the same thing can happen right now. Why should the enemy be out there. The ungodly, the unbeliever, be handling all the gold?’ [Ibid.] This philosophy is far from unusual in fringe groups and indeed demonstrates a great deal of pragmatism, worldliness, not to mention cynicism far removed from the lofty spiritual stance taken. In common with groups like the ‘Christian Scientists’ founded in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), Meade ‘s most worrying doctrine is the refusal to allow any conventional medical assistance to his flock irrespective of the disease. Followers are exhorted to throw away spectacles and false teeth; they are told that sickness is directly attributable to Satan and due on their part to weakness, sin and a lack of faith in God. Since 1980, more than 25 children have died of preventable causes as a direct result of his doctrine.
© Brian Allan 2003
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