Truth and Error: Comparative Charts of Cults and Christianity (Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements) - Tapa blanda

Libro 10 de 14: Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements

Zondervan; Gomes, Alan W.

 
9780310220497: Truth and Error: Comparative Charts of Cults and Christianity (Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements)
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ISBN 10: 0310220491 ISBN 13: 9780310220497
Editorial: Study Resources, 1998

Sinopsis

This book is not only an introduction to the entire Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements series, but also a quick-reference guide to the groups and movements discussed in the series. Truth and Error brings together in one volume the charts from the various guides that show how the groups and movements differ theologically from historic orthodox Christianity. Each chart is introduced by the general editor, Alan Gomes. The books in the series that do not have comparison charts are introduced and summarized. Each book in the series includes - A concise introduction to the group or topic - An overview of the group's or movement's theology -- in their own words - A biblical response - Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group - A bibliography with sources for further study -- Most books also include a comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group. The charts from these books are reproduced in Truth & Error.

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Acerca del autor

Alan W. Gomes (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate professor of historical theology and chairman of the department of theology at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

De la contraportada

This book is not only an introduction to the entire Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements series, but also a quick-reference guide to the groups and movements discussed in the series. Truth and Error brings together in one volume the charts from the various guides that show how the groups and movements differ theologically from historic orthodox Christianity. Each chart is introduced by the general editor, Alan Gomes. The books in the series that do not have comparison charts are introduced and summarized. Each book in the series includes - A concise introduction to the group or topic - An overview of the group's or movement's theology -- in their own words - A biblical response - Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group - A bibliography with sources for further study -- Most books also include a comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group. The charts from these books are reproduced in Truth & Error.

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Chapter IJehovah's WitnessesAuthor: Robert M. Bowman, Jr.; summary by Alan W. GomesBackgroundThe Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, more commonly known as Jehovah'sWitnesses, was founded in the 1880s by Charles Taze Russell, a haberdasherfrom Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Russell, who attended Presbyterian and Congregationalchurches as a child, found himself unable to accept their teachingabout hell. Under Seventh-day Adventist influence, Russell embraced theirteaching that 'hell' stood for the grave and that the wicked would ultimately beannihilated, not tortured consciously for eternity. Also through Adventist influence,Russell adopted the idea that Christ's second coming was an invisible,spiritual 'presence' that had already begun, rather than a literal, bodily returnto take place in the future. Russell also denied the doctrines of the Trinity andof Christ's deity. He was known for his vociferous denunciations of 'Christendom's'allegedly false beliefs and practices. Russell died in 1916, believing thatWorld War I was Armageddon.Joseph Franklin Rutherford (d. 1942), the society's legal counselor, succeededRussell as head of the movement, and it was under his tenure that theyadopted the name 'Jehovah's Witnesses.' The current Watchtower president isMilton G. Henschel. In terms of social and ethical practices, JWs do not observebirthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, or any other suchholidays, rejecting them as 'pagan.' They refuse blood transfusions (based on amisunderstanding of Leviticus 17), will not participate in politics or the military,and will not salute the flag. They maintain strict neutrality in war. Thereare presently at least 5 million active JWs worldwide. They are known for theirmassive proselytizing efforts, dedicating about one billion hours per year to witnessing(that is, over 200 hours per member per year). JWs also distribute enormousamounts of printed literature, more so than any other cult.Summary of BeliefsJehovah's Witnesses believe that there is one almighty God by nature, who isalso only one person. JWs wrongly allege that wicked scribes removed God'sproper name, Jehovah, from the Bible. This divine name has been restored toits rightful place in the New World Translation of the Bible. The doctrine of theTrinity is roundly condemned as unscriptural and the result of pagan influences.Jesus Christ was Michael the Archangel before his incarnation as a man; afterhis death and spiritual resurrection (see below), the man Jesus again became anangel. Jesus was Jehovah's agent in creating all things after he himself was createdby Jehovah God. Although not God by nature, he is a 'mighty one' andtherefore may be called 'a god' in a loose sense of the word. The Holy Spirit isnot a person, nor a member of the Godhead, but is Jehovah's active force, whichemanates from him to accomplish his will.Concerning the afterlife, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in an entitycalled the soul that survives the death of the body. Rather, they teach that peoplecease to exist at death but that at the Resurrection Jehovah will recreate themfrom his memory. In the eternal state there are different classes of Christianswith different destinies. The 144,000 are those who, along with Christ Jesus,are 'born again' to exist as spirits; they will reign with Christ in heaven. Therest will live in a paradise earth with resurrected bodies. There is no hell in thetraditional understanding of the doctrine; the finally impenitent will be annihilated,not tortured for all eternity.Concerning Christ's death and resurrection, he gave his life as a ransomprice to atone for our guilt in Adam. He was raised an invisible spirit creature,forfeiting his right to bodily, earthly life. Salvation is accomplished by faith inChrist Jesus plus works, such as taking in spiritual knowledge and doing God'skingdom work (such as door-to-door witnessing). Regarding Christ's secondcoming, JWs reject the notion that Christ will return bodily to earth. Rather,his invisible 'presence,' which began in 1914, is engineering events leading tothe Battle of Armageddon and the beginning of the Millennium. The WatchtowerSociety is known for having set several different dates for when Armageddonwould occur; after each failed prophecy, numerous disillusionedmembers left the movement.Truth and Error * CHAPTER I: JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES 'They say that it is sufficient to read theBible exclusively, either alone or insmall groups at home. But, strangely,through such 'Bible reading,' they havereverted right back to the apostate doctrinesthat commentaries by Christendom'sclergy were teaching 100 yearsago...' (The Watchtower, August 15,1981, 28--29).'All Scripture is inspired of God andbeneficial for teaching, for reproving,for setting things straight, for discipliningin righteousness, that the man ofGod may be fully competent, completelyequipped for every good work'(2 Tim. 3:16--17 NWT).*'I am writing these things to you aboutthose who are trying to lead you astray.Jehovah's Witnesses The Bible*Note: All italics in quotations in this chart are added for emphasis unless otherwise noted.As for you, the anointing you receivedfrom him remains in you, and you donot need anyone to teach you. But ashis anointing teaches you about allthings and as that anointing is real, notcounterfeit---just as it has taught you,remain in him' (1 John 2:26--27 NIV).The Deity of Christ'... the Bible plainly states that in hisprehuman existence, Jesus was a createdspirit being, just as angels werespirit beings created by God... . The factis that Jesus is not God and neverclaimed to be' (Should You Believe inthe Trinity? [1989], 14, 20).'So it was by means of this masterworker, his junior partner, as it were,that Almighty God created all otherthings... . he was simply addressing anotherindividual, his first spirit creation,the master craftsman, the prehumanJesus' (Should You Believe in the Trinity?14).'In the beginning was the Word, andthe Word was with God, and the Wordwas God' (John 1:1 NIV).''I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered,'before Abraham was born, I am!'' (John8:58 NIV).'In answer Thomas said to him [Jesus]:'My Lord and my God!'' (John 20:28NWT).'I, Jehovah, am doing everything,stretching out the heavens by myself,laying out the earth. Who was withme?' (Is. 44:24 NWT).'All things came into existence throughhim, and apart from him not even onething came into existence' (John 1:3NWT).The Personhood of the Holy Spirit'The correct identification of the holyspirit must fit all the scriptures that referto that spirit. With this viewpoint, it islogical to conclude that the holy spirit isthe active force of God. It is not a personbut is a powerful force that God causes toemanate from himself to accomplish hisholy will' (Reasoning from the Scriptures[1985], 381).'However, when that one arrives, thespirit of the truth, he will guide YOUinto all the truth, for he will not speakon his own impulse, but what things hehears he will speak, and he will declareto YOU the things coming. That one willglorify me, because he will receive fromwhat is mine and will declare it to YOU'(John 16:13--14 NWT).Death'At death man's spirit, his life-force,which is sustained by breathing, 'goesout.' It no longer exists... . When theyare dead, both humans and animals arein this same state of complete unconsciousness.... That the soul lives onafter death is a lie started by the Devil'(You Can Live Forever in Paradise onEarth [1982], 77).'You have come to God, the judge of allmen, to the spirits of righteous menmade perfect' (Heb. 12:23 NIV).'... I saw underneath the altar the soulsof those who had been slaughtered becauseof the word of God and because ofthe witness work that they used to have.

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Editorial
Study Resources
Año de publicación
1998
Idioma
Inglés
ISBN 10 
0310220491
ISBN 13 
9780310220497
Encuadernación
Tapa blanda
Número de páginas
96
Contacto del fabricante
no disponible
Persona responsable
gpsr@libri.de
gpsr@libri.de

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