- Pseudo Christian Cults – These groups claim to be Christian and claim to believe the Bible, but they embrace additional man-made teachings that they place over the authority of the Bible. They thereby end up denying or distorting the basic doctrines of true, biblical Christianity. Examples: Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Oriental Cults – These groups find their philosophical basis in Hinduism and Buddhism. Their basic philosophy is monism & pantheism – all is one and all is god. They teach that the physical material world is an illusion and we must transcend this world to achieve peace by becoming one with the impersonal, universal force they call god. Transcendence is achieved through techniques like transcendental meditation, yoga, or the chanting of a mantra. Examples: The Hare Krishna Movement and Transcendental Meditation.
- The New Age Cults – This movement combines three false philosophies to create a hybrid spirituality – Western Secular Humanism, Eastern Hindu Mysticism, and the Occult. The New Age Movement teaches that humans have evolved physically and now must evolve spiritually to discover our own inherent divinity. Different Eastern meditative practices and various Occult techniques are used to discover the divine within. Examples: Eckhart Tolle and A Course in Miracles.
- The Occult – The word “Occult” is a Latin term that means “Hidden or Secret Things”. This philosophy teaches that wisdom and power may be attained by tapping into mystical, secret forces or by appealing directly to Satan. Examples: Wicca, Satanism, and Channeling.
For more information on the many cults in our world today, please check out Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts On False Teachings, available in our online store.