Customer Reviews (2)

Very good primer.
While it is true that this book is not all inclusive it is still a very good primer for those who want the basics.

Good General Review of Subject, But Out of Date
Cults and New Faiths looks at many of the fringe religious groups runningaround in the late 20th century.Its strengths are that it wonderfullyintroduces each cult to the reader, and describes the group's beliefs anddoctrines well.Orthodox Christian belief is contrasted with cult beliefin each section.Large photographs are common throughout the book;something you won't find in most books on cults. Enthusiasts forpolitical correctness will disapprove of the author's bias against thesegroups, though, and so should probably not bother reading the book.Itshould also be noted that it is rather out of date by now, and needs somerevisions and updates.For those already familiar with cults, other bookswill prove more helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
How do seemingly "normal" or "ordinary" citizens suddenly find themselves committed to a group whose leader promotes criminal activities and isolation from families and friends? What should you do if a loved one becomes indoctrinated by a potentially dangerous cult? By providing specific accounts of dangerous cults and their destructive acts, Snow illustrates how seemingly innocent groups can turn pernicious when under the sway of a charismatic leader with an agenda, or when members take things too far. He offers advice on how to identify cults, how to protect yourself and your family, and what to do if a loved one is ensnared by such a group. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wanted this for an overall view of cults
This may not be as riveting as a personal account of a particular cult, but I enjoyed it for it's breadth.I found the book easy to read with more of a magazine or newspaper feel to the style of writing. He has quite a few research references in the back of the book.

I enjoyed the book as much as I would a 20/20 or a Dateline episode.It definitely had some food for thought.

I would recommend this book as an overview to cults that have committed crimes and the kinds of people who start or join them. ... Read more

Product Description
Across America and the world dangerous New Age cults andreligious groups are growing in strength and numbers. As many as 50million Americans are now New Age cultists while millions of othersare unwittingly dabbling and experimenting in the occult throughdirect or indirect involvement with New Age religious and politicalorganizations.

This is the first authoritative guide to the New Age cults andreligions infecting and threatening our society. This outstanding workcarefully analyzes these groups, revealing substantial, detailedinformation to convincingly answer the questions most asked. Itclearly contrasts the false--sometimes bizarre--and unorthodoxteachings and practices of the New Cults with the Living Truthscontained in the Holy Bible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

atta boy...strangers in the boo-goo land of religions...
it may be
the most important book
ever written...
unparalleled...
stunning expose
that is what
Texe Marrs says
about
New Age Bible Versions
of G.A.Riplinger

and that's how
i came to say
the same
for his own work
giving a kick
into my Christian butt
lest i forget
the God The Father
the Lord The Saviour
and Holy Ghost The Paraclete

just to remember
satan is lower case
backdoor man
nice person
like commie
before the season
of making friends
is over
and shoot
to kill is on

Mr Marrs view
on total disregard
of threat of the unknown
invisible by practitioners
to be so and so
and letting our beings
be invaded and pass on others
the unholy
as we are being forewarned
by prophets and our Saviour

Lacking
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2HJPG4QWOXZ5E A 5minute video review concerning Texe Marrs Book of New Age Cults & Religions. The purpose of this video is to illustrate some weaknesses in the book which are important for the reader to know. One thing which was forgotten to mention was internal inconsistency concerning Krishnamurti: "Dejected and embarrased Krishnamurti sailed back to India where, in 1929, he broke away from his sponsors in Theosophy and, in fact, repudiated all connections with organized religions and ideologies." (233) and "Finally, in 1931,a dejected Krishnamurti himself abruptly renounced his title of "Christ" and became an independent guru..." (317).

Welcome to a Land of Make-Believe
My brother received this book, along with L.U.C.I.D., Marrs' crackpot exposé of the satanic mind-control conspiracy controlling the world, from a deranged lunatic calling himself "Christ."This in itself should speak volumes about the type of individual who would take this stuff seriously and at face value.

I'm amazed that a university actually let this guy teach.Contrary to what some of these other reviews would have you believe, "New Age Cults and Religions" is in no way a scholarly work.Texe literally just makes things up and states them as researched facts.He frequently quotes people out of context and then makes outrageous assertions about what these folks are talking about; such as when he quotes Christopher Hyatt saying that the world seems to want more blood and violence before it changes, then rhetorically suggests that faithful Christians will be the target of this violence perpetrated at the hands of the Order of the Golden Dawn.He uncritically states that Buddhism is a violent unholy New Age cult.Nowhere does he offer any support of these sorts of claims.

His writing should remind you of a paranoid pothead teenager surfing the internet and keeping notes on every corny conspiracy theory he finds without checking the sources.The fact that he calls himself a Christian and quotes the Bible should give actual Christians pause to consider who is the real wolf in sheep's clothing.

Currently this book is sitting next to my toilet, where it can give me some laughs to ease my more difficult bowel movements.

The absolute best book written by T. Marrs, before he went off the deep end...
Former Christian Preacher Texe Marrs,
now a Patriot-for-Prophet [see: Bo
Gritz authored 'My Brothers Keeper'],
did an outstanding job here of iden-
tifying the Cults and Secret Societies
that plague our Western Civilization &
thus the world. Most of the other Texe
Marrs futurist 'Prophet of Doom' books
are all of the furturist 'gloom-and-
doom' "The end is coming soon" variety.
Here he sticks to facts and denotes a
good and careful synopsis of the groups
who seek to pervert our posterity, reli-
giously; Mormons, Jehovah's Sicknesses,
Sixth (not Seventh) Day Adventures, et, al.
I suggest that despite Marrs recent 21st
Century faux puas, get this book! Keep it
on the shelf with Mike Hoffman's 'Secret
Societies and Psychological Warfare' and
'Judiaism's Strange Gods'. Pick Up On It!

Classic Marrs
His critics dismiss Texe Marrs with the label "Fundamentalist Christian."So be it.But at least he takes a stand.At least he reads the Bible of his faith.At least he applies it to the world around him.

I like Marrs' books.They have the excitement of conspiracy theory.But grounded in Bible study.If you don't believe in the Bible (or are afraid your friends will think you're a nut if you do) you probably won't like his books.But if you're into Bible prophecy, and use the Christian Bible to guide your life, then I think you'll appreciate Marrs' perspective.

I'll admit, I try not to put any Christian writer on a pedestal.God is still the definitive Author.But there's a place for writers who use the Bible to comment on current events.I appreciate the work they do.Especially when it prompts me to go back and read Bible passages they've pointed out.

So, Mr. Marrs: I thank you for taking so much flak, yet still keeping the faith.And I eagerly await your next book. ... Read more

Product Description
From the founder and director of the Christian Research Institute.

Know across the United States as radio's "The Bible Answer Man" and the bestselling author of The Kingdom of the Cults, Dr. Walter Martin is firmly established as a true apologist for the Christian faith. His authority in biblical research and knowledge of cults has been recognized for many years.

Thirty-five years ago Dr. Martin began his investigation and warnings concerning the rise of a new religious movement with roots in Eastern mysticism. He published articles and lectured on the occult and the cults which were spearheads for the current New Age Movement. The impending threat to the Christian Church has now become a reality. Today almost 60 million people dabble in some practices or forms of New Age and occultic thinking.

The New Age Cult is Dr. Martin's militant refutation of what has become a major controversy in Christendom. He defines and answers biblically the key teachings of the New Age, exposes the latent dangers of the movement, gives criteria for identifying New Age groups and leaders, and shows the effective steps for communication Christian truth to New Age adherents.

What every Christian should know about the New Age Movement.

Customer Reviews (5)

Fair and balanced
I approached this book with some trepidation. Having been involved in the New Age movement in my younger years I know there is much that has been written about it that is simply wrong.

This book happily surprised me. Dr. Martin treats the New Age movement is a fair and even manner and tells the truth.

He begins with a quick overview of the New Age movement, then gives one entire chapter to the words of New Age teaches and proponents themselves, without any interpretation. Who better to state what they believe than New Agers themselves? The chapter following this gives the Biblical answers to these teachings and shows how they change and distort what Jesus has said.

He continues on with Jim Jones and Sirhan Sirhan were influenced by the New Age movement. We know the disasters consequences of these people well, but how they got there is a story most people don't hear.

After this Mr. Martin writes about how the New Age is making inroads in the public school system and society in general, and had an entire chapter devoted to reincarnation, what New Agers believe about it, and what the Bible says about it - all the passages dealing with it, not just selective ones that New Agers quote.

There is a chapter on how to approach New Agers to witness to them without turning them off. He than had a chapter on identifying New Age groups and leaders including a veritable glossary of people, organizations, books, and magazines.

He concludes with a glossary of many of the words New Agers use, and what they mean. For example, what is the "Age of Aquarius" or the "Akashic Record"? What are crystals used for and who is "Gaia"?

At the very end of the book is a recommended reading list of other books to read for more information on any aspect of the New Age you would like to know about.

Well written and surprisingly balanced given the strong Christian viewpoint of the author.

From the biggest CULT of all!
So someone from the biggest CULT of all, Christianity, makes the usual errors about alternative spiritual paths he knows nothing about. Pure ignorance and bigotry!

Evangelical Christianity had done far more damage than the New Age ever could, by sowing seeds of discord and division. Their fear-based dogma keeps them blinded to the Light that is in others.

Their own book says GOD IS LOVE.

Therefore, where Love is, God is.

Where God is, Love is.

That's what the New Age is really all about. It's that simple.

But many Christians miss the boat. They are stuck in FEAR.

Perfect love casts out fear, right?

Didn't Jesus say to LOVE God and LOVE your neighbor?

Why, then, do so many Christians stay stuck in FEAR?

Why do they feel they must attack the spirituality of others? Why not just offer their own spirituality in LOVE to those who choose it, and respect the rights of others to follow the spiritual path of their choice?

Useful information in the glossary
Walter Martin (1928-1989) was the twentieth century's eminent scholar on cults. This research began in the 1960s, when Martin was investigating the roots of the New Age movement: Unity School of Christianity, Christian Science, Spiritism, Bahaiism, and Rosicrucianism. Today over sixty million people dabble in New Age practices.

Walter Martin, the founder of the Christian Research Institute, is assisted by the staff of CRI. He describes New Age as a submerged iceberg during the 1960s, which surfaced full force in the 1980s. Throughout the book he highlights others' in-depth research for those seeking more detailed information. He exposes the New Age movement's direct contradictions to orthodox Christianity, including an quotations from Benjamin Creme.

The author even demonstrates New Age links to Jim Jones, the mass suicide he initiated in 1978, and to the philosophy of Sirhan Sirhan, the assassin of Robert F. Kennedy. There is also a chapter on reincarnation, followed by the Christian response to New Age philosophy.

Walter Martin achieves his goal, a concise overview of New Age, easily read by lay people; he suggests further reading for in-depth research. Martin died shortly after completing this book. A glossary of terms from Age of Aquarius to Yin, yang and yoga, proves valuable. If only for the extensive glossary, bibliography and list of New Age spokespersons and relevant organizations, this volume would be a valuable resource.

A condensed version of this book appears as chapter 11, "The New Age Cults," in Walter Martin's Kingdom of the Cults (Bethany House Publishers, 2002; ISBN: 0764289888).

The New Age Cult
Save your money, i'm not sure whats more disturbing the fact that a doctor wrote this garbage or that people will probably believe him.

Filled with objective and factual information for Christians
Equip yourself with this handbook of New Age facts, doctrines, comparisons, and rebuttals.This manual will help you educate the precious souls that are being blinded by the dangerous New Age movement.Learn thedifference between the Jesus they preach, and the Jesus we know. ... Read more

Product Description
What is a cult? Why do they emerge? Who joins them? And why do tragedies such as Waco and Jonestown occur? This reader brings together the voices of historians, sociologists, and psychologists of religion to address these key questions about new religious movements.

• Looks at theoretical explanations for cults, why people join and what happens when they do.
  
• Brings together the best work on cults by sociologists, historians, and psychologists of religion.
  
• A broad-ranging, balanced and clearly organized collection of readings.
  
• Includes coverage of topical issues, such as the 'brainwashing' controversy, and cults in cyberspace.
  
• Section introductions by the editor situate the nature, value, and relevance of the selected readings in context of current discussions.

Customer Reviews (4)

Very Interesting
Very interesting book, it's part of a university study course.
Had worse study books :)

Cults and New Religious Movements
If they are well-written, like this particular one is, I have discovered I love to read the "a reader"-type of books. You can go from zero knowledge about a phenomenon to a well above average knowledge about a subject just by reading one book. The best way to summarize the book in the rather limited space allowed by Amazon in book reviews is perhaps to give the names of the chapters. The eight chapters each have two articles in them, varying from a few pages to well over 30. "The Study of New Religious Movements", "The Nature of New Religions", "New Religious Movements in Historical and Social Context", "Joining New Religious Movements", "The Brainwashing Controversy", "Violence and New Religious Movements", "Sex and Gender Issues and New Religious Movements" and finally "New Religious Movements and the Future", are the chapters included in the book. Apart from the chapter "The New Spiritual Freedom", which is basically just 30 pages of brainwashed non-sense about how the trouble caused by the coloureds and their Jewish allies during the 60's in the US was somehow this great "spiritual revolution" and the usual "feminist" rubbish in the two articles about "gender", every article in the book is more or less a wonderful read. As one quickly realizes by the name of the book, the general usage in the academic milieu is not the very negatively charged term "cult", but rather "new religious movement", which is of course more proper as well.

The book pretty much covers every aspect of new religious movements and quite thoroughly as well. There are also a few shocking parts of the book, as when they show what kind of Stalinist environment the supposedly "free academic discourse" has become, on page 22; "I know of two sociologists of religion who have been warned that they would be denied tenure or not be awarded their Ph.D. if they did not make it clear their monographs were exposés". Quite similar to the treatment Dr. Kevin MacDonald has received for his scholarship on Judaism that weren't sufficiently kosher enough for the Semitical Correctness jury.

I recommend you read this marvellous book on new religious movements, hopefully with the full weight of what is said on page 167 in mind; "[...] We do not call all types of personal or psychological influences 'brainwashing'. We reserve this term for influences of which we disapprove". Truer words have seldom been said. 5 stars and recommended reading for pretty much anyone remotely interested in religion and culture.

How Religious Sausage is Made
This is one of those "breaking the spell" books on religion in which the intricate social psychology--the underbelly of new religious movements--is laid bare and demystified.

The book consists of thought-provoking essays on cults by social scientists, psychologists, and historians. The editor has clearly attempted to give readers a handle, both theoretical and historical, on how new religious movements get started and thrive. Some of the essays in the book are so good that they justify, in and of themselves, the purchase of the book. Roy Wallis' essay, for example, makes some fascinating distinctions between "world denying religious movements" and "world affirming religious movements" that are extremely helpful. The sociologist Rodney Stark's essay is also excellent. It discusses how the proclamations of cults function as "compensators" for general, and unachievable longings (such as eternal life).

Lastly, this book is especially useful for reflecting on how the world's major religions (Christianity and Islam etc.) likely had their beginnings. In other words, the patterns typical of new religious movements are suggestive of how the old religious movements got their start. Short of a time machine, the study of contemporary new religious movements (cults) is as close as we are likely to get to witnessing the early beginnings, and evolution, of mature religions. This book is thus an excellent introduction to the scientific study of religion generally.

Tranquillity, really, without pills? Don't fall for it.
The title is a decent statement about the "TM" type of meditation. It's about as far as this meditation is likely ever to take anyone, but that is a good, if limited, thing.

However, the real purpose of the book is to get you hooked into the Maharishi's very expensive, very elaborate and very questionable "tranquillity" which in the 1990's cost something like $3000 for just the introductory method!

Do yourself a favour. Do some searching. Ask as many teachers as you can what meditation is and what it is for! Be VERY concerned about cost because the best teachers teach for free, or for very little. "TM" as a meditation method is more about making the Maharishi and his organization rich.

I recommend How to Meditate: A Practical Guide By Kathleen McDonald -- you won't get hooked/hoodwinked into a cult and you'll learn how to meditate. ... Read more

Product Description
Religion is alive and well in the modern world, and the social-scientific study of religion is undergoing a renaissance. For much of this century, respected social theorists predicted the death of religion as inevitable consequence of science, education, and modern economics. But they were wrong.
Stark and Bainbridge set out to explain the survival of religion. Using information derived from numerous surveys, censuses, historical case studies, and ethnographic field expeditions, they chart the full sweep of contemporary religion from the traditional denominations to the most fervent cults. This wealth of information is located within a coherent theoretical framework that examines religion as a social response to human needs, both the general needs shared by all and the desires specific to those who are denied the economic rewards or prestige enjoyed by the privileged. By explaining the forms taken by religions today, Stark and Bainbridge allow us to understand its persistence in a secular age and its prospects for the future,
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A well organized book, easy to use and full of useful facts.
For those in the field of religious studies, this book addresses the argument over secularization with a twist: Secularization actually maintains and perpetuates religion.Most of those who acceptsecularization's existance claim that it destroys religion.The authorsprovide persuasive arguements for their theory, and back it up with dataorganized into easy to use charts.Be aware, however, that their use ofmaps leaves something to be desired.The data in them is often outdated(not a problem according to their theory) and coclusions are drawn aboutwhole regions based on information from parts of the regions.This is alarge tome, and is probably suitable, if broken up into smaller units, forundergraduates in religious studies. ... Read more

Product Description
A sobering, occasionally amusing, and altogether compelling look at the impulses that have fueled the rising pitch of Armageddon, this startling book explores the arcane but significant phenomena of contemporary American cults--from survivalists and white supremacists to UFO cultists, satanists, and the most far-flung New Agers. 40 photos.Amazon.com Review
The editor of Apocalypse Culturereturns with another collection of anti-essays of his own authorship,plus a few from his disgruntled friends.Not even sacrilege is sacredto Adam Parfrey as he aims his poison pen at targets ranging from Andrea Dworkinto G.G. Allin. Articleson the sex lives of freaks, amputees, and Nazis are sure to offendsomeone you know, and they're oddly compelling reading as well. Infact, there's not a clunker in this volume of politically astute ifoverly nasty pieces. Not to be missed are the interesting series ofarticles on the militia movement and the Oklahoma City bombing, whichdefy easy categorization on the standard political chart by attackingthe media's biases as well as the narrowness of the militiamovements.Cult Rapture is fine reading for a cozy night arounda post-nuclear hell pit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

National Geographic for Real People
Set aside assurance or lack thereof for the veracity of the specific elements of the stories. Read "Cult Rapture" as it is: an engaging National-Geographic type of narrative but with cocks and pussies and people who indulge their whims or who wait for space brethren. There is no less fact checking as far as the reader knows than with an ordinary newspaper article. Concerns with all verifiable contents to assure oneself of the reality of the people and activities depicted in the articles deflects the reader's attention from benefiting from and being amused by the material. The stories have the "ring of truth" which should make anyone's obsession with fact checking evaporate, though such may not be the case with all of Parfrey's writings or editorial anthologies. Neat cover, groovy fronticepiece, fun to read.

Worth reading but not as good as the Apocalypse Culture books
This is similar to (although not as good as) the Apocalypse Culture books where you have a collection of compiled articles on subjects or people that are from the fringes of mainstream belief.

Overall this was worth reading but one big annoyance is the condescending, smirking attitude Parfrey has towards some, if not most, of the people and subjects being discussed. This attitude seems to be a very common thing that west coast and Jewish types (Parfrey is both) have towards anybody that doesn't share their world view. Which is really funny because one of the essays in this, "How to Frame a Patriot", does a great job of pointing out how a writer can subtly twist words around in order to defame the person they are writing about. I don't want to seem like I'm being too hard on Parfrey though because I enjoy a lot of his work and think his Feral House is argueably the best publishing house going right now.

Fearless
Where other reporters are afraid of letting their opinions be known, Adam Parfrey, in his exploration of the fringes of society, is fearless.At times he does seem a bit mean, but come on, he is printing what everyone is thinking!Included in this collection are tongue-in-cheek reports on women sexually obsessed with Elvis, the history of big-eyed waif velvet paintings, the Unarians (who prophesized that the Space Brothers would land in their UFOs and save the world in 2000 -- are they still around?), Bo Gritz (the man who Rambo is based upon) and, yes, a group that encourages the empowerment of the handicapped through sex.There are other articles on various charlatans and conspiracy theories,including an excellent one on Waco (Fact: did you know that every ATF agent killed at Waco worked as security for Bill Clinton while he was governor?!?).My personal favourite is an interview with Shelby Downard, my all-time favourite "paranoid" (I can't wait until his collected works are released in 2002 by Feral House!).

Being the source of "May I Touch Your Scar", I'd say Parfey
I am David Brandenburger. My (deceased now) wife & I are the sources/subjects of "May I Touch Your Scar", in this book. Parfey makes some stuff up, takes things people said, either out of context, or alters their words to suit his own pervertions of thought. While sex INSTRUCTION was a small part of what we taught people (adults only), it was NOT our main focus. To refer to us as, "a sex cult for cripples" is ludicrious. Please contact me for further information if anyone is interested. E-mail to irhp@phonl.com a Thank you.

A melange of counter-culture freaks and other oddities.
One of the best things about Adam Parfrey's articles are the subtle sarcasm that abounds.While one man recounts his ardour for Russian mail-order brides, Parfrey, without shame reveals his opinion of this man as a travesty.Not all the subjects in this collection of articles are treated as rudely though.Parfrey investigates anything weird from millenialists to congenital human oddities with an open-mind. Photographs adorn the articles, making this book more alive in the reality of the strange. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Goes beyond the standard anti-cult book ...
Entertainer Steve Allen's son Brian shocks his family by joining a cult.Unlike many parents faced with this situation, Mr. Allen does not respond by hiring a deprogrammer or disowning his son.Instead, he makes a seriouseffort to find out why Brian has been drawn to this particular group, andtries to find positive elements in this group as well as the negatives. Mr. Allen is himself skeptical about organized religion, but since he makesit clear that he respects Brian and supports his right to believe as hechooses, over the years they are able to reopen the lines of communicationand grow closer as a family.Obviously a labor of love. ... Read more

Product Description
Irvine Robertson shares his research into the New Age as well as into cults such as Hare Krishna, the Unification Church, TM, and more. He explains simply and clearly what each group believes and where each deviates from biblical teaching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Understanding the Cults...
If you would like to understand different perspectives from groups that adapt the title Christian, but do not hold to the historic doctrines of the faith, then this is a good book for you. This book was published by Moody Press and the late Irvine Robertson once taught at Moody Bible Institute. Robertson wrote this book from an evangelical perspective and right from the beginning of the book he provides the reader with an understanding of what places different belief systems in the kingdom of the cults. He does this by first explaining, "Major doctrines of the orthodox faith" and then launches into "Cult deviations from major orthodox doctrines."

Robertson divides his book into the following chapters,

1. Mormons
2. Jehovah's Witnesses
3. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church
4. Herbert W. Armstrong's World Wide Church of God
5. The Way International
6. Some Hindu-based Movements...
7. The New Age Movement
8. Scientology
9. Spiritualism
10. Other Current Movements

Robertson does a nice job of first presenting an overview of the group, followed by a historical overview and then goes into the major beliefs of each movement. The book is geared toward helping the reader gain an understanding of each movement. Robertson wrote this one from more of an informative perspective than an apologetics perspective.

This book will provide you with a fast overview regarding many cult/occult movements in 202 pages. If you were looking for something that provides a stronger apologetic, then I would recommend the time tested evangelical book on cults titled, "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin. ... Read more

Product Description
After more than a century of debate about the significance of imperial cults for the interpretation of Revelation, this is the first study to examine both the archaeological evidence and the Biblical text in depth. Friesen argues that a detailed analysis of imperial cults as they were practiced in the first century CE in the region where John was active allows us to understand John's criticism of his society's dominant values.He demonstrates the importance of imperial cults for society at the time when Revelation was written, and shows the ways in which John refuted imperial cosmology through his use of vision, myth, and eschatological expectation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Roman Imperialism as a point of interpretation
I have had this book for some time and have been watching for reviews.I found this book extremely illuminating about imperial cults and John's critique in Revelation.Price's book was the 1st I had read on the subject but found the material in Friesen's book to give great additional detail in part 1 and a good connection to the text of Revelation in part 2.Have been suprised that other reviews have not popped up. ... Read more

Product Description
Cult victims and those who have suffered abusive relationships often suffer from fear, confusion, low self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress. Take Back Your Life explains the seductive draw that leads people into such situations, provides guidelines for assessing what happened, and hands-on tools for getting back on track. Written for the victims, their families, and professionals, this book leads readers through the healing process. A resource list and numerous personal accounts of those who have successfully made the transition to the "normal" world provide help and inspiration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Very well researched and valuable
This book is a must have for anyone in a cult, leaving a cult, curious about how cults treat people, councelors, or families of cult members. The level of understanding of the writers is extremely valuable to the reader. Having this information can help someone recover from cult participation, or even avoid getting into any kind of cult or cultic kind of relationships. I wish I had had this book years ago, I would have been able to avoid some very problematic people! My thanks to the authors and publisher, and to Amazon for selling the book.

check again
this is a great book for when you have left a cult and you did some work on yourself allready and you need to check again what happened

Practical and Deeply Analytical
I keep "Take Back Your Life: Recovering From Cults and Abusive Relationships" on my bedside table, my living room end table, and everywhere I can grab a chance to read it. I keep a pen right in the book, because I am underlining so many passages, and marking others with stars. This book is extremely practical, giving very specific suggestions for recovery, even while it covers material that is incredibly deep and analytical. I could not recommend it more highly! This book will help you help yourself to extricate your emotions and thoughts from the negative past, and build new freedoms into your life. CW

A must have!
Incredibly comprehensive and poignant.As a cult survivor, I've read a lot of cult-related materials, and this one just struck a deep nerve, where others didn't quite have the same effect.It's also the only one that my partner is willing to read. He says that this book is a much more relatable piece than any other book I've suggested, and states that it brings cult experiences down to a layman's level to understanding these past experiences and some of its lasting effects.

Outstanding!
As an ex cultic relationship survivor cum exit counselor in training I can attest to this being the most comprehensive and helpful book to date I,ve read. THis book definitely encompasses all facets of what it is to go through the aftermath of a cultic experience. It is a warm and welcome friend as I repair my life. It is a must for not only the survivor but for the support system that helps the survivor repair the damage done. Best to all! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ok, book, informative, but lopsided and bias
I found this book informative, having limited knowledge of the religions discussed beforehand.The book is definitely written from an evangelical standpoint and is bias in this regard.Also, please note the table of contents.The book spends an inordinate amount of space covering Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, and Seventh-day Adventism.I recommend this book for evangelical Christians and those of other religions interested in their viewpoint.

the truth shall set you free
This is an amazing in depth look into cults of today what makes them a cultwith great research into their history the flase claims/prophecies. This should be owed by every true Christian who wants to defend the faith!!! Since sins can only be forgiven by God and Jesus forgave sins then who must Jesus be? Read the book to find out!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Useful and level-headed
The subject of cults and "mind control" is very controversial, with far more outlandish and emotional comment than reasoned examination. This book is refreshing in its approach, using known principles of persuasion, advertising, and psychology to explain "cultish" behavior ... Read more

Product Description

Description

Elisabeth's book is written to help those caught up in obsessive spiritual sects and guru movements.Recounting the extraordinary events of a long life filled with great joys and harrowing griefs, Elisabeth generously traces her soul journey of awakening for the benefit and inspiration of others.
After describing her almost idyllic childhood, she covers the circumstances that led to marriage and - despite her best intentions towards her family - to permanent separation from husband and children, and virtual incarceration and domination within a religious cult.
She relates how a virtually unknown James Bond figure snatched her away, and how they set up a new and happy life together before further vicissitude struck.
Animating the whole is the spirit of her endearing personality and indomitable perseverance; a truly inspiring book.

About the Author

Elisabeth Fraser had a lengthy career as a sales manager, editor and author for Jarrold Publishing. She is author of An Illustrated History of Scotland (1997) and has edited a number of other titles.
Elisabeth has been interested in spirituality for most of her life, and is now very involved in the Tibetan Buddhist field helping to promote talks and lectures from eminent Tibetan lamas and doctors in liaison with the monastery at Samye Ling.
She is based in Edinburgh. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Some of What You Need to Know About Mormons
Ed Decker, one of the most prominent Evangelical researchers on the Mormon religion, furnishes an unusual book that refutes the LDS faith employing a lengthy conversation between a Mormon and a Christian. The conversation keeps the reader's attention and demonstrates many of the errors of Mormon thought as he offers the solution in Jesus of the Bible. Decker's answers are solid and true, but lack in-depth research since the goal is casual conversation and not a detailed treatise.

The author communicates in a gracious and effortless tone whereas he refutes many of the important false doctrines of the LDS faith.

He discusses:
* The LDS god once being a man and having his own god (a grandfather god: page 49).
* The denial of the priesthood to blacks (page 53).
* The Mormon notion of the insufficiency of the Cross of Christ.
* The way out of the LDS church.

Purchase this work if you want a adequate guide regarding how to have an ongoing witnessing relationship with members of the Mormon cult.
by Mike A Robinson author of numerous books on cults, philosophy, world religions and atheism; including:
One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions

Decker -- Spoken Like a Fool
Decker is one of those people that are guilty of something.Can one really look at what he does and really think, "Oh, what a great service he is doing."Poor Ed Decker.Regardless of what he thinks and of his theories and opinions, if it is the Lord's work, surely the Lord's work will be done.And if Mr. Decker is a Christian and if he claims to be doing people a service, wouldn't he then be called of God since "God does nothing save he calls prophets and apostles."?Someone ask Decker who gave him the authority to lead God's church.What a funny coincidence, only the Mormons and Catholics have a substantial claim to authority.Hmmm. . . . I wonder which one is true.

More of the Same from Ed Decker
When Ed Decker offers to inform you about the Mormons, run -- don't walk -- the other direction.This man simply can't, or won't, tell the truth.His writing is sensationalistic, uninformed, and malicious.There are goodbooks on Mormonism.Many of them.There are even some (relatively)respectable anti-Mormon books.Nothing touched by Ed Decker qualifies asrespectable.

lies.lies
ed decker commits adultery and is excommunicated from the true church. study for your self there are two sides to every story. ... Read more

Product Description
A one-of-a-kind counseling tool that discusses the special challenges and emotions faced by former cultists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

sadly
I got this book as a gift from someone. Sadly this book takes position of a pro-christian author, so it is written only for people who are in one sect of the christian cult who is unsatisfied with the dogma they preach, and wants to go to another sect they find more approval of. This isn't for people outside of the christian bubble, so I suppose this can be looked upon as a good book only by a select few. As an independent reviewer, I give this a poor rating. Let me know when your space god appears in the land of reality Janis, for billions of people are still waiting for that, in order to comfortably let go of their own humanistic philosophies and in return bow down and serve a greater (male) being.

Too much dialogue
This book was alright, alot of dialogue between the author and other characters makes it hard to read. Could have been written alot better, more like a textbook would have made it easier and more effective.

Informative and Accurate
This book addresses the common problems encountered by individuals who are coming out of cults, or controlling or abusive groups, looking for a more healthy belief system, and how the church can reach out and minister to them. Those exiting such groups go through predictable stages of grieving as they assess their losses--their friends and sometimes their family, their identity, their sense of purpose, their understanding of everything that is right and true, and in fact their entire belief system, all of which can leave deep psychological wounds. Janis Hutchison addresses these losses and their effects in chapters on understanding the trauma and understanding cult losses. The author also describes the process of coming to grips with and moving beyond the deception which the former member has experienced, a process which she calls divorcing deadly doctrines. Hutchison further addresses the steps necessary to make the transition from false teaching to the truth of the gospel of grace. Highly recommended.

Gain sympathy for the adjustments an ex-cultist must make
Janis Hutchinson has done Christians and ex-cultists all a favor in describing the lengthy adjustments to life and Christianity after leaving a cult--invaluable information for pastors and evangelists.

Written with empathy (Hutchinson is a former Mormon), she helps Christians understand why it takes so long to leave a cult behind and fully embrace Christianity. She also gives suggestions at the end of every chapter in supporting and mentoring former cult members on their way out. (Hutchinson highly recommends support groups.)

Yes, the word "cult" may be provocative, but that is the only detraction I might find in this much-needed volume.

Foundation of Sand
The term "cult," in the sense that it is used by Protestant fundamentalists, conveys no defensible, definable meaning.It is merely a pejorative word, explosive and with four letters.

Janis Hutchinson never offers a satisfying, historically justifiable definiton of the word that lies at the absolute heart of her book, and it's all downhill from there.This book has the appearance of cogency, but not the substance. ... Read more