Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: On bearing false witness Message-ID: Date: 9 Mar 91 05:32:44 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: WINCO Computer Engineering, INEL, Idaho Lines: 33 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu cole@maverick.uswest.com (Cole Keirsey) writes: >Geoff Allen recently posted an article questioning the use of the >term "cult" in the context of Christianity. I agree with the general >content of his article and with his conclusion that the term is ill- >defined and usually not useful. Geoff goes on to cite Walter >Martin's definition of "cult" and offers as an example Mr. Martins >argument for considering Christian Science a cult. I have not read >Mr. Martins book, and Goeff was paraphrasing, but here's what his >article said: ... >Well, you guessed it: I'm a Christian Scientist, and I take issue with >Mr. Martin's characterization of my church. Oops. It seems that I misrepresented both Martin and Christian Science in my previous post. As Mr. Keirsey points out, I was paraphrasing. Not only that, I was paraphrasing from a several-year-old memory. Sorry. Don't take my previous post as a definitive statement of what Walter Martin said about Chrsitian Science. I have brought his book to work, and will post more info when I get the chance. By the way, I do this only in the interest of correcting what I previously wrote, and clarifying things. I am not interested in another ``Group X'' flame war, but perhaps we can discuss any differences rationally. (Wishful thinking?) -- Geoff Allen \ Since we live by the Spirit, uunet!pmafire!geoff \ let us keep in step with the Spirit. geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \ -- Gal. 5:25 (NIV)