“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (I Timothy 4:1)
New religious movement (NRM), the generally accepted term for what is sometimes called a “cult.”
NRMs offer innovative religious responses to the conditions of the modern world, despite the fact that most NRMs represent themselves as rooted in ancient traditions. NRMs are also usually regarded as “countercultural” alternatives to the mainstream religions of Western society, especially Christianity in its normative forms…The new movement is usually founded by a charismatic and sometimes highly authoritarian leader who is thought to have extraordinary insights. Many NRMs…often make great demands on the loyalty and commitment of their followers and sometimes establish themselves as substitutes for the family and other conventional social groupings.
Apocalyptic belief that the end of the world is imminent has formed the backdrop for the development of many of the NRMs in the West.
Unless specified otherwise, the following is a partial list of new religious movements that began in the United States, which unquestionably has become the heartland for the explosion of new religious movements.
Western New York was still an American frontier prior to increased transportation via the Erie Canal, and established clergy were scarce. Nonconformist sects founded by laypeople won many converts during the revivals of the Second Awakening to such an extent that Charles Finney (1792–1875) called this area a “burnt district”.
There had been, a few years previously, a wild excitement passing through that region, which they called a revival of religion, but which turned out to be spurious… It resulted in a reaction so extensive and profound, as to leave the impression on many minds that religion was a mere delusion.
Continue reading “221) Departures From The Faith”
Kingdom Come 