Editing Christian countercult movement

{{Short description|Social movement opposing certain religious sects}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Status of religious freedom |persecution}}
The '''Christian countercult movement''' or the '''Christian anti-cult movement''' is a [[social movement]] among certain [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] and [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]]<ref name="falsewitness"/> and other [[Christian ministry|Christian ministries]] ("discernment ministries"<ref>Robert M. Bowman, ''Orthodoxy and Heresy: A Biblical Guide to Doctrinal Discernment'', Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992, pp. 10, 106-107, & 123-124.</ref>) and individual activists who oppose religious sects that they consider [[cult]]s.<ref name="falsewitness" />

==Overview==
Christian countercult activism mainly stems from [[evangelicalism]] or [[fundamentalism]]. The countercult movement asserts that particular Christian sects are erroneous because their beliefs are not in accordance with the teachings of the [[Bible]]. It also states that a religious sect can be considered a [[cult]] if its beliefs involve a denial of any of the essential Christian teachings (such as [[salvation]], the [[Trinity]], [[Jesus]] himself as a person, the [[ministry of Jesus|ministry]] and [[miracles of Jesus]], [[Crucifixion of Jesus|his crucifixion]], [[Resurrection of Jesus|his resurrection]], the [[Second Coming]] and the [[Rapture]]).<ref>Walter R. Martin, ''The Rise of the Cults'', rev.ed. Santa Ana: Vision House, 1978, pp. 11–2.</ref><ref>Richard Abanes, ''Defending the Faith: A Beginner's Guide to Cults and New Religions'', Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997, p. 33.</ref><ref>H. Wayne House & Gordon Carle, ''Doctrine Twisting: How Core Biblical Truths are Distorted'', Downers Grove: IVP, 2003.</ref>

Countercult ministries often concern themselves with religious sects that consider themselves Christian but hold beliefs that are thought to contradict the teachings of the Bible. Such sects may include: [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], the [[Unification Church]], [[Christian Science]], and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. Some Protestants classify the [[Catholic Church]] as a cult. Some also denounce non-Christian religions such as [[Islam]], [[Wicca]], [[Paganism]], [[New Age]] groups, [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]] and other religions like [[UFO religion]]s.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Countercult literature usually expresses specific doctrinal or theological concerns and it also has a [[missionary]] or [[apologetics|apologetic]] purpose.<ref>Garry W. Trompf, "Missiology, Methodology and the Study of New Religious Movements," ''Religious Traditions'' 10, 1987, pp. 95–106.</ref> It presents a rebuttal by emphasizing the teachings of the Bible against the beliefs of non-fundamental Christian sects. Christian countercult activist writers also emphasize the need for Christians to [[evangelism|evangelize]] to followers of cults.<ref>Walter R. Martin, ''The Kingdom of the Cults'', rev.ed. Ravi Zacharias ed. Bloomington: Bethany House, 2003, pp. 479–93.</ref><ref>Ronald Enroth ed. ''Evangelising the Cults'', Milton Keynes: Word, 1990.</ref><ref>Norman L Geisler & Ron Rhodes, ''When Cultists Ask: A Popular Handbook on Cultic Misinterpretations'', Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997.</ref> Some Christians also share concerns similar to those of the secular [[anti-cult movement]].<ref>Paul R. Martin, ''Cult Proofing Your Kids'', Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.</ref><ref>Joel A. MacCollam, ''Carnival of Souls: Religious Cults and Young People'', New York: Seabury Press, 1979.</ref>

The movement publishes its views through a variety of media, including books, magazines, and newsletters, radio broadcasting, audio and video [[Cassette tape|cassette]] production, direct-mail appeals, proactive evangelistic encounters, professional and avocational websites, as well as lecture series, training workshops and counter-cult conferences.<ref name="falsewitness">
Cowan, D.E. 2003. ''Bearing False Witness?: An Introduction to the Christian Countercult''. Praeger.
</ref>

==History==

===Precursors and pioneers===
Christians have applied theological criteria to assess the teachings of non-orthodox movements throughout church history.<ref>Saliba, ''Understanding New Religious Movements'', pp. 45–74.</ref><ref>Harold O. J. Brown, ''Heresies: The Image of Christ in the Mirror of Heresy and Orthodoxy from the Apostles to the Present'', Garden City: Doubleday, 1984.</ref><ref>J.W.C. Wand,''The Four Great Heresies: Nestorian, Eutychian, Apollinarian, Arian,'' London: A.R.Mowbray, 1955.</ref> The [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]] themselves were involved in challenging the doctrines and claims of various teachers. The [[Apostle Paul]] wrote an entire [[epistle]], [[Epistle to the Galatians|Galatians]], antagonistic to the teachings of a [[Jews|Jewish]] sect that claimed adherence to the teachings of both [[Jesus]] and [[Moses]] (cf. [[Acts 15]] and [[Galatians 1|Gal. 1]]:6–10). The [[First Epistle of John]] is devoted to countering early [[Proto-Gnosticism|proto-Gnostic]] [[cult]]s that had arisen in the first century CE, all claiming to be Christian ([[1 John 2]]:19).{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

The [[Early church|early Church]] in the [[Post-Apostolic Age|post-apostolic]] period was much more involved in "defending its frontiers against alternative [[Soteriology|soteriologies]]—either by defining its own position with greater and greater exactness, or by attacking other religions, and particularly the [[Greco-Roman mysteries|Hellenistic mysteries]]."<ref>[[Eric J. Sharpe]], ''Comparative Religion: A History'', London: Duckworth, 1975, p. 9</ref> In fact, a good deal of the early Christian literature is devoted to the exposure and refutation of unorthodox theology, [[Greco-Roman mysteries|mystery religions]] and [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] groups.<ref>Brown, ''Heresies'', pp. 38–69.</ref><ref>[[Ronald H. Nash]], ''Christianity and the Hellenistic World'', Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984, pp. 213–24.</ref> [[Irenaeus]], [[Tertullian]] and [[Hippolytus of Rome]] were some of the early [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologists]] who engaged in critical analyses of unorthodox theology, Greco-Roman [[Paganism|pagan]] religions, and Gnostic groups.<ref>[[Avery Dulles]], ''A History of Apologetics'', Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 1999, pp. 22–58.</ref><ref>J.K.S.Reid, ''Christian Apologetics'', Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans, 1970, pp. 36–53.</ref><ref>[[Bengt Hagglund]], ''History of Theology'', trans. Gene J. Lund, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1968, pp. 31–105.</ref>

In the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] tradition, some of the earliest writings opposing unorthodox groups (such as the [[Emanuel Swedenborg|Swedenborgians]]){{citation needed|date=April 2020}} can be traced back to [[John Wesley]], [[Alexander Campbell (clergyman)|Alexander Campbell]] and [[Princeton Theological Seminary]] theologians like [[Charles Hodge]] and [[B. B. Warfield]].<ref>[[Richard G. Kyle]], ''The Religious Fringe: A History of Alternative Religions in America'', Downers Grove: IVP, 1993.</ref><ref>[[Philip Jenkins]], ''Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History'', New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.</ref> The first known usage of the term ''cult'' by a Protestant apologist to denote a group is heretical or unorthodox is in ''Anti-Christian Cults'' by A. H. Barrington, published in 1898.<ref>A.H.Barrington, ''Anti-Christian Cults'', Milwaukee: Young Churchman/London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1898.</ref>

Quite a few of the pioneering apologists were [[Baptists|Baptist]] pastors, like I. M. Haldeman, or participants in the [[Plymouth Brethren]], like [[William C. Irvine (missionary)|William C. Irvine]] and [[Sydney Watson]].<ref>[[J. Gordon Melton]],"The counter-cult monitoring movement in historical perspective," in ''Challenging Religion: Essays in Honour of [[Eileen Barker]]'', edited by [[James A. Beckford]] & [[James T. Richardson]], Routledge, London, 2003, pp. 102–113.</ref> Watson wrote a series of [[Didacticism|didactic]] novels like ''Escaped from the Snare: [[Christian Science]]'',<ref>{{cite book |author=Sydney Watson |title=Escaped from the Snare: Christian Science |location=London |publisher=William Nicholson & Sons |date=1914}}</ref> ''Bewitched by [[Spiritualism (movement)|Spiritualism]]'',<ref>{{cite book |author=Sydney Watson |title=The Lure of a Soul (Bewitched by Spiritualism) |location=London |publisher=W. Nicholson & Sons |date=1915}}</ref> and ''The Gilded Lie ([[Bible Student movement|Millennial Dawnism]])'',<ref>{{cite book |author=Sydney Watson |title=The Gilded Lie (Millennial Dawnism) |location=London |publisher=W. Nicholson |date=1914}}</ref> as warnings of the dangers posed by cultic groups. Watson's use of fiction to counter the cults has been repeated by later novelists like [[Frank E. Peretti]].<ref>[[Frank E. Peretti]], ''[[This Present Darkness]]'', Westchester: Crossway,1986.</ref><ref>[[James R. Lewis (scholar)|James R. Lewis]], "Works of Darkness: Occult Fascination in the Novels of Frank Peretti" in ''Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft'', James R. Lewis ed. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996, pp. 339–50.</ref>

The early twentieth-century apologists generally applied the words [[Heresy in Christianity|''heresy'']] and [[sect|''sects'']] to groups like the [[Christadelphians]], [[Mormons]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Spiritualism (movement)|Spiritualists]], and [[Theosophy (Boehmian)|Theosophists]]. This was reflected in several chapters contributed to the multi-volume work released in 1915 ''The Fundamentals'', where apologists criticized the teachings of [[Charles Taze Russell]], [[Mary Baker Eddy]], the Mormons and Spiritualists.<ref>William G. Moorehead, 'Millennial Dawn A Counterfeit of Christianity', in ''The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth'', Volume 7. Chicago: Testimony Publishing.</ref><ref>Maurice E. Wilson, 'Eddyism, Commonly Called "Christian Science", in ''The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth'', Volume 9. Chicago: Testimony Publishing.</ref><ref>R. G. McNiece, 'Mormonism: Its Origin, Characteristics, and Doctrines', in ''The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth'', Volume 8. Chicago: Testimony Publishing.</ref><ref>[[Algernon J. Pollock]], 'Modern Spiritualism Briefly Tested By Scripture', in ''The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth'', Volume 10. Chicago: Testimony Publishing.</ref>

===Mid-twentieth-century apologists===
Since the 1940s, the approach of traditional Christians was to apply the meaning of ''cult'' such that it included those religious groups who use other scriptures beside the [[Bible]] or have teachings and practices deviating from traditional Christian teachings and practices. Some examples of sources (with published dates where known) that documented this approach are:
* ''The Missionary Faces Isms'', by John C. Mattes, pub. 1937 (Board of American Missions of the [[United Lutheran Church in America]]). {{OCLC|1982891}}
* ''Heresies Ancient and Modern'', by J. Oswald Sanders, pub. 1948 (Marshall Morgan & Scott, London/Zondervan, Grand Rapids). {{OCLC|1055434932}}
* {{cite book|last1=Sanders|first1=J. Oswald|title=Cults and isms|date=1973|publisher=Lakeland|location=London|isbn=978-0551004580|edition=Revised|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/cultsisms00sandrich}}
* {{cite book|last1=Baalen|first1=Jan Karel van|title=The chaos of cults; a study of present-day isms.|date=1962|publisher=Eerdmans Pub. Co.|location=Grand Rapids, Mich.|isbn=978-0802832788|edition=4th rev. and enl.}}
* ''Heresies Exposed'', by W. C. Irvine, pub. 1917, 1921, 1985 (Loizeaux Brothers). {{ISBN|978-0872134010}}
* ''Confusion of Tongues'', by C. W. Ferguson, pub. 1928 (Doran & Co). {{OCLC|903178756}}
* ''Isms New and Old'', by Julius Bodensieck. {{OCLC|6565177}}
* ''Some Latter-Day Religions'', by G. H. Combs. {{ISBN|9781150048920}}

One of the first prominent countercult apologists was [[Jan Karel van Baalen]] (1890–1968), an ordained minister in the [[Christian Reformed Church in North America]]. His book ''The Chaos of Cults'', which was first published in 1938, became a classic in the field as it was repeatedly revised and updated until 1962.<ref>J.K.van Baalen, ''The Chaos of Cults'', 4th rev. ed. Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing, 1962.</ref>

===Walter Ralston Martin===
Historically, one of the most important protagonists of the movement was [[Walter Ralston Martin|Walter Martin]] (1928–1989), whose numerous books include the 1955 ''The Rise of the Cults: An Introductory Guide to the Non-Christian Cults'' and the 1965 ''[[The Kingdom of the Cults|The Kingdom of the Cults: An Analysis of Major Cult Systems in the Present Christian Era]]'', which continues to be influential. He became well known in conservative Christian circles through a radio program, "The Bible Answer Man", currently hosted by [[Hank Hanegraaff]].

In ''The Rise of the Cults'', Martin gave the following definition of a cult:

<blockquote>By cultism we mean the adherence to doctrines which are pointedly contradictory to orthodox Christianity and which yet claim the distinction of either tracing their origin to orthodox sources or of being in essential harmony with those sources. Cultism, in short, is any major deviation from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.<ref>Walter R. Martin, ''The Rise of the Cults'', Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1955, pp. 11–2.</ref></blockquote>

As Martin's definition suggests, the countercult ministries concentrate on non-traditional groups that claim to be Christian, so chief targets have been, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Armstrongism]], [[Church of Christ, Scientist|Christian Science]] and the [[Unification Church]], but also smaller groups like the [[The New Church (Swedenborgian)|Swedenborgian Church]].<ref>Each of these movements are treated in separate chapters in Walter R. Martin, ''The Kingdom of the Cults'', rev. ed. Ravi Zacharias ed. Bloomington: Bethany House, 2003.</ref> He defines Christian cults as groups that follow the personal interpretation of an individual, rather than the understanding of the [[Bible]] accepted by [[Nicene Christianity]], providing the examples of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[Christian Science]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], and the [[Unity Church]].<ref name="McManus1989">Michael J. McManus, "Eulogy for the godfather of the anti-cult movement", obituary in ''[[The Free Lance-Star]]'', Fredericksburg, VA, 26 August 1989, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19890826&id=FuBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1201,1411394 p. 8].</ref> Martin examines a large number of new religious movements; included are major groups such as [[Christian Science]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Armstrongism]], [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|Theosophy]], the [[Baháʼí Faith]], [[Unitarian Universalism]], [[Scientology]], as well as  minor groups including various [[New Age]] and groups based on [[Eastern religions]]. The beliefs of other world religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Buddhism]] are also discussed. He covers each group's history and teachings, and contrasts them with those of mainstream Christianity.<ref name="McManus1989" /><ref>"unapologetically hostile to young and developing spiritual trends" {{Cite journal |last=Dackson |first=Wendy |date=Summer 2004 |title=New Religious Movements in the 21st Century: Legal, Political, and Social Challenges in Global Perspective |journal=Journal of Church and State |volume=46 |issue=3 |page=663 |doi=10.1093/jcs/46.3.663}}</ref>

Various other conservative Christian leaders—among them [[John Ankerberg]] and [[Norman Geisler]]—have emphasized themes similar to Martin's.<ref>John Ankerberg & John Weldon, ''Cult Watch'', Eugene: Harvest House, 1991, pp. i–x.</ref><ref>Geisler & Rhodes, ''When Cultists Ask'', pp. 10–1.</ref> Perhaps more importantly, numerous other well-known conservative Christian leaders as well as many conservative pastors have accepted Martin's definition of a cult as well as his understanding of the groups to which he gave that label. [[Dave Breese]] summed up this kind of definition in these words:
<blockquote>A cult is a religious perversion. It is a belief and practice in the world of religion which calls for devotion to a religious view or leader centered in false doctrine. It is an organized heresy. A cult may take many forms but it is basically a religious movement which distorts or warps orthodox faith to the point where truth becomes perverted into a lie. A cult is impossible to define except against the absolute standard of the teaching of Holy Scripture.<ref>Dave Breese, ''Know the Marks of Cults'', Wheaton: Victor, 1975, 14.</ref></blockquote>

===Discernment blogging===
Kenne "Ken" Silva is said by other discernment bloggers to have pioneered online discernment ministry.<ref>Marsha West, "Online discernment ministries – the new lepers" http://bereanresearch.org/online-discernment-ministries-new-lepers/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516021501/https://bereanresearch.org/online-discernment-ministries-new-lepers/ |date=16 May 2020 }}</ref> Ken was a [[Baptists|Baptist]] pastor who ran the discernment blog "Apprising". Silva wrote many blog articles about the [[Emergent Church|Emerging Church]], the [[Word of Faith|Word of Faith Movement]], the Jehovah's Witnesses, the [[Gay Christian Movement]], and many other groups. He started his blog in 2005 and wrote there until his death in 2014.<ref>Amy Spreeman, "Online Memorial for Pastor Ken Silva" http://standupforthetruth.com/2014/10/online-memorial-pastor-ken-silva-10614/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322053822/http://standupforthetruth.com/2014/10/online-memorial-pastor-ken-silva-10614/ |date=22 March 2017 }}</ref>

Silva's work paved the way for other internet discernment ministries such as ''Pirate Christian Radio'', a group of blogs and podcasts founded by [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] pastor Chris Rosebrough in 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.piratechristian.com/contributors/|title = Contributors}}</ref> and ''Pulpit & Pen'', a discernment blog founded by Baptist pastor and [[polemic]]ist J. D. Hall.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==Other technical terminology==
Since the 1980s, the term ''new religions'' or [[new religious movement|''new religious movements'']] has slowly entered into [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] usage alongside the word ''[[cult]]''. Some book titles use both terms.<ref>Richard Abanes, ''Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family'', Wheaton: Crossway, 1998.</ref><ref>Ronald Enroth ed. ''A Guide to New Religious Movements'', Downers Grove: IVP, 2005.</ref><ref>Ron Rhodes, ''The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions'', Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.</ref>

The acceptance of these alternatives to the word ''cult'' in evangelicalism reflects, in part, the wider usage of such language in the [[sociology of religion]].<ref>On sociological understandings see for example Eileen Barker, ''New Religious Movements: A Practical Introduction'', London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1989. George D. Chryssides, ''Exploring New Religions'', London & New York: Cassell, 1999.Jacob Needleman & George Baker ed. ''Understanding the New Religions'', New York: Seabury Press, 1981. [[Mikael Rothstein]] & Reender Kranenborg ed. ''New Religions in a Postmodern World'', Aarhus, Denmark: Aargus University Press, 2003.</ref>

==Apologetics==
The term ''countercult [[apologetic]]s'' first appeared in [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] literature as a self-designation in the late 1970s and early 1980s in articles by [[Ronald Enroth]] and David Fetcho, and by [[Walter Ralston Martin|Walter Martin]] in ''Martin Speaks Out on the Cults''.<ref>Ronald M. Enroth, "Cult/Counter-cult", ''Eternity'', November 1977, pp.18–22, 32–5. David Fetcho, "Disclosing the Unknown God: Evangelism to the New Religions", ''Update: A Quarterly Journal on New Religious Movements'' Volume 6, number 4 December 1982 p.8. Walter R. Martin, ''Martin Speaks Out on the Cults'', rev. ed. Ventura: Vision House, 1983, pp.124–5.</ref> A mid-1980s debate about apologetic methodology between Ronald Enroth and [[J. Gordon Melton]], led the latter to place more emphasis in his publications on differentiating the Christian countercult from the secular [[Anti-cult movement|anti-cult]].<ref>Ronald M. Enroth and J. Gordon Melton, ''Why Cults Succeed Where The Church Fails'', Elgin: Brethren, 1985, pp. 25–30.</ref> Eric Pement urged Melton to adopt the label "Christian countercult",<ref>Eric Pement, 'Comments on the Directory' in Keith Edward Tolbert and Eric Pement, ''The 1993 Directory of Cult Research Organizations'', Trenton: American Religions Center, 1993, p. x.</ref> and since the early 1990s the terms has entered into popular usage and is recognized by [[Sociology|sociologists]] such as [[Douglas E. Cowan|Douglas Cowan]].<ref>Douglas E. Cowan, ''Bearing False Witness? An Introduction to the Christian Countercult'', Westport: Praeger, 2003.</ref>

The only existing [[umbrella organization]] within the countercult movement in the United States is the Evangelical Ministries to New Religions ([[EMNR]]),<!--Abbreviate after stating meaning.--> founded in 1982 by Martin, Enroth, Gordon Lewis, and James Bjornstad.<ref name="falsewitness" />

==Worldwide organizations==
While the greatest number of countercult ministries are found in the United States, ministries exist in [[Australia]], [[Brazil]], [[Canada]], [[Denmark]], [[England]],<ref>See [[Reachout Trust]].</ref> [[Ethiopia]], [[Germany]], [[Hungary]], [[Italy]], [[Mexico]], [[New Zealand]], [[Philippines]], [[Romania]], [[Russia]], [[Sweden]], and [[Ukraine]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2022|reason=Each country should have a citation}} A comparison between the methods employed in the United States and other nations discloses some similarities in emphasis, but also other nuances in emphasis. The similarities are that globally these ministries share a common concern about the [[Evangelism|evangelization]] of people in [[cult]]s and [[New religious movement|new religions]]. There is also often a common thread of comparing orthodox doctrines and biblical passages with the teachings of the groups under examination. In some of the European and southern hemisphere contexts, however, confrontational methods of engagement are not always relied on, and dialogical approaches are sometimes advocated.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

A group of organizations that originated within the context of established religion is working in more general fields of "cult awareness," especially in Europe. Their leaders are theologians, and they are often social ministries affiliated to big churches.

===Protestant===
* [[Berlin]]-based {{Lang|de|Pfarramt für Sekten- und Weltanschauungsfragen}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ekbo.sekteninformation.de|title=Index - Informationen und Standpunkte|author=Pfr. Thomas Gandow|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205011358/http://www.ekbo.sekteninformation.de/|archive-date=5 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> (Parish Office for Sects and World Views) headed by [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] pastor Thomas Gandow<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ekbo.sekteninformation.de/5.html|title=Index - Informationen und Standpunkte|author=Pfr. Thomas Gandow|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511193951/http://www.ekbo.sekteninformation.de/5.html|archive-date=11 May 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Switzerland|Swiss]] {{Lang|de|Evangelische Informationsstelle Kirchen-Sekten-Religionen}} (Protestant Reformed Zwinglian Information Service on Churches, Sects and Religions) headed by [[Theology of Huldrych Zwingli|Zwinglian]] parson Georg Schmid<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.relinfo.ch|title=Relinfo|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>

===Catholic===
*{{Lang|de|Sekten und Weltanschauungen in Sachsen}} (Sects and ideologies in [[Saxony]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sekten-sachsen.de/|title=Sekten und Weltanschauungen in Sachsen|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>
* {{Lang|de|Weltanschauungen und religiöse Gruppierungen}} (Worldviews and religious groups) of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Linz]], [[Austria]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dioezese-linz.or.at/pastoralamt/weltanschauungsfragen/|title=Diözese Linz - Online Portal der Katholische Kirche in Oberösterreich|author=Diözese Linz|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>
* GRIS ({{Lang|it|Gruppo di ricerca e informazione socio-religiosa}}), [[Italy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gris.org/|title=www.gris.org|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>

===Orthodox===
*[[Synod]]ic Committee about [[Heresy|Heresies]] of the [[Greek Orthodox Church]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecclesia.gr/greek/holySynod/commitees/heresies/omades.html|title=H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ : Επιτροπές της Ιεράς Συνόδου - Συνοδική Επιτροπή επί των Αιρέσεων|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>
*[[Center for Religious Studies in the name of Hieromartyr Irenaeus of Lyons|Center for Religious Studies in the name of Hieromartyr Ireneus of Lyon]] in [[Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Информационно-консультационный центр Св. Иринея Лионского - Главная |url=https://iriney.ru/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=iriney.ru}}</ref>

==Contextual missiology==
The phenomena of [[cult]]s has also entered into the [[Missiology|discourses of Christian missions]] and theology of religions. An initial step in this direction occurred in 1980 when the [[Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization]] convened a mini-consultation in [[Thailand]]. From that consultation a position paper was produced.<ref>''[http://www.lausanne.org/Brix?pageID=14647 The Thailand Report on New Religious Movements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117192327/http://www.lausanne.org/Brix?pageID=14647 |date=17 January 2006 }}''</ref> The issue was revisited at the Lausanne Forum in 2004 with another paper.<ref>''[http://www.lausanne.org/lcwe/assets/LOP45_IG16.pdf Religious and Non-Religious Spirituality in the Western World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117190244/http://www.lausanne.org/lcwe/assets/LOP45_IG16.pdf |date=17 January 2006 }}''</ref> The latter paper adopts a different methodology to that advocated in 1980.

In the 1990s, discussions in academic missions and theological journals indicate that another trajectory is emerging that reflects the influence of contextual missions theory. Advocates of this approach maintain that apologetics as a tool needs to be retained, but do not favor a confrontational style of engagement.<ref>Irving Hexham, Stephen Rost & John W. Morehead ed. ''Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Evangelical Approach'', Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004.Gordon R. Lewis, "Our Mission Responsibility to New Religious Movements" ''International Journal of Frontier Missions'' Volume 15, number 3 July–September 1998, p. 116.</ref>

==Variations and models==
Countercult apologetics has several variations and methods employed in analyzing and responding to [[cult]]s. The different nuances in countercult apologetics have been discussed by [[John A. Saliba]]<ref>{{cite book |author=John A. Saliba |title=Understanding New Religious Movements |pages=212–223}}</ref> and Philip Johnson.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Philip Johnson |title=Apologetics, Mission and New Religious Movements: A Holistic Approach |journal=Sacred Tribes Journal |volume=1 |number=1 |date=Fall 2002 |pages=5–220}}</ref>

The dominant method is the emphasis on detecting unorthodox or heretical doctrines and contrasting those with orthodox interpretations of the [[Bible]] and early creedal documents. Some apologists, such as [[Francis J. Beckwith]], have emphasized a philosophical approach, pointing out [[logic]]al, [[epistemological]] and [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] problems within the teachings of a particular group.<ref>Francis J. Beckwith & Stephen E. Parrish, ''See the gods fall'', Joplin: College Press, 1997. Francis J. Beckwith, Carl Mosser & Paul Owen ed. ''The New Mormon Challenge'', Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.</ref> Another approach involves former members of cultic groups recounting their spiritual autobiographies, which highlight experiences of disenchantment with the group, unanswered questions and doubts about commitment to the group, culminating in the person's conversion to [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christianity]].<ref>James R. Adair & Ted Miller ed. ''Escape from Darkness'', Wheaton: Victor, 1982. Chris Elkins, ''Heavenly Deception'', Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1980. Joe Hewitt, ''I Was Raised a Jehovah's Witness'', Denver: Accent Books, 1979. Latayne C. Scott, ''Ex-Mormons: Why We Left'', Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990.</ref>

Apologists like [[Dave Hunt (Christian apologist)|Dave Hunt]] in ''Peace, Prosperity and the Coming Holocaust'' and [[Hal Lindsey]] in ''The Terminal Generation'' have tended to interpret the phenomena of cults as part of the burgeoning evidence of signs that [[Second Coming|Christ's Second Advent]] is close at hand.<ref>Dave Hunt, ''Peace, Prosperity and the Coming Holocaust: The New Age Movement in Prophecy'', Eugene: Harvest House, 1983. Hal Lindsey, ''The Terminal Generation'', Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell, 1976.</ref> Both Hunt and [[Constance Cumbey]] have applied a [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] model to interpreting the emergence of [[New Age]] spirituality and linking that to speculations about fulfilled prophecies heralding Christ's reappearance.<ref>Constance E. Cumbey, ''The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow'', Shreveport: Huntington House, 1983. Evaluated in Elliot Miller, ''A Crash Course on the New Age Movement'', Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989, pp. 193–206. John A. Saliba, ''Christian Responses to the New Age Movement: A Critical Assessment'', London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1999, pp.58–63.</ref>

==Prominent advocates==
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===People===
*[[Constance Cumbey]];
*[[Ronald Enroth]];<!--Until details are provided about each, for sake of style, wikilink should be allowed to suffice.--><ref>Sociologist and Christian author of books about cults and new religious movements.{{says who|date = September 2024}}</ref>
*[[Norman Geisler]];
*[[Douglas Groothuis]];
*[[Dave Hunt (Christian apologist)|Dave Hunt]];
*[[Greg Koukl]];
*[[Bob Larson]];
*[[Walter Ralston Martin]];<!--See note above.--><ref>Late Baptist minister who was the host of the [[Bible Answer Man]] radio broadcast—now hosted by [[Hank Hanegraaff]]—and the president of the Christian Research Institute, who often used his broadcast to promote arguments against [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], and other movements.{{says who|date = September 2024}}</ref>
*[[Josh McDowell]];<ref>Christian author.{{says who|date = September 2024}}</ref>
*[[J. P. Moreland]];<ref>Biola University{{says who|date = September 2024}}</ref>
*[[Robert Passantino|Robert]] and [[Gretchen Passantino]].

===Organizations===
*Answers in Action,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.org|title=Answers in Action|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> led by [[Robert Passantino|Robert]] and [[Gretchen Passantino]];
*Apologetics Index;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apologeticsindex.org/|title=Apologetics Index|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref>
*Apologetics Resource Center,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcapologetics.org/|title=Apologetics|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> led by Craig Branch;
*Apologetics Press,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apologeticspress.org/AboutAP.aspx|title=History and Beliefs|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> led by Dave Miller;
*''Apprising'', a blog written by Ken Silva;
* Banner Ministries UK, led by Tricia Tillin;
* [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]] (CARM), founded and led by Matt Slick;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://carm.org/about/our-team/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Christian Research Institute]] (CRI), founded by [[Walter Ralston Martin|Walter Martin]];
* Cult Awareness and Information Centre,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caic.org.au|title=Cult Help and Information - Home|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> founded by the late [[Jan Groenveld]];
* [[Dialog Center International]], founded by [[Johannes Aagaard]];
* Evangelical Ministries to New Religions ([[EMNR]]);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emnr.org/|title=EMNR - Evangelical Ministries to New Religions|work=Evangelical Ministries to New Religions|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> <!--an umbrella group for ministries to the cults and new religions THIS DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT IS PRESENTED FOR OTHER ENTRIES, AND SO IS DISCORDANT.-->
* [[Midwest Christian Outreach]];
* [[Mormonism Research Ministry]], led by Bill McKeever;
* [[Personal Freedom Outreach]];
* ''Pirate Christian Radio'', founded by Lutheran pastor Chris Rosebrough;
* ''Pulpit & Pen'', a blog founded and written by Baptist pastor J. D. Hall;
* [[Reachout Trust]], led by Michael Thomas;
* [[Spiritual Counterfeits Project]], led by president Mark J. Harris;
* Stand To Reason, founded by [[Greg Koukl]] and Melinda Penner;
* [[Utah Lighthouse Ministry]], led by [[Jerald and Sandra Tanner]];
* [[Watchman Fellowship]], founded by David Henke, led by James K. Walker;<ref name="StPeteTimes">{{citation |title= Fundamental advice |first = Waveney Ann |last= Moore |newspaper= [[St. Petersburg Times]]|date= 17 September 2003 |url= http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/17/Neighborhoodtimes/Fundamental_advice.shtml }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Religion}}
* [[Anti-cult movement]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Primary sources===
{{Refbegin}}
*Abanes, Richard, ''Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family'', Crossway Books, Wheaton, 1998.
*Ankerberg, John and John Weldon, ''Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions'', Harvest House, Eugene, 1999.
*Enroth, Ronald (ed)., ''A Guide to New Religious Movements'', InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 2005.
*Geisler, Norman L. and Ron Rhodes, ''When Cultists Ask'', Baker, Grand Rapids, 1997
*House, H.Wayne, ''Charts of Cults, Sects and Religious Movements'', Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2000.
*LeBar, James J. ''Cults, Sects, and the New Age'', Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, 1989.
*Martin, Walter R. ''The Kingdom of the Cults'', edited by Ravi Zacharias, Bethany, Bloomington, 2003
*McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, ''Handbook of Today's Religions'', Thomas Nelson, Nashville, 1992
*Rhodes, Ron, ''[[The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions]]'', Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2001
*Sire, James W. ''Scripture Twisting: Twenty Ways the Cults Misread the Bible'', InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 1980.
*Sire, James W. ''The Universe Next Door'' 4th ed., InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 2004.
*Tucker, Ruth A. ''[[Another Gospel (book)|Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions and the New Age Movement]]'', Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2004.
*''Vatican Report on Sects, Cults and New Religious Movements'', St. Paul Publications, Sydney, 1988.
{{Refend}}

===History and critical assessments===
{{Refbegin}}
*Cowan, Douglas E. ''Bearing False Witness? An Introduction to the Christian Countercult'' (Praeger Publishers, Westport, Connecticut & London, 2003).
*Enroth, Ronald M. and J. Gordon Melton, ''Why Cults Succeed Where The Church Fails'' (Brethren Press, Elgin, 1985).
*Jenkins, Philip, ''Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History'' (Oxford University Press, New York, 2000).
*Johnson, Philip, "Apologetics, Mission, and New Religious Movements: A Holistic Approach," [https://web.archive.org/web/20110727230525/http://www.sacredtribesjournal.org/images/Articles/Vol_1/Apolog_Johnson.pdf''Sacred Tribes: Journal of Christian Missions to New Religious Movements''], 1 (1) (2002)
*Melton, J. Gordon., "The counter-cult monitoring movement in historical perspective," in ''Challenging Religion: Essays in Honour of Eileen Barker'', edited by James A. Beckford & James T. Richardson, (Routledge, London, 2003), pp.&nbsp;102–113.
*Saliba, John A., ''Understanding New Religious Movements'', 2nd edition (Alta Mira Press, Walnut Creek, Lanham, New York & Oxford, 2003).
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[https://www.apologeticsindex.org/c142.html Apologetics Index; The counter-cult movement]
*[https://archive.today/20121211102719/http://c.faculty.umkc.edu/cowande/ccw/carm.htm Douglas E. Cowan: Christian Countercult Website Profiles]
*[https://www.cesnur.org/2001/london2001/cowan.htm CESNUR: Overview of Christian Countercult movement by Douglas E. Cowan]
*[http://www.religioustolerance.org/ccm3.htm Counter Cult Movement at Religious Tolerance]
*[https://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_cult.shtml Jeff Lindsay's discussion of cults from an LDS perspective]
*[http://www.adidawilber.com/anticultgroups/index.html Article: Anti-"Minority Religion" Groups with "Big Religion" Ties]

{{Opposition to NRMs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian Countercult Movement}}
[[Category:Christian countercult movement| ]]
[[Category:Anti-cult movement]]