Who was Ellen G. White?
Ellen G. White became a leader of a segment of the Millerites (who called themselves Adventists) in May of 1863. Her many visions and writings influenced the formation of Seventh-Day Adventism and greatly shaped its doctrine. Today, most Seventh-Day Adventists still consider Ellen White to be a prophetess of God. Ellen G. White was formerly…
What is Christadelphianism?
The Christadelphian sect was founded in 1838 by John Thomas, a London-born physician-turned-Bible teacher. Like the founders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Christian Scientists, Thomas believed he had found the truth of real Christianity. Christadelphianism, like other cults and false religions, denies the deity of Jesus Christ and preaches a works-based salvation. Regarding the…
What is the International House of Prayer (IHOP)?
The “International House of Prayer” (IHOP) is a para-church ministry located in south Kansas City, Missouri. IHOP was founded by Rev. Mike Bickle in 1999. Its primary purpose seems to be international prayer of intercession. Since 1999, the International House of Prayer has experienced explosive growth, with the group acquiring significant amounts of property in…
Are Mormons Christians?
Although Mormons profess to be Christians and say they believe the Word of God, there are many of their beliefs that contradict Christianity. In fact, Mormonism can be referred to as a cult, which can be defined as “a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth.” Mormons say they…
What is Mormonism?
The Mormon religion (Mormonism), whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter-day Saints (LDS), was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ (Articles of Faith, p. 35) who told him that all churches and…
Why do Mormons refer to themselves as Latter Day Saints?
When the hunger for religious experience peaked in the 1800s, the lack of unity among the differing branches of Christian faith became a stumbling block for some. A man named Joseph Smith emerged to propose his own reported religious experiences as the solution. He declared himself to be a prophet of God. Adherents claimed that…
Is there such a thing as the evil eye?
The evil eye is a belief within folk religion that someone can look at another person and cause injury, illness, or even death. The superstition of the evil eye was held in ancient Greece and Rome, and it persists in many cultures today. The evil eye is also called the “envious eye” or the “invidious…
What is the Community of Christ (RLDS)?
In 2001, the delegates of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints voted to change the common name of their church to “Community of Christ.” Besides being shorter and easier to say, the new name changes the focus from their past to their present and future. The group was formed in 1860…
Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and what are their beliefs?
The sect known today as the Jehovah’s Witnesses started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell. Russell named his group the “Millennial Dawn Bible Study,” and those who followed him were called “Bible students.” Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called The Millennial Dawn,…
What is the United Pentecostal Church?
The United Pentecostal Church is a Oneness Pentecostal denomination that was formed in 1945 when the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ merged. Their website says that they “grew from 521 churches in 1945” to “4,243 churches and daughter works in 2010.” The United Pentecostal Church claims to be “among the…