One of the things that fundamentalist Christians find
disturbing about the world is the existence of cults.
Cult leaders are said to be self centered and egotistical because
they require complete obedience and conformity to whatever agenda
the leader has in mind. On top of this, cult leaders tend to
divide people into two groups, those who are members of the cult
and those who aren't. Those who don't accept the agenda and views
of the cult leader are often vilified and declared enemies of the
group.
Cult leaders also try to separate children from their parents and
create a division between them which often results in total
isolation and rejection of the parental influence. Cult leaders
will also promise great rewards to their followers for their
sacrifice to the cult service.
Christians can often be found issuing warnings about the evils of
cult environments and the destructive influence they can have on
the minds of emotionally and economically stressed people. Cults
are said to create an atmosphere of extremely negative attitudes
because the cult leader replaces God, parents, and the very mind
of an individual with the personal agenda and views of the cult
leader.
The cult mentality with all its ramifications is said to spawn
horrible fanatical movements and produces petty, self-serving,
egotistical and often power hungry leaders who wish to manipulate
and control others.
All these points and observations about cults ring true in the
minds of objective people.
However, what is ignored by Christians is that their Lord and
Savior, Jesus, exhibited exactly the same traits that zealous
cult leaders do. Christians will close their eyes to the same
things they find so disturbing in other cult leaders.
This is understandable to some extent because Christianity is
above all else, a religion that promotes itself through
aggressive advertising and the unquestioning submission to a
superficial God, a God of shine and little substance.
Believers are told to do the "will of God" and serve
him totally.
After all, Jesus himself gave Christians their marching orders in
the Gospel of Matthew.
Matt 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
power(authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.
It should be noted that Jesus makes quite a claim here. Jesus
claims, like all cult leaders do, that special "all power"
has been given to him exclusively.
In other words, whatever the cult leader commands, the follower
should do because the highest level of authority resides in the
cult leader.
And of course, the follower wants to please his Master and will
go out and attempt to coerce others to also obey the commands of
their Master. As the cult evolves, Jesus the man becomes Jesus
the God and his followers can go out and conquer the world for
him knowing that they are doing their duty as good and faithful
servants of their Master.
The world is full of sheep and if one falls into a ditch, the
rest start jumping in.
In other words, there isn't any need to question these rules
because they're found in the Holy Bible and whatever the Bible
says must be true.
The disturbing cult leader characteristics of Jesus don't stop
with this one example. The New Testament has many other examples
which are always ignored by Christians because it spoils the
fluffy image of Jesus that they so love to portray to the world.
They will only quote the "nice" sayings of Jesus while
ignoring the many ugly and self absorbed things he said.
Let's have a look at some of the other cult leader traits
exhibited by Jesus, the alleged "Prince of Peace".
Jesus was a cult leader who wanted to bring division and
disharmony.
It was all part of his ego based new world order.
Luke 12:49-53
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be
already kindled?
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened
till it be accomplished!
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you,
Nay; but rather division:
For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided,
three against two, and two against three.
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against
the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter
against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in
law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And like most cult leaders, Jesus wanted people to leave
their families and make him the centerpiece of their existence.
Matt 10:37
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not
worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more
than me is not worthy of me.
And like most cult leaders, Jesus promised potential recruits
to his new cult a great big reward for leaving their current
responsibilities behind to serve him alone.
Matt 19:29
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold,
and shall inherit everlasting life.
And like many self-absorbed cult leaders, Jesus deemed anyone
who didn't jump on his theological bandwagon to be an enemy.
Matt 12:30
He that is not with me is against me; and he
that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
And like many cult leaders, Jesus won't tolerate anyone who
doesn't want him to rule their lives.
Luke 19:27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should
reign over them, bring hither, and slay them
before me.
As other cult leaders proclaim, simple unbelief will merit
punishment.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
And like many cult leaders, Jesus in his glorified Final
Solution, will send out his army of drones to cleanse the world
of anything that Jesus deems or defines as "wicked".
Naturally, unbelievers will be exterminated along with all the
other unworthy human "weeds".
Matt 13:40-42
As therefore the tares(weeds) are gathered and burned in the
fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels,
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The whole teaching foundation of Christianity is that anyone
who doesn't declare and "confess" that Jesus is
their Lord and Savior is doomed to eternal damnation.
The context is quite clear. It's an ultimatum designed to coerce
and manipulate others into compliance with a religious agenda
that seeks to dominate others to enhance its power and influence.
Oddly enough, the Hebrew scriptures, which Christians label as
the "Old Testament", doesn't support Jesus and his
attempt to usurp authority from Yahweh.
Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament, said quite clearly that he
is not a man(Num 23:19) and will not
give his glory to another(Isa 42:8).
There is nothing in the Old Testament which states that people
should worship a man, a Son of Man, or a Messiah as God and such
a thing is abomination in the eyes of Yahweh.
All of these Old Testament scriptural facts are ignored by
Christians however. Christians are far too entranced with their
worship of a "God" who appeals to their need to feel "chosen"
and "elect" by a God.
Christians will only recognize as the "Word of God",
those parts of the Bible that they like the sound of and any
parts which don't appeal to them they'll ignore or rationalize
away as not pertaining to them.
Jesus demonstrated exactly the same traits that other cult
leaders exhibit. Of course, since it was Jesus the disturbing
similarities are deemed "holy" and the "will
of God".
But let there be no mistake, the character called Jesus, as
defined by the New Testament has the same egotistical, power
hungry message that any other zealous cult leader or dictator
has.
That message is…Obey me in all things or you will be
punished.
Addendum:
Over the centuries and continuing today, Christianity has
conducted a very successful advertising campaign that promotes
"Jesus" as a paragon of love, higher wisdom, and
selfless service to others. This version of Jesus can be found
everywhere, from Christian enclaves to mainstream media programs,
and is also commonly found in "new age" teachings.
The Bible itself undermines the fantasy image of Jesus that
Christianity has worked so hard to create.
However, a popular cotton candy version of Jesus has been so
systematically entrenched in the minds of people, that they will
do just about anything to prop up and perpetuate this fantasy.
Christian position:
In Luke 19:27, where Jesus is telling a story in the form
of a parable, he speaks of a ruler that demands the death of
those that don't want to recognize him as king.
Luke 19:27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
This is only a story, it doesn't mean that Jesus would ever
approve of such actions.
Commentary:
Jesus showed signs of not only approving of such actions, he had
plans to carry them out.
It's remarkable that Christians, who often tell unbelievers that
the Hebrew scriptures foreshadowed, or indirectly pointed to
Jesus, will deny an example of it when it's right in front of
their face, from their own New Testament.
The story Jesus told in Luke 19:27 was just prior to his
entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey and portraying himself
as king, even though he planned on being an absent king, one who
planned on ruling when he returned in his glorious second coming.
The story conveys the message that those people that work for the
interests of the ruler, even in his absence, are given great
rewards and find favor with the king when he returns. Those who
offend the king, such as those that have no interest in having
him rule over them, were to be brought before the king and
killed.
Jesus told his disciples that any city that did not accept the
gospel, in which Jesus becomes the their Lord, would be punished
to an even greater extent than Sodom and Gomorrha were punished.
That implies a great deal of killing would take place(Gen
19:24-25).
Matt 10:14-15
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye
depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your
feet.
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Jesus stated that simple unbelief was enough to offend him.
Unbelievers are damned by Jesus.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.
Jesus stated quite clearly that he would conduct a great scourge
of the earth when he returned to set up his kingdom.
Included in the list of people to be killed are those that offend
him.
Matt 13:41-42
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather
out of his kingdom all things that offend,
and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The theme of burning or killing off those that don't comply with
what Jesus wants is repeated here:
John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is
withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned.
The killing spree that Jesus will conduct is also spelled out
clearly in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus gives his
testimony of things that where to occur in the near future.
There's going to be a lot of killing going on when the aspiring
king returns.
Rev 19:15
And out of his(Jesus) mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he
should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with
a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness
and wrath of Almighty God.
Note that Jesus will treat the nations of the earth this way, he
shall "rule them with a rod of iron".
That certainly doesn't bode well for any that don't want Jesus to
be king over them.
Paul, who claimed that he was directly instructed by Jesus in Gal
1:12, echoed the message of mass killing that would take
place when the wrathful Lord Jesus comes to rule the world.
Those that fail to obey Jesus will be punished with
"everlasting destruction".
2 Thess 1:7-9
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming
fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Attempting to dismiss Luke 19:27 as only a story that
Jesus told, but would not approve of or actually do himself, is
a faith based adventure in self-delusion.
The doctrine is ugly, intolerant, and displays the leadership
style of petty dictators or violent minded cult leaders, but
there it is, right in the Holy Bible.
If that's too much reality for a believer to digest, then that's
their problem.
Christian position:
Jesus is not a cult leader of a small cult because Jesus is God
and because Christianity is a doctrine, not a cult.
Christianity is a world religion with millions of followers.
It is an ancient religion and will be around long after you and I
are gone.
Christianity is a DOCTRINE. Not a cult.
Commentary:
According to the New Testament, around the time Jesus left earth,
just prior to the Pentecost, the cult numbered about 120
believers. Jesus was the leader of a small cult, despite what
this believer wants to think.
Acts 1:15
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples,and said, (the number of names together were about an
hundred and twenty,)
The fact that it's now a long-running popular cult, with millions
of followers, is immaterial to the discussion.
Some definitions of the word CULT:
A cult leader is one that has commanding authority or
influence, which is the very definition of Jesus.
Christianity has many doctrines just as cults do, and is centered
around one figure, just as many cults are.
In this case the figure is a god-man that claimed all
power and authority had been given to him.
Many egotistical cult figures share the same claim, along with
claiming that they have superior "truth".
Jesus claimed to not only have superior truth, he claimed to be
the only conduit to God.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus, like many cult leaders, wasn't shy about proclaiming that
he had been given ultimate authority, and in this case Jesus
boasted to have power over the entire universe.
Matt 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.
Christian assertion:
You used these words to describe what Jesus said:
"Obey me in all things or you will be punished."
Jesus never said that nor did any of his phrases indicate that.
Commentary:
The evidence supporting an intolerant, demanding, and wrathful
Jesus is rather clear, but it's often so unpleasant for some
believers to digest that they deny it exists. The myth of an ever
humble Jesus is heavily promoted in Christianity.
However, the Prince of Peace is only peaceful once he has killed
off anything that offends his self proclaimed majesty.
Jesus indicated that there is very little middle ground with him,
you're either for him or against him.
Matt 12:30
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not
with me scattereth abroad.
The New Testament exhibits the same dogmatic attitude in the
following:
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he
that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
wrath of God abideth on him.
Jesus told his disciples to teach the world that they were to
obey all the commands of Jesus.
Matt 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.
Simple unbelief is offensive to Lord Jesus, as pointed out in Mark
16:16 and Matt 13:41-42.
The penalty for disobedience is punishment. It doesn't get much
clearer than this.
2 Thess 1:8-9
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of
his power;
Since this believer thinks Jesus is God, Jesus said that he
should be feared because he had the power to not only kill people
but to cast them into hell after they were dead.
Luke 12:5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after
he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you,
Fear him.
Some people that received a mark on themselves will be cruelly
tortured in the presence of Jesus, the King of Kings.
This is the message from Jesus in that regard:
Rev 14:10-11
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of
the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and
his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
This belief system, which this apologist can't bring themselves
to recognize as a form of cult, asserts that its followers are special
because they're covered by the blood of a human sacrifice.
This cult leader also urged his followers to eat his flesh and
drink his blood so they could live forever(John 6:53-55).
Then, according to cult teachings, these followers, who consider
themselves to be vice-regents of God, will reign with the cult
leader Jesus when he flies back to earth from his current perch
in heaven.
These believers often say that they want to spend eternity in a
place called "heaven" where they'll constantly be
singing praises and giving glory to the cult leader.
Concerning the earlier claim that Jesus is God:
This must be real news to Jesus, who said that he has a God.
Jesus said it no less than four times in one verse.
Rev 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my
God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write
upon him the name of my God, and the name of
the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God:
and I will write upon him my new name.
The Jesus that said this wasn't the one that was speaking on
earth, it was the glorified Jesus that was resurrected and had
ascended to heaven.
Jesus clearly stated four times in one verse that he has a God,
but that doesn't impede believers from peddling the "Jesus is
God" myth as if it was some sort of universal fact.
An absurd Jesus fetish permeates society, where people are sold a
bill of goods rooted in delusion and propaganda.
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