Has Anyone Heard of this Cult?

by NeonMadman 2 Replies latest jw friends

  • NeonMadman
    NeonMadman

    I was contacted today by e-mail by a lady who lives in my area. She says that two of her children have joined a group called "Church of God, World Mission Society." The group has a web site at http://english.watv.org/index.asp . She is very concerned about this, and says her children have become belligerent, deceptive and defensive. Also, they have threatened to prevent her from seeing her grandchildren if she rejects their preaching.

    The group apparently believes in keeping the Saturday Sabbath, the Passover, and according to her, teaches that Sunday keepers will go to hell. Christian holidays, like Christmas and Easter, are prohibited (sound familiar?). The group's web site has a section called "Who We Are" that seems to focus mainly on responding to charges of heresy that have been made (I'm not sure by whom).

    The group appears to be Korean in origin, which immediately led me to suspect a connection with Rev. Moon. However, I see no evidence of that, and I don't believe that the Moonies are sabbatarians. The "Church of God" name and sabbath-keeping also make me wonder if they are followers of the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, but there isn't really a clear enough doctrinal statement on their site to figure that out.

    There is little doubt in my mind, however, that this is a high-control group, and I would like to help this lady in any way I can. Since I had never heard of this group before today, I am turning to my friends online who are "cult experts." What I'd really like is to find information about the origin and history of the group (along with any moral failures or unfulfilled prophecies), as well as its doctrines.

    So does anyone know anything about this cult that might be helpful?

  • Oroborus21
    Oroborus21


    Greetings:

    It sounds like this Korean branch may be an off-shoot theologically from the older Worldwide Church of God (founded by H. Armstrong)

    See this page and notice how the beliefs you describe are similar: http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/wcg.html

    After Armstrong's death the whole church went into a state of disarray and it may be that this Korean branch has become more or less independent.

    The WCG is on the edge of being a cult in my opinion and certainly has a number of cultic traits.

    -Eduardo Leaton Jr., Esq.

    PS: Also check the Rick Ross database for some good articles collected on the WCG.

  • NeonMadman
    NeonMadman

    Thanks, Oroborus. I've been following the antics of the WCG for many years, and, yes, I was inclined to think this group might be a WCG offshoot. If that's the case, I'd certainly like to establish the connection. However, it appears as if this group also has its own "Messiah" in the person of its Korean-born leader. So I do hope to get to the bottom of the matter so that I can somehow help this woman know what she is up against.

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