I wonder, though, if any of these other cults had freemasonry backing?
Bang or Whimper: How Have Other Cults Have Ended?
by cameo-d 18 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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Yizuman
I only know of the Mormons that has some freemasonary history as J. Smith was one of them.
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jwfacts
My last boss's grandfather belonged to a small cult in New Zealand that started in the late 1800's. The leader had claimed they would never die. They were like Nazarenes so had long hair and beards. When the leader died the followers realised the "never die" claim was incorrect and disbanded. Shame the early Bible Students were not so smart after 1914.
Small cults fall apart quickly but once a group becomes as large as the JWs it is likely to take a lot longer. Or as mentioned about SDA's, they can end up becoming mainstream.
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steve2
Old cults don't curl up and die: They either go mainstream (with sometimes astounding "numerical" success) or splinter endlessly into myriad tiny little groups.
I dare say, that in the year 2109, somewhere on earth there will be scatterings of groups echoing some of the JW teachings - possibly in a barely recognizable form. God knows the JWs of 2009 differ astronomically from the Bible Students of 1909. it's called "Re-interpretation" with the benefit of "Hindsight". A cynic could also say it's called "Clutching at straws".
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RR
It just seems to me that "cults" never really go away. When the founder(s) die, the organization moves forwards and progresses with changes. Often times splits occur, and the offshoots attempt to carry the torch of the founder outside of the organization he founded.
Since most cults believe they have the TRUTH, and believe that only a few make up the true church, growth is not an issue with them, as they believe they must decrease.
Christadelphians are splintered up into over a dozen schisms.
The Worldwide Church of God (Arnstrong) was never big to begin with (less than 100,000), they went mainstrean and lost about 80% of their followers, who splintered off into over 300 different groups, all claiming to pick up the torch of Armstrong. Just recently the original Church changes it's name from Worldwide COG to Grace Communion International.
The Mormons are the fastest growing religion today. They are splintered off into hundreds of smaller groups, today there are two main sects, the Church of Jesus Christ, and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ.
Even the Watchtower has splintered off. A few during Russell's time, a major split after his death, some during Rutherford's, and there continue to be some since 1931, continuing today.
Quite often, there are offshoots of offshoots of offshoots.
The only time a "cult" disappears completely is when someone is no longer able to pick up the torch and carry on. Even then there is always someone who has been influenced by them to continue another similiar group.
Sometimes a group dies off and a hundred years later someone finds his writings, accepts them and begins to restart the group.
RR
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rebel8
Sometimes there's a bang.
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Farkel
The "End Time" Cults virtually all die out, unless they quit predicting the end of the world and become more mainstream.
Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists are good examples. The Worldwide Church of God is an exception.
There was a major End Time Cult which developed shortly before the start of the first millenium. Obviously they are gone!
The Kool Aid Cults like the Jones one and the Heaven's Gate one, obviously drink too many sweets to stay healthy.
Sometimes, events just get a little too hot for some Cults to survive. David Koresh can tell you all about that.
Every religion started out as a Cult and every religion is guilty of religious heresy at its beginning. Ask Jesus.
Personally, I think the JW Cult is just too damn arrogant to ever consider going mainstream, which is why they are probably investing in Kraft Foods so they can get a discount on his premier brand of soft drink.
Farkel
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RR
The Kool Aid Cults like the Jones one and the Heaven's Gate one, obviously drink too many sweets to stay healthy.
Actually Jones still has followers who went underground.
Heaven's Gate's website is still active, so someone is keeping it alive - http://www.heavensgate.com/
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rebel8
I didn't know the Heaven's Gate website was still active. I printed all the pages before the FBI took it down. Never thought it would go back up.
They now have a rambling nonsensical page stating they're against suicide. What a surprise, they've now redefined what the word suicide means, just like every other farking cult. In-group lingo, playing with the dictionary.
