Online Course: Cults, Sects and Heresies

Download the ebook "Cults, Sects & Heresies"
Download ebook as a zip file for Macs

A free online course that covers cult dynamics, types of cults, the New Age, spiritual issues and some common errors found in cults. See topics

Cults, Sects and Heresies is a mature level AIBI course that involves moderately advanced theological concepts and knowledge of church life and practice. It is recommended for those who have been Christians for at least five years and have read the NT through at least twice. It is also recommended for bible students and those contemplating full-time service.

The course is free but donations are appreciated. CLICK HERE TO ENROLL

Topics We Will Cover

Cult Dynamics

The Marks Of A Cult
The marks of a cult as found in Scripture.

How Cults Convert People
The title says it all. A guide to help you be wary.

Cults and Crazy Thinking
An insight into cult-like thinking.

Understanding Those Caught In Cults
What happens to people when they get caught up in a cult. Also covers some fundamental coping strategies for those affected.

When Church Goes Wrong
Looks at what happens when a local church turns cult-like.

Types Of Cults

Classic Cults
A look at the beliefs behind some of the older cults such as Mormonism.

Commercial Cults
How some businesses can take over your life.

Mystical and New Age Cults
Examines cults based on mystical and new age teachings.

Can Christians get Involved With "The Other Side"
What the Bible says about the occult.

How To Evaluate A Revival
Examines the difference between true and false revival.

New Age etc

Astrology - Just A Bit Of Fun?
Looks at astrology and how it is utterly incompatible with the Christian faith.

Knowing The Difference Between God and The Devil
How can we tell whether spiritual manifestations, voices etc are of God or Satan? This presentation was originally given as an in-service to a group of psychiatrists. A helpful diagnostic tool.

Spirit Wars In The Third Millenium
The coming clash between Christianity and the new paganism.

Common Issues - Trinity, Spirits etc.

Angels
A bible study on angels and their role in the Christian life.

Demons Defeated
A comprehensive look at spiritual warfare.

UFO's and Cults
The belief in extra-terrestrials, the Bible and cults. Seen as an example of sycretism between two beliefs (Christianity and sci-fi) that both belief in "something out there" but have very different understandings of what it is.

The Trinity
Many cults deny the Trinity. This article shows why it is Scriptural.

Is Jesus God?
The "trilemna" - Jesus cannot just be a "good man" if He claimed to be God. He must be one of three things - a liar, a lunatic or the Lord.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL

About the Ebook - Cults, Sects and Heresies

The ebook is a compilation of articles on cults written while John Edmiston was editor of Eternity Online Magazine and also active in cult ministry. The approach is to treat cults in broad groups - classical cults, commercial cults, New Age cults etc, This avoids the confusion of material on thousands of different cults - Jehovah's Witnesses, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Mormons, Moonies etc. (For information about specific cults use the other cults sites on the Internet on the lik at the bottom of this column.) The ebook covers cult dynamics, types of cults, some New Age and spiritual considerations, and a handful of doctrinal isues common to a wide variety of cults. The book is intended as an introduction to cult ministry not as a complete compendium. Nevertheless the articles in the book have been widely read and accepted and many have found them helpful.

Download "Cults, Sects and Heresies
The ebook comes in two forms - aAs a self-extracting exe file for PC's or as a zip file for Mac's and other OS. The ebook works best with Internet Explorer.

cults2.exe
(151KB) (PC's only)

cults.zip
(259 KB) (both PC;s and Mac)


3 min download at 28.8 K modem

  1. Download the file
  2. Remember where you put it.
  3. Go to Windows Explorer and double click on the file
  4. It will load in your web browser and you can read it straight away. (Internet Explorer works best with these ebooks, Netscape is generally OK, Opera seems to have problems.)
  5. Use the yellow arrows to turn the pages.
  6. Our books are best viewed in "page view" - see under View in the menu.

Cult Links

Click here for links to good cult sites.

Mature Level Courses At The AIBI

The mature level courses at the Asian Internet Bible Institute are designed for those who have been Christians for a while and have some basic bible and theological knowledge. They are not recomended for new Christians.

They involve studying an etext which can be downloaded for free.

The course are for bible-believing, born-again Christians of evangelical, charismatic or Pentecostal persuasions. Students should be able to say they are a born-again Christian and agree with the Apostles Creed before enrolling.

If you complete the course and done the term paper you will receive a "Certificate of Completion" that states that you have completed 18 online bible studies in cult ministry. (This is similar to the Certificates Of Completion that you get after you do on a short-course in your workplace.)

Please note that we use adult-learning strategies designed to stretch students a little. We do not expect you to "agree with everything" and you may even find some topics rather controversial (at least we hope so). Gentle structured provocation and vigorous but Christian online discussion should be part of the online learning process.

Assessment: Write a 1500 word (4 page) term paper on:
"An in-depth study of two different cults focusing on how cults recruit and indoctrinate people and the structure of their belief system"

Term papers should be scripturally based and demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the course material.

Term papers should be done in MS-Word or similar format (Wordperfect, RTF , PDF) and may be sent to the lecturer at any time.

Contact the Lecturer

May you be blessed and grow in Him.

John Edmiston - President AIBI

 

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