Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement [Paperback]

Ruth A. Tucker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2004

A comprehensive survey of major alternative religions in the United States, including new groups since the 1960s Crystals, shamans, guided imagery, healing meditation---why have these New Age practices been so eagerly accepted by so many North Americans? Why were Mormonism, Christian Science, and Baha'i so warmly welcomed earlier? Another Gospel explains how these and other alternative religious movements appear to meet people's needs. Ruth Tucker's overview illumines the personalities whose alleged revelations spawned historical heresies in all the major cults in the United States. She highlights important controversies within each movement as it aims for religious respectability. She pinpoints how the doctrines and practices of a dozen contemporary groups---as well as the New Age Movement---deviate from orthodox Christianity and shows how to reach out to cult members. Appendices describe lesser-known cults, such as Swedenborgianism and Rosicrucianism, and provide cults' statements of belief.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A comprehensive survey of major alternative religions in the United States, including new groups since the 1960s

Crystals, shamans, guided imagery, healing meditation—why have these New Age practices been so eagerly accepted by so many North Americans? Why were Mormonism, Christian Science, and Baha’i so warmly welcomed earlier?

Another Gospel explains how these and other alternative religious movements appear to meet people’s needs. Ruth Tucker’s overview illumines the personalities whose alleged revelations spawned historical heresies in all the major cults in the United States. She highlights important controversies within each movement as it aims for religious respectability. She pinpoints how the doctrines and practices of a dozen contemporary groups—as well as the New Age Movement—deviate from orthodox Christianity and shows how to reach out to cult members. Appendices describe lesser-known cults, such as Swedenborgianism and Rosicrucianism, and provide cults’ statements of belief.

About the Author

Ruth A. Tucker (PhD, Northern Illinois University) has taught mission studies and church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Calvin Theological Seminary. She is the author of dozens of articles and eighteen books, including the award-winning From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Visit her website at www.RuthTucker.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310259371
• ISBN-13: 978-0310259374
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ruth A. Tucker (PhD, Northern Illinois University) has taught on alternative religions at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Formerly, a professor of missiology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she is the author of several books, including From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: Second Edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource For Believers, May 25, 2006

By 

Taylor (San Jose, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement (Paperback)

As a former member of the LDS church I find this an excellent resource to point out the false doctrines of the Mormons and other false churches. The treatments are excellent and factual...that some members of their organizations dispute the historical facts and doctrinal statements of their founders only shows that they have not made honest efforts to understand what their leaders have propagated. As a "Mormon" I was not aware of many of the more esoteric teachings of the church. I suspect that those below who would argue that this book is not factual have not in fact performed an honest assessment of their church histories and simply are not properly informed. As believers in Christ we must pray for them as my Christian friends and family did for me many years ago. I am forever grateful for people like Ms. Tucker and Walter Martin for showing me the true path to salvation and believe this book is an excellent resource to arm Christians against doctrinal fallacies.

In regards to Mr. Bartlett below, with all due respect, the Mormon church teaches that they are the only true faith much more than Protestant Denominations do. In fact, I find the suggestion that Joseph Smith and the Mormons are somehow more tolerant than other "sects" disingenuous when in fact the truth is they preach all non-Mormons will end up in hell. As an apostate, I am supposedly condemned even further to outer darkness. In this sense, Protestants are much more tolerant and inclusive in that we recognize that there are areas of difference on the nonessentials. No honest Protestant would ever say that Catholics are doomed to hell. Yet the Mormons do condemn them and all other Protestants to eternal damnation. Claiming this book is intolerant because it presents facts is a simplistic argument. I challenge you to refute even one fact presented in this novel in connection with the LDS church. As a former Mormon I refuse to treat any organization as Christian that preaches a false Christ. Mormons can wish to be called Christian all they wish but such a characterization is emphatically untrue.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A respectful treatment of important new religions, June 27, 2001

By 

Gary F. Zeolla "Director of Darkness to Light... (Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Another Gospel (Hardcover)

I used this book as a textbook for a class on "Christianity and the Cults" at Denver Seminary. This book covers a wide variety of new religious groups, both ones that claim to Christian, like Mormons and JWs, and New Age type groups like Hare Krishnas and Baha'i. The professor preferred this volume to Walter Martin's "Kingdom of the Cults." I believe the reason why is this book is less "harsh" in its evaluations of the teachings of these groups than Martin's.

When this book evaluates each group's teachings, it is more with the attitude of, "This is something that should be considered" than Martins' "I'm right, you're wrong, that settles it" attitude.

For each group, Tucker gives a rather extensive review of its background and history, including a short biography of the group's founder and other important figures in its history. The "distinctive doctrines" of the group are then explained. And lastly, she provides what she calls "challenges" to these doctrines. But she emphasis that this should be done in a respectful manner. She is correct is saying that false teachings do need to be confronted, but it is possible to do so in a loving a respectful manner (1Peter 3:15). However, one deficiency of this book is it does not have that many Scripture references in it. Tucker seems to assume that the reader knows the Biblical basis for such basic Christian doctrines as the Trinity. And she generally provides logical not Biblical refutations of each group's teachings.

To study what the Bible has to say on such doctrines, one would need to consult a book like my "Scripture Workbook: For Personal Bible Study and Teaching the Bible." It presents hundreds of verses supporting basic Christian doctrines, such as the nature of God and the Trinity, and it provides rebuttals to interpretations these groups place on verses they quote in trying to support their doctrines.

Tucker's book is very helpful for the background information on these groups and the respectful attitude she presents. Christians need to have a basic knowledge of what such groups teach or at least a good references like this around this around to consult. But for a Biblical study on such topics, you'll need to consult a book like my "Scripture Workbook."

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Guide, July 13, 2001

By 

C. A. Harris (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Another Gospel (Hardcover)

This book was assigned reading in my Seminary, and is an excellent reference guide for anyone desiring to understand people with other religious points of view and how to share the Gospel with them. It is a good investment you will refer to for years to come.

CONTENTS:

1. Cults, Sects, Denominations, World Religions: Definition of Terms; 2. Historical Heresy: Unorthodox Movements of Past Centuries; 3. Mormonism: The Legacy of Joseph Smith; 4. Seventh-Day Adventism: Eschatological Confusion; 5. Jehovah's Witnesses: A Religion of Protest; 6. Christian Science: A Denial of the Material World; 7. New Thought and Unity: Health and Happiness; 8. The Worldwide Church of God: Reinterpreting Israel and the Law; 9. The Way International: Denying the Deity of Christ; 10. The Children of God: Evangelism and Sex Perversion; 11. The Unification Church: Proclaiming a New Messiah; 12. Hare Krishnas: Transplanted Hinduism; 13. Baha'i: A Peace and Unity Movement out of Islam;

14. Scientology: Mind-Altering Pseudo-Psychology; 15. The New Age Movement: The Occult Made Respectable; APPENDIX A: Lesser-Known Cultic Movements; APPENDIX B: Cultic Statements of Belief; APPENDIX C: Major Tenets of Orthodox Christianity.