Customer Reviews

Charts of Cults, Sects, and Religious Movements

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

House goes over 19 different quasi-Christian religions and, although I have not read very much yet, initial appearances show that he appears to have done a very nice job. He lists the different viewpoints of these religions and then contrasts them with "Orthodox" Christianity. He uses original sources to support himself so that it's not just his opinion, but rather the opinion of the group's leaders. Certainly some may come in and disagree about certain nuances regarding the way he lays out the orthodox position (i.e. a Catholic or Greek Orthodox layperson may not see eye-to-eye on salvation and justification through faith alone), but House gives verses from the Bible to support himself. He also uses expert resources to check his work and make sure his arguments were not faulty. I will keep this reference near-by, and when I have a question about a particular group's teaching, I will be sure to see what this has to say.

I do have two complaints: First, the book is so big (350 pages, 8.5 x 11 format) and, with the pages getting flipped back and forth, I'm scared the spine may not hold out. I'm wondering why the publisher didn't use a metal ring spine to make it easier to lay the book flat and help it withstand the constant paging back and forth. Also, what about the Boston (discipleship) movement? I would have liked material on this growing group. However, I can't lessen my recommendation of the book despite my complaints.

I just started Ministry School and we were given a World Religions assignment for a presentation within two weeks of starting classes. I could not find any comprehensive information on Alamo Christian Ministries. I searched on the internet, even went to the website however, I was still information deficient. I found this book when I googled Tony Alamo and Alamo Christian Ministries. I looked inside the book on this website, ordered it, read it, created my presentation and it went extremely well because I was sufficiently prepared. As of yesterday, another student has asked me to use the text for their presentation which is coming up. I really liked the book. I highly recommend it.

The whole purpose of buying a book like this is to convert the information into a visual format, such as into chart form. Nevertheless, you can see from the samples that much of this book consists of ordinary outlines, not of charts at all. The author's "Charts of the New Testament" on the other hand, is quite good, and is almost entirely composed of charts in visual form, such as one would use on an overhead projector, to help the students to visualize the material taught.

Let us remember that Zondervan is in this business to sell books, more than to help readers learn. Just as the "Dummies" series is nothing more than a marketing strategy for a series of how-to books written by unrelated authors who pay the fee to use the name, likewise not all these Zondervan books of the "Charts" series are created by the same authors or for the same noble purpose, but mainly to identify themselves with the successful series, and to sell. Be careful before you buy.

I haven't read this book in its entirety but have noticed that it is quoted on a website about cults and used as an authority. On reading excerpts about Jehovah's Witnesses, I wonder if Dr. House didn't really do the research needed to form his opinions. The opinion that Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to read or study any bible but their own is not true. Having been around JWs my whole life, I know that many have several translations of the bible on their book shelves. Without having his book right in front of me, I can't pick it apart bit by bit, but this is a pretty basic mistake and makes me wonder if he's formed his opinions independently and through his own personal research and interviews with real members of these cults/sects or relied on others misinformation.

Mr. Wayne House, ignorantly includes the United Pentecostal Church as a cult. Having a doctorate degree he is what the bible defines as 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim 3:7 KJV