The New Cults [Paperback]

Walter Martin (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 419 pages
• Publisher: Vision House Pub (December 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884490165
• ISBN-13: 978-0884490166
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,283,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why are so many afraid of the truth?, April 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Cults (Paperback)

Someone wrote a huge review, obviously a Local Church fan. I can tell you that the stuff in the book is true in my view. My family member is LOST to this group. They control my family member's every move. We have no contact with him anymore. this book opens eyes to the truth about cults.

13 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good example of a personal vendetta in guise of research, November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Cults (Paperback)

This book is supposed to be about new cults (1980). It mainlycovers non-christian new age, eastern type religions. However, thereis an appendix that purports to evaluate the so-called local church and the teachings of Witness Lee. Considering that Mr. Martin has other books dealing with hertical groups that use the Bible, it is strange that he includes an appendix on this group in this book on non-Christian religions. I doubt it is accidental and feel it shows the motive of the authors to damage the ministry of Witness Lee in the most severe way possible.

In the introductory paragraph, the author says that "technically speaking the Local of Church of Witness Lee cannot be considered a non-Christian cult." The absurdity of this statement should be apparent. Is the Local Church then a Christian cult? What is a Christian cult? Isn't that oxymoronic? The chapter is full of such laughable phrasing. Furthermore, anyone familiar with the local churches and teaching of Witness Lee would realize that nothing is taught about "the Local Church" with capital letters. The "local" in local church refers to the church being in a city as mentioned frequently in the New Testament. Furthermore it is blamphemous to the Lord and a slander of Witness Lee to say that the church is of Witness Lee. To my knowledge, he never taught or took such a position. The church in the New Testament is of God and of Christ.

It is interesting to note that although Walter Martin's name appears on the cover he did not actually do any of the research on these groups and the writing apparently was done by a Ms. Passantino. Even a cursory reading by one familiar with the writings of Witness Lee, will alert one to the fact that this is not research but a personal vendetta against Witness Lee and the genuine Christians meeting with the local church. Almost every quote is taken out of context and presented in a form to back up the authors' already formed opinion and understanding. In other words, there is no research here. Examining the so-called "experts'" qualifications to do such "research" one finds that a few graduated from college with no mention of their field of study. Ms. Passantino got her degree in comparitive literature. Several hold no degrees at all and have only worked for Dr. Martin for a few years. They appear to be only self-proclaimed experts. Their inability to do research as evidenced by their chapter on Witness Lee proves beyond doubt that they are inept as researchers and writers as well. If you'd like more actual proof and examples of said ineptness please email me. I suggest if you want to find out what Witness Lee teaches go to your Christian bookstore or here on amazon.com and order some of his books for yourself. His teachings are biblically based and actually make easy to understand the divine revelation of God's eternal purpose in the Old and New Testament.

This book The New Cults is a testament to the sad state of research among the many anti-cult "research" groups. Furthermore, in contrast to Psalm 133 where it is so pleasant to see brothers dwelling together in unity, it is sorry to see Christians so blinded by their own pride and perspective that they cannot receive anything fresh from the Lord through the gifts which He has given to His body. Paul spoke so correctly when he said, knowledge puffs up but love builds up.

11 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful. Esp. part on Witness Lee, June 4, 1999

By 

Aquinatis (Paris) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New Cults (Paperback)

This book, written by a panel of cult researchers, covers about 10 new cults which are in line with Eastern thought. The book is old. The part on Witness Lee's dangerous cult, the "Local Church" is valuable because this cult sues in court all publishers writing against it and it is has become difficult to find written material about this cult, most information can only be found at ltm.org. The "Local Church" is active in the city where I live, I was even helping them in the beginning set up their group. It took me time to realize that it was a cult and that it was also not Christian, (rather an Eastern reinterpretation of the Bible, as in New Age groups). Ltm.org had been a great help, but it is nice to find this book (second hand) with a part on this cult, really great.