Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects |
|
Note: This page is no longer updated. Please see the new index
Note: The entries on this page have either been moved, or will soon be moved.
Use our new W index Search Apologetics Index Wilkomirski, Binjamin
aka Bruno Doessekker; Bruno Grosjean. Wrote a book called "Fragments: Memories of a Childhood, 1939-1948." in which he described a childhood in Nazi concentration camps. The book was subsequently exposed as a hoax. Interestingly, Wilkomirski also claimed to recognize hoaxster "Lauren Stratford" as a Holocaust survivor.
A best-selling memoir of a "Jewish child" who claimed to have survived the horrors of Auschwitz has been exposed as a fraud and withdrawn from bookshops. "Fragments," in which "Binjamin Wilkomirski" recalled his harrowing experiences as an orphan adrift in the death camps, won the Jewish Quarterly literary prize in Britain and several book awards in other countries before doubts were raised about the writer's real identity. In the meantime, the slim volume has become the most successful Swiss book since "Heidi," acclaimed as a "masterpiece" of Holocaust literature. Wilkomirski's German publishers, Suhrkamp Verlag, who had stoutly defended the author when questions about his bona fides were first raised, Thursday withdrew hardback copies of the 155-page book from the shelves. Their about-turn comes after Wilkomirski's own agent, plagued by nagging doubts about his client, commissioned a historian to write a confidential 100-page report on his origins. Dr. Stefan Machler found that he was not a Latvian Jewish refugee after all but German-speaking Bruno Doessekker, the adopted son of wealthy Swiss Protestants.
Holocaust survivor's memoir revealed as a hoax, Detroit News/The Guardian, Oct. 15, 1999
In a lecture at the Psychoanalytic Seminar in Zurich, held at the beginning of this year [1998] and available on tape, we meet Wilkomirski as the representative of a therapeutic method, namely "Interdisciplinary Therapy." He is able to "treat" people without an assured identity, as they bring scraps of memory to light, by attaching to those scraps the appropriate facts and locales out of actual history. In this way, the patient's own life history, including identity, can be regained.
The Purloined Holocaust Biography Translation of an article originally published in Die Weltwoche, Aug. 27, 1998
The Purloined Holocaust Biography Translation of an article originally published in Die Weltwoche, Aug. 27, 1998
Recovered Memories and the Holocaust by Mark Pendergrast
» Database of archived news items
(Includes items added between Oct. 25, 1999 and Jan. 31, 2002. See about this database) Wimber, John (1934 - 1997)
- Articles -
The Church Jesus Builds John Wimber describes his approach to doing church. Includes a timeline of his life. Offended by God? By John Wimber, sharing that "Sometimes God offends our minds to reveal what is in our hearts." That statement is often heard in defense of all manner of manifestations. Find out what Wimber meant.
Power Healing by John Wimber, with Kevin Springer
Winter, Steve
A person who claims to espouse and promote Oneness Pentacostalism. However, his hate-filled, spiteful ramblings consist mostly of insults padded with template text files and other standard paragraphs. Mr. Winter is not representative of most United Pentacostalists, and certainly does not represent any variety of Christian behavior or doctrine.
It is highly recommended that you check the "Steve Winter FAQ" before attempting to engage Mr. Winter in a conversation. Mr. Winter, who quite possible has been removed, barred or banned from more online services than any other person, also has a nasty habit of contacting ISPs and employers of his opponents. If and when this happens, simply provide them with a copy of the Steve Winter FAQ.
A Guide to Dealing with Steve Winter of PRIME.ORG Excellent information, provided by attorney Peter Wm. Sachs, Esq. As archived by the Internet Archive. WISE
See this page
Information about the modern version of the witch hunts: ritual (and pseudo ritual) sexual abuse trials and those who have been wrongfully imprisoned by them. Focus is on such cases in America, where these kind of witch hunts occur with great frequency.
See also Satanic Ritual Abuse False Memory Syndrome
Word-Faith Movement
Also known as "Name-in-Claim-it," "Health and Wealth Gospel," "Positive Confession," "Word of Faith," etc.
Word-Faith teachers owe their ancestry to groups like Christian Science, Swedenborgianism, Theosophy, Science of Mind, and New Thought--not to classical Pentecostalism. It reveals that at their very core, Word-Faith teachings are corrupt. Their undeniable derivation is cultish, not Christian. The sad truth is that the gospel proclaimed by the Word-Faith movement is not the gospel of the New Testament. Word-Faith doctrine is a mongrel system, a blend of mysticism, dualism, and gnosticism that borrows generously from the teachings of the metaphysical cults. The Word-Faith movement may be the most dangerous false system that has grown out of the charismatic movement so far, because so many charismatics are unsure of the finality of Scripture
John MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, p. 290
There are many perculiar ideas and practices in the Faith theology, but what merits it the label of heresy are the following: 1) its deistic view of God, who must dance to men's attempts to manipulate the spiritual laws of the universe; 2) its demonic view of Christ, who was filled with "the Satanic nature" and must be "born again in hell; 3) its gnostic view of revelation, which demands denial of the physical senses and classifies Christians by their willingness to do so; and 4) its metaphysical view of salvation, which deifies man and spiritualizes the atonement, locating it in hell rather than on the cross, thereby subverting the crucial biblical belief that it is Christ's physical death and shed blood, which alone atone for sin. All four of these heresies may be accounted for by Kenyon's syncretism of methaphysical thought with traditional biblical doctrine"
D.R. McConnell, A Different Gospel
- Articles -
Atonement and the Word-Faith Movement Article from Watchman Fellowship Atonement Where? A Biblical analysis and refutation of the disturbing claims put forward by the Faith Movement, which include the inefficiency of Christ's blood, alone, to atone for the sins of man; the need for Christ's spiritual death, and that the redemption of mankind was completed in hell. By Moreno Dal Bello An Examination of the Word-Faith Movement A good overview. Faith in Faith or Faith in God? by Hank Hanegraaff, president of CRI The 'Faith' Movement May Be Prospering, But Is It Healthy? By Stuart StJohn. Heresies of the Word Faith Movement in chart form. Heresies of the Word-Faith Movement Documented with quotes (.wav files available) Misplaced Faith "By saying the right formulas, can people control God?" My Word-of-Faith Testimony by Tricia Tillin Pentecost or Plotinus? A discussion of the origins of word-faith teaching being Plotinus not the Pentecostal movement. By Oliver Hammond. Positive Confession Article from Watchman Fellowship Profile of the Word-Faith Movement by Watchman Fellowship Ten Reasons To Reject Word of Faith Teachings By Tricia Tillin What's Wrong With The Faith Movement? and part two By Hank Hanegraaff. Word-Faith Theology by Watchman Fellowship Word-Faith Theology and Mormonism a Watchman Fellowship article.
Christianity In Crisis by Hank Hanegraaff. Addresses the errors of the word-faith movement.
A Different Gospel by D.R. McConnell. The Word-Faith Controversy : Understanding the Health and Wealth Gospel by Robert Bowman. A balanced overview and thorough critique of the movement. The publisher of Apologetics Index highly recommends this book.
Robert Bowman Jr. critically examines the movement's origins and teachings, distinguishing acceptable Pentecostal practices from distorted offshoots. He insists that the word-faith movement is 'neither soundly orthodox nor thorougly heretical' and encourages charismatic believers to pursue a rich, mature, and biblical sound Pentecostalism.'' Not only does The Word-Faith Controversy examine the founders and the message of the movement, it goes beyond the health and wealth promise to uncover what have become the most controversial aspects - what the movement's teachings on faith, words, and confession imply about God, Jesus Christ, human beings, and the nature of the Christian faith.
Back Cover, The Word-Faith Controversy
Word of Life
Scandinavia-based Word-Faith movement with an extensive, international outreach and presence. Known in Scandinavia as "Livets Ord" (Word of Life), the movement is lead by Ulf Ekman, a graduate of Kenneth Hagin's Rhema Bible Training Center.
- Articles -
A Totalistic Swedish Church (CONTRA) An article from 1991. Word of Life: Prosperity Theology (CONTRA) Overview of the movement's teachings. Article on the Dialog Center site Wort des Lebens-Gemeinden und die Wort des Glaubens-Lehre (CONTRA)(GERMAN) This article deals with Word-Faith teachings in general, and indentifies Livets Ord as a major Word-Faith denomination. World Prayer Center
A spiritual warfare ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Billed as a high-tech prayer center, the ministry hopes to be the nerve center for an "emerging worldwide evangelical prayer movement." The ministry's $5.5 building, situated on the property of Ted Haggard's charismatic New Life Church. Haggard envisioned the Center in 1984, and co-founded it together with church-growth specialist C. Peter Wagner - whose Global Harvest Ministries is headquartered in the building. The Center includes the latest computer technology and communications equipment, a bookstore, a "spiritual mapping" office, and private suites that can be rented for extended prayer sessions and retreats.
Rev. Joseph Thompson, Director.
It will collect and compile requests from every continent as national prayer centers report what God is doing and how His people ought to pray. Dr. Peter Wagner says, "We see our task as getting people in touch with one another to interactive, human web networks that are properly equipped to wage effective spiritual warfare."
Many Christians disagree with the notion that expensive buildings and multimullion-dollar mininistries are needed to teach the Church how to "wage effective spiritual warfare."
It should be noted that people involved with the World Prayer Center are deeply rooted in Wagner's third wave theology. Many of the names associated with the movement also adhere to the aberrant and/or heretical theological ideas promoted through today's controversial renewal and revival movements. See, for example, this Charisma News report on a so-called "corporate prophetic word" released by alleged prophets:
A great youth revival, churches so big they have to use stadiums to fit all their members and people being raised from the dead are among dramatic developments Christians have to look forward to in the new millennium, says a group of leaders widely accepted as modern-day prophets.
But there will also be more persecution of the Jews, a possible Russian invasion of Alaska, the threat of a second Great Depression and an increase in the number of natural disasters, warns the group in a "corporate prophetic word" just released after a meeting at the World Prayer Center in ColoradoSprings, Colo. Called the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders, the group gathered under the leadership of C. Peter Wagner, an internationally recognized authority on prayer and spiritual warfare and one of the founders of the prayer center. Among those present were Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Cindy Jacobs, Mike Bickle and Tommy Tenney. 'Prophetic Elders' Look to Youth Revival, Warn of Russian Invasion, Charisma News, Dec. 29, 1999
- News Database - » About this News Archive
(Sep. 17, 1998) Holy war - World Prayer Center arms itself with technology, faith Looking for more information?
Loading
|