"The Way" is trying to recruit me and my husband

[Trick]

See www.ex-way.com

Trick

 

[LukeQ]

Susan L wrote:

This has me a bit confused. If they believe that there are original errors and mininterpretations in and of the Bible…then why are they quoting it?

Not logical.

The philosophies/constructs/ideologies/theologies of cultic groups comprise of faulty logic. A cult exists for the benefit of the leaders alone - pride, ego, money, power etc… no benevolency exists.

A person does not usually enter a cult based on a reasoned analysis.

People enter cults usually unaware of the wolf in sheeps clothing, introduced by a friend, family member or spouse, someone they trust.

The cult, incrementally uses psychologically pursasive and coercive techniques that gradualy shut down the person’s critical thought processes. Yes - this can be done.

People tend to leave cults, not through interlectual rigour but through either physical, emotional or mental exhaustion.

The road to recovery, dealing with the hurt; relationship breakups; the feelings of being duped; the gradual return of critical thought processes; etc… takes time, patience and love from family members.

Sometimes the former cult victim reacts by no longer believing in anything other than what they can see, smell, hear or touch. Sometimes their existential crisis results in psychiatric issues and suicide.

Cults are an ever increasing scurge on our society.

Luke

 

[Brian_Ingram]

BeautifyU:

My husband and I have a couple of dear friends, a married couple like ourselves. 1. Satan is always referred to as “the adversary” and nothing else.

Go to an on-line Bible such as “The Blue Letter Bible” http://www.blueletterbible.org/. Type in Satan in the search engine and you will come up with 49 verses. Type in Devil and you get another 57. It does not matter what he is referred to, you have to be spiriturally blind not to see that he is a peronal being not an (name removed by moderator)ersonal force.

BeautifyU:

1. Jesus was not hung from a crucifix, but a tree,
   Jesus was crucified under Roman Law. During the time of Chrsit a wooden beam, known as a furca or patibulum was placed on the victims neck and bound to his arms. This is what Christ carried to His crucifixition
   When the procession arrived at the execution site, a vertical stake was fixed into the ground. In such a case, the patibulum or crossbeam, to which the victim’s arms were already bound, was simply affixed to the vertical beam; The victim had his arms held out and nailed to the two ends of the crossbeam, which was then raised and fixed on top of the vertical beam. The victim’s feet were then nailed down against this vertical stake. Historical findings have substantiated the traditional cross. One finding is a graffito1 dating to shortly after 200 A.D., taken from the walls of the Roman Palatine. It is a drawing of a crucified ***; a mockery of a Christian prisoner who worships Christ.
   In regards Catholics and the cross, Chrsit Himself said “greater love have no man that he lies down his life for others.” The Crucification is a reminder of Christt love for us and that His act of love attoned for our sins. It is a reminder for all of us that He knew and felt each of our own sins

BeautifyU:

1. Christ was merely a man sent by God to show us the way, he was not God and there is no trinity. It is also wrong to pray to anyone other than God the Father. It doesn’t say anywhere in the bible to pray to Mary or to honor particular people as saints.

There is plenty of good apologetic material that addresses this, Catholic answers for example has good consise answers.

BeautifyU:

1. There is sufficient evidence in Genesis of dinosaurs and the ice age. There is also ongoing research proving original errors and misinterpretations in and of the Bible.

This problem for a number of Christian sects that they cannot distinguish between the allegorical and the literal in scripture.i.e the world was created in seven days.

BeautifyU:

1. The bible tells us that when we die we simply go to sleep and turn to dust and wait on the second coming of Christ to raise us. For the living, this concept seems long and painful but for the dead it is like the blink of an eye.

In the transfiguration witnessed by James, John and Peter, Christ talks to Moses and Elijah. Also in the Book of Revelation countless saints are seen around the Throne of God. This is clearly before the resurrection

BeautifyU:

1. Vanity, such as plastic surgery…is A-OK!
2. Premarital sex? Drugs and alcohol? Cursing and swearing? Living for money? Lying about money? Dressing trashy? Contraception? All ok!

2ki 17:15 “And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that [were] round about them, [concerning] whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.”

BeautifyU:

1. Wife must submit to her husband, especially on the concept of sexual relations. Husband must do everything he can to give his wife the world.
2. Tithing, giving at least 10% of your income to The Way (but more is recommended) will guarantee you prosperity.

They worship Mamon not God

BeautifyU:

The clincher is here. They have comitted financially to The Way, bigtime, and they have quadroupled their income over the course of only a few years. They say all their blessings are from God. My concern is this: These “blessings” are clearly not from above. So where ARE they from?

What does it benefit them if the gain the whole world but lose their souls. How rich was Chrsit or the twelve Apostles?

BeautifyU:

Furthermore, how do I arm myself properly for defense of my Catholic faith? Any insight on this strange self-proclaimed-Christian cult?

Well you made a start

Pax

Brian

 

[Subrosa]

Dear BeautifyU,

I have read your post and it seems that you have a similar problem to many people, in many situations.

It is important that you remember that your friends have made a choice, freely and openly. If that choice brings about disorder and disruption, it is a product of THIER mindset.

Let me give a hypothetical example.

There is a wedding. The couple to be married of course wants to invite both side’s family members. One side of the family refuses to attend if alcohol is served, putting undue pressure on the couple.

The truth is that this day, the wedding day, belongs to the couple. If the people that don’t want alcohol refuse to show up, it is thier issue, and very disrespectful of the couple that are to be married.

If they don’t want alcohol, then they don’t have to drink it. However, they have no option to disrupt the wedding. If they choose not to attend the wedding, it is thier decision. Understandably, the couple will be disappointed, but they have no power over it.

If these friends of yours do not accept your choice to be Catholic, then they don’t have to. They don’t have the option to disrespect your decision. When you tell them of your choice, the next move will be up to them. If they choose not to “attend the wedding,” it is thier choice.

Be prepared for the worst, that they will not respect you. Understandably, you will be disappointed, but you have no power over it. If they in fact respect your choice, so much the better.

After this step, then you can debate issues. Insist on doing it one issue at a time in order to not confuse and complicate discussions.

Subrosa

 

[Ignatius]

As a faithful Catholic, you already belong to “The Way”, which was the original name of the Catholic Church. This group is not “The Way.” of the first century.

 

[javelin]

BeautifyU:

Thanks so much to all of you for your sincere insight and advice. I have already read “Catholicism and Fundamentalism” and it is a great guide book for such confrontations. I only hope I have it handy when the time comes to defend my faith!

I apologize if this has already been offered, but I would not be too quick to confront them directly and try to persuade them of the danger they are in.

I think it would be a LOT better to start with if you told them you came back to the Church and then simply shared books with them that highlight your reasons for coming back to the Catholic Church. Perhaps a few that were meaningful in you “re-conversion”.

The reason I say this is because books are not personally confrontational, and they do not get emotional.

If they insist on speaking with you about it directly, find ONE thing to discuss with them, such as the divinity of Christ, and prepare as thoroughly as possible to discuss it with them. I, personally, am really curious how any group can claim to be Christian without recognizing Christ’s divinity. If you ask me, it is just to used to deceitfully lure Christians to their cult, and there is no deceiver more guileful than the Enemy. Anyhow, do everything you can to keep the conversation on the main topic you can confidently speak to them about. I’m not trying to imply that you can’t handle more, but rather that a strong push on one crucial topic (like Christ’s divinity) will be more effective at putting a chink in the armor of their “perfect true religion” than refuting a lot of more minor things in incomplete or less compelling ways.

But I’ll go back to where I started in suggesting you start by giving them some books and gently suggest that if they really wanted to know why you are where you are, they could learn by reading them thoughtfully.

Peace,
javelin

 

[BeautifyU]

You have been so great! What a blessing this web site has been to me! Thanks so much to everyone!
BeautifyU