This is the third in a four part series of updates on the major cults and sects in America. As we are soon to conclude the second decade of the 21st century, pseudo-Christian cults and sects are still teaching unbiblical doctrines and actively seeking to make converts to their movements. In the first installment we looked at: Armstrongism (the legacy or Herbert W. Armstrong’s bizarre interpretations of the Bible) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) – still the largest of the cult movements.

In the second part we examined the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ recent revision of their Bible and changes in their authority structure and organization. We also updated Oneness Pentecostalism and Unitarian Universalism. In this Part 3 we will focus on Christian Science, its distant cousin, the Unity School of Christianity, and the Way International (the unique unitarian cult founded by Victor Paul Wierwille). Part 4 will feature the Church of Scientology (perhaps the most dangerous cult in the world), the Nation of Islam made famous by the anti-Semitic rants of its leader, Louis Farrakhan, and how the Unification Church has changed since the death of its “savior” Rev. Sun Myung Moon.

Christian Science
Recently the actresses Doris Day and Georgia Engel (The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Everybody Loves Raymond) both passed away. The two ladies had one thing in common, they were adherents of Christian Science (CS – the official name is the Church of Christ, Scientist). Doris Day was 97 years old, and Georgia Engel was 70. The cause of death for Day was obviously old age. The cause of Engel’s death was not determined. However, her obituary stated that, being Christian Scientist, she had eschewed traditional medicine for CS prayer (which is not actually speaking to God). CS has a long history of attracting famous people, especially actors in Hollywood, including now dead celebrities Marilyn Monroe, Ginger Rogers, Carol Channing, and Alan Young (Wilbur from Mr. Ed who at one time worked for the church).

Both Doris Day’s and Georgia Engel’s deaths illustrate the philosophical and spiritual incoherence of Christian Science. That faith, started in the 1800s by Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910), espouses the view that disease and death are mere illusions of the mind. It says that if a person just believes strongly enough that their illness is not real it will go away. But as, these ladies demonstrate, they cannot escape reality.

To see how CS distorts the Gospel, carefully read these statements of CS principles from its website (https://www.christianscience.com/what-is-christian-science/beliefs-and-teachings). They sound good, but notice how they redefine key Christian concepts to fit their worldview.

Tenets of Christian Science

  • As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal life.
  • We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God’s image and likeness.
  • We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.
  • We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.
  • We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.
  • And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.

In recent decades the CS church has loosened a bit its prohibition against traditional medicine. Nonetheless, the official teaching is that spiritual healing without external treatments is always preferable.

In terms of membership, CS has not kept records for decades so it is not possible to really know how many people are actively involved in its churches. Estimates, however, place the number at about 100,000 and declining. In 2016, the CS had 942 “Practitioners” and teachers. That is about half as many as ten years before, and down from about 5,000 in 1970. “Practitioners” are professional CS ministers who pray with people who are sick to help them find healing. In 2016 there were 778 churches, down from 1,010 in 2005 and 1,829 in 1971. Amazingly, thanks to legislation sponsored by recently retired U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, CS nurses, who are not licensed to really do anything of value, may be paid from federal Medicare and Medicaid funds.

For more information on the history and beliefs of Christian Science visit these links:

Unity School of Christianity
Christian Science, Religious Science, and the Unity School of Christianity (or simply Unity Church) all come from a common source. In the 19th century, a clock maker named Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802-1866) began to teach a metaphysical system of healing using mind over matter. He became known as the father of the Mind Science movement, also known as New Thought. Quimby’s ideas greatly influenced Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science.

One of Quimby’s pupils was Eugene B. Weeks who started the Illinois Metaphysical College in Chicago. In 1886, Myrtle Fillmore (1845-1931), attended one of Weeks’ lectures. She became convinced that the mind science techniques that Weeks taught could cure her of tuberculosis. She eventually did recover and soon got her husband, Charles (1854-1948) involved in studying those mind control techniques. In 1891, they formed their own movement called the Unity School of Christianity. The organization they started is still going and is headquartered at Unity Village in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

The current leaders of Unity are CEO Jim Blake, a former business executive, and President/COO Guy Swanson, a former college administrator. The organization is governed by an eleven member Board of Directors, most of whom are ordained Unity ministers. The primary outreach organ for the movement continues to be its monthly devotional magazine Daily Word. In February of 2020 the Unity Churches will hold their Annual Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme will be “Taking a Stand for Beloved Community.”

The actual membership numbers for Unity Churches is difficult to determine. However, the Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Survey found that less than .3% of American adults identified themselves as part of the Unity movement. That would translate to under 900,000.

One person whose books are very popular in Unity Churches are those written by Marianne Williamson. Her most popular volume was A Return to Love. In 2019, Williamson announced her candidacy for President of United States and appeared in several Democratic debates.

To learn more about the Unity School of Christianity and Marianne Williamson click on these links:

The Way International
In the summer of 1969 (50 years ago as of this writing) two major historical events took place that are still well remembered. First was the landing on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20th. The other notable event was the Woodstock music festival in New York, August 15-18 at Yauger’s farm. Something else occurred during that year that did not garner as much attention as the two above, but may have been just as important to millions of people. It was the beginning of what became known as the Jesus Movement. Over the next five years or so, millions of American young people came to faith in Jesus Christ. It was probably the closest America has been to a real spiritual awakening since the Great Awakening of the late 1700s.

One cultic organization that benefitted from the interest in Bible study and religion during that period was The Way International (TWI). TWI was started in 1942 by a self-proclaimed Bible scholar named Victor Paul Wierwille (1916-1985). The movement grew steadily, especially during the Jesus Movement, until the early 80s. In 1982 Wierwille retired as president and “Teacher” of TWI. He was succeeded by L. Craig Martindale (b. 1948). Wierwille died of cancer on May 20, 1985, at age 68. In this article we will review the controversial events of TWI since Wierwille’s death.

After his death, several former leaders of TWI came forward alleging that Wierwille and TWI trustees were guilty of extreme authoritarianism, plagiarism, false teaching, and even adultery. Rumors of sexual immorality among TWI members, including widespread homosexuality, ran rampant. Due to these revelations, L. Craig Martindale’s presidency saw a drastic decline in TWI followers. L. Craig Martindale resigned in 2000 when he himself was found guilty of sexual misconduct. He was replaced by Rev. Rosalie F. Rivenbark (b. 1940).

As a result of the scandals associated with Wierwille and Martindale, several splinter organizations formed teaching TWI doctrines. Such splintering is common among cults after the founder has left the scene. Those new groups included: Christian Research and Fellowship of Destin Fla., founded by John Hendricks; Christian Educational Services of Indianapolis, Ind., led by John Schoenheit; and Pacific West Fellowship, led by Steve Sann. Also, some former TWI members still adhere to Wierwille’s doctrines but do not associate with any organization.

In January 2017, Rosalie Rivenbark stepped down from the TWI presidency but retained her position as Chair of the Board of Directors. Rev. Jean-Yves De Lisle (b. 1959) was installed as the fourth president. De Lisle has been on the staff of the Way International since 1988. He has served on the board of directors for more than 16 years and has been involved with the ministry’s international work for more than 28 years. He is a native of Canada and became a U.S. citizen in 1998.

The governing board, originally called the Board of Trustees, is now called the Board of Directors and consists of three to five directors, with Rivenbark as Chairperson. TWI is still headquartered in New Knoxville, Ohio. Household groups continue to meet in this and other countries. TWI claims as many as 100,000 followers worldwide, but that number is likely exaggerated.

Though TWI no longer has its annual “Rock of Ages” music festivals, it operates a mountain retreat center in Colorado. It is called Camp Gunnison, the Way Household Ranch. It is only available to people who are graduates of TWI’s foundational class, the Way of Abundance and Power.

Current Board of Directors of The Way International are: Rev. Rosalie F. Rivenbark, Chairperson; Rev. Jean-Yves De Lisle; Rev. Bill Greene; and Rev. John Rupp.
For more information on the history and beliefs of the Way International go to these links.

This concludes Part 3 of this four installment update on cults and sects. In the next, and final, installment, we will review the recent history and current statuses of the Church of Scientology, the Nation of Islam, and the Unification Church.

© 2019 Tal Davis

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