Paul's Passing Thoughts

Subject: Some more questions

What is a cult to you? How do you feel about Harry Potter, DND, Pokemon and harmless stuff like that? What other sects and cults have you looked into? How does one find truth?

Also, I have been reading Religious Tyranny case study. I find it interesting I’m definitely going to check out some of your books. When you publish the Furry stuff will it just be the blog or will it include more information? Will paperback be available or just digital?

Answer:

Very good questions that I will continue to share with our readers. A cult is any person or movement that combines authority with religion. When any religion states that they have been granted authority by God…that’s a cult. Cults came into being after the American Revolution. Why? Because prior to the American Revolution, we had church states. Church states are not cults. Yes, church states combine authority and religion, but it is an overt authority through state force. When the American Revolution put an end to the church state, the church had to use manipulation to control people and the kingdom of cults was born.

So, first, cults claim authority from God, and secondly, must use manipulation and deception to control people. And yes, as you have alluded to in prior emails, this makes the doctrine of hell suspect. Don’t get me wrong, I presently believe in the doctrine of hell, but because of the fear and control factor of it, I will be revisiting this doctrine. In fact, I am thinking about making it the subject of our yearly conference in 2020. At the very least, I believe we look at the doctrine of hell in the wrong way. Christ and the apostles didn’t emphasize it that much; actually, very little. Why? I consider myself a Pauline theologian, but I can only recall Paul writing about hell once. Considering the gravity of the doctrine, why is that?

So, a cult is the claim of authority from God and the use of deception and manipulation to control. Therefore, church is a cult. Between the first and third centuries, Christianity was a sect. Sects are both good and bad. A sect is a cooperative group unified by agreement on central ideas or beliefs and apart from mainstream tradition. This does not exclude agreed upon organization as well. When the most influential apostles died circa 66 AD, the huge debate of apostolic succession began. This was the idea that Christianity needed to be ruled over via a central hierarchy. At that time, a struggle began between the pagan-state and the apostolic successionists which became church (the institutionalization of Christianity). Religion had always been in bed with the state in the form of paganism. With the advent of church, a struggle ensued between the pagans and the church for Rome’s favor and the enforcement of orthodoxy by the state. That’s why the church set up shop in Rome because it was the epicenter of Roman power and influence. Yes, this is the beginning of the Catholic Church. In circa 350 AD, the church won against the pagans and the church state was born. The church state thrived until the American Revolution accordingly. So, the church first hijacked Christianity, became a church state, and is now a cult.

An In-depth look at the above can be found here:
https://www.academia.edu/17123936/From_Christ_s_Assembly_to_the_Institutional_Church_Part_1

And here:
https://www.academia.edu/17124061/From_Christ_s_Assembly_to_the_Institutional_Church_Part_2

One might ask why there is such an evident desire among people to control others. This is why I believe the Bible; it is the only work that gives answers to these kinds of questions. According to the Bible, control-lust is the essence of sin. A desire to control others drives sin. The Bible also states that sin uses condemnation to control others. So, those who are convinced that they are unworthy are going to let you control them, no? All you must do is convince them that they are “sinners” or “totally depraved”…no? But this also includes criticism by others. Sure, there is “constructive criticism,” but in most cases criticism is all about gaining control of others in some way. Primarily, Christ went to the cross to end condemnation and the subsequent enslavement to sin.

The Furry Fandom is therefore a sect and not a cult like church. However, the Fandom’s way of eliminating condemnation is to make everything acceptable, and the Bible states the following about that: it’s not love of self, God, or others. Due to the way we are created by God, all wellbeing comes from earned self-esteem, or a truthful evaluation of self. The Fandom skips all of that and becomes another being of their own making. Rather than being yourself and partaking in person-building, another identity is assumed using whatever building codes you feel like using. The one thing all Fursuiters readily admit follows: it’s escapism, but they frame it as some sort of virtuous escapism.
Another notation: according to the Bible, if one is not born again, sin is able to use the law to create desires that are against the law. The term “law” includes the Bible, the conscience, and the laws of nature. To answer your question on how truth is known, the Bible states that truth is intuitive, but sin creates desires within that refute that truth deliberately. Hence, what is plainly natural becomes a desire for unnatural things. The Bible addresses this in Romans chapters one and two.

Our research involves the above which includes many sects and cults. Our main focus is contemporary church trends like the New Calvinist movement. I wrote “The Truth About New Calvinism” in 2011. However, we have done a lot of research on world philosophy via our associate John Immel. My wife, Susan, another associate of this ministry has done extensive research on the Puritans. I wrote the book, “The Church Lie” with another TANC associate, Andy Young.

The Furry research will be in book form (perfect bind paperback).