Chapter 7-1-1
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Brooke Bernhardt
Chapter 7 - 19
th
Century New Religions
– Part 1
1.
A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political, or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of
a larger group.
2.
The Radical Reformation refers to all forms of Protestantism in the Reformation era whose protagonists rejected both the Roman Catholic Church and the magisterial Protestant churches.
They believed that the church should be a voluntary community of adult believers who follow Jesus' teachings, rather than a state-controlled institution or a hierarchical clergy.
3.
The Mormon Church is officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormon Church believes in continuing revelation, which means that God can still communicate with his people through modern prophets and apostles. This belief allows for the addition of new scriptures and teachings to the religion over time. The Mormon Church regards the Book of Mormon as scripture, alongside the Bible. They believe it is a historical record of ancient American prophets and contains the entirety of Jesus Christ's gospel. The Mormon Church considers the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price to be scripture in addition to the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
4.
Mormons believe that the universe and all living things were created by a loving Heavenly Father. They believe God has a physical body and that humans were made in his image. Mormons also believe that God is a member of the Godhead, which also includes Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They believe that through faith, repentance, and baptism, humans can come to know God more fully and eventually return to live with him in heaven.
5.
In 1844, Joseph Smith ran for President of the United States on a platform of religious freedom and the establishment of a theocratic government guided by divine revelation. Brigham Young was the governor of Utah Territory from 1850 to 1858, and he used his political power to protect the Mormon Church and its members' interests. Both men used politics to advance the Mormon Church's interests and to protect their followers from persecution.
6.
The Mormons, known as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), attempted to establish a form of theocracy during the early years of their history. One key aspect of their attempt was the implementation of the Law of Consecration and Stewardship, which aimed to foster a communal and egalitarian society among the members. This principle was introduced by Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church, in the 1830s
. The Law of Consecration required members to consecrate, or dedicate, their material possessions and resources to the church. Under this system, individuals were expected to voluntarily give up their private ownership of land, money, and other assets. Instead, these resources were pooled together,
and the church, acting as a communal entity, distributed them according to the needs of its members. The idea was to eliminate economic inequalities and promote a sense of unity among the Mormon community.
Brooke Bernhardt
7.
Mormonism is no longer considered a sect and has millions of adherents across the globe. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a well-respected religious group known for its emphasis on strong family values and community involvement. Despite some controversies and criticisms, the Church is generally regarded as mainstream and credible.
8.
Mental healer Phineas P. Quimby assisted Mary Baker Eddy in discovering her life's purpose by treating her illness. After a serious fall, Eddy became convinced of the efficacy of Quimby's methods when she experienced a miraculous recovery. This inspired her to create Christian Science, a healing system based on spiritual understanding and prayer. She subsequently founded the Church of Christ, Scientist.
9.
Mary Baker Eddy and her followers believed in continuing divine revelation and viewed her teachings as a continuation of Christ's. She authored a book titled "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" that was intended to be read alongside the Bible and contained new revelations about the nature of God and humanity's relationship with it. Eddy believed that her teachings did not contradict the message of the Bible, but rather provided a deeper understanding of it. She taught that understanding the divine laws of God, which could be attained through study and prayer, was necessary for spiritual healing.
10.
Mary Baker Eddy believed that Christian Science was the "one and only true science" and that it enabled individuals to comprehend the nature of God and experience healing. She believed that illness was the result of erroneous beliefs and that the body could be healed by altering one's thoughts and understanding of God. This understanding of God as the only true power and source
of healing promoted healing by assisting people in recognizing their true spiritual nature and rejecting negative thoughts and beliefs.
11.
Christian Science practitioners effect patient healing through prayer. They aid people in comprehending their true spiritual nature and recognizing God's infinite power and presence. Through prayer and spiritual study, practitioners attempt to assist patients in overcoming negative
thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing to their illness and achieving physical healing. Practitioners do not use medicine or other physical interventions to promote healing; instead, they
rely solely on spiritual means.
12.
Today, Christian Science is a small but established religion, with approximately 100,000 adherents worldwide. Over the years, it has encountered several obstacles, including
criticism from some medical professionals and government agencies for rejecting medical treatment in favor of spiritual healing. Christian Science has experienced a decline in membership and financial difficulties in recent years. The organization is under extreme stress.
13.
The Millerites were a nineteenth-century religious group led by William Miller. Miller's interpretation of biblical prophecies led them to believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ would take place on October 22, 1844. However, when the predicted date passed without the expected event occurring, it was a major disappointment for the Millerites, and a significant number of followers left the movement. Some continued to believe in Miller's message and founded new religious organizations, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Advent Christian Church.
Brooke Bernhardt
14.
Why did the former Millerites take the name of Seventh day Adventists? Who were the leaders of this movement and how did they feel about continuing divine revelation?
After the failure of William Miller's prophecy, those who continued to believe in his message founded the Seventh-
day Adventist Church. Church leaders, including Ellen G. White, believed in ongoing divine revelation, and White was regarded as a prophetess. Along with the Bible, her writings are considered essential to Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. The name refers to their belief that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday and to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
15.
Ellen White advocated a plant-based diet, abstinence from harmful substances, and regular exercise for optimal health. Based on these principles, the Adventist Church manages a worldwide health system. The church encourages its members to be good citizens without compromising their religious beliefs, avoiding political involvement, and not endorsing specific political parties or candidates.
16.
The Adventist Church prioritizes missionary expansion and has more than 20 million members worldwide, including 1.2 million in the United States. It is regarded as a mainstream Protestant denomination, is recognized by other Christian denominations, and participates in several interfaith organizations.
17.
Claude Taze Russell was inspired by George Storrs, a Seventh-day Adventist speaker. Russell learned from Storrs the belief in conditional immortality, which holds that the human soul is not inherently immortal and that only those who accept Christ are granted immortality. Russell later established dates for the Second Coming of Jesus, including 1874 and 1914, which he believed marked the start of Christ's invisible reign.
18.
Joseph Rutherford succeeded Charles Taze Russell as the group's leader. He instituted organizational and doctrinal modifications and coined the slogan "Millions currently alive will never die." He predicted that the biblical patriarchs would be resurrected in 1925, but when this did not occur, he revised the teachings of the group.
19.
As the organization's subsequent president, Nathan Knorr oversaw a period of expansion and growth. He reorganized the leadership structure of the organization, expanded its publishing and missionary efforts, and oversaw the construction of a new global headquarters. Under his leadership, the group's beliefs and practices also became more centralized and uniform.
20.
Founded by the Reverend Charles Taze Russell, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is a Christian ministry. What I find fascinating about them is their belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ and their erroneous end-of-the-world predictions. In some cases, their strict adherence to biblical interpretation, rejection of blood transfusions, and refusal to serve in the military are also controversial and have caused harm to their members. It is also disturbing to learn of their shunning of former members who have left the organization.
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