sectarian groupings/sectarian Gatherings

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Note added at 17 mins (2007-10-20 11:33:35 GMT)
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WHY PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO SECTARIAN GROUPS

YOU JUST MIGHT BE SURPRISED!


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The substance of this paper was written by a dear sister named Rae, and is reprinted here with her permission. Rae was involved with the United Pentecostal Church, a very legalistic sectarian group teaching the "oneness" doctrine (the Jesus is the only person in the Godhead). While her experience was specific involvement in that particular group, her words are very important and have a general application to those involved in many such groups. Rae pinpoints many of the factors that lead people to join such groups - factors that also keep them from leaving.

RAE'S STATEMENT

I have thought a great deal regarding cults and their attraction since leaving the UPC about 17 years ago. WOW, that long ago, and sometimes it seems like only yesterday, the memories are so very strong still.

I would like to state here some of the things that attracted me, and I think they are pretty common. These are but a few; there are many more. There are what I call positive attractions and also negative attractions.

Positive Attractions:

1) Brotherly/sisterly love and acceptance. It was a family. We all cared about each other deeply. From the moment I stepped into the church the first time, I was showered with graciousness, loving kindness, and felt so totally welcome and wanted. This never stopped, but continued thru the 8 years I was there. They knew me better than my own family did, and loved me still.

2) Learned a great deal of Bible. I had never much cracked the pages of the Bible before I entered UPC. I was raised a Lutheran, and had never been encouraged to study the Word. I was starved to know what the Word said, and devoured the teaching they provided. I learned more with UPC than at any other time in my Christian walk. Yes, some was totally WRONG, but also alot was true. So this was the blessing that I took from the cult, the love for God's Word.
http://home.flash.net/~thinkman/articles/sects.htm