The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

The task force dealing with cult recruitment on the college campus raises interesting questions for a free society. Certainly those within new religious movements, as well as more traditional religious groups, seek the appropriate Constitutional freedoms for religious belief and expression. All of us, regardless of our religious or irreligious perspectives should support such endeavors. On the other hand, those who monitor the growth of new religious movements note that not all experiences and practices of such groups are positive. Groups do exist that practice questionable recruiting techniques and make high demands on the members time, often in an authoritarian environment. And for the evangelical Christian organization which monitors new religious movements, not only are questions of practice of concern, but questions of belief and doctrine, as philosophical and theological criteria are applied to the truth claims of new religious movements to answer the question of truth in religion.

Perhaps so called "cult apologists" and "anti-cult" groups can come together, uniting under a common banner supporting religious freedom, yet sounding a warning concerning some groups' and their problematic practices. The evangelical will applaud such unity, while also calling for a subjectivist, postmodern society to apply appropriate tests for truth to the plethora of modern religious truth claims amidst the spiritual salad bar of America.

: -- John W. Morehead, Associate Director, Watchman Fellowship of California (posted 9/20, 3:20 p.m., E.D.T.)

previous response

next response

JOIN THE DEBATE

STEP 1: Your contact information (required)

Your name:

Your title & institution:

Your phone:

Your e-mail address:

STEP 2: Your comments

STEP 3: Submit!

Be sure to include your name and affiliation. Legitimate requests for anonymity will be honored.

The Chronicle maintains Colloquy as an open forum where readers can comment on issues. Submissions may be condensed or edited for clarity, but editing is kept to a minimum. We correct errors in spelling, punctuation, etc. In addition, we remove statements that have the potential to be libelous or to slander someone. In cases in which people make claims that could be libelous, we will remove the names of institutions and departments. But in those cases, we will not alter the ideas contained in the submissions.

Please read our privacy policy or our Colloquy help page if you have questions.

Check this box only if you would like this submission to be considered for publication as a letter to the editor in the printed Chronicle.