Opening Statement Before Examining The Cults: Mormonism, and Jehovah Witnesses

   

         This opening blog is designed to state how this study will be done so as to not be deficient enabling a reader to have assurance that this is not just a diatribe, but a thoughtful and meaningful study.

         The beginning of any study it is necessary for the readers to have the modus operandi that gives definition of words and logic so as not to confuse the reader and to give clarification. Man has within himself a deep desire to know things, to understand things, and to know how things apply to him. Life of a man and his exercise of life is determined by several factors: i.e., environment, culture; social relationships, knowledge acquired through schools, churches, and the media, also genetics plays a role. The rubric that determines a man has, as its kingpin belief or non-belief in a God. This belief is built upon all the factors of life and those factors determine his theology and that theology determines his religion, or no religion, and religion determines his character. Character then determines a person’ exercise of life, and his choices. A person’ environment can be changed and a new environment installed to make changes in his theology, religion, character and actions, and this can be done with social relationships that can be changed, or even education can be changed or modified and this then determines his exercise of life. Changes are possible but not all will accept change and will continue in the life, and in their understanding, this leads to confusion or to tacitly approve anything so that they do not have to make changes. Through all that which determines a person the one thing that does not change is his desire to know things, to understand things and the rubric that guides him will often determine how he understands the facts, and even the ideas, and laws of the facts.

            There are two factors that govern the quest for understanding: facts and ideas. Knowledge of itself has a larger outlook than just an accumulation of facts. Knowledge is built upon adequate evidence and by that adequate evidence a person can accept this knowledge as true. Knowledge is made up departmentally of the different facts: i.e., history, philosophy, science, etc., each having a relationship with one another and that relationship must be determined when seeking the truth about facts. History itself when arranged is nothing more than annals. Philosophy of history is to be understood in the casual relationship between the facts. Furthermore, there must then be an understanding of the laws that determine the facts and the exercise of their function. With this all in mind then this knowledge can be used to predict the future or prognosis with a high measure of certainty. Facts, albeit necessary to gain knowledge is not enough as the mind of man, the ideas produced by man must be included in this search for the truth of any subject whether in the realm of science or theology. It is this internal relationship of the facts, one to another, and all the facts of the different departments that lead to the truth of a subject. If the facts, one to another are admitted to be true then the other facts studied are to be admitted as true. As this study is to examine those religions that admit to be Christian I will use this rubric of finding the facts, study those facts in relationship to other facts: i.e., the culture of the times, the environment of the times, and other events of the times to be able to understand if they had any influence on the theology, character and the exercise of that character.

             Theology is more than an accumulation of facts, as facts alone do not lead to truth. What is required then is understand the function, relationship of the facts, the ideas of the mind of those involved in the times. Necessity is that there be an accumulation of the facts, the narratives, who and what were involved, who and what they were and the need to have all this authenticated. Then to give to the reader references so they can examine all things so they can hold to the good. When this undertaking is completed then the facts and ideas obtained must then exhibit their relationship one to another and to cognate their harmony and consistency. This will be a tedious task and not to hurry to some understanding that is incomplete. Furthermore, to not allow presuppositions to be the guiding principle, and to as best as possible to just allow the facts to be the facts and their function in history lead us to the present exercise and understanding, to simply be what they are found to be.

            This opening of this new blog has as its driving force due to the many denominations of Orthodox Christianity, and those that are considered cults and are saying that they are the “true” religion the need for the truth. I will examine their history; gather the facts, their practices, and their doctrines so that the truth will be revealed. Man is not one who just goes about life without some sort of need to know the facts alone undigested as they have no real value so any change, if necessary does not occur leaving a person to never achieving the one thing man wants: to know, to have knowledge. Confusion is all that is left for a person who will not take the time to gain knowledge even if that knowledge is different from the early environment, their social relationships, and their education. To what extent this confusion exists, it still exists and determines a person exercise of life. Truth alone is the only thing that will give to man peace, and value.

            So I begin and I do hope that this blog will aid you to study, to find the truth, and to use critical thinking in your search.