FALSE RELIGIONS
Universal Religions
Religious Orders & Secret Societies
Universal Religions
Eastern Religions
Religious Orders & Secret Societies
Universal Religions
Religious Orders & Secret Societies
Religious Orders & Secret Societies
Religious Orders & Secret Societies
BAHA'I FAITH
A Religion of all Beliefs
The Baha’i religion is the newest of all religions and appeals to many ‘One World Religion’ believers and New World Order promoters, as it is Judaism, Christianity and Islam combined, A universal religion of tolerance.
History
The Baha’i faith has its origins in the Islam faith. It initially began in Iran, 1844 by a Muslim, Mirza Ali Muhammad, who started to preach the end was near. Mirza Ali Muhammad claimed himself to be ‘the Gate’ (Bab), like John the Baptist, a forerunner for the one to come. His teachings grew further away from Islam and in 1848 he announced Babism as a new religion. In 1850, he was executed by a firing squad. One of his followers took over his leadership in 1863, announcing he was the Baha’u’llah (Glory of God) in whom Bab had foretold. He died in Israel in 1892 and was succeeded by his son, Abdul-Baha’, followed by his great grandson, Shoghi Effendi, who played a major part in development of the Baha’i faith.
"See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. (Matthew 24:4-5)
The Bab wrote a book, ‘The al-Bayan’, and Baha’u’llah wrote several books and letters, including ‘The Hidden Words’, ‘The seven Valleys’ and ‘The Most Holy Book’, which contains laws and institutions for the New World Order. Baha’i’s claim these are first-hand writings by God’s messenger, instead of second-hand accounts written in the Gospels. His writings are claimed to be equal to the Bible and the Koran. The Baha’i’s had a dispute at the very start of their religion. Two factions developed over who would be successor after the death of their original leader. The majority accepted Baha’u’llah’s claim to be the messenger, leaving a few thousand followers of his brother, Azali Babism.
Beliefs and Practices
Baha’i is a religion of compromise and is tolerant to all other religions. It falsely claims there is one god over all religions, Judaism; Christianity; Islam & Hindu:
· Judaism brought the knowledge of God’s law
· Christianity brought grace, salvation and relationship with God
· Islam brought submission to God’s will
· Baha’i unites all people and faiths under God
They believe in every age God sends a prophet. Each prophet builds upon the messages of previous prophets. They believe prophets are all individuals with the same spirit, the spirit of God speaks through them all.
And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (Matthew 24:11)
The Baha’is deny the truth of who Jesus Christ is and his divinity. They teach Jesus was only a reflection of God. The Christian view of salvation is different, even though Baha'i faith believe in the afterlife, similar to Christians. After our physical death, the soul is released from the body and goes onto the next life. Heaven is being with God, hell is being cut off from God. The Baha’i religion is familiar with all other major religions with New Age beliefs. Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Bab and Baha'u'llah are claimed to be manifestations of God. A tailor-made religion with truth in all religions and a means to unite all faiths.
To Jews, they believe Baha’u’llah descended from Abraham and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy. ‘And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots (Isaiah 11:1).
To Christians, Baha’i’s see Jesus as a Prophet but not as the Son of God, by this they can acknowledge Baha’u’llah as the promised return of Christ.
To Muslims, the Baha’u’llah can be seen as fulfilling the promise of the Koran for the ‘Day of God’ and the ‘Great Announcement’, when God comes down to earth; The Bab began his teaching in Islam, by claiming to be the promised one in the Koran.
To Hindus, as they accept many previous prophets, they can claim to the Hindus that Baha’u’llah is the new incarnation of Krishna, the ‘Tenth Avatar’.
To Buddhists, he is the foretold Maitreya, the Buddha of universal fellowship.
There is no priesthood, bishops, gurus, priests or popes in the Baha’i faith. All members are equal and have a say in decisions at local level. They have more than 5 million followers in over 200 countries. Healthy living is encouraged:
· Baha’i’s encouraged a vegetarian diet
· Smoking and alcohol is discouraged
· Marriage and family are encouraged
Chrislam
The Religion of Christianity & Islam
This is Islam and Christianity united together as a religion, with efforts to create world peace. Chrislam is reported to have been founded in Nigeria, by a man named Tela Tella in the 1980’s. He claims an angel of God told him to create this mixed religion, which would bring about peace between the Muslims and the Christians. Tela Tella feels both the Bible and the Koran are incomplete and is publishing his own book, which supplements both.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4)
In Chrislam services, both the Bible and Koran are viewed as equal and readings are taken from both. People can pray to either God or Allah. Christian and Islamic hymns are sung. In their places of worship there is an altar built on the model Abraham, worshippers can come before this altar and seek God in prayer. Holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Ramadan are all equally observed.
Chrislam is growing dramatically and has infiltrated many churches and denominations worldwide. It is currently endorsed by more than 300 ministry leaders and prominent pastors. There are also followers trained in evangelism to convert others to the Chrislam faith. Churches worldwide are encouraged to embrace this religion, as the future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians. Korans will be placed next to Bibles in church pews. Those who promote the Chrislam movement claim Christians cannot love their neighbours without having fellowship or a relationship with them.
The concept of Chrislam is that Christianity and Islam are compatible, and a person can be both Christian and Muslim. Moses, Muhammad and Jesus are believed to be prophets of equal status. In Islam, there is no forgiveness, no saviour or guarantee of salvation and eternal life. The gospel of Christ is a message of hope, Islam is a religion of no hope. Chrislam is not a religion, but a blurring of the beliefs between the two. This message leads Christians astray from the truth of the gospel. The Christian faith is watered down while the Islam continues to thrive!
It is true however, there are similarities between Christianity and Islam. Those who endorse the Chrislam faith point to facts such as Jesus being mentioned 25 times in the Koran. But the Koran declares the idea of Jesus being God as blasphemy, and a belief in the deity of Christ is considered ‘filth’ to Muslims. Islam also denies the death of Christ on the cross.
The most important fundamentals of the Christian faith are rejected by Islam and the two religions are not compatible! In these last days, the resistance against the spirit of the Antichrist has become weaker. The Antichrist doesn’t deny the existence of God but denies the trinity.
“There will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies even denying the Lord.” (2 Peter 2:1-1)
The Chrislam Religion
one world religion
A Universal Religion of Peace
A universal religion detailed in Revelation is soon to emerge. The efforts to establish a ‘unified world religion of tolerance’ has been in progress involving many global religious leaders for some time. Pope Francis has openly promoted the One world Religion and a New World Order on several occasions. This will be the attempt to unite all religions, with an emphasis on ‘religious tolerance’ for the sake of global peace.
This is an inter-faith movement of all Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and all other religions uniting to worship one god, regardless of different names religions have given God. It falsely claims that God has revealed Himself in many ways to different cultures, therefore all paths lead to God, Jesus is just one of them. It claims Christians should be tolerant and respect beliefs of other faiths and should restrain sharing their beliefs with those of different views. Attempts towards a united faith in God contradicts what Jesus Himself tells us.
I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the father except through me. (John 14: 6)
The one world religion will be part of the New World Order and a one world government, Revelation 13:1-10. For Christians to be part of a global religion, they will first have to deny some of the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith
Humanism
We are all Gods!
The main belief of Humanism is based on Atheism, where an acknowledgement of God or religion in society today is a waste of time. This is considered dangerous and hinders our development as humans, as it is up to us to be in control of our happiness and existence and our own destiny in life. Humanism is a celebration of humankind, and as individuals we should seek pleasure rather than righteousness. We make our own happiness when we are in control, this is viewed as a more positive approach to life. Humanism is a new world order based on socialism, where all resources should be shared equally amongst society.
Humanists don’t believe in the supernatural or afterlife, heaven or hell. Only the natural world exists, and this life is the only thing we have. They adopt the evolution theory that all life began with a natural event without God, as there is no creator of the universe. As God does not exist, we should not pray or ask him to intervene in world events or our lives. They believe that Jesus was just another man who lived on earth. The truth about Jesus offends Humanists!
The fool says in his heart “There is no God”. (Psalm 14:1)
Humanism is now a global movement and has become a dominant influence in Britain and Western society. There are now many humanist weddings and funerals services performed today. Humanist weddings are legal in Scotland, but not yet in the rest of the UK. Humanist speakers infiltrate our schools with talks and lectures on their beliefs. Resources for teachers and students, along with activities and games based on humanist values are available for parents. There is also a Humanist Pastoral Support group. Chaplains are available for hospitals, hospices and prison visits, to support and encourage people in their non-religious views.
They celebrate ‘Darwin Day’ on 12th February every year and want this to be recognised as a public holiday. Charles Darwin spent most of his life trying to disprove the Bible, God and Christianity. They also support and help advance other groups who share their same beliefs and values, such as LGBT. They also support the ‘Assisted Dying’ belief, that as individuals we have the right to end our own life, and if they are suffering, doctors and relatives should be allowed to assist. Humanist beliefs are contrary to biblical teaching. Not only are Christian values challenged, they are rejected! Christians are labelled as irrational and bigoted, and their values are evil, outdated and unrealistic and as individuals we should decide our own morals.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20)
As they are a secular movement, they want all religious influence removed from Parliament. Pressure is on the government and authorities to accept the views and beliefs of Humanists. They want all the Church of England Bishops removed from the House of Lords, as this is viewed as unfair and unrealistic, as church views are not welcomed in our society today as the truth of the Bible is not politically correct. In 1 Timothy 2:1, the apostle Paul urges us to ‘pray for all those in authority’.
Humanists devote the majority of their time and effort in attempting to disprove God and removing all the religious influence from our society. They campaign and lobby for the rights of non-religious people and their views. They want Christian values to be illegal, and legal action to be taken against people or religious groups who uphold them. They reject the idea that the bible is the word of God and this was written by humans in a superstitious and cruel era.
The book of Timothy talks about the rise of Godlessness in the last days, people will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and those who oppose the truth. 2 Timothy 3 describes perilous times in the last days, and there will be an increase in the moral decay, sin and deception. Christians will be challenged on their beliefs and values during the time prior to Christ’s return. Humanist beliefs are also growing in many churches today, which puts our desires and comforts before God.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
Despite man’s greatest efforts, they will never be able to disprove the existence and supremacy of God. It is an impossible mission! As Christians, our hope, faith and promise of eternity is far greater than that of humanists.
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. (Matt 16:18)
The apostle Paul, prior to his conversion to Christianity tried to persecute the church. He persecuted and killed many Christians for their beliefs but only found himself ‘kicking against the goad’: He was fighting only against God, not society, people’s views or values.
catholic faith
The Roman Catholic Faith
The Roman Catholic Church has many different beliefs and traditions that are contrary to the Bible and differ greatly from the New testament church. The most distinctive is the authority of the pope, purgatory and use of the Eucharist.
Catholics claim in order to enter heaven, a person must keep all the sacraments, attend mass and do good works, which is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul warns of another Gospel being preached, a false gospel, in Galatians 1:6-9.
"So, say I now again, if any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:9)
The biggest deception in the Catholic faith is the belief and faith in Christ alone is not enough for our salvation. Catholic Gospel tells us that if we perform well enough, pray to Mary, confess sins our to a priest and do good works we can pass the through fires of purgatory and enter heaven.
The Catholic Church is not the same as the first church Jesus Christ established. It is not based on the Apostles teachings described in the book of Acts. Instead, people are deceived into believing Peter was the Rock on which the church was built instead of Jesus Christ. All these traditions are elevated above the word of God:
· Idolatry (statues of Mary and saints)
· Rosary Prayer Beads
· Crossing Yourself
· Confession of Sins to Priest
· Penance
· Celibacy of Priests & Nuns
· Confirmation
· Infant Baptism
· Transubstantiation
· Adoration of the Host (Wafer Bread)
· Mass
· Prayers to Saints
The Pope
The authority of the Pope should be rejected, as this is not biblical. The Roman Catholic Church claim that the pope is infallible when he speaks from his position of authority on particular issues or doctrine. However, the Bible does not portray Peter as a Pope and neither did the apostles believe anyone was infallible, only the Word of God. Pope Francis has issued a message inviting all religious leaders to unite to form one new world religion.
Purgatory
Purgatory is believed to be a half-way place between heaven and hell. Catholics believe this is where unforgiven sin is purged away, which is deception and leads people into a false sense of security. It denies that Christ's death and His blood shed at the cross was sufficient to pay for our sin, therefore we are punished in purgatory. The Catholic gospel claims that after death, everyone who has sinned goes to purgatory to face punishment. Only after this, are you allowed entry into heaven, but you can pay money to the church which can reduce your time in purgatory or erase it.
Confession
Confession to a Priest for absolution of sin is a large part of the Catholic faith. Confession can bring us restoration and healing as sickness can at times be a form of punishment or judgment for certain sins, but Catholics claim that the priest has power to forgive sin and our confessions to a priest is necessary for salvation, which is deception. Confessing sins to one to another is for healing.
"Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed." (James 5:16)
No man has the authority to act on behalf of God to forgive sin. Only God can forgive and release us from sin.
‘Who can forgive sins but God only.' (Mark 2:5-11)
Peter never forgave the sins of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48)
Paul never forgave the sins of the Philippian jailer. (Acts 16:30-34)
People are not encouraged to confess their sins to Christ. Instead, a priest acts as mediator in place of Christ. Catholics claim that a priest has authority to forgive or retain sins and impose penance as a means to test a person’s genuineness of their confession.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Penance
Penance is the outward act of repentance: which can be repetition of prayers, Hail Mary’s or using rosary beads as a payment for sin to satisfy God.
Marriage Forbidden
The Catholic Church forbidding priests and nuns to marry is not biblical and has led to much immorality and sexual abuse in many of their churches and homes.
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats." (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
The Apostle Paul tells them at the Corinthian Church, it is better for them to marry than to burn with lust.
But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (1 Corinthians 7:9)
The Catholic Church has compensated millions of pounds to victims of sexual abuse. In many cases, the child abuse was covered up, priests were moved to a different parish after it had been discovered.
Infant Baptism
Baptism in the New Testament is full immersion in water for the repentance of sin. The Catholic Church’s baptism of the sprinkling of water is not Biblical. No baby, child or person was ever sprinkled with water in the Bible.
Idolatry
Catholics direct their prayers to Mary and the saints. This prevents people praying to God the Father through Jesus Christ who acts as our mediator. Instead, they pray to statues and images for protection, and is what the Bible terms idolatry. Statues of the saints are placed in their churches to pray to. The Bible says all true believers are saints:
"To the saints which are at Ephesus" (Ephesians 1:1),
"To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi." (Philippians 1:1)
Transubstantiation
During communion, a priest converts bread into Christ's flesh during mass for forgiveness of sins. The bread and wine are taken to be the actual body (flesh) and blood of Christ. The Catholic Church teaches that the Priests literally bring down Christ into the bread, as they have power to call Christ down from heaven and place Him in the round wafer and wine.
Crossing Oneself
This is another practice not mentioned in the Bible. Jesus never crossed Himself, neither did any of the apostles.
ISLAM
The Islamic Revolution
Islam is a religious and political movement. Over 27% of the world population is Muslim, over 49 nations in the world are Islamic, some of which are governed by an oppressive regime. Islam is the second largest religion in the world next to Christianity. Muslims now have more than 1,700 official mosques in the UK.
History
Islam means ‘submission to the will of Allah’. Muhammad, Islam’s prophet, was born in Mecca in 570 A.D, Allah is acknowledged as their God. The Muslims claim that Muhammad received revelations from the Angel Gabriel which are written in the Koran. One revelation was that Allah was the only true God and appointed Muhammad to be his messenger. Muslims claim Muhammad was the last of all the prophets and had the final revelation after Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Muhammad denounced the worship of other gods as idolatrous and claimed Islam to be the true fulfilment of the Old and New Testament, as Christians and the Gospels perverted the truth, he was chosen to restore it. Mohammed claimed that Jesus did not die, an angel came for Him just before His death.
In 622 A.D. Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina after opposition to his teachings. As with Christianity, the Islamic nations took their religion to countries they conquered. Their crusades were religious and territorial battles which created tension and distrust between Muslims and Christians. Islam spread in the West when the Pakistanis and Indians first emigrated to Britain and the US. As with other religions, Islam has splinter groups:
Sunni’s
The Sunnis are more than 80% of Muslims, the majority are in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, they follow the original traditions of Islam and believe their leadership should be elected.
Shi’ites
The majority of Shi’ites operate in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and parts of Africa. They splintered from Islam after the 1st century over a leadership dispute. They believed the leader after Muhammad’s death should have come from his bloodline. Shi’ites believe in an Islamic nation run by an Islamic government and Sharia law, which conflicts with laws and customs of the West. The former Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a radical Shi’ite who claims that he is called to prepare the world for the coming ‘Mahdi’, the Muslim Messiah.
Wahabi’s
The Wahabi movement is located in Saudi. The main difference between the Sunni’s and Wahabi’s is about beliefs and rituals and is what led to Wahabis becoming an independent sect. The Wahabis believed Muhammad should be praised only as a human being, the Sunni’s show him more respect as the Prophet of Islam.
Beliefs & Practises
Islam is not a religion of peace or tolerant of other religions. They have a hatred for the Jewish people and resent Israel existing as a nation in the Middle East. Muslims believe angels keep notes of all their deeds for the day of judgement and resurrection with god (Allah). Judgement is based on our deeds, and after judgement there is heaven or hell. Islam is motivated by works and complete surrender to Allah. Muslims are taught in order to enter Paradise, they must abstain from sin and keep the Five Pillars of Islam; the shahada, prayer, giving, fasting and a pilgrimage.
Prayers
Muslims publicly recite the Shahadah, “There is no God, but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”, and pray five times daily, at dawn, noon, afternoon, evening and night. Prayers are carried out in a series of postures: standing, kneeling, hands and face towards the ground facing east, towards the holy city of Mecca.
Alms (Offerings)
Muslims are expected to give alms (zakat) to the Muslim community, which is around 2½% of their income. This goes to orphans, widows, the sick and to expand Islam, such as schools and mosques etc.
Ramadhan (Fast)
The hejira is the start of the Muslim calendar. During Ramadan, which is on the 9th month of the Muslim year, they are expected to fast. This can last for 29-30 days in the same month. They abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex during the day up until sunset. Ramadan starts with the new moon. The beginning and end are decided when the crescent moon is sighted. Ramadan is a special event for Muslims, they devote their time and focus to prayer and purification.
Pilgrimage
All Muslims are expected to make a journey to Mecca or Medina, Saudi Arabia at some point throughout their pilgrimage. Nearly 2 million Muslims take part in a Hajj pilgrimage there each year.
The Koran
The Muslims follow the Koran just as Christians follow the Holy Bible. The Koran is in Arabic with 114 chapters, (Surahs) arranged according to their length. Most Surahs are claimed to be written by Muhammad, the rest by his followers. The Hadith is a book used along with the Koran, and is a source of doctrine, law and practice and a collection of texts. It is said not to be as reliable as the Koran.
Nowhere in the Koran is there an assurance of salvation, there is no guarantee outside of jihad or martyrdom, (Surah 3:157). According to Surah 5:5, Allah saves only those he wishes to save. According to the Koran, non-Muslims are infidels.
Islamic terrorists are inspired by the teachings of the Koran. After terrorists have killed or carried out an attack, it is proclaimed in the name of Allah, “Allah Akbar, meaning Allah is great. Jews and Christians are viewed as second class people. Islamic leaders refer to the US as ‘Great Satan’, and Britain and Israel as the ‘little Satan’s.’ The Koran encourages Muslims to dominate and conquer the world for Allah, and those not willing to convert to Islam should be slain.
"Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war."
Hadith 19:4294
Many world leaders and Christians underestimate the Islamic religion and the aim of many Muslims. Jihad (Holy War), includes taking back Jerusalem from the Jewish people and wiping Israel off the map. Jihad is encouraged through-out the Koran. On the Dome of the Rock (previous site of Solomon’s Temple) is an Arabic inscription ‘God has no need of a son’, which is to communicate to the Christian world that Jesus is not God.
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the last day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his apostle nor acknowledge the religion of truth of the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) until they pay the Jizya (tax on a non-Muslims) with willing submission and feel themselves subdued. (Surah 9:29)
Global Terrorism
We see an increase in terrorist attacks on a global level. The terror attacks on September 11, 2001 in the US brought many open celebrations to cities across the Arab world, it was an open declaration of war, which awakened other western nations to the threat of terrorism.
To win the war on terror, we need to know who our enemy is first! Where is the majority of terrorism coming from? Terror attacks, hatred towards Israel and the west, Muslims killing Christians, Sunni-Shiite tensions are all motivated by Islam. And yet we are made to believe statements from world leaders that this is not true Islam, which is a religion of peace! Due to ‘political correctness’, many are afraid to call Islam for what it truly is!
Islam: Spirit of the Anti-Christ
Apart from an actual man that appears in the near future to impersonate Christ, the antichrist, John mentions the ‘spirit of the antichrist’ which is already at work in the world today. Islam is a spirit of the antichrist, it is the most opposed to Christianity than any other religion or movement. Islam has all the beliefs that John mentions. Islam acknowledges Jesus in the Koran, as history cannot deny His existence. Jesus is acknowledged as a prophet and a healer, but Islam denies Jesus as Messiah and Son of God, they claim God cannot have a son and deny the trinity. The Koran curses those who believe this, to them it is blasphemy. We can identify Islam as a ‘spirit of the antichrist’ from John’s description:
Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (1 John 4:2-3)
You can speak to Muslims about Jesus as a prophet or healer, as the Koran acknowledges Jesus as a prophet. But if you claim that Jesus is the Son of God, you will immediately be opposed.
Islamic Terrorist groups
We have seen a dramatic increase in the activities from different Islamic terrorist groups. Radical groups such as ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, all whose purpose and common interest, despite their differences, is for the destruction of Israel and to establish a Muslim state across the Middle-East through Jihad. Terrorist groups commonly known to represent the Islamic faith are:
· Al Qaida
· Hezbollah
· Hamas
· ISIS
BUDDHISM
Beliefs & Practises
History
Buddhism was originally an eastern religion but has become more popular in the west over recent years. There are more than 250 million Buddhists in the world, around 150-200,000 are in the UK, many of which are Asians or descendants. It originated in India through teachings of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, known to be ‘Buddha’. At the age of 29, he met with a diseased dead man in his palace, believed to be a monk. Gautama is claimed to have abandoned his life of wealth and his palace in pursuit of enlightenment. Gautama followed two yoga masters, found his way and eventually became Buddha, ‘the enlightened one’.
His teachings are similar to Jesus on love and compassion. The Sermon on the Mount is believed by many Buddhists. By the time Gautama died at the age of 80, Buddhism had become a major influence in India. Buddha taught that wisdom should be developed with compassion. Like most false religions, Buddhism is a religion based on an individual’s efforts, idolatry and self-worship.
Beliefs & Practises
Buddhism is similar to the Hindu religion but without as many gods. Both religions have beliefs of Karma and reincarnation. Buddhists believe that the ultimate goal in life is to achieve ‘enlightenment’, as what they believe it to be. Buddhism teaches Nirvana is the highest state of being, ultimate peace and transformed consciousness for enlightenment (satori) which is achieved through meditation and Yoga. Buddhism is often referred to as an atheistic religion.
As with most false religions, Buddhism contradicts itself. Buddhists have their own version of the Bible, the ‘Dhammapada’. According to Buddhists, salvation can only be obtained by living a strict monastic life. Hindus does not acknowledge salvation, judgment, heaven or hell.
Karma
The belief of Karma is the quality of our next life is determined by what we do in our current life, our actions have results. Karma emphasises the importance of being responsible for past and present actions. But the Bible teaches good works come from salvation, which can be obtained only through the cross.
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap" (Galatians 6:7)
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the cycle of birth, life and death. It is the belief the soul after physical death returns to earth in another body and is considered immortal and eternal. The cycle of death and rebirth continues until the soul has finally been released. For a Hindu, punishment is to continue to exist on earth. If they do good works, are not selfish and go without the pleasures and material things in life, they believe they can achieve better reincarnation.
"Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment"
(Hebrews 9:27)
Theravada and Mahayana
These are the two main branches of Buddhism. Mahayana’s emphasis is more on becoming a bodhisattva (someone destined for enlightenment) but delays their passage of nirvana to help others along the same path.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese Buddhism stem from Mahayana Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is focused more on the mind. The Tibetan Book of the Dead has a great influence in the occult and is believed to be a guide to expel demons, spirits and powers of darkness and obtain visions. A hand drum, bell, prayer wheel and 27 bid rosary are used to unite gods that expel demons. There are many huge monasteries in Tibet and are mostly for tourists.
Dalai Lama
The head of Tibetan Buddhism is the ‘Dalai Lama’. He is acknowledged as ‘god on earth’ and is the head of all priests, he is the super authority. The theory behind the reincarnated Lamas, bodhisattvas, is that the soul of a dead Lama passes into a new body. The present Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso is believed to be the 14th reincarnation.
Zen Buddhism
This is popular in the Western world, especially since the 60’s but is often misinterpreted. It is a fusion of Mahayana and Chinese Taoists beliefs.
Tantric Buddhism.
These are more text-based, ritualistic with more recitals of mantras.
Scriptures used for Buddhism are:
· The Tripitaka (Buddha’s rules for monks)
· The Vajrayana
· The Mahayana
HINDUISM
Beliefs & Practises
Hinduism has many Gods, it is the third largest religion with over a billion followers. The word Hindu refers to the people and culture of the Indus Valley region, situated on the border between Pakistan and India. Hindu is the dominant religion practised in India and Nepal today. There is no known founder or a governing body in Hinduism. Hinduism has a huge variety of beliefs and like most false religions, are all contrary to the Bible. There are various types of Hindus, three major sects are Shaiva, Shakti and Vaishnava. Hindu practices have become popular in the west over recent years. New Agers have adopted some of the Hindu beliefs, such as Yoga and meditation. Hinduism is similar to Buddhism, as they believe in Karma and reincarnation. Hindus believe that everyone is divine and our main purpose in life is to reach enlightenment.
No teaching except the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring salvation and a right relationship with God. (Galatians 1:8,9)
Among their gods is the serpent power God, ‘Kundalini’, and Krishna. Like Christianity, Hinduism has a Trinity.
· Brahma (Creator)
· ishnu (Sustainer)
· Shiva (Destroyer)
Hare Krishna is the mystical sect of Hinduism, they became more known throughout the west in the '60s.
Yoga
Yoga is an important part of Hinduism and is believed to be the pathway to God. Yoga is a spiritual exercise and is part of the Hindu religion which prepares a person for death and reincarnation. Yoga is claimed to heal the body and the mind through meditation, used to restrain the mind by balancing psychic energy using the third eye. This gradually cuts off the connection between yourself and the body to achieve a state of nirvana.
Karma
The belief of Karma is the quality of our next life is determined by our works in our current life, our actions have results. Karma emphasises the importance of a person being responsible for their own actions.
When men follow ways that seem right by human wisdom, the end result is death. (Proverbs 14:12)
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the eternal cycle of birth, life and death. After death the soul returns to earth in another body, it is considered immortal and eternal. Death and rebirth continue until the soul is finally released. The main goal of Hinduism is to escape the cycle of reincarnation. To Hindus, punishment is to continue existing here on earth. How a person will be reincarnated is determined by karma, if we do enough good works, are unselfish and go without pleasures and the material things in life, then we can achieve a better reincarnation. The Hindu religion does not acknowledge salvation, judgment, heaven or hell.
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment
(Hebrews 9:27)
Mahatma Gandhi, a famous Indian activist, was a devout Hindu brought up in a Hindu family. Although he was a believer of all other religions in the world, stating truth was the only religion. He said, “It is because I am sanatani (orthodox) Hindu that I claim to be a Christian, a Buddhist and a Muslim.” The main books in Hinduism are Vedas, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, 18 Puranas and Mahabharata.
Other Beliefs & Practises
The Hindu religion has many fasts, feasts and festivals. It does not dictate Hindus to visit temples regularly. Most Hindu homes have a small room for ‘puja’ and prayers. Most Hindus conduct worship at home through religious rituals. The most important time of day for household rituals are at dawn and dusk, more devout followers may do this more often. Hindus only visit temples on festival days. Hindu temples do not have a major role in funerals and marriages. For most people in India, the date and time of a wedding are decided by their parents who consult with astrologers. After a death of a family member, relatives are involved in ceremonies for preparation of the body and procession to the cremation or burial ground. For most of the Hindus, the ideal method is cremation.
Available as e-book, out on Paperback soon!
Book 1
Jesus warns of rise in religious deception in the last days. Those not familiar with scriptures could be left vulnerable to deception. Are Your religious beliefs strong enough to keep you from deception in this hour? This book warns of the dangers of false teaching and helps recognise destructive doctrines being taught in many of our churches today.
Available direct from New Horizon as e-book in pdf or word format
the freemasons
A Secret Society
Freemasons (the Brotherhood or Craft) is the largest worldwide organisation. They are a fraternal and secret society, apart from various fundraising events for charities. They claim to be only a society with secrets, men with morals and spiritual values. Members perform ritual ceremonies.The ‘G’ in the logo is claimed to represent God, or so a mason will have you believe!
· For the good of each man
· To encourage and build up one another
· To look out for each other
History
The roots of Freemasonry are claimed to be from the Temple of King Solomon, whom they believe was a Grand Master Mason. In the Old Testament, King Solomon worshipped gods of his foreign wives which was against God’s commandment and as a result his Kingdom was divided. The Symbols are from Egyptian Origin, which is a study on its own.
The legend is that Hiram Abif was the architect in charge of all the building plans for the temple. Before it was completed, three fellow masons conspired to murder him for secrets of a master Mason. On the first refusal, Hiram refused to reveal the secrets and received a blow to the throat, the second refusal brought a blow to the breast and the third refusal led to a violet blow which killed him. These three fellow masons buried the body at the bottom of Mount Moriah and planted an acacia tree over it to cover the grave.
King Solomon was concerned Hiram was missing and the next day orders twelve fellow masons to go in search of him. Several days after, one of the masons was sitting on the hill and on attempting to rise holds onto the acacia tree which gives way causing him to be curious. Upon investigation he finds the grave. Solomon orders the twelve to raise the body and bury it in the temple.
Knight Templars
There are different opinions to the year of formation that even most masons can’t agree on. Although denied, the roots of freemasonry can be traced as far back as 13th century Knight Templars. Some Knight Templars traditions were taught to the first masons at Rosslyn Chapel. Other Orders and Rites appear to have different years of formation. Albert Pike, a 33-degree mason, is believed to be founder of ‘The Scottish Rite’ in early 18th century.
Freemasons can be ordinary working men, businessmen, the police, local ministers, journalists, judges, politicians and government leaders. They are selective who they have as members, usually a person has to be approached or have two references before joining. The majority of masons are active in local lodges. Many have joined for financial gain or better career prospects. If someone is in the brotherhood and a fellow mason works within a company, you have a better chance of occupying a job vacancy than someone outside of the brotherhood. There are companies where majority of workers are Freemasons.
Many after having joined have been disappointed and are bound to secret oaths they are required to stay loyal to. Most of the big benefits are not received until reaching the higher degrees in freemasonry.
Freemasonry can be carried on as a family tradition, or a person can be encouraged to join by someone they know is a mason. Some have joined for religious reasons or in search of spiritual fulfilment.
Many have joined to advance their political career as many of elected politicians who hold office and occupy seats in the House of Parliament and the judicial system are masons.
After joining, many have found it to be only a Monday night men’s social club to talk about politics and religion with men wearing aprons they wouldn’t be seen in at home. Many are in the masons for:
· To aim for the higher degrees and further benefits
· To receive respect they don’t get at home or in society
· Because they are bound by oaths
The Freemasons are part of a larger group:
(Order of the T.G.D.) – (inner order of the Rose Cross)
Illuminati (1000 points of light) which splinters into different groups
The Bilderbergers
Skull & Bones Rite
With connections to:
The Trilateral Commission
The Council of Foreign Regulations
G8 (previously G7)
IMF (International Monetary Foundation)
The World Bank
Much of the media is owned by those linked to the masons, the Illuminati or other rites that include many active within the government. Many Ministers and elders in the more traditional churches: Anglicans, Episcopalians, Church of England, Church of Scotland members or Catholics are active in the masons. Or masonic beliefs are brought into the Church for the purpose to promote the ‘One world religion’. To acknowledge anyone other than God as Worshipful Master and take secret oaths is contrary to the Bible.
Jesuits
A Secret Religious Order
The Jesuits (also known as Opus Dei) is a secret order within the Roman Catholic,' the Society of Jesus', the Jesuits Church. They were one of several different orders formed to maintain the purity of the catholic faith against internal and external influence, especially the Reformation. Their specific assignment was destroy the Protestant movement. It made many martyrs. Jesuit priests have been known through history to be the most wicked political section of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis is a highly educated Jesuit and is also the first Jesuit Pope.
They were founded in 1928 by a Spanish Priest and are more of a secret society, a Church within a Church, they have much power within the Vatican. They have also been referred to as a cult and believed to be politically right-wing, an authoritarian sect to impose strict forms of behaviour, such as members sprinkling holy water on their beds at night to encourage chastity, strict penances, lashing oneself with cat-o’-nine-tails until bleeding.
They have rules and regulations for members. It separates children from parents and men from women and is dedicated to the holiness of its members. Members find it difficult to leave the organisation. If they manage, they are shunned by former friends within the order. If they have put money into the organisation, they are unable to reclaim it. They have been criticised for business dealings and all the wealth and property that they have accumulated.
Like many other religious movements, they claim to be the only ones with the truth and salvation can only be found within their organisation.
There are around 80,000 members. There order includes archbishops, bishops and priests. They claim to be a society that helps in daily commitment to Christ within the orthodoxy of the Roman Catholic Church. They study the Church’s doctrines in more depth and are encouraged to pray and live a religious life and do work among the poor They are a large part of the Roman Catholic Church and have the blessing of the Pope himself.
They are believed to be in control of all of the intelligence agencies, The Vatican, Bank of England and head of all freemasonry. Like freemasonry, oaths are taken to enter the Jesuit Order. Jesuits control most of the powerful secret societies connected to the 'New World Order'.
ORANGE ORDER
A Religious 'Anti-Catholic' Order
King William of Orange
Around 1688, King William of Orange (King Billy) at the Battle of Boyne defeated King James II of England for religious and civil liberty. He was defending the protestant religion against the Roman Catholic Church. The orange order along with other protestant terrorist groups, swear their allegiance to him.
The Freemasons
The Orange Order was founded in 1796 in Northern Ireland by James Sloan, Dan Winters and James Wilson. They were local pub owners and also freemasons. Dan Winters’ pub was burnt down during an ongoing battle with Catholics as this was alleged to be the local protestant’s gathering place. Winters then formed a secret society with protestant freemason followers.
The order today has thousands of members in Britain, Ireland and America. The orange order have members from all different classes of society, most of which are freemasons. They are a secret society, protestant brotherhood, loyalist order and political group. The initiation ceremonies and rituals are similar, also having their own lodges (orange lodge).
To be an Orangemen you swear allegiance to the protestant faith, strongly support a united Great Britain and the Monarchy and have a strong influential voice in politics on behalf of Unionist people.
Beliefs & Practises
They have a very strong anti-catholic attitude and have protest marches against Catholics on or around the 12thJuly which causes much tension and conflict. However, Orangemen believe they have the right to march the Queen’s highway as their forefathers did before them. This is also to commemorate the victory of King Billy.
Their standard of behaviour over recent years has been questionable. Although they claim to be a ‘Christian organisation’, many members have displayed hatred and violence, also being under the influence of alcohol during marches. People are accepted as members more for their anti-catholic attitude, rather than any Christian beliefs.
Degrees
There degrees in the Orange Institution are:
1st Degree - Orange Order
2nd Degree - Royal Arch Purple Chapter
3rd Degree - Royal Black Institution
