Religion can provide a sense of meaning and purpose in people's lives, but it can also have a dark side when it comes to cults. The news out of Kenya about mass deaths due to cults is tragic and a reminder of the dangers of blindly following a charismatic leader. As a clinical psychologist, we believe in the importance of critical thinking and maintaining one's individuality while embracing or seeking help on religious beliefs which brings balance and prioritizes human rights. If you or someone you know has been affected by religious or cultic trauma, reach out to True North Consulting for support and guidance. Remember, religious beliefs should never lead to death or the violation of essential freedoms, so let's stay alert and focused on individuality while approaching religious practices.
The Pathology of Religious Elites: How Historical Criticism Became the New Legalism – and Why Deinstitutionalized Faith Returns Us to the Early Church's Fire
When you're stripped of the things that you hold dearly—that is, man-made denominations that have piled upon each other to form a symbolic Tower of Babel that obscures the original essence of faith—the final thing to do is to live the simple Christian life, as guided in the Book of Acts, which was arguably outlined by Dr. Luke as The Way. It embodied radical simplicity: communal living, prayer, and apostolic teaching. Acts 2:44-45 shows them having each other’s backs, no one ditched in the dirt. They refused to let anyone rot in the ditch while others hoarded like cavemen. That’s the muscle behind the simplicity—no spiritual lip service, just sleeves rolled up and hands dirty. Theology matters, but not as a debate club. Unity isn’t found in intellectual assent or historical nitpicking. Lest we're left with this absurd objective—to teleport to different historic locations and eras under different rulers to do... what exactly? If God is outside time (Psalm 90:4), quarrelling over...
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