Cult

===Christian countercult movement===
{{Main|Christian countercult movement}}
In the 1940s, the long-held opposition by some established [[Christian denomination]]s to non-Christian religions and supposedly [[heresy|heretical]] or counterfeit Christian sects crystallized into a more organized [[Christian countercult movement]] in the United States. For those belonging to the movement, all religious groups claiming to be Christian, but deemed outside of Christian [[orthodoxy]], were considered cults.<ref>{{harvnb|Cowan|2003}}</ref> Christian cults are [[new religious movement]]s that have a Christian background but are considered to be theologically deviant by members of other Christian churches.<ref>[[J. Gordon Melton]], ''Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America'' (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, 1992). p. 5</ref> 

The Christian countercult movement asserts that Christian sects whose beliefs are partially or wholly not in accordance with the Bible are erroneous. It also states that a religious sect can be considered a cult if its beliefs involve a denial of what they view as any of the essential Christian teachings such as [[salvation]], the [[Trinity]], [[Historical Jesus|Jesus himself as a person]], the [[ministry of Jesus]], the [[miracles of Jesus]], the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]], the [[resurrection of Christ]], the [[Second Coming]], and the [[rapture]].<ref>[[Walter Ralston Martin|Martin, Walter Ralston]]. 1978. ''The Rise of the Cults'' (revised ed.). Santa Ana: Vision House. pp. 11–12.</ref><ref>[[Richard Abanes|Abanes, Richard]]. 1997. ''Defending the Faith: A Beginner's Guide to Cults and New Religions''. Grand Rapids: [[Baker Book House]]. p. 33.</ref><ref>House, H. Wayne, and Gordon Carle. 2003. ''Doctrine Twisting: How Core Biblical Truths are Distorted''. Downers Grove, IL: [[InterVarsity Press]].</ref>

Countercult literature usually expresses doctrinal or theological concerns and a [[missionary]] or [[apologetics|apologetic]] purpose.<ref>Trompf, Garry W. 1987. "Missiology, Methodology and the Study of New Religious Movements." ''Religious Traditions'' 10:95–106.</ref> It presents a rebuttal by emphasizing the teachings of the Bible against the beliefs of non-fundamental Christian sects. Christian countercult activist writers also emphasize the need for Christians to [[evangelism|evangelize]] to followers of cults.<ref>[[Ronald Enroth|Enroth, Ronald]], ed. 1990. ''Evangelising the Cults''. Milton Keynes, UK: [[Word Books]].</ref><ref>[[Norman Geisler|Geisler, Norman L.]], and Ron Rhodes. 1997. ''When Cultists Ask: A Popular Handbook on Cultic Misinterpretations''. Grand Rapids: [[Baker Book House]].</ref><ref name=":1" />{{Rp|479–493}}

In his influential book ''[[The Kingdom of the Cults]]'' (1965), Christian scholar [[Walter Ralston Martin]] defines Christian cults as groups that follow the personal interpretation of an individual, rather than the understanding of the [[Bible]] accepted by [[Nicene Christianity]], providing the examples of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[Christian Science]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], and the [[Unity Church]].<ref name=":1">[[Walter Ralston Martin|Martin, Walter Ralston]]. [1965] 2003. ''[[The Kingdom of the Cults]]'' (revised ed.), edited by [[Ravi Zacharias|R. Zacharias]]. US: [[Bethany House]]. {{ISBN|0764228218}}.</ref>{{Rp|18}}<ref name = "Free Lance Star">Michael J. McManus, "Eulogy for the godfather of the anti-cult movement", obituary in ''[[The Free Lance-Star]]'', Fredericksburg, VA, 26 August 1989, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19890826&id=FuBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1201,1411394 p. 8].</ref>  Martin examines a large number of [[new religious movement]]s; included are major groups such as [[Christian Science]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Armstrongism]], [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|Theosophy]], the [[Baháʼí Faith]], [[Unitarian Universalism]], [[Scientology]], as well as  minor groups including various [[New Age]] and groups based on [[Eastern religions]]. The beliefs of other world religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Buddhism]] are also discussed. He covers each group's history and teachings, and contrasts them with those of mainstream Christianity.<ref name = "Free Lance Star"/><ref>"unapologetically hostile to young and developing spiritual trends" {{cite journal|title=New Religious Movements in the 21st Century: Legal, Political, and Social Challenges in Global Perspective |author=Wendy Dackson |journal=Journal of Church and State|volume=46|issue=3 |date=Summer 2004|page=663|doi=10.1093/jcs/46.3.663}}</ref>