Wikipedia

Another Gospel

Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movementis anon-fictionbook discussingnew religious movementsand theNew Agemovement, written by Ruth A. Tucker.[1]The book was published in 1989 byZondervan,[2]a Christian publishing house.[3]Another edition was released by the same publisher in 2004.[1]

Another Gospel
Book cover, 2004 ed.
AuthorRuth A. Tucker
LanguageEnglish
SubjectNew religious movements,New Age
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherZondervan
Publication date
1989
Publication placeUnited States
Pages464
ISBN0-310-25937-1
OCLC19354219
LC Class89005628

Author

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Ruth A. Tucker is a former professor ofmissiologywith aPhDfromNorthern Illinois University.[1]Tucker has taught alternative religions at both thegraduateandundergraduatelevel.[1]Her bookDaughters of the Churchwas published in 1987.[4]In 2000, Tucker was a professor atCalvin Theological Seminary.[5]Tucker authored the bookWalking Away from Faithin 2002.[6]

Title

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The title "Another Gospel" is taken fromPaul'sEpistle to the Galatiansin theNew Testamentverses1:6-8: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."[7]

Contents

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Another Gospeldiscusses a wide range of groups, includingMormonism,Seventh-day Adventism,Jehovah's Witnesses,Christian Science,New ThoughtandUnity,theWorldwide Church of God,theWay International,theChildren of God,theUnification Church,Hare Krishnas,Baháʼís,andScientology.[8]Other groups, includingRosicrucianismandSwedenborgianism,are described in appendices.[1]Tucker discusses some of the controversies related to these groups,[9]while adding that frequentlynew religionsmaintain an "ability to reach out and meet the needs of people who are suffering and dejected."[10]

Tucker writes about theNew Agemovement, "The most popular and widely publicized new religion in recent years has been the New Age movement, a difficult-to-define variety ofmystical,spiritualistic, andocculticgroups that above all else are notnew.Fromchannelingcrystals to harmonic convergence, celebrities and ordinary citizens have been captivated by this increasingly popular religious trend. "[11]Tucker asks: "Is New Age merely an age-old form of the occult that will taper off in popularity as the fad loses its luster, or is it truly a movement that has only barely begun to make its all-encompassing mark on the world?"[12]and warns that "every individual concerned about maintaining traditional Christian values should be apprehensive about the potential negative effect the New Age may have on the coming generations."[13]

In discussion of the Unification Church, Tucker writes that the organization has used controversial recruitment tactics which subsequently resulted in college students dropping out of universities in order to join it.[14]"The recruitment strategy of the Unification Church was widely criticized for utilizing tactics that sometimes were compared tobrainwashingtechniques, "writes Tucker.[15]Another Gospeldescribes how Unification Church founderSun Myung Moonstated that he was told byJesus Christto complete a task in which Jesus had not succeeded, and carry out the desires of God on the earth.[14]

Tucker notes a disparity between approaches to religious movements abroad compared to within a person's own cultural milieu.[16]"In cross-culturalevangelismoverseas, missionaries are admonished not to ridicule other religious beliefs or practices... Yet, these 'cross-cultural' courtesies are often blatantly ignored when they pertain to situations within our own culture. We often ridicule or mock the unorthodox religious beliefs of people in our own communities, becausecultistsdo not deserve respect, "writes Tucker.[16]

Another Gospeldelves into the difficulty in definingcults.[17]Tucker says that a cult is "a religious group that has a 'prophet'-founder called of God to give a special message not found in theBibleitself ".[17]She comments on the defining characteristics utilized bysociologists,who "have tended to define cults more in terms of lifestyle, proselytizing practices, and authoritarian leadership, rather than in terms of belief or by any standard of orthodoxy".[17]According to Tucker cults often have a "prophet-founder" who serves as a "legalistic, authoritarian leader".[17]In her given definition of a cult, Tucker writes, "In deference to this charismatic leader... the style of leadership is authoritarian and there is frequently an exclusivistic outlook supported by a legalistic lifestyle and persecution mentality... It is the attribute of a prophet-founder that very distinctly separates cults from denominations."[17]

According to the description of the book from the publisher, Tucker "explains how... alternative religious movements appear to meet people's needs."[1]Tucker concludes that "the increase in cult membership is a direct result of a failure on the part of the church."[18]

Reception

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Charles H. Lippy, writing inModern American Popular Religion: A Critical Assessment and Annotated Bibliography,stated thatAnother Gospelis written "from a decidedlyconservative Christianperspective ", and although Tucker" does not ridicule the groups she seeks to expose... it is clear that [she] does not see the groups she studies as legitimate religious alternatives. "[19]

Robert M. Bowman, Jr.,reviewingAnother Gospelfor theChristian Research Journal,commented: "Although Tucker is at her best in recounting the histories of the religions she surveys, at places she is not critical enough of the historical accounts that have been published by the cults themselves." Bowman's review concluded that "Ruth Tucker'sAnother Gospelis, in several respects, the best general textbook on the cults. It is more up-to-date, more readable, and more respectful of the cults than any other such textbook. But, because it is lacking in biblical critiques of the cults (which is understandable, given the author's areas of expertise), it cannot replace those books which do provide such critiques, however much fresh treatments are needed. "[20]

Gordon R. Lewis, a professor of philosophy and theology at Denver Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote for theInternational Bulletin of Missionary Researchthat the book "achieves a high degree of historical objectivity", but criticizes it for lacking "moreepistemological,theological, andethicalthought about what is essential to authentic Christianity "as opposed to the alternative forms of Christianity studied in the work.[21]

A review of the book for theJournal of Christian Nursing,said that the book provides information about "what people in various cults and religious groups believe", and called the book "outstanding", and recommended it for personal libraries and church libraries. The reviewer commented: "Although designed as a reference book, it is hard to put down. I started dipping into sections that interested me, then sat down and read the whole book. In the process, I felt as if I'd taken a semester course in alternative religions."[22]

AuthorM. James Pentonwrote positively of the book, in his bookApocalypse Delayedpublished byUniversity of Toronto Press.He wrote that Tucker's chapter onJehovah's Witnesses"is far more superior to most older books and articles produced byCatholicandProtestantcritics of theWatch Towermovement. "[23]

In a discussion of the prevalence of belief inreincarnationamong adherents of various belief systems,Theology for the Community of GodauthorStanley J. Grenzrecommended Tucker's book "for references to the presence of this doctrine in the New Age movement".[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefDescriptionArchived2007-09-27 at theWayback Machine,Zondervan(Publisher), 2007.Grand Rapids, Michigan,www.zondervan.com.
  2. ^OCLC19354219
  3. ^Zondervan: Our Mission & Values. The reason We're HereArchived2010-01-25 at theWayback Machine,zondervan.com
  4. ^OCLC15283631
  5. ^Honey, Charles (August 5, 2000). "Issues of control found in cults and mainline groups, author says".The Grand Rapids Press.Michigan.p. B5.
  6. ^OCLC48515853
  7. ^Scot McKnight (1 June 2009).Galatians.Zondervan. pp. 27, 63.ISBN978-0-310-57144-5.Retrieved13 August2011.
  8. ^Tucker, Ruth A. (2004).Another Gospel.Zondervan.p. Table of Contents.ISBN978-0-310-25937-4.
  9. ^Selverstone, Harriet S. (2007).Encouraging and Supporting Student Inquiry: Researching Controversial Issues.Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship. p. 199.ISBN978-1-59158-496-4.
  10. ^Cohen, Charles Lloyd; Paul S. Boyer (2008).Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America.University of Wisconsin Press. p. 142.ISBN978-0-299-22570-4.
  11. ^Nash, Ronald H. (1992).Worldviews in Conflict.Zondervan.p.130.ISBN978-0-310-57771-3.
  12. ^Newport, John P. (1997).The New Age Movement and the Biblical Worldview.Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. p.39.ISBN978-0-8028-4430-9.
  13. ^Melton, J. Gordon (1990).New Age Encyclopedia.Gale Research Inc. p.114.ISBN978-0-8103-7159-0.
  14. ^abGilfand, Sharon (November 12, 1992). "Founder surprised his religion an issue".The Pantagraph.Bloomington, Illinois:Pantagraph Publishing Co. p. A5.
  15. ^Yamamoto, MR J Isamu (1995).Unification Church.Zondervan.pp. 12, 78.ISBN978-0-310-70381-5.
  16. ^abHexham, Irving(January 1, 2004).Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Evangelical Approach.Kregel Academic & Professional. p. 291.ISBN978-0-8254-2893-7.
  17. ^abcdeGomes, Alan W. (1995).Unmasking the Cults.Zondervan.pp. 12–18, 61, 82.ISBN978-0-310-70441-6.
  18. ^Rhodes, Ron (2001).The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions.Zondervan.p.37.ISBN978-0-310-23217-9.
  19. ^Lippy, Charles H. (1996).Modern American Popular Religion: A Critical Assessment and Annotated Bibliography.Greenwood Press. p. 182.ISBN978-0-313-27786-3.LCCN95-46009.
  20. ^A Summary Critique - Another Gospel: Alternative Religions and the New Age Movement,byRobert M. Bowman, Jr.,Christian Research Journal,Summer 1990, page 36.
  21. ^Lewis, Gordon R. (1991). "Another Gospel: Alternative Religions and the New Age Movement".International Bulletin of Missionary Research.15(3): 139–40.doi:10.1177/239693939101500328.S2CID149174680.
  22. ^JAS (Fall 1993)."Another Gospel".Journal of Christian Nursing.10(4).Lippincott Williams & Wilkins:43.ISSN0743-2550.Retrieved2010-02-02.
  23. ^Penton, M. James(1997).Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses.University of Toronto Press.p. 328.ISBN978-0-8020-7973-2.
  24. ^Grenz, Stanley J.(2000).Theology for the Community of God.William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.p. 165.ISBN978-0-8028-4755-3.
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