Let me show you what I've built!  Take a good look, and see why I built it and why it was built that way.  And you might be able to see what it really does.

What do you want to build?  The same tools are available to you, and you can build something at least as good as what I've built.  In fact, from your point of view it will be even better because it will be your design to meet your needs.

And on the way, you'll learn one of the greatest tools to bring major power to your spiritual life, especially your prayer life!

Come and look!  Then start sketching what you want to build!  It's been waiting for you all this time!

This is where it can start getting exciting!

Much is said about cults.  But what is a cult?  What makes a cult different from any other group of people who come together for a reason, especially a religious reason?

There are many definitions of cults.  According to some, a cult is any religious group that does not agree with the person speaking.  And, there might even be some who will want to claim that you are enmeshed in a cult.  After all, you're listening to this podcast, right?  A cult does not have to be a group of robed fanatics chanting at an airport or shopping mall.  It might appear on the surface to be very mainstream. 

But what is a real definition of a cult?  We'll take an evaluation frame authored by someone whose name might be familiar to most, and we'll see. 

More than that, let's take a look at a more important question: how to tell if a particular group might fit the definition of the word "cult", especially one that is actually dangerous.

Dangers of divine inspiration?  Yes, no kidding.

Remember that commercial for a brand of audio tape? "Is it real, or is it Memorex?" as the glass broke. 

We listen for inspiration and guidance from the spark of the Divine within each of us. 

But what of the TV evangelist who claims that his god tells him that in retribution of our "errant ways", there will be hurricanes this year - in hurricane season, of course.  Or the leader of an isolated church who is becoming nationally infamous for the way he and his followers are preaching what their god hates?  Or the one who tells someone that a tragedy is their god's (or godess') will?  Are such people listening to the Divine, or are they listening to their own ego?  Or are we speaking of a situation in which perhaps a doctor might help?

But there are times when the Divine has spoken and things have happened.  People have indeed been healed of cancer and other diseases that doctors had pronounced untreatable.  There have been those who found their special niche in life because they listened.  What's the difference?

Knowing the difference, and knowing how to escape the pitfalls, will make a difference. 

"The DaVinci Code" has caused a ruckus.  Even more so than Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of Christ", or even "The Last Temptation Of Christ".  Why?

Might it be, as Shakespeare might have said, "someone doth protest too much"?  And if so, why?  What's in "The DaVinci Code" that would cause such controversy?  And there are other writings.

The Gospel Of Judas caused controversy since its existence became known, and the Dead Sea Scrolls have been available to ordinary folks for only a relatively short time, in spite of their having been "studied" since their discovery in 1948!

And this has led some mainstream Christians to suddenly be up-in-arms about the whole of Gnostic scripture.  Once upon a time, Gnosticism seemed only to be a long-forgotten sect that would be briefly mentioned in college and seminary classes about early Christianity, and now it seems much more than that.  And suddenly, it is possible to buy quite a lot of very good Gnostic writing at almost any decent bookstore.  Why?

What are the differences between the more orthodox Christianity and that of the Gnostics.  Did Yeshua Bar-Joseph have something else in mind instead of what came down to us as Christianity?  There's an excellent book available which provides some powerful insight into this.

And why would such objections be raised?  No answers, but some places where those with questions can ask.  And the principles used here can be used on any spiritual path to find the answers you seek.