Smith%92s Friends Johan Oscar Smith

[Anonymous (69.195.150.34)]

This may sound totally naive of me, as this is my first experience with a church cult. I met a group of people (I don't even know the name of the cult) who are part of an internet fellowship group whose head office you could say is in Norway, who attend this camp in New York, called Victory, over the summer, and do not have any annointed pastor or leader. They claim to be Christian but are non-denominational. I am in desperate need to know if they are a cult or not. Can anyone help me?

[Anonymous (80.202.105.217)]

I am from Norway and have a fair survey on sects and cults here, we do have some fundamentalist christian groups too. But so far no bells are ringing. More details please.

[Anonymous (149.99.172.224)]

Hi, this group is also referred to as "Smith's Friends" and has a camp in Syracuse, New York called Victory

[Anonymous (170.215.235.23)]

I suggest you view this website on the church you are speaking of...

http://www.revlowell.com/html/body_major_issues.htm

[ravenn (ravenn)]

i grew up in this group. most people are nice but i do not agree with their standards. no tv, no radio, women must be submissive-no pants, no short hair, no makeup, no jewelry....no "worldly music" etc etc. you should go and check them out

[a_smith_friend (a_smith_friend)]

Dear Anonymous,
I know this group that you are referring to and have been their meetings in Victory and other places. We are not a cult, neither do we have standards like no-tv, no pants etc.. The Church does not believe in interfereing with individuals ideas adn methods of family and child rearing. We believe in the overcoming sin in our lives through complete faith in the Word of God.
If you are still interested in checking us out, I encourage you to do so. We do not have horns and sharp teeth .
:-)

[ravenn (ravenn)]

who are you?

[ravenn (ravenn)]

You very obviously need help. please get some.

[guest (guest)]

Dear Anonymous,

check out:

http://griess.st1.at/poonen.htm

I happened upon your question when I was researching this group from Norway. I believe that they are a cult, in that they deviate from major christian doctrines. They believe that Jesus had unconscious sin up to the point when he was "perfected" before the cross. They are decent, law-abiding people who believe that they have the "light" and all other christian groups are in error. Their music in in hymn structure with a 3 second pause between each verse. As a musician, I find that they have emasculated the creativity from the music because they focus on the words which is the ever-repeating "victory over unconscious sin", and put little importance on the music, as long as it doesn't stray from the format of their other songs that they are familiar with.