International Church of Christ ICOC

[Anonymous]

10News Special Report: Cults On Campus
Cults Prey On New Students' Feelings Of Alienation, Experts Say
POSTED: 2:16 p.m. PST November 12, 2002

SAN DIEGO -- The problem of cults is plaguing college campuses across the country, and in San Diego it's no different, 10News reported.

Young people in college are at a stage in life where they're searching for meaning and their place in life, 10News reported, and many of them are being recruited into organizations that many people believe people are cults.

Former University of California, San Diego student "Lucy" told 10News that she found herself wrapped up in a group that she has since come to believe was a cult.

"I was new in college. I didn't know a lot of people," she said. "Part of the whole brainwashing thing was that I was going to go to hell if I didn't do everything they expected me to do."

A number of cult experts, like the Rev. Dr. Brian Hooper, told 10News that college campuses are ripe for finding young people vulnerable to high-pressure religious movements.

"They tend to prey on kids. They may be seen as not being really connected on campus. When they bring them in, they welcome them warmly. But once they do, they reward them and separate them from contact outside," Hooper said.

Dozens of colleges across the country have actually banned certain high-pressure groups from campus, 10News reported. And some colleges have put out a student pamphlet that warns students about cult activity.

But the problem is somewhat acute in the Golden State, according to University of San Diego theology professor Dr. Evelyn Kirkely.

"California, in general, has been this utopian land for new religious movements," she said.

Lindsey DeSalvo is a local college student who says she has been pressured by cults.

"I've been approached a couple of times. They try to hand you a Bible, or invite you to a barbecue or something," she said.

But a Bible and a friendly demeanor does not necessarily a cult make. Several legitimate religious organizations exist on the nation's campuses -- the key to identifying a cult is determining how much individual time the group demands.

Kirkely said that a cult also tends to have a charismatic leader, and doesn't allow its members to question the leader's policies.

Former San Diego State University student Ali Ghashgaee, along with Lucy, is also a former member of the International Church of Christ.

He told 10News that he believes he was tangled up in a cult.

"Something was telling me, 'I'm spending more time than with my own family,'" Ghashgaee said.

Steve Smith is a spokesman for the church in San Diego. He said ICOC is not a cult and that Lucy's and Ghashgaee's experiences are an exception.

"I think that when you blindly follow one particular person, then you become a cult -- that is definitely not us. Our people are definitely thinkers," Smith said. "In any organization people have bad experiences -- for whatever reason."

Regardless, a number of groups have set up Web sites that criticize ICOC as being a cult, among them:
http://www.reveal.org/
http://www.cultsoncampus.com/

Seen at...
http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/sand/news/stories/news-178208720021112-161152.html

[Anonymous]

Current, high ranking, very long serving ICOC member speaks out and exposes all it's flaws. Basically confirms everything it's critics have been saying for years!

http://www.reveal.org/library/stories/people/hkriete.htm

[NewsSnoop]

A Christian community falters

Loss of leader, governing body hurts group formed in Boston
By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff,
5/17/2003

It was one of the fastest-growing and most controversial churches in America, banned as a cult from dozens of college campuses while boasting 135,000 members worldwide. Its followers were known for spending their free time recruiting new members and waiting on doorsteps at 4 in the morning, hoping to persuade those who had ''fallen away'' to come back to the fold. But now the central organization of the International Churches of Christ, a strict religious body founded in Boston, is collapsing.

Thomas ''Kip'' McKean, its charismatic founder, has stepped down. Its world governing body has dissolved and dozens of local church leaders have resigned or been fired, in part because churches can no longer afford to pay their salaries.
Behind the story of a teetering church empire is the tale of the autocratic visionary who built it and his independent-minded daughter, now a Harvard senior, whose decision to leave the church sparked turmoil in the already troubled group.......MORE

Boston Globe Online / City & Region / A Christian community falters
Address:http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/137/metro/A_Christian_community_falters+.shtml (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/137/metro/A_Christian_community_falters%2B.shtml)

Comments from Rick Ross

May 18, 2003 ::

Leader of one of America's largest "cults" staging comeback

There is no doubt now, after something like a "palace coup" that deposed him from his throne, Thomas "Kip" McKean is staging a comeback.
McKean is the founder and once undisputed ruler over a "cult" that includes more than 100,000 followers called the "International Church of Christ (ICC)"
He said, ''We're praying that God will lead us to a new ministry."

But what the deposed despot seems to really mean is a new "new ministry," with him on the throne again, or at least playing an important if not pivotal role.

McKean is launching a newsletter to all ICC congregations worldwide and has been "attending whirlwind meetings with church officials and old friends," reports the Boston Globe.......MORE

http://www.cultnews.com

[Anonymous]

The ICC isn't a cult. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have serious problems, and is causing serious damage to people's lives.

For anyone wanting more information on the ICC or the churches of Christ, or for anyone who's actually in this church and wants to start searching for some answers, the best site I'd recommend is http://www.icocb.org

[Calvinist]

Anon,

I would have to disagree with you about the ICC being a cult. They have all the marks of a cult, including the use of control by keeping ones confessed sins as blackmail to keep them from leaving the church and the claim that they and they alone are the only true church.

For god information on the ICC take a look at this link: http://www.letusreason.org/OCCdir.htm

And especially this artcile in particular: http://www.letusreason.org/OCC22.htm

Soli Deo Gloria

[Anonymous]

June 3, 2003

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/154/letter/Cult_members_help_forgiveness+.shtml (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/154/letter/Cult_members_help_forgiveness%2B.shtml)

Cult members: help, forgiveness - STEVEN ALAN HASSAN, Letters to the Editor, Boston Globe (THANK YOU for Farah Stockman's May 17 front-page story on Thomas "Kip" McKean's organization ("A Christian community falters"). I have been counseling people injured by their affiliation with this group since 1982...Unfortunately, most mental health professionals have not received specialized training in how best to address the psychological problems of people involved with cults...

...Most therapists hear the name Church of Christ and think of legitimate denominations such as the United Church of Christ or the mainline Church of Christ. It doesn't occur to them that there are destructive mind control groups that masquerade as legitimate...)

---
You will also find a link to the news item above located at
http://www.cultsoncampus.com

[Anonymous]

Understand this,the ICOC is the same mind poision as the ICOC.They are very dangerous mind control cults,whose main strength come from their covert activities and the "it's us against them" attitude.In the fast growing southern county where I live the Church of Christ controls all probate court judgships where they "clean your plow" if you are involved in a conservatorship,or your c of c relative tries to leave you some bucks.The cult also controls the county building codes department,where do you spend most of the money you'll make in your lifetime.At a large U.S. govt. workplace where I'm employed at least 40% of the positions are held by cult members,do you see a pattern,DUUHHHHH.They hold positions in at disproportionate numbers to people outside the cult in key areas of power in society such as home owners insurance,health care,banking ,real estate,et al.Do you see the pattern yet,if you don't sticking your head in the sand.
After having grown up in a family of c of c psychos,I can assure you that they regard you as a peice of meat to be butchered and consumed to fuel their satanic endeavor of power and money.
The difference in the c of c and mormans or scientologist,is simple and frightening,the c of c's top two rules are:1)we are God's chosen people,all others are evil and we should destroy them by any means necessary and 2)don't let any of those evil outsiders know what the other rule is.
The c of c in the south has perfected the art of teaching it's members to keep secret what they call "the Lord's good work".In reality this lord's work is simply networking covertly with other members to "take",as the c of c member is tought to say,money from unspecting victims.This "taking" is usually done without the victim having knowledge of who or how the money is removed from his pocket and into the cult members pocket.
It's quite sickening,especially considering the low life robots are soooo good at their lord's work,and worse yet they hide behind Jesus to ply their wicked craft.
Wake up people,never vote a c of c member into public office,promote one of them in business or civic organizations,etc.If all of you knew how much they are conditioned to reduce you at every opportunity,you would never associate with them or do businness with them.
In closing I can assure you that the ICOC and the more numerous c of c(non-ICOC churches) are the same mind poluting parasitic cult that feeds on all people in the society they infest.Don't forget that God's grace,Jesus hard work,and our humility and faith in God the father and Jesus his son are the means by which we go to heaven,and that is a beautifull truth no cult can change.God gives us a choice to choose our destiny,never give up your ability to think to any person or persons.
My favorite Bible verse:Ephesians 2:8 It is by grace that you are saved,not by works,lest any man should boast.
Good Luck

[David Dill]

I posted on 9-9-03 at 2:03PM. My first line should have explained that the ICOC is the same ugly monster as the regular run of the mill Churches of Christ tha are far more neumerous than the ICOC.
I'll proof read next time folks,sorry.

[Anonymous (66.98.168.100)]

Greetings Calvinist,

There is no way one can keep an individual in their place by blackmailing them with their sins. Unless, the person being "blackmailed" is not reading their Bible or not seeking God. The Bible is very clear we are to confess our sins to one another, to walk in the Light - this actually frees the person doing the confession. In short, only those who do not want to give up their sin will take it as blackmail. Thus the problem lies with the sheep not the shepherd. This is not to say that ICOC is not dead in the water - they are. But that is way too shallow an explanation. You could take your comments and apply it to true Christianity. I good book on the topic can be found at, http://www.moriel.info/book.html

Take care,
Anonymous

[Anonymous (168.143.113.138)]

Greetings Calvinist,

There is no way one can keep an individual in their place by blackmailing them with their sins. Unless, the person being "blackmailed" is not reading their Bible or not seeking God. The Bible is very clear we are to confess our sins to one another, to walk in the Light - this actually frees the person doing the confession. In short, only those who do not want to give up their sin will take it as blackmail. Thus the problem lies with the sheep not the shepherd. This is not to say that ICOC is not dead in the water - they are. But that is way too shallow an explanation. You could take your comments and apply it to true Christianity. I good book on the topic can be found at, http://www.moriel.info/book.html

Take care,
Anonymous

[Anton (Anton) (62.194.110.245)]

Moriel.info is published by the ironically-named "Sound Doctrine" - a cult of Christianity (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c45.html).

The name is a take-off on Moriel.org (http://tinyurl.com/yq9xv), a site that exposes "Sound Doctrine's " false teachings.

Anton
--
Anton and Janet Hein-Hudson
Apologetics Index
Research resources on religions, cults, sects, doctrines, and related issues:
http://www.religionnewsblog.com (News and news archives)
http://www.apologeticsindex.org (Other research resources)

[agapetos (agapetos)]

Well ... we'll just give people more resources here:

http://www.reveal.org/

and

http://forums.delphiforums.com/ICCdiscussion/start