Sects, Xtian offshoots: S/D, RFI

http://www.quaker.org/friends.html

Pursuing Peter's teaching, Fox called for a radical, egalitarian, spirit-filled Christianity that would not be oppressive of people on account of race, sex, or class. He maintained that the message of the early church had been lost when the church became institutionalized and believed that he, and others with him, could stand in exactly the same state as Apostles, with the same power to teach, to heal, and to prophesy that the Apostles had.

And no, there is no speaking in tongues or faith healing.

In fact, the ones you chose (with the exception of Scientologists) are all pretty established groups by now (despite their quirks and unorthodox views.), and don't really cause too much trouble. The Mormon breakaway sects (Blood of the Lamb, etc.) are complete kooks.

Penecostals are probably a more colorful group to explore, and since you included the non-Christian Scientologist, make sure to check out the followers of the deported Rajneesh in Oregon!

Witnesses: Started out as a "WORLD WILL END ON [date]!" cult, but stuck around after [date]. Believe only 144,000 people will be saved in the end times. Otherwise, very conservation, fundamentalist views.

Mormons: The angel Moroni showed Joseph Smith where golden plates containing the Book of Mormon lay buried. Book of Mormon states that a group of Hebrews settled North America and Jesus made a stop there on his way to heaven. Also, a lot of other wackier stuff that mainline Mormoms pay no attention to. They are similar to Catholicism in that they are centralized and have a set of rituals they practice. Very conservative views.

Hahaha, Kolob!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahaha, Christians hate Mormons.

Joseph Smith really must not have thought too highly of his followers.

and it has made all the difference.

- (qwerty@qwerty.edu), February 4th, 2004 6:31 AM.//

Not strictly true. They believe 144,000 will go to heaven, but others will be saved to live on a restored earth.

Trust me, I was a JW for longer than I haven't been.

Immediately deemed the "5% Fraud" by The New York Post, Allah's case is the latest installment in the ongoing tug-of-war between the predominantly black Five Percenters, prison officials, and the court system. In the 1980s the group was said to be associated with a drug ring in Queens, N.Y., and in the mid-'90s South Carolina prison officials reprimanded more than 300 inmates for refusing to renounce their Five Percent status. Last year, a New Jersey state court upheld the legitimacy of disciplinary actions taken by prison officials who had broken up an orderly meeting of inmate members.

These events are difficult to square with the self-avowed objective of the Nation of Gods and Earths: peace. For decades, the elusive group has left a bewildering combination of high-minded mysticism and street-level thuggery in its wake. One might expect no less of a movement whose members claim to be divine.

http://www.ibiblio.org/nge/

I take offense at his name because it implies that all the other Tarref Allahs are stupid.

He's the IDM of people.

Also, re. Witnesses: why do they forbid blood transfusion? As well as any surgery?

http://www.watchtower.org/library/hb/index.htm?article=article_06.htm

Thats from the official site.