| BibleFacts |
Christadelphians |
On Cults |
Christadelphians
are a small cult, founded in in the United States by John Thomas in 1833. They were also
known as the "Brothers of Christ" and the Thomasites. This group may
be the parent group of the Jehovah's witnesses. Many of their doctrines are the
similar.
They teach that their founder, John Thomas, brought to
light through his interpretations the "lost" truth, which had been
corrupted with apostasy for centuries and without his interpretation,
the bible cannot be understood. Their doctrines are as follows:
They have various by-laws and standards regulating behavior, conscious objectors, no voting in elections, no union membership, no self defense, no employment as a police, or employment where military goods are manufactured. Children discouraged from playing after school sports or becoming members in boy/girl scouts, no membership in any fraternal organizations at all. Marriage outside the Christadelphians is ground for disfellowship, as is any disagreement on any of the above. They have no organizational hierarchy, and each ecclesia (church) is presided over by part time lay ministers, who do not have any formal training other than studying for baptism, which is a lengthy trial of interrogation by other Christadelphian brethren. The women are to keep silence in the church, but may teach the children and each other, are to cover their heads and flashy dress is discouraged. There seems to be a greater tendency than average to utilize holistic health practitioners, (somewhat reminiscent of Christian Scientist) although there is no prohibition against blood transfusions, they have been known to discourage it.
Information taken from "The Constitution of the Glendale Christadelphian Ecclesia", Glendale, California, 1972.
| www.biblefacts.org | Date: 7-2002 |