The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 16, 1993, Page 6, Image 6
Ol
Cults ca]
By NICOLE BYR1)
Staff Writer
Religious cults can he a hidden
danger facing young people searching
for a place to belong. These
organizations can provide the illusion
of instant friendships and
security, hut many times control
juid manipulate their members.
"We don't have a precise definition
of what a cull is, but it's generally
viewed in a negative light,"
said Professor ilal Trench, chairperson
of the USC Department of
Religious Studies.
French said cults usually take a
literal view of Scripture and have a
charismatic leader that makes
strong demands on members, who
are strictly loyal to the group.
The Cult Awareness Network
(CAN) lists the Boston Church of
Christ movement as one of the top
five groups they've received calls
and complaints about. Churches in
uiis movement can usuany oe associated
with a city, such as the
Atlanta Church of Christ or
Columbia Church of Christ.
l"he Columbia Church of Christ,
not to be confused with the mainstream
Churches of Christ, is affiliated
with the Boston Church of
Christ. The organization has a
Bible study group at USC called
Campus Advance, sometimes
called Christian Student
Association on other campuses.
Cynthia Kisser, executive director
of CAN, said, "We get complaints
every month about the
Boston Church of Christ movement.
Many of the people who
have called and left the group
believe their experience was a cult
rvnpripnrp
v,,,'v*
"Because we get so many calls
and complaints about them, we
have two books we sell and an
information packet specifically
about that group in order to meet
sit, wti:
a!S
Stop by the Herf
Display and pick i
for additional dol
Herff Jone
use R]
Monday ?
April
10:00 am
USC BOOKSTORE
!
?? ????
? PERS<
pitalize or
(he -demand of calls," she said.
Columbia Church of Chrisl minister
and Campus Advance director
lony Grant said, '"I think many
individuals have the wrong pcreep- ;
lion of what we're like. We adhere
to the Bible. John 12:47-48 teaches
that the word of God will judge us. ;
It is absolutely vital that the Bible
is our standard and- that we should
not deviate from it."
1'he Boston Church of Christ
movement is a Christian organiza- <
lion that focuses mainly on the
Bible's New Testament and the
teachings of Jesus Christ. Each
church member has a discipling
partner to whom they confess their
sins.
"The Bible has a lot to say about
advice ? listening to it and accepting
it," Grant said. "If it's scriptural
advice, then people need to
adhere to it. We try to hold people's
lives accountable to the
Bible."
The Columbia Church of Christ
and its affiliates are mostly comprised
of young adults and have
thrived on college campuses.
Critics claim they seek out lonely
and insecure students.
A IISC student, who wished to
remain anonymous, was involved
with the church this past semester.
"They made a point to tell me that
they weren't trying to push me into
making a decision about what
church I should go to, but that the
Bible would tell me. They said that
the choice would be obvious."
CAN reports say the top five
groups from most to least that
they've received complaints about
are: the satanism movement, the
Church of Scientology, the Boston
Church of Christ movement,
Form/EST and the Unification
Church.
The satanism movement started
in Europe and is very diverse.
JATIVE 90.5 If* I
T Jones College Ring
lp a scratch card good
liar discounts on your
s College Ring.
NG DAYS
and Tuesday
19 & 20
until 3:30 pm
RUSSELL HOUSE
Carolina!
wee
>NAtr
i desire t(
Mcmhcix cvn riiiutK ;is; it vvav
" " 'x'vv"' "" ? ? " '' "J
to acquire power.
The Church of Scientology
believes in dianctic counseling, or
auditing, which leads individuals to
become clear of engrains, or
learned behavior and conflicts, and
attain full human potential, becoming
aware of personal divinity.
Their key figure in history is L.
Ron Hubbard.
Form/HST is a group that focuses
on members reaching their
human potential in their professional
and personal lives through intensive
workshops.
The Unification Church is an
Asian religion in which members
believe leader Sun Myung Moon is
the messiah. They are popularly
known as the "moonies." liach
member contributes their talents to
the group, and many live communally.
According to the USC
Department of Student Affairs, students
should ask themselves several
questions when joining any organization:
What commitments of time,
money and other resources will be
expected of me?
Will I be discouraged from associating
with my family and friends?
Will I be encouraged to continue
my studies, to succeed and graduntp
nr dnp<i ihp ornnn sav that its
activities are more important than
school?
Docs the group predict tragedy
will befall anyone who leaves this
group?
Students who aren't sure of the
answers to these questions about
any group they're involved in can
contact the university chaplain at
777-4100, the Counseling and
Human Development Center at
777-5223 or the University
Committee of Religious Affairs at
777-4172.
ELvc^rty Fridai/ ?
1?\
Aoril 1A nv\A H
' T ' '
P.J. ot tine yea
A ho Onrte Q (Pridaw t
922 Main St. in tl
Call 256-2784 for t
j Earn $2,0
While You Si
On Most Anything1
<fen, * sv?\tinz
'Apphanc
Travel
1-800-756-2201 For
Columbiana
^TPoint Of No Return [El
^ 1:15 3:45 7:15
W I he Crying Game IE]
1 1:00 4:00 7:15 9:45 12:00
^r^enage Mutant Ninja Turtles^?
^ 1:30 4:00 7:00 E*H
^rHuckelberry Finn E3
1 1:30 4:00 7:00 9:30 19-00 M
1 9:00 12:00
ken
FY
) belong
9 ,
ILmi* m ^ agsg&gSS
|
The Division of Student Affairs
suggested 10 checkpoints to
help identify a cult.
1. The group seems to be
perfect. Everyone agrees and
follows all orders cheerfully.
2. The group claims to have "all
the answers" to your problems.
3. You are asked to recruit new
members soon after joining.
4. You begin to feel guilty and
ashamed, unworthy as a person.
5. The group encourages you to
put their meetings and activities
before all other commitments,
including studying.
6. The eroup speaks in a
derogatory way about your past
religious affiliation.
7. Your parents and friends are
defined as unable to understand
and help you with religious
matters.
8. Doubts and questions are
seen as signs of weak faith. You
are shunned if you persist in
these doubts.
9. Leadership of the group is
mostly male, and males in
general are believed to have
different rights and abilities
than females.
10. Yqu are invited on a retreat
with the group, but they can't
give you an overview of the
purpose, theme or activities
before you go.
and iafcurdal/
W <1^ A/I
7 ^
ir Ravid Riddle
?n/i/ and Mad Maxx)
he Upper Deck
nore information
00 Per Month Extra
ive 20-50%
ifou Already Buy...
goods Groceries
es Health Insurance
275,000 More Items
More Information
'r
Discount Matinees-All Seats $3.50 Before 5:30pm I
"Rush Hour" Special Last Matinee Show $2.75
Tuesday Bargain Nite-AII Seats $3.50
Student Specials $4.00 w/student ID
Late Nite shows on Fri & Sat
Box Office Opens at 12:30
r The Sandlot E3 ^^B
^ 1:20 4:20 7:20 9:20 12:00 M
T' Born Yesterday EH3
^ 1:30 4:15 7:15 9:30 12:00 M
V' Indecent Proposal 0 ^^B
^ 1:00 3:40 7:00 9:40 12:00 M
^ 1:00 3:45 7:00 9:30 12:00 M
^boiling Point [HI ^^B
^ 1:00 3:50 7:30 9:45 12:00 ^
^^^lac^c^id^El
^ 1:00 3:45 7:30 9:45 12:00 M
^FiftyFifty El
d
hp
Members of Omega Psi Phi frat<
Gras Costume Festival to raise n
Scholarship Fund.
Festival rais
in spirit of &
By NICOLE BYRD
Staff Writer
If you missed Mardi Gras in
New Orleans, don't despair.
You can experience the fun
and excitement of Fat Tuesday
and much more at the Omega Psi
Phi fraternity's Mardi Gras
Costume Festival this Saturday.
The festival raises money for
the Charles R. Drew Memorial
Scholarship Fund. The scholarship
is awarded to a local area
high school student and is based
on academic excellence and
financial need. Physician and surgeon
Charles R. Drew, who died
in 1954, was a member of the
fraternity.
The Mardi Gras tradition began
in 1974. The last Mardi Gras held
at USC by the Zeta Zeta chapter
was in 1V5V ana nao an attendance
of 900 to 1,100 people.
This year's Mardi Gras is
expected to be just as successful.
There will be a costume contest
in which contestants walk down a
fictitious Bourbon Street and the
winners are awarded cash and
prizes. P'ood and drinks are free.
A variety of costumes from the
wild to the unusual can be seen at
the festival. People have been
known to come as cowboys,
Trojans, cats and pirates.
Seventies wear and Afros are
popular, and, once, someone
dressed up as a baby, wearing a
diaper.
Omega Psi Phi President
Victor Jones said, "A lot of people
rent costumes, but most people
create their own. The more
filPTh A
NCCV h
THE GAMECOCK NEWSPAPER W
WORK AS A SECTION EDITOR
JOBS INCLUDE ALL SECTION ED
COPV EDITORS, GRAPHIC DESIGI
WRITERS AND FIRE-EATIN
CYCLOPSES WHO JUGGLE KNIVt
IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP I
WILL BE TODAY AND SATURDA
RUSSELL HOUSE. COME BY J
VEGETATE ALL SEMESTER IN
RERUNS OF THE BRADY BUNCH
THE GAM
It's about time
reading the fi
wm <
Accepting Applicat
Due April 21 at ti
Applications availabl
Call Stacie Hamm 7-4'
Board of Peers deals witl
of the housing contrac
violations occuring ir
Ht i
l
File Photo
irnity participate in the Mardi
\oney for the Charles R. Drew
es money
dardi Gras
creative, the better."
International studies senior
Deittra Wilder has never been to
Mardi Gras, but is looking forward
to going this year. "I heard
that it's really fun," she said.
"Part of the excitement is hying
to find something to wear.
Instead of people asking, 'Are
you going?' they're asking.
vvnai aie you iiuinvi 10 uicss up
as?"'
Many students who went to
Mardi Gras '89 plan to go again
this year. Sociology senior Erica
Booth, who attended the last
Mardi Gras, said, "The last one
was really nice, and everyone
dressed up in costumes. I went as
a cat. I think a lot of people are
planning to go again this year.
"We try to attain the same
atmosphere as Mardi Gras in
New Orleans," Booth said. "From
the minute you enter the door, we
like to take you into another
world. A world of festivities, fun
and fantasy where you can let
loose for about five hours.
Afterwards, you wait and hope
the next Mardi Gras comes back
soon."
Mardi Gras will be held from
10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the National
Guard Armory on Bluff Road.
Transportation will be provided
all night, starting at 9:30 p.m.
Pick-up areas will be the Russell
11 /v _ , . iif . . .1
House, vapsione, uaies west anu
the Towers.
Advance tickets are $8 per person
or $15 per couple. Tickets
are on sale in front of the Russell
House on Greene Street.
"JOB?]
ANTS YOU, YES YOU, TO
IN THE FALL SEMESTER.
ITORS, PHOTOGRAPHERS,
HERS, SENIOR AND STAFF
G, HOT-COAL-WALKING
S BLINDFOLDED. TODAY
FOR INTERVIEWS, WHICH
Y IN ROOM 321 OF THE
\ND SIGN UP OR JUST
YOUR DORM WATCHING
I. THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
ECOCK.
: we start
ne print.
/
Peer
Conduct
Board
ions for '93-'94
ie "I" Building
e in "I" Building
129 for more info
h specific violations
t& conduct code
i residence halls.