Cults and the Occult

by Edmond C. Gruss

The cults and the occult. What are they saying? Why do they attract so many people? And how can you respond? You can find answers to those questions and more in this helpful introduction to and exposé of the leading cults, the occult, and related movements. Gruss offers a wealth of pertinent Scripture to refute false doctrines and points the reader to the best resources for further study of each subject. This updated edition is an excellent guide for individuals or group discussion.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Edmund Charles Gruss (c. 1933) is Professor Emeritus at The Master's College in Santa Clarita, California and an author. He researches groups he considers to be "cults" and the occult and has written many books on those subjects especially on the Ouija Board and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Gruss was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses from the age of seven to seventeen. He subsequently converted to evangelical Christianity after he "found Christ."

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good primer on cults and the occult from a biblical perspective.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non-fiction book gave quite a good overview on cults and the occult. The author deals with their existence and growth and introduces you to the main branches: Jehova's Witnesses, Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, Worldwide Church of God, Spiritualism, Seventh-Day Adventism. He also takes a look at occult obsession and new cults, astrology, Bahai, Rosicrucianism, the occult and the Ouija board, Edgar Cayce, Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church, the New Age Movement. At parts a bit dry but you'll the main ideas in one volume. Recommended!

[Tucker Woodson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting time capsule of the Satanic Panic (not saying concerns are wrong, but I wonder if most of these groups/concepts are so obviously not Christian this book didn’t even need to be written. Perhaps I give my tribe too much credit in discernment). So much of this book is irrelevant now, and it makes me wonder: is that because of evangelical concern & opposition, or did they die out naturally?

Also makes me wonder what we worry about now that will die out.

[Dylan Gann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting when read as a product of its time and the author's worldview