Authorities search for 13 from 'cult-like' sect

[cleanhippie]

Deputies searched a wide swath of Southern California early Sunday for a break-off religious sect of 13 people that included children as young as three and left behind letters indicating they were awaiting an apocalyptic event and would soon see Jesus and their dead relatives in heaven, authorities said.

The group of El Salvadoran immigrants, described as "cult-like" by sheriff's officials, was led by Reyna Marisol Chicas, a 32-year-old woman from Palmdale in northeast Los Angeles county, sheriff's Captain Mike Parker said.

The group left behind cell phones, identifications, deeds to property, and letters indicating they were awaiting the Rapture.


-snip-

The group had broken off from a mainstream Christian church in Palmdale.

Parker did not know what church they had belonged to previously, and it does not appear that they had given their sect a name.

"We've got a group here that's practicing some orthodox and some unorthodox Christianity," Parker said. "Obviously this falls under the unorthodox."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100919/ap_on_re_us/us_missing_cult_members

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Interesting how having the SAME beliefs as all the other christians but only having a different interpretation makes one a "cult".

I guess this only affirms my thought that the only difference between a religion and a cult is the size of the congregation. I hope they find those kids, alive and safe.

[kestrel91316]

1. Don't know that we need the SHERIFF determining what is orthodox christian

belief and what is not........but aside from that, I suspect more rapture-based suicidal nonsense.

[moobu2]

2. Cant see why anyone is surprised at these

people actually taking the crap seriously and acting on it.

[edhopper]

3. If they waited and stated a University

like Oral Roberts or Pat Robertson, their ideas wouldn't be called wacky.

[rug]

4. How many religions advocate mass suicide?

[fishstickle]

5. I dont know many

Makes you wonder why so many of them do it doesn't it?

[rug]

6. I suspect the source is illness.

[cleanhippie]

10. That is a good premise...

that the source of religion is illness.

[edhopper]

7. What about

suicide bombers?

[rug]

8. What about Masada? Which do you think dominates, religion or nationalism/politics?

Were kamikaze pilots dying for Hirohito or Shintoism or Japan?

[edhopper]

9. Hard to say

but some religions do advocate mass suicide. As both our examples show.

[cleanhippie]

11. Not sure. Why do you ask?

[rug]

12. Because suicide is not concomitant with religion for the most part.

[cleanhippie]

13. Perhaps.

But are you then suggesting that these folks are not a "real" religion?

[rug]

14. Show me the religion and how suicide fits in and I'll give you an answer.

Otherwise, I'd say you're dealing with suicidal people.

[cleanhippie]

15. I never made any such assertion, you did.

Why do I need to show YOU something that YOU claimed?

So you do not think these people believed in a "real" religion?

[rug]

16. I never claimed suicide is part of religion. You implied it.

So, prove it.

[cleanhippie]

17. No, you inferred it, I never implied it.

Nonetheless, I am stating now that I do not associate the two.

Now back to my question....

[rug]

18. Good, neither do I.

[cleanhippie]

19. So what was your point?

you stated " Because suicide is not concomitant with religion for the most part."

Then I stated "Perhaps, but are you then suggesting that these folks are not a "real" religion?"

So I am still waiting on your answer.

[rug]

20. What was the point of the OP, that suicidal behavior stems from religion?

[cleanhippie]

21. No, its your turn.

Still waiting...


are you then suggesting that these folks are not a "real" religion?

A simple yes or no will do.

[rug]

22. No, I'm done playing with you.

[cleanhippie]

23. Thats what I thought, you were only playing and had no serious intent. How expected.

You give the word disingenuous a whole new meaning. Congrats.