Cultic Claims to Secret Knowledge

[Sam Jer]

How do you answer someone belonging to some secretive religion where everything is secret knowledge?
How do you pivot from a conversation about what is basically biblically based fan-fiction to actually discuss the gospel?

I have a specific sect in mind but it is very small and geographically limited, while the answer would apply to a whole range of cultic groups (and the second question even to Islam and Judaism), so I'll leave the question in the generalities.

 

[RamistThomist]

Ask them under what conditions their beliefs would be falsified.

 

[Joshua]

I tend to start with the equally impotent and useless as their beginning assertion... the unassailable Nuh uh.

 

[jwright82]

How do you answer someone belonging to some secretive religion where everything is secret knowledge?
How do you pivot from a conversation about what is basically biblically based fan-fiction to actually discuss the gospel?

I have a specific sect in mind but it is very small and geographically limited, while the answer would apply to a whole range of cultic groups (and the second question even to Islam and Judaism), so I'll leave the question in the generalities.

Is this group, because they're always a group, an "initiate" type group? That is does the initiate go through stages of learning to get to deeper and higher"knowledge"? Think Mason's or something.
Bottom line if they're raising objections they still have to state those objections. "I have secret knowledge, just trust me" is about as useful as a conman telling you they're honest. So without more information, than I don't know how we can help you.
I've dealt with many cultic like people in my life and the more information you get the better. I imagine, perhaps, they take a possibly condescending view on what you're saying? Maybe, maybe not but in my experience they do (even if it's subtle). I've had people try to get me in their cult before and it didn't work. So how involved is this person, meaning are they new to it or very experienced with it?
As far as the Gospel goes maybe pointing out that your good news is public and for everyone, not some secret. Then you can just state that good news and pray for the Holy Spirit to move in their heart.
But more information would be nice.

 

[Sam Jer]

Is this group, because they're always a group, an "initiate" type group? That is does the initiate go through stages of learning to get to deeper and higher"knowledge"? Think Mason's or something.
Bottom line if they're raising objections they still have to state those objections. "I have secret knowledge, just trust me" is about as useful as a conman telling you they're honest. So without more information, than I don't know how we can help you.
I've dealt with many cultic like people in my life and the more information you get the better. I imagine, perhaps, they take a possibly condescending view on what you're saying? Maybe, maybe not but in my experience they do (even if it's subtle). I've had people try to get me in their cult before and it didn't work. So how involved is this person, meaning are they new to it or very experienced with it?
As far as the Gospel goes maybe pointing out that your good news is public and for everyone, not some secret. Then you can just state that good news and pray for the Holy Spirit to move in their heart.
But more information would be nice.

Well this particular group, the Druze, is not recruiting any converts (they aren't allowed to according to their own principles), he was explaining this more in the sense of just information on his community. I don't know if there are mason-style stages, but I do know that this guy didn't even know how they pray in their meetings, and what he told me he said he wasn't technically supposed to say. It's cultic in many aspects but it actually goes back to the tenth century. He told me about Jethro and how he supposedly founded this religion in "you know..., right?" statements, which forced a no in question two (after he asked if I know who Jethro is). That's when he resorted to the secret knowledge excuse.

 

[CasualWestminsterEnjoyer]

How do you pivot from a conversation about what is basically biblically based fan-fiction to actually discuss the gospel?

I have a friend that really likes the book of Enoch and I just ask him if he's read the actual Bible and if he agrees with it, and go from there.

One has to confront these people with Christ's claims.