The four major cults in the world are Scientology, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventist. I’ve noticed that several of the Conservative news sites this week have had links to Christianbooks.com advertising the book “The Four Major Cults”.
Carson is SDA. I won’t go into their beliefs in general other than to say that they believe Jesus is the Archangel Michael, as J.W.’s do.
SDA teaches Pacifism and typically only serve in non combatant roles in the military. I see this being a huge obstacle to Carson’s ability to be an effective Commander in Chief.
The SDA’s do not have the same beliefs as the JW’s on that subject.
http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/qod/q08.htm
I personally am not thrilled with SDA doctrine, but one has to be careful with the cult label.
Just as context, let me say that I am not a Carson supporter for president, and I am a non-denominational Christian with orthodox views of the Trinity and normal Protestant views on Salvation. I strongly reject annihilationism (this is probably my biggest issue with SDA theology; though I am certainly not comfortable many of their tenets).
All that said, I would be careful on the Archangel point you made. As far as I have been able to understand of SDA doctrine, they consistently espouse the deity of Christ. I think it would be perhaps more correct to say that they believe Michael is Jesus, rather than that Jesus is Michael. I am admittedly no expert on SDA dogma, but I believe they are interpreting Michael in Revelation as a Theophany of sorts. I strongly disagree with that position, but to say that Michael is an theophany of Jesus is a far cry from saying that our Messiah was an incarnate angel. It’s a significant distinction.
The word cult gets thrown around a lot. I definitely agree that Mormonism, Scientology, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are clear-cut cults, and I would not consider them Christian, in that I personally draw the line between hetero-orthodox and blasphemy at the deity of Christ. SDAs seem to be me to have a “cultish” emphasis on their “prophets”, but maintain both Christ’s diety and humanity, which I think is something pretty important. I am trying to be careful not to sin against the body as regards Carson, and I think it is important not to straw-man the archangel thing. Take that with a grain of salt as one man’s opinion, and I would be happy to be corrected in my mistake if there is evidence that they are being deceptive in their language regarding the divinity of Jesus like the Mormon’s do.
Again, I am no supporter of SDAism, but I am presently inclined to believe they are probably brothers and sisters in Christ who have some significant error in their theology. I think that if a person believes in the divinity and unity of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the need for salvation through Christ’s finished work, it is hard to call them not a Christian. I think annihilationism is a wicked doctrine, and have issue with many other secondary aspects of SDA, and strongly pray that any SDA reading this would prayerfully reconsider many of their denomination’s errors that have occurred as a result of weighing too highly the opinions and supposed revelations of modern men against the clear Word of Scripture.
Lastly, please pardon any spelling or grammar errors above. I tried to do this on my phone.