About Apologetics Index

More About Apologetics Index

• About Apologetics Index
• About the Apologetics Index Team
• Our Values
• Statement of Faith

What is Apologetics Index?

The Apologetics Index (apologeticsindex.org) ‘family of web sites’ provides 47.931 pages of research resources on religious cults, sects, new religious movements, alternative religions, apologetics-, anticult-, and countercult organizations, doctrines, religious practices and world views.

These resources reflect a variety of theological and/or sociological perspectives.

How to find information in Apologetics Index

Apologetics Index: Our Purpose

Apologetics Index (AI) is a non-profit, online Christian ministry with a two-fold purpose:

• to provide Christians with apologetics research resources on cults and sects (whether defined theologically and/or sociologically), other religious movements, doctrines and practices, religion trends, spiritual abuse, ministries and other topics of interest — and
• to help non-Christians find relevant information on the same subjects.

Religious Freedom

AI’s publishers and team members support freedom of religion in thought and expression — as well as the freedom to present research information that helps people make informed decisions about various movements, belief systems and world views.

Point of View & Scope

Apologetics Index evaluates cults both theologically and sociologically. [Cult Definition is one of our companion sites]

The publishers operate from an evangelical, Christian point of view.

This website documents significant doctrinal differences between the essential teachings and practices of historical Christianity and those of other religions, including religious movements that claim to be compatible with Christianity.

Apologetics Index also addresses abusive churches and movements, as well as a variety of other cult research issues and controversies. [Note that much of our information on the subject of cults is hosted at a sister website, CultDefinition.com]

In the process we look at controversial movements and issues within the Christian community – discussing anything from aberrant teachings to full-blown heretical sects.

As a service to researchers we also publish Religion News Blog — an up-to-date news archive about religious cults, sects, and related issues. Religion News Blog is an integral part of Apologetics Index, allowing researchers to track specific topics of interest.

Not Neutral, but a Variety of Perspectives

You’ll notice that we’re not neutral. However, as explained here we do our best to balance our personal opinions with links to pro-, contra-, and neutral perspectives. Those links can include Christian, non-Christian and secular research resources.

For example, if you are looking for information about, say, Mormonism, you will find listings for Christian apologetics ministries, secular anti-cult sites, links to the Mormon Church and Mormon apologetics organizations, as well as selected articles on the subject from Christian, Mormon, and secular perspectives.

Likewise our section on, for instance, Wicca includes resources from Christian, secular, and pagan perspectives.

Work in Progress

Please note that Apologetics Index always is a work in process. It is never quite finished. You’ll find both extensive and brief entries.

Some entries include pointers to a wide variety of resources, usually from various perspectives, while other entries are – for the time being – briefer and/or more one-sided. In the newer portions of our website many of the latter entries are marked as ‘stubs.’ These entries are expanded as time and energy permit.

Of course, we welcome suggestions for relevant resources to include.

Feedback received shows that Apologetics Index is used by apologists, students, parents, pastors, media professionals, educators, counselors, researchers, religious leaders, authors, politicians, ex-cult members, current members of a wide variety of religious movements, and many others.

Offline Ministry

Our online ministry goes hand in the hand with offline ministry, which includes:

• providing counseling and practical help to people in need
• Counseling Christians who have experienced spiritual abuse in churches, cults, or elsewhere
• teaching fellow-Christians to understand and apply God’s grace and mercy – gifts that set Christians free from legalism, and instead allow us to become expressions of Jesus who lives in and through us (see Galatians 2:20).
• providing a research and training library of Christian books and other resources,
• providing hospitality to Christians who need a time-out, as well as to Christian ministers visiting – or on their way through – Amsterdam, and
• We no longer have a house church: Instead, we are members of the multicultural Hoop voor Noord church in Amsterdam-Noord (North), and lead one of the home fellowships.