Probe Ministries

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Probe Ministries is a dogmatic Fundamentalist Evangelical Christian organization founded in 1973 by James F. Williams Jr. and Jon Buell, based in Richardson, Texas. Its mission statement is as follows:

    "Probe Ministries is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to reclaim the primacy of
     Christian thought and values in Western culture through media, education, and literature. 
     In seeking to accomplish this mission, Probe provides perspective on the integration of
     the academic disciplines and historic Christianity.

    "In addition, Probe acts as a clearing house, communicating the results of its research to 
     the church and society at large."

It is best known for denouncing as dangerous cults many denominations of Christianity, in particular, Church of Christ, Scientist, Unity Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints/Mormons, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society/Jehovah's Witnesses, Religious Science, Unitarian Universalism, Unification Church, Urantia, A Course in Miracles, The Way International, and Roman Catholicism, as well Buddhism, Hinduism, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Freemasonry, Confucianism, Taoism, Bahá'í Faith, Goddess worship, Judaism, Islam, Landmark Forum/Erhard Seminars Training (est), Transcendental Meditation, Scientology, Wicca, and all other faiths, including the non-physical aspects of martial arts, and a total condemnation of yoga, and disseminates tracts both in print and online on all of them, include multiple tracts against Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Islam.^[1] They use sensationalistic tactics and often unsupported claims arguing that such organizations use mind control or brainwash their adherents, often making controversial claims about other faith's doctrines. ^[2]

They have argued against evidence that Christianity borrowed from Pagan faiths^[3] and against belief in reincarnation, and argue that women cannot hold an authoritative position over men inside the church.^[4] They also believe in the rapture, although this is doctrine is newer than many of the "new religions" that they condemn. All beliefs that they do not share are considered "dangerous" and "cultish". They have even claimed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church would stop being a "cult" if they began to worship on Sundays. They advocate teaching of "intelligent design" and are opposed to separation of church and state. While they are strongly opposed to other faiths, according to Rick Rood, "Rather than viewing them as 'the enemy,' we should see them as 'the victims' of the enemy who are in need of the same grace that has freed us from spiritual slavery--in need of the gospel of Jesus Christ."^[5]

Prominent writers of Probe Ministries include Rusty Wright, Russ Wise, Sue Bohlin, Patrick Zukeran, Michael Gleghorn, Steve Cable, Kris Samons, Don Closson, Daniel Morais, Rick Rood, Lou Whitworth, Kerby Anderson, and Robert A. Pyne.