New Zealand Cults, Sects, Religions, Christian Organisations, and other groups.

NZ Cults & Religious Groups List: I

Hot picks: Iglesia ni Cristo, International Church of Christ, Islam

I

IDA. A multi-level marketing scheme (MLM) that does training for networking activity. According to a reader "it appears that the prosperity gospel is mixed up inside it and is potentially mixing people's heads up as well". Contracts to Amway for its supply of goods and services and payment of bonuses.

Iglesia ni Cristo ("Church of Christ"). Sect or cult founded in the Phillipines by Felix Manalo Ysagun aka "Felix Ysagun Manalo" or "Ka Felix" (10 May 1886 - 12 April 1963) in the Phillipines, where it now has several million followers. The group is present in New Zealand, where its Auckland branch sponsors a locally-screened television programme. The Bereans have an INC profile, including suggestions on how to talk to INC members. More information to be posted shortly.

IHOP. See International House of Prayer.

Infinity Forms of Yellow Remember. Scam, called a cult in Australia. Ordinary water is sold for $80 or more for a 50mL bottle. The company Infinity Forms of Yellow Remember NZ Limited was in the list of companies to be removed from the companies register in January 2002. Apparently they weren't - they changed their name in January 2003 to Hermes Far Eastern Shining NZ Pty Limited (separate listing).

Institute for Religious Science and School of Philosophy. An early name for Religious Science.

Institute of Sathya Sai Education NZ Inc. Charitable group that runs the spiritually dangerous course Sathya Sai Spiritual Education. Self-contradictory in its claim 'Programmes by the Institute are not religious, but are focussed on promoting the understanding of “Body, Mind and Spirit.” ' (Emphasis added.)

Intercontinental Church of God. Cult. Founded in 1998 by Garner Ted Armstrong. No branches in New Zealand but represented here by a web site through which literature can be ordered.

Interfaith Coalition for Understanding. A Christchurch based group that embraces the spiritual and practical beliefs of Christian and non-Christian religions as being equally valid. The Danger rating has been assigned by this web site as we believe that only Christianity provides the spiritual solution to the problem of sin. This becomes very apparent when comparing the beliefs and practices of other religions and their outcomes.

International Centers for Spiritual Living. Alternative name for Religious Science International.

International Church of Christ. Cult/former cult founded by Kip McKean in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and hence the group is commonly called the Boston Movement. Branches in New Zealand are the Central Auckland Church of Christ and the Christchurch Church of Christ. For more information see the ICC Closeup. (The International Church of Christ is currently facing massive internal changes that may result in the "cult" designation being changed. For more information see www.rightcyberup.com.)

International House of Prayer. See Tauranga House of Prayer.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Normally abbreviated to ISKCON. See Hare Krishna.

Iridology. New Age practice.

Ishayas' Ascension, Ishayas Meditation. New Age practice, also called Ascension Meditation.

ISKCON. International Society for Krishna Consciousness. See Hare Krishna.

Islam. Major world religion. Supreme deity is Allah. Followers are called Muslims. According to Answering Islam's topical study on the Qur'an there is no real concept of salvation in Islamic teachings. Read more under their salvation topic. Or read one former Muslim's account of how he came to accept Christ as his saviour on CARM's web site. More personal stories are available on the Arabic Bible web site in Arabic, English and French, including the story of Mark Gabriel - the former professor of Islamic history at Al-Azhar University Egypt. The same site also has lots of information about Islam (particularly for Christians), and information about Christianity for Muslims.