Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

"People tend to convert to a religious group

 

when their social ties to members outweigh their ties 

to outsiders who might oppose the conversion, 

and this often occurs before a convert knows 

much about what the group believes."

Rodney Stark, How the West Won, pg.114

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Matthew 7:15-20

...“Beware of the false prophets, 

who come to you in sheep’s clothing, 

but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  

You will know them by their fruits. 

Grapes are not gathered from 

thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

So every good tree bears good fruit, 

but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, 

nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit 

is cut down and thrown into the fire.

So then, you will know them by their fruits."...

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