Saturday, October 29, 2011

Keeping Halloween Makes You Think About Evil for the Rest of the Year




It is close to Halloween and the COG's are churning or should I say, regurgitating, out their annual paganism articles.  In their eyes Christan are one step away from sacrificing the children on the altar of Satan.  Oh wait, according to LCG some parents are already doing that!

Pithy sayings of Richard Ames, Living Church of God 2nd in command.

Should we follow our neighbors, like proverbial lemmings, off the dangerous cliff of pagan practices?

By observing Halloween, we teach our children to make light of Satan the Devil—or even to think like him! Should we then be surprised when our children remain curious about evil—or even invite it—for the rest of the year?

Do we teach our children to attract and cultivate evil spirits at Halloween? Certainly, dressing up like a demon or a witch invites evil rather than opposes it!

Some parents encourage their children to participate in the world of demons. Are some of you parents sacrificing your children to Satan and to wicked spirits

It’s time for such so-called Christians to repent of supporting the Devil and rebelling against Christ!

Prophet Thiel concludes:

Jesus and Paul did not observe Halloween.
Perhaps Richard Ames should ask himself why the LCG has followed the treacherous of Herbert Armstrong like proverbial lemmings?  With it's hundreds of failed prophecies, proven false doctrines, and extra non-biblical laws, why does he continue to keep it all and force it upon others?

Shocking Similarities Between Jehovah's Witnesses and Armstrongism




Here is a video that Van Robison recommends to readers here.  It is about the Jehovah's Witnesses and how aberrant their beliefs are.  Watching it though you will see direct parallels with Armstrongism.  We held many of these same beliefs.  Particularly because the JW's was one of three cults that Armstrong copied doctrines from (JW's, Mormons, and Adventists)

The film is made in the mid 1980's.


Friday, October 28, 2011

HORRORS: Women and Catholics Can Now Ascend to Throne of David



A great tragedy has occurred on the Throne of David and it's never ceasing legacy.  The Commonwealth nations voted to allow a first born daughter to ascend to the throne and that they can now be Catholic. This has got Prophet Thiel all hot and bothered tonight

I am surprised that Thiel do not go onto a "women reigning over men" snit, but instead starts off on one of his many anti-Catholic screeds. There are so many bogey-men that make up the Prophet's fantasies that he is no longer unique in placing blame on others.  Where would Armstrongism be if it could not place blame on someone else for all the troubles in the church and the world?


Girls equal in British throne succession
The leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries where the Queen is head of state unanimously approved the changes at a summit in Perth, Australia.
It means a first-born daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would take precedence over younger brothers.
The ban on the monarch being married to a Roman Catholic was also lifted.

This news development of course sends Prophet Thiel into conspiracy theory mode. Visions (or nightmares) of Mother Shipton in the 1550's is looked upon as visionary truth.

There is an old Catholic prophecy that indicates that the European Great Monarch will taken over the UK and the UK is either divided into thirds or ruled by three, presumably Roman Catholic, leaders:
Mother Shipton (d. 1551) “The time will come when England shall tremble and quake…London shall be destroyed forever after . . . and then York shall be London and the Kingdom governed by three Lords appointed by a Royal Great monarch…who will set England right and drive out heresy (Culleton, R. Gerald.  The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin.  Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941.  Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 163).

And then from the Roman Catholic Priest Rossi:

Interestingly, notice what one Catholic has written about the punishment for America and Britain:
Priest G. Rossi (19th century): But boastful pride and presumption always go before a fall. With her large share of guilt, America cannot avoid her due share of punishment…If the world is not yet entirely converted to Christianity, the blame is not on the head nor in the conscience of the Catholic Church… Ah! wretched Protestantism shall have to answer for the loss of faith… English schism and heresy have squandered their treasures and abused their great temporal power, not only in persecuting-the faith in Great Britain and Ireland, but also in banishing the true religion of Jesus Christ from their vast American possessions…Their long-deserved punishment, however, is approaching from the North! (Rossi, Gaudentius. The Christian Trumpet: Or, Previsions and Predictions about Impending General Calamities, the Universal Triumph of the Church, the Coming of the Anti-Christ, the Last Judgment, and the End of the World; Divided Into Three Parts, 4th edition. Patrick Donahoe, 1875. Original from Oxford University. Digitized Sep 1, 2006, pp. 16, 255).
 
I find it strange that Thiel gives credence to these "prophecies" and the "Visions of Fatima" as being truthful while he has written a book ridiculing the Mayan 2012 prophecies.  I guess because the Mayans had no Christian roots, it is proven to be false, but because Catholicism does have roots in Christianity then it gains more respect.

Could it be that given the extreme hatred that Armstrongism has always had for Catholics that he pays lip service to these visions because they fit the model of thinking still prevalent in the 700 some splinter cults of Armstrongism?  When these people see those words in print they automatically know here he is going.



Armstrongism, like a lot of fundamentalist Christianity still look at the Catholic Church as the Great Whore of Babylon who murdered and tortured hundreds of thousands of TRUE Christians over the centuries.  It is the Catholic Church that will give rise to the anti-Christ who will perform miracles and wonders on the streets of Roman hoodwinking the world into taking on the Mark of the Beast (Sunday worship or one of many other speculations.)

Armstrongism has always been great at blaming others for persecution and trials, all the while failing to look inward at the immense corruption that pollutes the hearts of its present leaders. Armstrongism has a proven track record of bringing persecution and trials upon its self without any end time prophecies kicking in.

Will False Prophet Rod Meredith Retire Like Failed Prophet Harold Camping?



Dr. Bob is ripping Harold Camping a new one today for all of his recent failed prophecies.  He is also nailing Ron Weinlend for his stupid failed prophecies.  But the question still needs to be asked.  What about Rod Meredith's hundreds of failed prophecies?  What about Gerald Waterhouse's failed prophecies?  What about Richard Ame's failed prophecies?  What about Herbert Armstrong's failed prophecies?  Why is Prophet Thiel silent on all of them?  Rod Meredith is just a big a liar as Ron Weinland and Harold Camping is. So what is the difference?



According to certain, but not completely confirmed, news reports, false prophet Harold Camping has retired:

Harold Camping worst prophet ever: Camping retires, and Family Radio removes doomsday warnings from its website–finally…

October 21st has come and gone with no Rapture, which makes it a total Doomsday Fail.   Family Radio perhaps is getting the idea–they’ve removed doomsday warnings from their website after having them up for the last five months–perhaps for good.  http://www.goddiscussion.com/83473/harold-camping-worst-prophet-ever-camping-retires-and-family-radio-removes-doomsday-warnings-from-its-website-finally/
 Thiel goes on to write:

While I am not sure that Harold Camping is any worse than former UCG minister and self-appointed prophet/apostle/one-of-the-two-witnesses Ronald Weinland of CGPFK, the reality is that less people have thus far paid less attention to Ronald Weinland, even though he has made several false prophecies and has his last date for Jesus to return on May 27, 2012.  Yet it is certain that Jesus will not return for many years.
LCG has been predicting that the end will come in 3-5 years for ages now.  It was even throwing around 2014.  Have they now stopped doing this?  I doubt it.  They may not publicly be saying it, but you had better believe the die-hards still do!

Thiel talks about Ron Weinland (Weinerdude) who has declared that on May 27, 2012 is the date Jesus is returning.

Now, I am sure that Ronald Weinland will conclude that I am one who does not understand.  But Jesus is NOT going to return on May 27, 2012. And instead of having the physically required signs of the Great Tribulation or even those that the Bible requires from the two witnesses, he seems to claim that his odd interpretation of certain prophetic matters is “a very powerful, awesome sign“.  I say this is nonsense.

Ronald Weinland should announce his retirement from the ministry no late than May 28, 2012 if he has any semblance to decency as he will again be proven wrong, just like Harold Camping (Of course, if he takes up an offering on May 27, 2012, this should give his followers pause as according to his predictions he would have no ability to spend any of it–unless his prediction is wrong, which it is).
So the question needs to be asked again, what about Rod Meredith? Shouldn't his followers have paused after all these years to recognize that Rod's predictions have all failed too?

I do not consider that Harold Camping is a real Christian and he has repeatedly proven to be a false prophet.  The world did not end in 1994, there was no “rapture of the Church” in May 2011, and no one should base their life on following the dates of Harold Camping or Ronald Weinland.  They, and other false prophets, have caused the way of truth to be blasphemed. Sadly, people have spent a lot of money to promote something that will cause the way of truth will be blasphemed by some.
I do not consider Rod Meredith to be a real Christian either and he certainly is a proven false prophet. The world did not end in 1972/75 when Rod was proclaiming it would.  No LCG member or any COG member should be basing their life on the failed prophecies of any of the cult leaders.  They are all proven liars.  Hundreds of thousands of COG members have spent millions of dollars over  the years funding these liars as they blaspheme God.

Again, I have to ask?  Why is Rod Meredith never held to these same high standards?


What Is Living Church of God Doing For Turkey Earthquake Victims?



Living Church of God has had a long track record of never helping any people outside of the COG in the event of any major disaster.  It is not their problem because God will be giving those people another chance later on. Besides, we need to funnel our resources into getting God's word out as a final warning.  Valuable resources would be consumed if we helped people.

On their latest Tomorrow's World, News and Prophecy e-Zine they make the following comment on how we are to mourn and care for those afflicted.  I can guarantee you right now that LCG is NOT doing anything for the people of Turkey who are suffering through this earthquake.  No money has been sent, no supplies, NOTHING, zilch!  If there is any money sent at all it will be for what few, if any, LCG members who may be living there. Not for anyone else, but for them only.  I also doubt very much if any of them will even pray or mourn for them because we all know that Muslims are outside the bounds of God's mercy.  At least in hard line Armstrongism.

Just for once, I would love to see LCG practice what it preaches!  Will Dr. Thiel be sending money to help these people?  Will he offer prayers and links for assistance on his blog?  I certainly will NOT be holding my breath for that to happen!

Jesus admonished His disciples that they should mourn and care for those who are afflicted (Matthew 5:4). He also prophesied that as we approach the end of the age, there will be "earthquakes in various places" and other natural disasters (Matthew 24:7). Bible prophecies indicate that the increasing frequency and severity of these traumatic events will be the "beginning of sorrows" that will mark the imminent return of Jesus Christ to this earth (Matthew 24:8).

If Your Hair's Too Long There's Sin In Your Heart



Before anyone goes into an indignant fit, this is done to show how people can distort things. It's called satire. Kind of like Armstrongism's obsession with hair lengths.

Melting Glaciers and Rampaging Chinese Hoards



I continue to be amazed at the things COG members speculate about. You never hear them speculating or talking about Jesus, what he did while he was on earth, what grace is, what it means to be a disruptive Christian upsetting the order of things, reaching down to help the homeless or sick, or anything of that sort.  It's is either all about the law and more law, and more law or end time speculations.  If you thought Art Bell was out there with his silliness, these COGers are no different. Armstrongism has always had an undercurrent of members who dwelled in conspiracy theories and speculations.

Last night it was about what is going to happen when the glaciers all melt causing the Euphrates to dry up allowing the Chinese and Indian hoards to start conquering Europe.

What is WRONG with these people?

Just be warned that if you click on the link below you will be exposed to some of the stupidest conspiracy theories I have seen yet.  I am surprised that an Armstrongite would allow themselves to be tainted by this crap.

http://defenderpublishing.blogspot.com/2009/05/part-sevenread-it-before-it-is-banned.html No cheating, read the whole thing.
 This helps explain why I suggest that it could be 10 yrs before Jesus comes, minimum. You can see how slowly, slowly things appear to be moving now. Then I was thinking, that Germany etc don't really have capacity or materials to create the army they will need for Armageddon... tack on a few more years to collect it. But now India has joined China in killing off so many girl babies that there is a preponderance of single men in both countries. With the melting glaciers vanishing, which supply many cities with water, can it be long before the Euphrates dries up so they can cross over?? I donno where its water is sourced.

Joining the rampaging Chinese and Indians will be the Swiss.

Long time ago we were told about the secret bases in Switzerland and Germany.
Whole fields and sides of "mountains" roll away to reveal bases. 
Switzerland is an armed camp really as all males are in the army.
They have weapons they need as they are in NATO and simply need to confiscate them including nukes.
There are foreign troops and planes already here in the US from both Germany and China.
Germany has bought up millions of acres in the US also.
They are probably far more prepared than we know. They certainly were before WW2 when we did not think they were.


They will soon then be crossing the Atlantic to join up with the Germans and Chinese who own property here in the United States.  Will those millions acres be used to build the concentration camps that the COG loves to talk about?  But at that point when those of us who have not been killed off by famines and disease we will e too weak to fight the invading armies and will almost welcome being imprisoned.

At one point in time a few years ago the UK was the biggest property owner here in Los Angeles.  It still may be, but do not know for sure.  Does this mean that the British people will be imprisoning and torturing us also?  Is Ephraim going to get his payback for Joseph's deceit.  The stupid speculations are endless.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Team Hoyt

Nasty, Evil, Disgusting, Pagan Halloween


Double click to enlarge for a great wallpaper in honor of Living Church of God


Dr. Bob is all in a snit today about Halloween. Christianity Today has some articles up about Halloween. He is not a fan of Christianity Today magazine because they ridiculed him a while back, so he gets in a little jab right off the bat:


The improperly named Christianity Today (CT) continues to try to get its share of the Halloween spending by selling items such as Jack-o-Lantern car magnets, as I noticed again today.

CT itself seems to try to pretend that it is “balanced” on the subject by having some articles that question whether or not Christians should celebrate the pagan holiday as well as having others that clearly promote it.

He was particularly upset of this little snippet from CT, Trick-or-Treat and some of the comments:

Notice a CT article titled Trick-or-Treat? which contains various admissions and Halloween promotions as follows:
On the calendar of events for the Christian college where I teach, October 31 sits in a dark square with no acknowledgment that there is anything special about the date.
“It’s Satan’s Holiday, Dr. Rearick,” affirmed one of my students. “Didn’t you know?”
Well, no, I didn’t know…I have always considered Halloween a day to celebrate the imagination, to become for a short time something wonderful and strange, smelling of grease paint, to taste sweets that are permissible only once a year…”But look at the roots of Halloween,” some may say. “Don’t you see how evil it once was?” I do, but the operative word in that sentence is was. Samhain was once a time of fear and dread, but at one time so was Yule or Midvinterblot, as it was called in Sweden…
Christians should instead celebrate Halloween with gusto. If we follow the traditional formula of having a good time at his expense, Satan flees.

Armstrongism has always given "satan" more power than he has. They fear "him" with a passion and thinks he rules everything in the world around them.  If the LCGers actually ever cracked open their Bible and read any of the New Covenant they would see that "satan" has been vanquished and has no power over Christians.  Why be afraid of something that either isn't there or is impotent?

Any hoo, on with the show:

The Dr. writes:

Satan does not flee because people celebrate pagan holidays and God is not pleased with His people observing them either.
Let’s again let’s look at the Bible and not the opinions of men in the context of adopting pagan practices:
2 Thus says the LORD: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
3 For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile (Jeremiah 10:2-3).
At the absolute best, Halloween customs are futile and detract from the emphasis to worship the true God.
24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars (Exodus 23:24).

Since LCG does not worship, honor, listen to or even read what Jesus said and did, I think they need to take a quick look at their own futile beliefs.

Thiel ends by getting another dig in at Christianity Today.  Perhaps Thiel need to reexamine the false titles of LCG publicans also since there is nothing Christan about what they produce.  Just saying.......

No true Christian would want to encourage their children to participate in pagan customs associated with Halloween.
Halloween is clearly pagan.  Thus, it is not “balanced” to have articles that promote it nor is it balanced to sell pro-Halloween-related items.  Both of which CT does–that is part of why I wish it did not have the word “Christianity” in its title.  A better title would be Protestantism Today (though sometimes CT also endorses aspects of Catholicism, but in general it has a Protestant focus).

Thank goodness I don't need to believe this drivel any more!

When I Wish Upon A Star...



Did you ever make a wish when you saw a falling star?  Seems innocent enough, right?  Well.........leave it to an Armstrongite to find something pagan or demonic about it.

We all heard a gazillion times over how those nasty angels of light rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven and down to earth. Yada, yada, yada.  So the logical conclusion for those trained in Armstrongism is to equate the falling stars streaking across the sky at night as fallen angels.  So when you make a wish on a falling star you are wishing on a fallen angel/demon to make it come true.  I kid you not!

Yahoo comment:

I was thinking of something not too long ago, and wondered if anyone else had thought of this.... you know how stars are sometimes used to represent angels in the Bible?  Then there are "fallen" stars...and I wondered about the phrase we used to recite about wishing on a falling star... does that have some pagan origin...or am I just tired and reading too much into it?!!


 I can just hear Dr. Bob Thiel right now:

"We in the TRUE Church of God KNOW that a third of the angels fell from heaven when  they rebelled against God.  We in the Living Church of God know that these fallen angels are now demons.  No true Christian would be allowing their children to make wishes  on stars, nor would adult true Christians do such a thing.  Regular readers here would know that we in the true Church of God know that wishes should actually be prayers and we are to direct our prayers to God alone.  We in the True Church of God do not pray to demons or ask them to influence God."





A "falling star" or a "shooting star" has nothing at all to do with a star! These amazing streaks of light you can sometimes see in the night sky are caused by tiny bits of dust and rock called meteoroids falling into the Earth's atmosphere and burning up. The short-lived trail of light the burning meteoroid produces is called a meteor. Meteors are commonly called falling stars or shooting stars. If any part of the meteoroid survives burning up and actually hits the Earth, that remaining bit is then called a meteorite.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Four Horsemen Are Starting To Ride Faster



Did you know that the Four Horsemen have been riding for quit some time now?  Or should I say loping along. Well, you had better start worrying because LCG had declared the Four Horsemen are starting to ride FASTER!

Prophet Thiel is reporting that the floods in Thailand  may destroy a lot of  the rice harvest resulting in higher rice prices.  In the typical LCG alarmist thinking, there is a reason behind this.  God is unleashing his agents of destruction to humble the world.  The Four Horsemen have been told to gallop faster!

Thai floods may cause global rice shortage
26 October 2011.  Thailand’s flooding has wiped out as much as 14% of paddy fields, drastically reducing the export capacity of the world’s biggest rice exporter and potentially increasing global food prices.

Thai capital warned “massive” water on the way

By Pracha Hariraksapitak BANGKOK (Reuters) – Floods swamped a new area of Thailand’s capital on Wednesday as some shops rationed food and Bangkok’s governor warned of “massive water” on the way that could put many parts of the sprawling city in danger by the end of the week.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/26/us-thailand-floods-idUSTRE79K2XG20111026
Thiel writes:
Jesus warned that “famines” would be part of the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8). In the Book of Revelation, food price inflation is predicted with the ride of the third horseman (Revelation 6:6).

Evangelist Richard Ames wrote:
The third seal presents a rider on a black horse, representing the scarcity of food and the resulting famine…Cynics say there have always been wars, famines and pestilences. But, as time goes on, we will see the four horsemen of the apocalypse intensify their ride, with increasing global consequences. (Ames R. The Middle East in Prophecy. Living Church of God, 2006, p. 24)

WE all KNOW that Herbert W Armstrong was Sent From God!



The yahoo's on Yahoo are still bowing down to worship Herbert Armstrong.

Mr. Armstrong Taught that the King of the South was ALREADY Fulfilled! The Only thing left is the King of the North to enter the Glorious Land, and MANY Nations being overthrown! Many Nations IS and HAVE been overthrown. Now there is news of Russia and other eastern Nations joining and becoming a Eur-asian Union. Russia even told its top generals to "Prepare for Armageddon"
http://www.eutimes.net/2011/10/russian-leader-tells-top-generals-prepare-for-arm\
ageddon/.
Sounds alot like Tidings from the east and North. Everyone is looking
for the "Push" but Mr. Armstrong clearly stated in his booklet "The Middle East
in Prophecy" that that was "fulfilled" in 1896 by Ethiopia. Mussolini then came
down like a whirlwind and passed over(by planes). Mr. Armstrong also stated that
this pinpointed the Beginning of "The Time of the End", because it says "AT the
time of the end". Now God said he will send The End-Time Elijah during the End
Times to "Prepare the way of the Lord". Mr. Armstrong fulfilled this to the
letter. If God sent Herbert W Armstrong( and YES He did!), then What he taught from the Bible still stands( for he was an Apostle). If he taught falsely, then he was NOT sent from God and wasn't His Chosen Man! Look closely at What Mr. Armstrong taught, and you will see clearer what God has prophesied from the bible. not from other MEN who tries to put themselves in place of Mr. Armstrong, saying they were sent but were NOT! WE all KNOW that Herbert W Armstrong was Sent From God!

God Performs More Miracles In Pasadena


While nations are rioting in the middle east and killing Copts, people are dying of starvation in Africa, and people are homeless in Los Angeles, God seems to be more interested in answering the prayers of COG members visiting Pasadena.  I guess we all quickly forgot that God actually  lived in Pasadena for many decades while Herbert Armstrong was alive.  God had a house here remember (see above.)

A Cog member was visiting Pasadena and wanted to see inside the Auditorium.  It was locked.  He saw a man go inside ignoring them  So he prayed a prayer that God would allow them to be able to go into the Auditorium.  After a loud crash of thunder and angels singing, the Auditorium man reappeared and invited them in and let them roam freely.


I took extensive photos of the entire campus including, of course, the famous
Auditorium which was closed. We decided to take one last walk past the
Auditorium before leaving and noticed a man entering a side door. We wondered if he would let us in to see it ? he saw us but then went inside. I said a very quick prayer asking God to allow us in if it is His will. As Duane and I walked toward the door the man popped outside and waited for us and we walked toward him, introducing ourselves and asking if we could have a look around? Duane explained his extensive time at AC and that I was a visitor from Australia.
The man, Doug Huse, introduced himself as the General Manager for the site
(he is mentioned here: http://theambassadorauditorium.org/protectambassador.html)
and said we can have a look around
Then after heading to Mountain View Cemetery to worship at the grave of HWA and Loma they decided to look for Herman Hoeh's grave.  They couldn't find it.  But, prayer worked once again and God made Hoeh's grave appear before them.

We eventually found Herman Hoeh?s grave. It was difficult to find and I almost
gave up but said a little prayer ? Duane found it a minute or so later!

GCI says "in spite of.......it worked."



Grace Communion (WCG) is patting it's self on the back on how they operated in the past and for their new "collegial" approach they now use.

I am surprised at how easily the past abuses can be glossed over by this defense, "in spite of the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants aspect of our approach – it worked."

Neil Earle has this to say: Pyramids and Webs

Fruit Bearing Activities

Even in our old days as Radio Church of God and then Worldwide Church of God (1968-2009) we knew we had to be active in God’s service, to bear fruit. This led us to do some things no-one else had quite done in the same way. In fact, we got a reputation for chaos and indecision both inside and outside our church that was due in large measure to our pioneering efforts – that we were pushing the envelope in many diverse areas.

In the 1960 we were among the first big mailing operations to get into computers. We set it up so well that IBM sometimes used us as a paradigm for some of their customers. Really.

In the 1970s we published seven foreign language editions of the same magazine full color every month on five continents. Even Reader’s Digest could not do that. This won us many articles of praise in publishing and trade journals.

In the 1980s, faced with sky-high responses to our media work, we invented such things as a Wide Area Telephone System or WATS Line. This device, staffed by attendants and even when not, handled thousands of telephone calls for lit on a twenty-four hour basis. Yep, there we were. Pioneering. Innovating. Learning and relearning and making inevitable mistakes on the way.

In the 1990s in a converted gun shop on a sloping hill in Pasadena the Arbitron people (TV survey experts) handed us the title as the most listened to religious TV program in North America. And we used only a half-hour of power not the full hour of our closest emulator.

We were off-base in many of our teachings and approaches, of course, but the call to fruit-bearing effectiveness was there. Even some of our staunchest critics conceded that. We had the old pyramid style of operating which (to oversimplify) was a simple pyramid with HQ at the top telling everyone below in the organization what to do. This worked, however. Yes, it led to lots of abuses and our hard-working employees were not given the kind of pensions and retirement security most normal workers received but – in spite of the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants aspect of our approach – it worked.

The Modified Pyramid

Today we operate under a “new pyramid,” to coin a phrase. And if you envisage the top of the pyramid remaining as HQ you could put the Pastor in the left corner and the Congregation in the other corner. Today we have a “modified Episcopal” structure or more collegial approach in place. This means there is a church hierarchy of course but the pastor and local congregations have much more input into the running of the local churches. Power flows up and down along both sides of this softer gentle pyramid. The way we appoint new pastors illustrates that. In the past, HQ said we’re sending you Pastor Soandso and that was pretty much it.

Today, if a pastor wants to retire our Church Administration Department (CAD) lists an opening in Sasquatch, Saskatchewan and licensed GCI pastors may apply for that post. Then the new applicant visits the area, speaks and interacts with the congregation and the church members get to vote Yea or Nay. Wow.

This is a striking departure from the past but seems to echo Acts 6 and the choosing of the first deacons much more closely than our previous approach. The casting of lots for Matthias in Acts 2 was also much more “democratic-seeming” than hierarchical.

And so it goes.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Happy Holy-Ween!



Spare Not The Rod: Beat Them Into Submission?



Samuel Martin has written two books recently.  One is on spanking and the other is on The Mark of Cain.  Samuel is the son of Ernest Martin.  Earnest Martin has to be one of Armstrongism's more intelligent men who when he left the fold made a name for himself in the the archeology and Biblical community. His books and writings have been widely read and quoted.

Samuel was also a child of the Worldwide Church of God and was impacted by spanking.  He was around when Garner Ted came out with his Child Rearing book.  For some church kids their  lives  soon became a living hell.

When Carn Catherwood, fresh out of Ambassador College, was appointed to Cincinnati as pastor, he came in spouting Ted's and HWA's decrees as dogma.  Catherwood had no kids of his own at that time, yet told older members how they should be disciplining their children.

He soon had the Spokesmen Clubs making one inch thick paddles about 16 inches long.  He had them drill holes though the paddles to cut down wind resistance.  He instructed parents from the pulpit that when their children misbehaved they were to be taken immediately to the restroom and spanked.  20 swats was the required number to give.  He also expected to hear the child cry, even if it was during his sermon.  You would see children hugging their parents as they were being taken out for swats yelling, "Please Daddy NO! Please don't spank me!"

Samuel has a web site up and a blog where he has information on why spanking was NOT used by early Christians and was also not a thing that was done by Jews.


Samuel writes:


Fact: The Bible does not teach that spanking a child will save him from Hell.
Fact: The Bible does not teach that spanking a child should bring tears.
Fact: In Bible times, the texts concerning spanking children found in Proverbs were not applied to young children under the age of about 10 years!
Fact: Many respected Christian theologians including St. Augustine, Dr. Karl Barth and Rev. Dwight Moody rejected spanking children.
Fact: Many Biblically conservative Jewish Rabbis, who have the Old Testament as their Holy Scripture, reject spanking children today.
Fact: The main Christian advocates for spanking children now are not usually trained Christian theologians teaching in universities, but most often are conservative fundamentalist Christian pastors, Christian politicians, Christian psychologists, lay church members and Christian school leaders.
Fact: Well meaning Christian advocates of spanking children have developed doctrines surrounding what they believe the Bible teaches about spanking children which are not found in the Bible at all.
Fact: Well meaning Children's Rights activists, who are not trained Bible scholars, have entered this debate attacking the Bible with disastrous results.


His to web sites are:  Christians and the Spanking Controversy
 and Blog:  Samuel Martin Blog 



Armstrongism's Magical God At Work Today In Pasadena




I just love Armstrongism's magical God that performs such dramatic miracles while children are starving to death around the world.  Our god was such a merciful god!

Craig W (from South of the Equator)
Today I visited Barnes 'n Noble Bookshop in Old Pasadena; Archive Bookstore
in Pasadena (that Dr Hoeh used to frequent); Fuller Seminary bookstore and
cafe in Pasadena; and finally the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens.

What was so odd was that I was going to leave the Archive Bookstore and said
a quick prayer that if there was any book in it that might assist with my
researches, it would be nice to find it. Lo! I then lent over to pick a book
out of a bookcase it was 'The Prophecies of Daniel' by Louis Talbot. Talbot
is the man Hoeh used to listen to in the 1940s on the radio and Talbot is
referred to in my article on Hoeh! Coincidence or answered prayer?

Woo  Spooky!

Japanese Tsunami Trash Will Bring America To It's Knees




Why is  Armstrongism such an embarrassment? Why is logic never embraced? Why is reason missing?
http://lewrockwell.com/spl3/tsunami-debris-head-to-hawaii.html

It appears to me that God is going to bring America to its knees--Are we praying that God will grant us repentance?? This all could be turned aside if we prayed with alll our hearts--I mean the whole punishment. But also God could send this trash to that Pacific vortex of trash the same as he has turned hurricanes aside from feast sites.  
Let the trash go pollute some pagan gentile country, just as hurricanes can be diverted to kill others while COG members bask in bliss

The fact that Lew Rockwell is brought into the equation also speaks volumes on Armstrongism!

Another interesting observation is the tag line that the woman who posted the above uses:

Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.~~Albert Schweitzer
I think she needs to practice what she preaches!  Maybe the trash is headed towards America because we have the resources to clean it up, which some poorer country might not be able to do. When we take on the burdens of others, it lightens their load, just a thought...

The Narcissistic Leader: Not as Good as He (Or You) May Think



We have all seen first hand the narcissistic leadership that has dominated the COG's over the last 70 some years.  Today it is  blatantly brought to the forefront by COG leaders such as Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Rod Meredith, Ron Weinland and others.  These men run their respective cults like tyrants, spitting and shouting to get their points across all the while claiming to be the most sinless, humble,  loyal servants of god on earth.

Studies have shown that people look upon narcissistic leaders as "good leaders" in the leadership department while disagreeing with their methods.

Here is an interesting article discussing a test that was done and three individuals and their groups to see how people perceived them as leaders.  Narcissistic leaders who withheld information tended to be lifted higher as leaders while those leaders who shared information, had empathy, listened and valued the opinions of the lone wolf,  had more dramatic results but were considered poor leaders.

What is discussed below is a good indicator on how we looked at leadership in the COG.  Strong dynamic leaders always withheld information from the lower masses, they were forceful in their management skills, walked all over people and tended to treat most people like pond scum, yet were looked upon as  effective leaders.

We tended to look down upon those men who were empathetic, had deep concern for others, allowed questions, and who tended to get down and get their hands dirty right along side the rest of the membership.  While we might have liked those qualities, we actually looked upon these men as ineffective as strong leaders.  Rod Meredith certainly would not have liked them!



Becoming god's? Living in a Post Human World

Yesterday I had a post about the myth of COG members become god's and ruling over worlds and galaxies.  Today Prophet Thiel is attempting to justify that belief using COG proof-texting.

So here is an interesting different take on the matter from Big Think, Living in a Post Human World


Monday, October 24, 2011

Ruling Your Own Galaxy




One of the myths of Armstrongism was that members would become God's and would be given galaxies to rule over in the millennium.  Has anyone ever stopped to think that even with all the billions of people who have existed on earth that there are more planets, stars and galaxies out there than there ever have been humans?  So what are you really going to be able to do?  Rule yourself?


There are enough stars in our galaxy for each one with multiple planets filled with life to be ruled and managed by one person born into God's family in the Millennium or White Throne Judgment. And after this, there are enough galaxies for each son of God to rule and manage an entire galaxy. God will see to it that we have the powers of mind and Spirit to fulfill our responsibilities. Our minds and our powers will be vastly increased beyond what we have today. http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/

It's All About Fear!



This ministers comments speak volumes on what is wrong with Armstrongism.  Not only does he never quote anything from Jesus, but it is all about FEAR.  It is no wonder Armstrongism is so bankrupt.  When you live a live continually fearing the god you are supposed to be worshiping then there is no hope.  Armstrongism has always been about never measuring up.  We were never quit good enough, we were constantly being yelled at by Herb and crew.  "You just don't get it!" was Herb's favorite mantra.  Demean, belittle and humiliate were the operational code words for the church.  It carry's on into COGWA as they seek to imitate HWA as much as possible.  It is almost 2012 and there is nothing about COGWA that is unique.  It has no driving force that sets it apart from the rest of Armstrongism to the point it causes a dramatic rise in membership.  It exists in the tired, worn out, outdated pre-1986 mode.

On the opening night in Lake Geneva, Mr. Gary Black reminded us in his sermon that one of the main reasons we come to the Feast of Tabernacles is to “learn to fear the Lord your God always” (Deuteronomy 14:23).

Idiot's In The Pulpit: Conference for Loosed Women


Words fail me........



How To Rebuild Your Social Network After Leaving a Cult

COG's Starting To Latch on to Vatican Announcement Today



I have been waiting to see which COG would latch on today's announcement from the Vatican about establishing a government controlled "one world bank."  That comment fits so nicely into the COG and conspiracy nut's vision of the end times.  Of course, I did not have to wait long.  The good Dr./Prophet Thiel is the first out the door today.


There is Vatican report that seems supportive of what the Bible warns about from the coming Beast power:
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican document called for the gradual creation of a world political authority with broad powers to regulate financial markets and rein in the “inequalities and distortions of capitalist development.”
The document said the current global financial crisis has revealed “selfishness, collective greed and the hoarding of goods on a great scale.” A supranational authority, it said, is needed to place the common good at the center of international economic activity.
The 41-page text was titled, “Toward Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority.” Prepared by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, it was released Oct. 24 in several languages, including a provisional translation in English.  http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104173.htm

The Bible warns that the Beast’s and Harlot’s Babylonian system will be stopped:
1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day — death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. (Revelation 18:1-8)
While I do not believe that it is the Vatican’s intention to support the fulfilling of the prophecies in Revelation 13, it does seem to have taken another step in that direction.


For Prophet Thiel the Catholic Church is the Great Whore of Babylon and is gearing up to impose Sunday worship on the entire world.  When that happens the "true church" ( i.e Living Church of God)  will no longer be able to operate openly and will need to flee to Petra where Rod Meredith will proclaim boldly from the Petra Best Western God's end time witness to the world.

You Are Doubly Cursed!





For all of you who DARE to preach doctrines contrary to what Herb taught you need to know that you are DOUBLY CURSED!

These leaders if they don't follow Mr. Armstrong, are therefore interjecting themselves BETWEEN Mr. Armstrong and the Body of Christ! Satan has got God's people to follow men, men that God did NOT send(Apostle). God Sent Herbert W Armstrong as the End Time Elijah( the only one, there can't be TWO "End-Time" Elijah's that is Not biblical) He sent him as our Apostle to who we look to , as He did with Moses with the Israelites, as He did with the original Apostles to the First Century Church. People get too focused on the man, yes the man has flaws, but take a look at WHO Sent him,and it doesn't matter about the flaws, because then you'll know that God is behind him, and you know that God will mend those flaws, and take them out of the Man he sent. Moses wasn't perfect. Noah wasn't perfect(but in his Genealogy he was perfect). There are NO perfect men on earth in all the History of men. The only one Was Jesus Christ! That is who we should look to. Not some man( but we must look to the man he sent, That man was Herbert W Armstrong). Look at their fruits. if they have fruits that God is behind them( in God I mean God the Creator NOT God of this World) then Follow them AS they Follow Christ! The Only leader  of the Church in this Era that Followed Christ by everything he taught, by every doctrine from the Bible, by Every TRUTH from the Bible, WAS Herbert W Armstrong. Others have came preaching another Gospel
 There is a double curse on anyone who perverts and preaches another Gospel(which Mr. Armstrong brought to the Nations as a witness, and taught ). God restores ALL THINGS to him. Anyone who says that any part of those thing's(which God Restored through Mr. Armstrong) are wrong is twisting(or by biblical wording "perverting") the gospel and Truth.
it is much safer to return back to God through Herbert W Armstrong. You will find that all he taught, was from the Bible. Hope you had a great sabbath

It has always amazed me that God was such a weak impotent creature that His word was lost for 1,900 years until Herbert popped onto the scene.

These Armstrongites that believe this baloney mock those men and women who lived the gospel through out the centuries.  Many died for it. But yet, the Armstrongites only believe a few people in the mountains of France and Switzerland held on to the truth and preserved it so Herbert could gain access to it in the 1930's after his wife had a nightmare.

The hundreds of thousands of non-sabbatarians who died throughout the centuries to bring the word of God to other generations were just little pawns in the game, I guess.  What a wimpy little god that would allow such a thing to happen.  But yet, that is the god that Armstrongism follows.

Subtle Advertising By Beast Power


The Beast Power in Europe has designed new outdoor advertising that uses subliminal seduction to brainwash Germans into destroying the United States and imprisoning us. This is EVIL brethren!  This is further proof we are in the Last Days!  Why hasn't the Prophet revealed this hidden knowledge?  Why can you only find it here?

Subliminal Seduction was  big topic in Pasadena in the mid to late 70"s.  Satan was supposedly active in back masking, in liquor ads, in hidden ads screen shots in movies and other sundry places.  We were being trained to see evil everywhere. Satan was a subtle bogeyman manipulating the world  in order to steal our crowns.




Will Spanky Meredith and Six-Pack Flurry soon start using these methods on the their cult HQ to keep their rapidly dwindling flocks under control?

Just kidding lest there be some Armstrongite who is stupid enough to believe this!

Enjoy human creativity!  Check out some of the additional side links to over building projections.
 

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Bibliolatry



Gavin has a great post up on Bibliolatry.  There are some priceless lines in his blog entry.  Three of my favorites are: 

"Yes, it's [The Bible] dangerous in the hands of idiots and televangelists."

"Sometimes the text rings true from the outset; think of many of the parables. At other times any sane reader couldn't help but recoil in horror as they enter into the text - texts, for example, that glorify Bronze Age tribalism and xenophobia, wrapped in the obscene language of divine authorisation. If you're going to read the Bible profitably, you've got to know the difference. Our response cannot and must not default to a prayerful, passive acceptance, but sometimes a screamed 'No!'"


"Anyone with a Life Application Study Bible is swimming in swill..."

Read his entry on Bibliolatry Backfire.

Beast Power Dude: More Interesting and Thoughtful?



Prophet Thiel is all breathless again about Karl Guttenburg, the future Beast of Revelation who is currently living in Connecticut.  Thiel had heart palpitations last year when the Beast moved to Connecticut to work at a US Think Tank (CSIS).  Imagine having the future ruler of Europe here doing reconnaissance in America as he is secretly planning it's captivity and downfall.

The Prophet discovered an article from the Washington Post from October 7th and was excited to see that Guttenberg is "...far more thoughtful and interesting than many politicians...in Europe."

Why would CSIS bring on Germany’s minister of plagiarism?

Washington Post (blog) - Allen McDuffee – ‎Oct 7, 2011‎
The German press dubbed Guttenberg the “cut and paste minister” or the “minister of plagiarism.” So why would a prominent US think tank — an academic institution — such as CSIS bring Guttenberg on so soon after his downfall?

CSIS president and chief executive John Hamre told Think Tanked that he saw no reason to punish Guttenberg “just because some people wish to chain him to his transgression as part of their political agenda.”
“I spent some time in a seminary. I understand transgression. But I also understand redemption,” said Hamre…“I find Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg to be a creative, energetic and passionate policy intellectual. He is far more thoughtful and interesting than many politicians I have met in Europe.”Guttenberg has relocated Greenwich, Conn., and will lead a new transatlantic dialogue at the think tank in an unpaid capacity.
So why does Thiel zero in on "thougthful and far more interesting.?"  Here's why:

The above is interesting for several reasons. One of which is that apparently the Baron strikes the CSIS head as different from other European leaders–more thoughtful and more interesting.  Being more “thoughtful” is supportive of one with big plans, while being more interesting is the sign of a charismatic leader.
So if a person is "thoughtful" then his agenda makes him a man with big plans?  Herbert Armstrong was the opposite of thoughtful yet he had big plans.  And being "interesting" is a sign of a future charismatic leader?

Mr. & Mrs. Beast


Thiel continues:

I found the above of interest as it suggests that while Baron Guttenberg resigned, he may not feel he was particularly guilty of anything of real consequence.  I believe he will later indicate that the plagiarism matter was overblown and he resigned for the good of Germany in particular and possibly Europe in general.

By becoming part of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Baron Guttenberg will have contacts in the USA that he is likely to use politically in future. And since there is at least one major Israeli leader in the same think tank, this may influence him enough so that he possibly can fulfill the prophecies Daniel 9:26-27 (which he may do directly, or perhaps only through confirmation indirectly).

Let me get this straight.  What the prophet is saying here is that this German Beast Power is potentially going to conspire with a Jewish Zionist to overthrow the US?  I guess the Beast will use this Israeli to help defeat the Muslims when the Beast takes over Jerusalem in 2012 and then will turn around and stab the Jews in the back as he sets up his throne in Jerusalem and starts performing miracles for all the world to see.  Yep, it's the same old Armstrongite mythology being promoted.


Then the Prophet ends with a standard "qualification" that all failed prophets have used for millennia:

On the other hand, it is possible that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg could simply be a normal politician, with ups and downs like many others. We will see.

Brethren, the bogeyman could just be a normal politician, but be warned there is a Beast Power soon to come!  Time is short!  He could come in the next few years! Be diligent brethren!  The beast will come as a thief in the night unless you stay on top of world events!  Only the TRUE Church of God has this knowledge and it is the Living Church of God. Abandon your heretical false Church of God's and join up with the only COG doing a mighty work on earth today! We will save your sorry ass so you can join with us TRUE disciples as we trek off to Petra for 3 1/2 years of desert bliss as a huge cloud protects us from the bombs and guns of angry Jordanians after they discover why we are really there. There is only one church on earth doing what God called Mr. Armstrong to restore and that is us!



Idiots In The Pulpit: Ron Weinland


This video is of Weinerdude lecturing a crowd at an Idea City conference.  Idea City gathers all kinds of speakers from around the world to come and speak.  They can discuss all kinds of things from science to religions,art, architecture, etc.  Most people in attendedance are highly educated.  They have no problem in bringing in "agitators" to mess with peoples minds.

You have to assume that is what they did when they brought in Weinerdude to talk about all of his prophecies.  Did they set him for all the world to see what a nut job he really is.  If they did, then he fell for it hook, line and sinker! Or, perhaps, they had him speak so that people would see how delusional some people who claim to be Christians really are!





Dennis on: The Evolution of the Religious Mind







Hearing the Voice of God
Reading the Voice of God
Questioning the Voice of God
 
The Evolution of the Religious Mind
 
 
Dennis Diehl - EzineArticles Expert AuthorIt is easy to recoil at the amazingly cold and cruel stories we find in the Bible of the behaviors of men in the name of their God.  We see that most of it was done because these men were told to by "God."  They never saw God, or if they did it was from behind, or in a cloud or burning bush...but they did hear the voice in their head.
 
As a kid, I wondered what kind of father was this character called Abraham, who when told by the voice in his head to go offer his son up to the god in a human sacrifice, simply said, "oh, Ok."   There is no emotion expressed by this man. He has the mind of a zombie.
 
The Old Testament is like that. Many of the players, especially the people under the leadership figures in the Bible, simply do what they are told without any introspection or personal thinking.  As a result, we have men who sacrifice their daughters because they said whatever comes thru the door goes to the god.  We have armies hacking and wacking their way to glory hearing the voices in their head of the leaders urging them on by the voices in their heads too.  We have a Moses who gets pissed off when gone on a mission to pick up the Big Ten, one of which forbids murder, and then orders "each man to kill his neighbor. And in that day about 3000 died," no biggy.  No one seems to tell Moses, "what are you nuts?" They just do it. 
 
The prophets, both major and minor are god haunted by the voices of the god in their heads.  They conduct their entire lives obeying what others cannot hear and do not experience.  Their quirkiness, rather than seen as a mental illness or malfunction, is seen as a special calling and people fear them. And while often wrong in their prophecies, we forgive them and project it ahead a few more years to another time to cover up their errors. 
 
This is a huge topic but one I always wondered about. Why is the OT so violent and the stories full of examples of people doing things that would never be tolerated today?  What's going on here?
 
Julian Jaynes, author of The Origin of Consciousness and the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, may have an answer.
 
"At one time human nature was split in two, and executive part called a god, and a follower called a man. Neither part was conscious."
 
And what changed this man who heard the voice, much like a schizophrenic would, in his head telling him what to do either by the King or by the god? 
 
 Writing.
 
Writing came to humans about 3000 years ago. At first they were pictures such as hieroglyphs as in Egypt but in time letter were formed and books were written.  This allowed humans to save their thoughts and examine them.  This broke the cycle of the Bicameral mind and people, slowly began to wake up and hear their own thoughts and question others over them.  They also started to hear the voice of the gods less and less, which was a very disturbing turn for the worse.
 
Jaynes shows that the Illiad, written about 1260 BC is almost devoid of human emotion and introspective characters.  They just do what the voices or the gods dictate. However, in the Odyssey, written in the 900's BC, we see much more introspection and awakening of the individual.  This was a transitional time for human thought.  This is story time and when the Old Testament story comes on the scene. 
 
To me it explains most of the seeming inhuman characteristics of many OT characters. 
 
For example, we have the little boy Samuel, hearing his name called by God, but only in his head. He goes on to be a rather weirdly respected prophet who makes a career out of hearing the voices in his head. Saul on the other hand, is vilified in the OT for his independent thinking and "disobedience" to God and the men who hear the voices. Actually, Saul was more awake in his personal consciousness. He introspected where Samuel did not.  Samuel was god haunted.  Saul was not and it confused him.  Saul was told to do things by Samuel he did not understand. He was derided for things that today we would say, "well, I'd wonder about that too."  When Samuel doesn't show up, as he said he would and at the time he said he would, Saul takes charge, makes decisions and of course, gets nailed by Samuel and the voices in Samuel's head for doing so.  One man was unconscious and one was more conscious, and it wasn't the prophet of God.
 
This theory of human consciousness also explains why we see God fading from the picture in the OT.  We start out with God practically being everyone's best friend, accessible (in the mind) and ever present.  As the story unfolds, God has to be seen in symbols such as snakes and idols, clouds and pillars of fire.  He's still there and most can still hear the voice in their heads telling them what to do or how to be, but fading. 
 
Soon God drops out of the picture and now needs other humans like kings and priests to tell everyone what the voice of God in their heads says to do.  Most obey and hear the voice of the Kings and Priests as they once heard the voice of God.
 
In time, around 1000 BC we have even the Kings and Priests losing touch with the voice.  The Psalms are full of "why art thou so far off?"  "Why have you forsaken us?" and "Why do you not speak with us anymore?"  Over the next 3000 years humans seek a hundred different ways to recontact God.  Necromancy, idols, lots, oracles, smoke and prayers.  Whatever the Urim and Thummin was, it was a way to figure out what the silent God in the head wanted Israel to do.  Today we have oija boards, crystal ball gazers, ministers and priests to tell us what God wants from us as we question it all having become more conscious and scientific of thought.
 
Ministers and Priests today don't hear the voices either, well most don't, but they have the book and supposed records of those that still did.
 
From this period of time, those who still hear the voice become the prophets and conclude it must be "Sin" that has separated them from the voice and so the concept of sin was born, both national and personal.   And so all the stops are pulled to get back on track, to no avail.  Those who are not as conscious go to war with those that are more conscious. Religion is born big time and people end up on one side or the other and the rest is history as most humans now have awakened in their introspection, question asking and individuality.  
 
 
 
While I suggest a long read of Jaynes view, the short of it is that the human brain is two brains.  The right hemisphere can see and think but cannot speak. However, to this day, hallucinations and voices come from the right brain.  The left hemisphere can both see and speak because of the Broca and Wernike's areas of speech.  Whatever the right side sees, it must connect to the left to speak it. 
 
For example.  The right brain and eye sees things on the left.  The left brain and eye sees things on the right.  Together they see it all.  When the bridge between the two is cut or damaged we have a fascinating reality.  When shown slides the right sees the left one and the left sees the right one.  When the left slide injects a bit of Porn to the right eye, the person sees it but can't talk about it.  Talking is left brain and the bridge is cut.  The left eye see right slides with no porn so has no reaction.   The person starts to giggle or get red because the right eye sees the porn the left eye cannot. When asked why are you giggling.  The left side which can speak says,  "I have no idea!"
 
In the past, the right brain heard to voice of the gods, king or priests in their heads on the right side as do modern schizophrenics.  The left side talks about it. 
 
This may explain why Egypt could build such a civilization. Pyramids weren't built by slaves.  They were built by unconscious zombies of sorts who did not think for themselves.  A nation would need to be at peace for the most part to build such things and the vast number of humans would need to be easily told what needed to be done and why.  They said, "Ok" just as Abraham did. 
 
All this change in human consciousness because writing allowed humans to think more introspectively and as they did, the voice of the gods, prophets and Kings could be challenged and the rest is history.
 
Religion is the remnant of the unconscious bicameral mind struggling to reconnect itself and all who can be affected by it back to the voice and will of the gods.  It is why we have the division today between science well done and religion badly explained.  It is why we have critical thinking today and ten thousand denominations.  We both want to keep and let go of religion and the voice in our heads has now been replaced by the old old old written word about the time when the voice was heard.  We now are expect, "by faith," to hear the old voice and  obey it because most don't hear it and don't trust those who say they do.  "God says," is the now the same as "The Bible says."  Of course it is not.  We are smarter than that now because most have woken up and are more conscious than in "Bible Times."
 
Those who will not see the flaws, mistakes, errors, contradictions and so on in the Bible may be less conscious, not by intent, but by the meme that we buy into that the book is the old voice of God, now not heard, written down so we can still hear it.  However when you write something down, you are now able to examine the whole thing and see the mistakes, errors, contradictions and such in the text.  The only choice then is to either find and apologetic for them or realize that perhaps it is not what we were always told.
 
It explains why most can see the contradiction but the loudly rabid cannot and won't.
 
It explains all the craziness of religion and those in the COGs who still lead by declaring them more in touch with the voice, through the book, than others.
 
It explains the Hagees, Parsleys, Swaggerts, Hinns, Weinlands, Flurrys, Packs and you pick literalists of this present world. 
 
It explains the sincere who also don't hear the voice but are willing to trust the Book and those men who say they still hear it and should be followed. 
 
Big story. Fascinating.  This can get too long.  
 
The Origin of Consciousness and the Break Down of the Bicameral Mind
Julian Jaynes.
 
It is not rebellion on our part.  It is not scoffing.  It is awakening from the old unconsciousness of the Old Testament views and behaviors, laws and control to individual thinking and decision making. 
 
While individual waking up and consciousness causes its own problem at times, staying asleep and unconscious is not its cure. 
 
Dennis C. Diehl
DenniscDiehl@aol.com