It has been well documented over the years on how abusive the Philadelphia Church of God has become under the leadership of Gerald Flurry. Families have been ripped apart, marriages destroyed and countless suicides have occurred because of the vile polices that Gerald Flurry has forced upon the membership of the Philadelphia Church of God.
Here is a first hand account of one family who's lives have been permanently scared by the sick and degenerate actions of Fred Dattalo, Cal Culpepper and Gerald Flurry as they contributed to the suicide of Janet De Gennaro.
Fred Dattalo was part of the Living Church of God for many years. After leaving it he went to PCG. In the many years he was in Pasadena before the mother church imploded, he was well know to be a condescending, self-righteous wanna-a-be man who desired power. Living Armstrongism has this to say about him:
As a former follower of LCG I am particularly disgusted and horrified with the fact that Fred Dattolo, who used to be in LCG, participated in isolating Janet De Gennaro from her family and causing her immediate family members to be cast out of PCG. According to this testimony it was Fred Dattolo who first "suspended" Janet De Gennaro's brother from PCG for an "inappropriate" comment on Facebook. Gradually the family was lost PCG's favor and were cast out, even though Dan De Gennaro was a Deacon. My word! Even Deacons are not safe from such oppressive acts within PCG.
PCG's reign of terror on it's families has been well documented here: Reign of ErrorI well remember reading Fred Dattolo's articles in LCG's recruitment magazine, Tomorrow's World, before he jumped ship to PCG in 2001. In the May-June 2000 issue he wrote an article extolling the role of the father in producing a happy family. Yet here Fred Dattolo is exposed as causing Janet De Gennaro to be cut off from her loving father and her family.
Our Family's Devastation Due to Gerald Flurry's No-Contact Policy
After 3 long years, Gerald Flurry finally allowed me to see my daughter. It was not in the way my family hoped. She was delivered to us C.O.D., wrapped in a plastic bag and sealed in a metal container.
My dear daughter, Janet, lived a full life while she was part of our family. She was always pleasant, respectful and obedient. She had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed traveling the world.
We are first generation Italians in Canada. My wife and I place a high value on family unity and we taught our children that we always support each other with love and respect. The PCG was never our teacher when it came to family values as it was clear to us they didn't understand the value of a family. In fact, we were criticized, insulted and even humiliated by PCG leaders for our strong family values.
We attended the Milton, Ontario congregation. Our nightmare began in 2009, with the arrival of Tim Oostendarp, a new graduate from HWA College, eager to prove himself to the PCG hierarchy. He found my 20-year-old son, Robert, on Facebook and immediately began to spy on him. In December 2010, he reported Robert to the local minister, Fred Dattolo, for an "inappropriate" Facebook post. Fred Dattolo immediately suspended Robert. After a six-month suspension, Robert decided he didn't want to return to such a negative environment.
In April 2011, Fred Dattolo came to me with an ultimatum from Gerald Flurry. I had 3 months to remove my son from our home--otherwise I would no longer be a deacon. The following week, Fred Dattolo told me that my son is a Laodicean and I should think of him as a rebellious and lazy son. This was nonsense. My son has always been respectful and helpful.
In May 2011, my wife, Maria, and I met with Fred Dattolo. Once again, he had an ultimatum from Gerald Flurry. The Pastor General and "Prophet" wanted our son out of our home. Fred Dattolo recommended that our son move into a "small room" like other single men in the PCG. For my wife and I, this would be unconscionable because he did nothing to warrant this harsh treatment. When Maria tried to explain that our son was not a baptized member, she began to cry. Fred Dattolo looked at her and said, "I see this crying all the time." While this experience was obviously a normal occurrence for Fred Dattolo, we were taken aback and totally shocked by his callous attitude. He was brutal, cold and showed no concern. A true minister of God would have shown mercy, love and compassion and opened the scriptures to direct us. None of this happened.
On September 14, 2011, my wife and I were suspended for not complying with "That Prophet's" ultimatum. Janet was left behind
One month later, in October 2011, while attending the feast, Janet met David Privratsky.
On August 26, 2012, Fred Dattolo called Janet and told her that Gerald Flurry wants her to "get out of that house." We knew Janet. She would never deliberately dishonour us and disobey God's commandment. She thought she was obeying God by obeying "That Prophet." She found a basement apartment, which cost her $800/month, and moved out of her room in our family home.
Though my wife, my son and I were distraught and cried for weeks, we now know that this proved to be a very heavy, emotional burden for Janet. She was the one who suffered the most by being cut off from her family.
Because she was planning to move to the United States to live with David Privratsky, she was turned over to Regional Director, Cal Culpepper. He prevented Janet from moving to Chicago until he was sure that she was totally compliant with "That Prophet's" no-contact policy. Cal Culpepper made it clear that the marriage would be called off if she had any contact with her family. After a year of counseling and monitoring, she was given the green light to marry David Privratsky and their wedding took place on September 8, 2013.
We emailed Fred Dattolo to ask if we could be a part of the wedding ceremony. He did not respond. This was a crushing blow to us. It was also a crushing blow to Janet's extended family, which has never been a part of the church and could not understand why they could not attend the wedding. This is an example of how the PCG's cruelty reflects poorly on Christianity! Instead of being a light and turning people to God, they were the opposite and turned people away.
We later found out that Janet and David Privratsky were not legally married. They were only married in the eyes of the PCG ministry. Once again, the scriptures were ignored (1 Pet 2:13, Titus 3:1). Because they were not legally married, Janet was buried as my daughter, Janet C. De Gennaro.
From the time Janet left our home until the end of 2013, the only contact we had with her was when she sent a generic thank you note to us for our wedding gifts.
In January 2014, Janet's uncle wanted to send a financial gift to her. We emailed her and asked her to call us so we could work out how to best send the money. She called. This was the first time we had heard her voice since she left our home in 2012. She was subdued and spoke only a few words and that was the last time we heard our daughter's voice. We learned after her death, that David Privratsky forbade her from speaking to us due to the no-contact policy.
On July 21, 2014, David Privratsky called us, a full 38 hours after Janet's death! Why the delay? No doubt, he needed to seek counseling from the PCG ministry to ask permission to call us and to find out what he should say when he speaks to us.
We were sitting in the garden in the middle of the afternoon when we were interrupted by the phone. It was David Privratsky. We immediately knew that something was wrong. He told us that our daughter was dead. He said she died of a massive heart attack. We were confused. How could a healthy, young 30-year old woman die of a massive heart attack? We pressed him to find out exactly what happened. He finally broke down and admitted to us that Janet committed suicide.
He went on to say that Janet had been seeing a doctor for the last 6 weeks for insomnia and anxiety. When we asked why he hadn't informed us about her depression, he said he put God before physical family. He later admitted that he didn't understand what he was dealing with and he should have reached out to us.
Church should be a sanctuary of safety and protection.1 The PCG is the opposite. It is harsh and dangerous. Janet was alone and suffered silently. She was isolated in a small town of 15,000 people in a foreign country without the support of her family. She was surrounded by people who didn't know her and didn't care enough about her to see she got the help she needed. We were surprised to see that less than 9 days after Janet's suicide, David Privratsky was posting a humorous tweet about the "Rise of the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" on Twitter. He obviously didn't know Janet. They were married for less than a year and they obviously did not have the deep, heartfelt relationship with her that we did. We're still grieving and will do so for the rest of our lives.
One timely phone call to her loving family would have made all the difference.
On July 21, 2014, after 3 years of no contact, Gerald Flurry finally made an exception and relaxed his no-contact policy just for us. He allowed the ministers and David Privratsky to send Janet home to us C.O.D., wrapped in a plastic bag and sealed in a metal container. I was able to see the damage my daughter did to herself when she realized she couldn't go on suffering the way she was. In her enforced isolation and state of depression, she saw this as the only way out.
Shame on you Gerald Flurry, and all PCG ministers and members who carry out the dictates of a narcissistic megalomaniac who will stop at nothing, leaving a wake of destruction, as he magnifies himself.2
PCG ministers and members, although many of you are trapped inside the PCG because of the cruel, no-contact policy, you need to study the Bible and beware of deceivers. By their fruits you shall know them. Ask yourself if any good fruit has come out of this destructive policy. Ask yourself why you hate others who have done you no wrong. Doesn't the Bible teach you to be gentle to all men? Why are you fighting your brothers and sisters? God expects you to obey Him rather than men.
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." (Titus 3:1–3)"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." (Matthew 15:4)Gerald Flurry has done a great evil to my family and me. Regardless of what he thinks of us and what he tells you to think of us, we are Christians. We love our Heavenly Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ. We realize that we are not fighting flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places. The Lord promises in Rom 12 that He will avenge Janet's death.
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:17–19)Please learn from my bitter experience. I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through this.
By Dan De Gennaro
August 22, 2014
Please follow the links here to keep updated on the Philadelphia Church of God, Gerald Flurry, Fred Datttalo and Cal Culpepper: What's New, Letters of those impacted by the PCG
29 comments:
The un-Christian tragedy of the induced suicide described in the postings above is just horrifying. That is a fruit — so rotten and sour — produced by Armstrongism since its emergence so many years ago. (I, tragically, was a member of WCG for 13 years, when that membership experience extremely warped and degraded my marriage to a wonderful woman who was never “called.”)
My point here is this. This clerically-induced suicide is tragic, a matter that will be indefensible in The Judgement. But how may familial disruptions of slightly reduced magnitude have gone unreported? For every such suicide, how many church members are agonizing over maintaining appropriate rectitude? How many spouses and children suffer horribly in their mental outlooks? How many others are not yet to the point of suicide, but live in continuing anguish, fear, and dread — with pasted-on false smiles each Sabbath?
It was my experience from Day One in Armstrongism the any of those churches are churches of Tears and Fears, not Love and Hope.
Pray that those mired in this evil can escape.
The un-Christian tragedy of the induced suicide described in the postings above is just horrifying. That is a fruit — so rotten and sour — produced by Armstrongism since its emergence so many years ago. (I, tragically, was a member of WCG for 13 years, when that membership experience extremely warped and degraded my marriage to a wonderful woman who was never “called.”)
My point here is this. This clerically-induced suicide is tragic, a matter that will be indefensible in The Judgement. But how may familial disruptions of slightly reduced magnitude have gone unreported? For every such suicide, how many church members are agonizing over maintaining appropriate rectitude? How many spouses and children suffer horribly in their mental outlooks? How many others are not yet to the point of suicide, but live in continuing anguish, fear, and dread — with pasted-on false smiles each Sabbath?
It was my experience from Day One in Armstrongism the any of those churches are churches of Tears and Fears, not Love and Hope.
Pray that those mired in this evil can escape.
The un-Christian tragedy of the induced suicide described in the postings above is just horrifying. That is a fruit — so rotten and sour — produced by Armstrongism since its emergence so many years ago. (I, tragically, was a member of WCG for 13 years, when that membership experience extremely warped and degraded my marriage to a wonderful woman who was never “called.”)
My point here is this. This clerically-induced suicide is tragic, a matter that will be indefensible in The Judgement. But how may familial disruptions of slightly reduced magnitude have gone unreported? For every such suicide, how many church members are agonizing over maintaining appropriate rectitude? How many spouses and children suffer horribly in their mental outlooks? How many others are not yet to the point of suicide, but live in continuing anguish, fear, and dread — with pasted-on false smiles each Sabbath?
It was my experience from Day One in Armstrongism the any of those churches are churches of Tears and Fears, not Love and Hope.
Pray that those mired in this evil can escape.
The un-Christian tragedy of the induced suicide described in the postings above is just horrifying. That is a fruit — so rotten and sour — produced by Armstrongism since its emergence so many years ago. (I, tragically, was a member of WCG for 13 years, when that membership experience extremely warped and degraded my marriage to a wonderful woman who was never “called.”)
My point here is this. This clerically-induced suicide is tragic, a matter that will be indefensible in The Judgement. But how may familial disruptions of slightly reduced magnitude have gone unreported? For every such suicide, how many church members are agonizing over maintaining appropriate rectitude? How many spouses and children suffer horribly in their mental outlooks? How many others are not yet to the point of suicide, but live in continuing anguish, fear, and dread — with pasted-on false smiles each Sabbath?
It was my experience from Day One in Armstrongism the any of those churches are churches of Tears and Fears, not Love and Hope.
Pray that those mired in this evil can escape.
Some people who believed what Herbert W. Armstrong taught in the past in the Worldwide Church of God were attracted to Gerald R. Flurry's so-called Philadelphia Church of God because it (falsely) claimed to be faithfully holding fast to everything that HWA had taught. Gerald Flurry always used Herbert W. Armstrong's name and photograph all the time to try to attract followers from the Worldwide Church. This was at a time when some other splinter groups were forming and trying to feast off the remains of what HWA had built without using his name or picture or giving him any credit for anything. GRF made himself out to be the true successor to HWA, and he made his PCG out to be the true successor to the WCG.
Well, NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!!
Gerald Flurry and his PCG have done nothing but evil continually from the very beginning. Gerald Flurry somehow managed to misunderstand, misapply, edit, change, warp, mangle, and pervert virtually everything that HWA ever tried to teach. Many people have been totally shocked by how cruel, unfair, dishonest, immoral, perverse, wrong, and evil the PCG really is. Some people now view this as a reflection of how bad “Armstrongism” was, or even of how bad God was. The behavior of Gerald Flurry and his PCG appear deliberately designed to make HWA, and even God, look unreasonable, harsh, cruel, and downright evil. There is a logical explanation for this. The PCG was designed by Satan.
By the time the Adversary inspired Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. to reject openly virtually all of the Worldwide Church of God's teachings in January 1995, the Adversary had already set up his own special PCG cult to try to catch and totally snuff out anyone who did not accept the massive doctrinal changes in the WCG. Some people who thought they were pretty brave to reject relatively easy-going apostates like the Tkaches next found themselves helpless with their families held hostage by a Satan-inspired little dictator and false prophet by the name of Gerald who came up with new names, titles, offices, and positions for himself, and truly massive doctrinal changes, faster than they could understand or deal with.
As optimists, most of us expect goodness to triumph. Obviously, the De Genarro family had more Christ-like family love and values than did Flurry and his demons at PCG. Bad is able to triumph when the good are marginalized into a state of powerlessness, which is precisely what has taken place here.
Jokes on Facebook or not, this tragedy is going to haunt David for the rest of his life. Janet's ghost will be figuratively with him every step of the way.
Lesson for Flurry's people: If you have a strong loving family, and one of your family members is arbitrarily suspended from or disfellowshipped from PCG, the only intelligent recourse is for the whole family to leave as a unit, in protest. If this is courageously done on a wide scale basis, PCG's income will plummet, and they will be forced to reverse their non-Biblical policy. You do get a vote! But, it is done with your feet, and with your tithes! Courage, as this is an important and compelling issue!
BB
The KEY to understanding Gerald Flurry and the PCG
Now--finally revealed in this end time--here is the MASTER KEY needed to unlock ALL UNDERSATNDING of everything you NEED TO KNOW about Gerald Flurry and his Philadelphia Church of Fraud:
People who tried Gerald Flurry's PCG often just cannot understand how it can be forever so unfair, dishonest, corrupt, cruel, perverse, wrong, and evil. Why, they wonder, does it always say and do the exact, diametrical opposite of everything that the Bible teaches? Why does it always edit, change, warp, mangle, and pervert everything that HWA ever tried to teach? Why does it make itself out to be so good while all it ever really does in actual practice is lie, steal, destroy, and kill? Here is an amazing TRUTH that will OPEN YOUR EYES WIDE and enable you to understand perfectly everything you see and hear in the PCG from now on even forever.
***The PCG is Satan's own cult.***
&
*** Gerald Flurry is Satan's own “minister.”***
If you understand that Satan is totally behind that fraud known as the PCG, then you can finally understand everything about it and everything that goes on there. It will no longer be a perplexing mystery to you. The numerous outrageous evils in the PCG that leave others confused and wondering “Where is God in all this?” will never again be a mystery to you. You will fully understand the real reason for the PCG's very existence (hint: to try to destroy everyone), who really created the PCG (hint: Satan did it), and why the situation within the PCG can only get worse and will never ever get better (hint: Satan's condition is terminal; he/she/it does not get better, just worse).
Anon 12:04 didn't get the memo.
We no longer drink your Kool-Aid, dude. Your post is mind-numbingly idiotic. Move on.
What a terrible tragedy this is. It is so sad and baneful that something like this should be inflicted upon this innocent family.
I can well remember coming upon Fred Dattolo's name while reading LCG's recruitment magazine back in 2000 and 2001. I was actually quite impressed with his first article mentioned in the post above.
Then I read from a certain (now former) LCG apologist that he had left for PCG. This was in 2001. But my loyalty was to LCG so I knew he had changed to PCG.
Later I decided to investigate PCG and I was shocked to learn that they teach that Gerald Flurry's booklet, Malachi's Message, is the Little Book of Revelation 10.
I saw they had one booklet called The Little Book and I decided to order that one and see for myself if they did teach that. At the time you could not read their booklets online. You had to order them and get them mailed to you before you could read them. I read it. Indeed they did. So I decided to ignore them and continue to keep my allegiance to PCG.
Fred Dattolo thought believing that Malachi's Message was the Little Book was worth joining? What can one say about such madness. He may not think so because of the cocoon of privilege and power he has placed himself within the PCG ministry but it is clear he has made a dreadful decision in joining PCG.
Knowing this it sickens me that I ever held him in any regard. Even though he went away from LCG so long ago I cannot help but remember that he was in LCG, the COG group I trusted at the time. It still disgusts me that I ever looked up to him.
The Wanderer
I am so,so sad to hear this. What a waste of light and a life from what I have read. I want to know if any responders have heard or know if COGWA has the same policy on separating family? Sad if it does. I welcome your responses because The Wanderer is ....thinking.
Satan gets the credit for everything in the common COGspeak. Only Nimrod comes close in terms of accomplishment.
Some members of my family are in COGWA. They associate freely with Baptist and Presbyterian relatives, with others who left WCG years ago and lack any church affiliation, and with me, an agnostic since 1960.
So no, COGWA does not separate families or shun unbelievers.
To the Wanderer: regarding your question if COGWA has the same policy, the answer is yes and no. By that I mean they do not "officially" have such a policy, but in practice they do. You won't ever hear them call out names from the pulpit like PCG does, but they will quietly and discreetly strong-arm family members to cut off other family members (and/or friends) who have left the COGWA fellowship. I know, because I was "counseled" to do so by a COGWA minister.
Anonymous...
Sorry to hear that. I think it strange as well as unfortunate you had to endure such ridiculousness as I see it. Agreed..outright is the same as quietly and discretly..outcome is the same. The Wanderer has thought about abandoning ship but not ther yet. I could care less if quietly cut off from church. However, being cut off from God would be eternaly sad.
Your insight and honesty is appreciated for sure.
Is there anyone out there who still suffers from the delusion that somehow Flurry is better than Jim Jones or David Koresh?
I believe this pathology will only worsen with time. He's not going to interpret this as a warning shot across the bow and modify his behavior. His hard heart will harden even more in response to this, and worse things will happen. Remember, this is a man who watched his wife die a painful death without so much as the benefit of asprins!
BB
Does the no contact policy apply to the leaders of PCG?
Here are some footnotes from Stephen Flurry's (very flawed) book, Raising the Ruins, which states that he had an interview with UCG's Aaron Dean on November 22, 2005 and another interview with LCG's leader, Roderick C. Meredith on January 9, 2006. These interviews by Stephen Flurry were conducted after M. Nash first announced the no contact policy to PCG members (according to PCG Information).
"Personal interview with Aaron Dean, November 22, 2005." (Footnotes, 5, 7, 14 and 28 for Chapter 3. Footnotes 1 and 23 for Chapter 4. Footnote 1 for Chapter 5.)
"Personal interview with Roderick C. Meredith, January 9, 2006." (Footnote 8, Chapter 4.)
Time for people in families that have suffered like this to get ATTORNEYS and SUE FOR DAMAGES!
That poor family. The PCg is all about LAW not love. These are the scriptures that describe Gerald Flurry and his false ministers as everyone should know by now:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15...
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
AND...
Matthew 7:21-23...
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
My heart goes out to you Dan!
You hit the nail on the head - The Philadelphia Church of God is just the opposite! Their actions speak louder than their name!
And where does Gerald Flurry get off micro-managing someone else's private household and personal family affairs?
Fred Dattolo called Janet and told her that Gerald Flurry wants her to "get out of that house." To that, I would have quoted a great American Vinny Barberino: "Up your nose with a rubber hose!"
I am sorry for the lose of Janet. She is not the first to commit suicide due to the extremist teachings of Armstrongism. If you go to the Painful Truth website, click on Suicides you will see a whole list - and its probably not even close to a complete list. I reported two people on that list. One is Nancy Norwood who was a friend of my sister-in-law in the WCG.
Herbert Armstrong's 80 year religious history is nothing but a waist and fraud. Unfortunately, young people are more affected by it than older people because they think their is no future in the present age in which they are living.
I am sorry for your loss.
Richard
Lake of Fire Church of God
You have left at least one person out of this. Her dumb-ass husband. If you want to even call him that.
How they were not legally married is a mystery to me. Perhaps, it is because she was Canadian? Did they not fill-out a marriage license?
He also new she was depressed and suffering from insomnia. He lies to his in-laws about how she died.
David you get my vote for the worst newly-wed PCG husband ever!
You are a liar and an immature ass (I saw your post on twitter about the Planet of The Apes movie).
Janet's blood is on your head too!
Do the right thing and expose that cult for what it is!
No minister, anywhere, has a right to tell anybody what to do, ever.
Why can't people seem to comprehend that?
Think about it. Let's say you're in Flurry's PCG, and they banish you. But you believe in the Sabbath, and the Holy Days. Who can stop you from observing them? Nobody.
Wayne Cole did it for more than 15 years on his own after HWA pitched one of his tantrums and threw him out. No fanfare, no rebellion, no starting his own church, although he affiliated with CGI briefly. Just did his thing. Resurfaced years later, found a place to fellowship, and picked right back up. He had remained true to his beliefs and apparently sought to serve his Lord with sincerity. Were those 15 years a waste, or valid? You be the judge.
Screw Flurry and his edicts. Same with Pack. They're fools, and they're nobodies. Use your heads, people.
Personally, I advocate leaving the COGs behind altogether. But at least have the good sense to know that these power-hungry dictators are inept little men who have less common sense than most of the people they presume to lord over.
I remember how a few years ago someone on this forum ran a campaign that took down one of the cults. CCG out of Australia I think it was? I don't remember much about it other than the people who did it ran a disciplined and strategic campaign which followed a sort of process to open the eyes of existing members.
I wonder if there is any way something like that could be done with Flurry's group.
I remember how a few years ago someone on this forum ran a campaign that took down one of the cults. I wonder if there is any way something like that could be done with Flurry's group.
Unlikely. The Australian group was truly a one-man show. Flurry, like Meredith (and UCG, and COGWA, and some others), gets ahead by holding out the carrot of small bits of power that he gives to his sycophants in exchange for their loyalty and complicity. As a result, those who get close enough to know the facts that would take down a cult are also those whose personal futures would be ruined by the collapse of their cult.
Even if you could get rid of Geraldine and Stevie, the second-tier of cultmeisters would step right in and consolidate power by bringing along another layer of new sycophants.
Anonymous 2:52~ Let's face it, a certain percentage of the members of these cults are what is known as "fanatics". Their presence in a splinter group is based not so much on orderly process or logic, but on identifiable dysfunctions of their minds. This is also true of most of the leaders who attracted them. Trying to assist them from the toxicity and into a better life is not unlike trying to convince a radical jihadist to discard his suicide vest, and to come to the park to enjoy softball and hot dogs. Some things are simply not possible in this lifetime.
Even so, that was a nice recollection you shared. If it didn't actually take place, it certainly should have!
Byker Bob said...
Anonymous 2:52~ Let's face it, a certain percentage of the members of these cults are what is known as "fanatics". Their presence in a splinter group is based not so much on orderly process or logic, but on identifiable dysfunctions of their minds. This is also true of most of the leaders who attracted them. Trying to assist them from the toxicity and into a better life is not unlike trying to convince a radical jihadist to discard his suicide vest, and to come to the park to enjoy softball and hot dogs. Some things are simply not possible in this lifetime.
Even so, that was a nice recollection you shared. If it didn't actually take place, it certainly should have!
August 25, 2014 at 5:53 PM
So I guess you can call all us "fanatics" whom just have to get on this site using "excessive and single-minded zeal" complaining about all the other "fanatics", right? lol
OK. I can wear that. Yeah, I guess I am fanatical about ridding the world of toxic fanaticism. No saint like a repentent sinner.
BB
Notwithstanding the tragic death of his daughter, Dan De Gennero is lying by ommission and he should be ashamed of himself.
I dont give a rats ass ahout Flurry ans his Mr Armstrong was right,Watch Germany,. and Irish Dancing bullcrap All the people involved in this incident have blood on their hands
Gerald R. Flurry tried to attract Herbert W. Armstrong's former followers by pointing out every little doctrinal change that the apostate Tkaches had made in the Worldwide Church of God shortly after the death of HWA in January 1986. Interestingly, Gerald Flurry always went on to make EVEN BIGGER doctrinal changes of his own. Some examples are given below.
When he started his PCG imposter cult, Gerald Flurry immediately did away with preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, even though Herbert W. Armstrong had taught that it was the very purpose of the church. HWA had taught that the gospel had been suppressed early on and had not been preached powerfully to the world for 1,900 years. Gerald Flurry said that HWA had now already preached it and that with a new church era comes a “new commission” to the church to “warn the Laodiceans.” Simply by calling it a “new commission” rather than a “new gospel” Gerald Flurry was able to fool his followers. Gerald Flurry replaced the true gospel (meaning “good news”) with a non-gospel commission to “warn the Laodiceans,” which in actual practice meant to tell his own lies to them and cause division among the so-called COGs. So, once again, wicked people like Gerald Flurry are trying to suppress the true gospel. Those who quickly and ignorantly turned to this “other gospel” under That False Prophet Gerald Flurry need to think about the apostle Paul's double curse in Galatians 1:6-9 on those who would do such a thing.
Like so many other kooks, Gerald Flurry wanted to be a prophet. Gerald Flurry soon started to teach that he himself, rather than Jesus, was “That Prophet” mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:18-19 that everybody had to listen to or else God would be mad at them. In contrast, Herbert W. Armstrong had taught that the church was led by an apostle, meaning “one sent forth” to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Gerald Flurry had kept so busy trying to elevate his short self with all sorts of names, titles, offices and positions that he did not even seem to know anything about this until about twenty years after the start of his PCG imposter cult. Too much beer in his younger days had made little Gerald a dull runt, though all the alcohol does seem to have given him the clear arteries to last as long as he has, and it probably also helped him to succeed in becoming a false prophet.
Herbert W. Armstrong would quote Malachi 4:5-6 about God sending someone in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. This all tied in together since HWA began to understand and teach that God is a family. God's great purpose is ultimately to reproduce himself through humans. That is what HWA taught was the incredible human potential. Naturally, Satan sent his anti-Elijah Gerald Flurry to try to put a stop to this plan by breaking up families. This is why all normal and natural family relations get discouraged and broken up in the PCG, while malicious local goons go around trying to pair up younger people with old sex maniacs, sex perverts, and predators two or three times their age and pass it off as trying to help them. Those who politely try to decline all this relentless “help” get expelled to “make an example” of them.
Currently, the PCG has transformed itself into an Irish dancing group for Gerald Flurry's family members. The PCG (that is, Gerald Flurry) has an expensive auditorium for the Irish dancing. Now, the PCG (that is, Gerald Flurry) even has an expensive jet plane to take his children and grandchildren to Irish dance events. While encouraging other PCG members to break up their own families and friendships, Gerald Flurry at least seems to take good care of his own family. That seems to be the nature of these family religion businesses.
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