Robert Lawrence Kuhn: From Worldwide Church of God Insider to Global Intellectual – A Life Unshackled from Legalism

Robert Lawrence Kuhn: From Worldwide Church of God Insider to Global Intellectual – A Life Unshackled from Legalism

Robert Lawrence Kuhn, born in 1944 in New York, has lived a remarkably diverse life: brain researcher, theologian, investment banker, bestselling author, longtime advisor to the Chinese government, and creator-host of the acclaimed PBS series Closer to Truth. Yet his story is perhaps most inspiring for what it reveals about the transformative power of leaving behind the strict legalism of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Disfellowshipped in the late 1970s amid the church’s turbulent power struggles, Kuhn’s departure marked not an end but a beginning. Like many former WCG members who stepped away from the church’s rigid rules—mandatory Sabbath observance, holy days, tithing, dietary restrictions, and an intense focus on end-time prophecy—Kuhn found his world broadening dramatically once freed from those shackles. No longer constrained by doctrinal conformity or administrative control, he pursued bold ventures in business, international relations, media, and philosophy that have left a lasting global impact.

Inside the Worldwide Church of God: Rise, Contributions, and Disfellowshipment

Kuhn joined the WCG orbit in the late 1960s after earning a PhD in anatomy and brain research from UCLA in 1968. He quickly became a trusted insider, serving as administrative assistant to Garner Ted Armstrong (GTA), the church’s charismatic television voice and son of founder Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA). Kuhn played a central role in doctrinal research and revisions during a period of internal “mellowing” under GTA’s influence. He helped coordinate the ambitious Systematic Theology Project, which aimed to systematize and update teachings, and he created the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, which brought world-class classical musicians (such as Vladimir Horowitz and Luciano Pavarotti) to Pasadena for outreach.

He also wrote numerous articles for WCG publications like Plain Truth, Tomorrow’s World, and Good News, exploring topics such as “The God Family,” prophecy, and biblical equality with God. These pieces aligned with the era’s push for doctrinal adjustments, which created tension with HWA’s traditionalists.

The break came amid the church’s major crises in the late 1970s. Kuhn severed ties with the WCG and its affiliates in 1978 and was formally disfellowshipped (excommunicated) around late 1978 or early 1979. He was listed in the church’s internal reports alongside other leaders caught in administrative and doctrinal disputes. For many in the WCG, disfellowshipment meant social isolation, loss of community, and spiritual condemnation. Yet for Kuhn—and countless others who have left or been cast out—the removal of legalistic constraints proved liberating. Freed from the constant pressure of “qualifying” through works-based obedience and prophetic speculation, ex-members often describe a sudden expansion of possibilities: careers in secular fields, creative pursuits, and personal growth that were previously unimaginable.

A Bold Post-Disfellowship Venture: The 1981 Lawsuit Against Raiders of the Lost Ark

Just two years after his disfellowshipment, Kuhn demonstrated this newfound freedom with a daring foray into Hollywood. In July 1981—mere weeks after the blockbuster release of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’s Raiders of the Lost Ark—Kuhn, along with former WCG treasurer Stanley Rader and associate Henry Cornwall, filed a high-profile lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. They sought $100 million to $210 million in damages, alleging that the film plagiarized Kuhn’s copyrighted 1977 screenplay and unpublished novel titled Ark. The work centered on an archaeologist’s quest involving the powers of the Ark of the Covenant.

Kuhn had submitted the material to agent Ben Benjamin at the International Creative Management (ICM) agency in July 1977, while still loosely connected to WCG circles. The suit claimed the movie’s core idea and elements were stolen after that submission.

The lawsuit made headlines, with contemporary reports noting the irony of two former high-ranking WCG figures (known for a church that emphasized biblical archaeology and prophecy) taking on Hollywood giants. Some WCG insiders later claimed GTA had even suggested the story idea to Kuhn. Ultimately, the case did not succeed—the plaintiffs lost decisively—but it underscored Kuhn’s willingness to step into entirely new arenas. No longer bound by church hierarchy or the fear of doctrinal missteps, he was free to explore creative and entrepreneurial risks that would have been unthinkable under WCG legalism.

Global Impact: China, Business, and Intellectual Pursuits

The 1980s and beyond saw Kuhn’s life expand exponentially. He earned an M.S. in management from MIT Sloan in 1980 and built a successful career in investment banking and corporate strategy, serving as president of The Geneva Companies (later sold to Citigroup) and as a senior advisor at Citigroup Investment Banking.

His most prominent international work began in 1989 when he was invited by Chinese officials to advise on economic policy, science and technology, media, and U.S.-China relations. Over decades, Kuhn became a trusted bridge-builder, visiting dozens of Chinese cities and gaining rare access to senior leaders. He authored the 2004 biography The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin—the first of a living Chinese leader published in mainland China—and the influential How China’s Leaders Think (2011). In 2018, he received the prestigious China Reform Friendship Medal.

Today: Closer to Truth and a Legacy of Exploration

Kuhn’s crowning achievement is Closer to Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series he created, writes, hosts, and produces. Now in its 20th+ season, the program features in-depth interviews with leading scientists, philosophers, and theologians on the biggest questions: cosmology, consciousness, and the meaning of life/God. Hundreds of episodes and clips are freely available on PBS, YouTube, and closertotruth.com. He has also written or edited more than 30 books and continues publishing academic papers on consciousness.

Kuhn chairs The Kuhn Foundation and remains active in media, including China-focused series like Closer to China and frequent appearances on CNN, BBC, and CGTN. His trajectory—from WCG theologian to global strategist and public intellectual—exemplifies how leaving the Worldwide Church of God can unshackle a life. Many former members echo this: once freed from legalism’s narrow confines, opportunities for “amazing things” multiply—whether in business, the arts, academia, or personal fulfillment.

Robert Kuhn rarely dwells publicly on his WCG years, focusing instead on forward-looking inquiry. Yet his story stands as a powerful testament: sometimes the greatest expansion comes when the old restraints are finally set aside. For more, visit closertotruth.com or his site rlkuhn.com.

Silent Pilgrim