This post ties in with the previous post on the Branch Davidians. This is a quote by Neil Godfrey of the Vridar blog. Neil is a former Worldwide Church of God member who runs an excellent blog on "Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science."
It’s a story of dashed idealism, sordid and cruel moments, the power of belief, and too much that I can personally relate to. I watched the TV mini-series on the Waco story late last year and, as I expected, found myself too easily able to identify with some of the followers. My experience was with the Worldwide Church of God. Not that that was my only experience with religion, but it was the one that echoed aspects of the Branch Davidians history.
One moment in the movie that left me shaking my head in all too believable “disbelief” was when one of the most loyal followers of Dave Koresh was challenged by an outsider pointing to some of Koresh’s blatant moral failings. With unshakable faith the loyal follower replied that he wished with all his being that God had chosen anyone else except Vernon Howell (who took the name Dave Koresh) to be his prophet because he could scarcely imagine a less likeable person, . . . BUT, he was the one God had chosen, and he had to accept that, and submit to God’s will.
How often did the ministry in the Worldwide Church of God, especially the upper leadership, find opportunities to preach the message of King David, a “man after God’s own heart”, chosen by God, and David’s moral failings, his adultery, his murders, made no difference. Those who rebelled against this David when he was getting older and losing his grip on the kingdom were the ones led by Satan against “God’s anointed”.
The hypocrisy, the self-serving message, it’s all sickening in hindsight. But that’s how many of us were. If it hadn’t been the Armstrongs I suppose in another time and place it could have been Vernon Howell and it could have been me there. The one “saving grace” for the Worldwide Church of God was that it’s top leader was old and had no desire to give up his comforts or put himself in any serious physical risks. Those things come so much more easily to one in his early 30s. (For a number of years we were seriously expecting our leader to be given a vision or sign that would be the signal for us to “flee” to a “place in the wilderness”.) Waco (the background story)
The Leah Remini series on Scientology , broadcast on A&E, has many parallels to the WCG that I found fascinating. It is a "must see" for anyone who has been involved in Armstrongism.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what church members did with HWA and do now with Flurry, Pack, Weinland and all the other church leaders. It was the good old David Defense. In spite of their problems God supposedly is using them. What a wicked and cruel god the god of Armstrongism is!
ReplyDeleteScientology has many similarities to Armstrongism. I cleaned carpets for a couple of them back there in the Mid-seventies and they persuaded me to go down to the center with them where I paid $50 to go through their introductory "communications" course. I saw through their mind control immediately and frustrated them no end by taking weeks to finish the course when I jolly well felt like it. They never could break me at "bull baiting," and that also frustrated them. When I finally came to the end they kept at me to sign up for another course and I had no intention of doing so and wouldn't give me my certificate, which I didn't give a damn about anyway. Finally, I looked the guy in the eye and said, "You're not going to give me my certificate of completion unless I sign up for this new course, are you?" He nodded yes. I looked him square In the eyes and firmly said, "no!" I guess he needed more courses in "confronting" because he just looked at me speechless. I left. They kept sending me mailings until I moved to Arizona and left no forwarding address in 1981
ReplyDeleteYeah, I liked that aspect of psychology when the Lewinski scandal broke for Bill and the neocons did not for a moment succeed to seize the opportunity because of "the will of the people."
ReplyDeleteOr that cruel girl at school. Sometimes you love'm against the odds.
Nck
Parrells between WCG and scientology? Whatever Doris Day err Tonto whatever you say.
ReplyDelete"The Leah Remini series on Scientology" can also be found on Youtube.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff.
DBP
HWA always used the excuse that GTA was called by God, flawed as he was, much like David. But how could he use this argument when I Tim 3 gives qualifications for a church leader? Why would God contradict himself by giving clear standards of character and then "choose" someone like GTA? When you are in power, the rules don't apply to you, I guess. The rules are for the "little people."
ReplyDelete12.34 AM
ReplyDeleteScientology and the WCG are both abusive cults. That's the similarity. Which is why ACOG members can relate to programs exposing Scientology's abusive practises.
2:55: That's actually consistent with the rest of HWA's theology. HWA reversed the filtering process by assigning more weight to the Old Testament, Old Covenant. Of course he would prefer an Old Testament example over New, because in his mind, the New was simply the addition of a Messiah to the Old. Virtually everything else remained the same. Still, a more accurate comparison with an Old Covenant figure would have involved Samson, and not David. Basically, HWA always found justification for doing whatever he wanted to do or pronounced best. He was an end justifies the means type dude.
ReplyDeleteBB
Scientology's founder was overtly aware of the demonic side of his teaching, having partnered with Jack Parsons in several Crowleyan demon-summoning rites. L. Ron Hubbard actually pulled a great trick on his followers, teaching them that the ultimate attainment in Scientology is to become an "Operating Satan" (Hubbard pronounced "Satan" with a bit of a lisp, so as to label the condition as "Operating Thetan"). Hubbard taught his followers that they are possessed by Body Satans (Thetans) who must be exorcised using Scientology techniques.
ReplyDeleteThe only significant similarity between the teachings of HWA and Hubbard is that salvation could only be had by giving money to the unaccountable leader. Both Hubbard and HWA are said to have discovered, early in their careers, that the best way to make money in tough times is to sell people a religion.
12.34 am
ReplyDeleteFinally I get it. Doris Day wore a Indian type outfit in one of her movies.
Ha, ha, ha. Err, on second thought, I don't think it funny at all.
Nck, have you ever considered staying on topic?
8.10 AM
ReplyDeleteIf the main issue was "giving money to the unaccountable leader," this blog and similar would not exist.
12:34 wrote >>Nck, have you ever considered staying on topic?<< Wouldnt that be wonderful! Don't forget, it is always all about him.
ReplyDelete@7:14: Sheesh. In normal everyday conversation, do you insist that your friends stay on one topic? That’s unnatural because people of normal intelligence are constantly thinking, and related topics generally come to mind. A conversation is like the branch of a healthy tree. It’s not a single line, it’s got sprouts and twigs. You have to give it room to flow.
DeleteOne type of bad hijacker is the one trick pony who has only one topic. Remember Trading Guy? Nazi Boy?
There are also people like Dave Pack and Bob Thiel who are only capable of dealing in confusing barrages.
Balance is the key. You can say many things about nck, but he always gets people commenting.
Mr. NCK CIA anagram...
ReplyDeleteC.K. McNair
AHA!- The secret conspiracy now exposed!
10.02 PM
ReplyDeleteI have made the same complaint to the administrator when he had previously shut down your 'sprouts and twigs.' Whatever the rules, there should be impartiality.
You left out the one trick pony called Dennis Diehl, with his the bible is nonsense, and God doesn't exist song. His is the spirit of the crusaders storming Jerusalem.