"What does the constant reinforcement of the idea that Satan is about to take over the entire world...do to your mental health?"

Ever since the Internet emerged with accessibility for the general public, the downfall of the Church of God movement was set into motion.  What took decades to build up through radio, television and print, has been decimated by the instant accessibility of news and articles about Armstrongism.  More and more people are stepping up to the plate to tell their stories of growing up in the movement. Every time this happens, the diehard loyalists dig in their heels and come out spitting and snarling in anger labeling such people as "you were never converted" or that they have "turned their back on the truth restored through Herbert Armstrong", or that they have a reprobate mind that is indicative of the Laodiceans. Or, worse yet, label such people as committing the unpardonable sin.

There is a new blog up that is filled with wonderful insights of a woman who grew up in the church.

From the time that I have been able to talk, I have had to explain about the doctrine and beliefs that Herbert Armstrong both concocted and plagiarized to create The Worldwide Church of God and the effect that it has had on millions of people all over the world.

Honestly, I'm sick to death of it. 

But in the same way that someone with a very noticeable scar or missing limb must continue tell the story of their ordeal when they meet someone new who can't help but ask, so I am still explaining the false doctrines and sharing stories of rampant abuse, fraud, and neglect with people who are curious about the cult.

As much as I hate it and wish I could just "get past it somehow," I can't.

This is my baseline.

Coming to accept that truth was a difficult road to travel because I kept telling myself that there was some way I could "normalize" myself.

I so desperately wanted that to be possible, but you can't change the way that you were raised. The best you can hope for is to adapt and overcome. Our experiences make up our foundations and it's up to us to reinforce them with better building materials as we go along. But the original elements of the foundation will always be there, because you can't unbuild the house while you're living in it.

I was born into a cult and raised by a devotee of Herbert W Armstrong. Consequently, their teachings and beliefs are my default settings even if I no longer believe in, nor even approve of them in any way. Much like the Outlook Mail or Groove Music Player that you can't delete from Windows 10, so are the idiosyncrasies of the people who observe The Days Of Unleavened Bread, and know the the hymn"Blessed and Happy Is the Man" better than they know they know the song "Jingle Bells".

When Herbert Armstrong started his "Radio Church of God" back in 1933 he was a frustrated 41 year old "Ad Man" who couldn't stand the fact that his job consisted entirely of upselling the value of something he couldn't afford or someone in a better position than himself.

I think that is one of the main reasons he failed to make a profitable go of the advertising business and thus was forced to turn to the life of a con man trapped in his own con for the rest of his days. He could never conjure anything more important in his mind than his own ego and insatiable lust for "the finer things in life."

Herbert may not have had a brilliant intellect, but he did learn what the internet would come to call the, "one weird trick" of being successful.

Even if you aren't great yourself, you can still rise above your peers as long as you can hide, or even destroy their potential.

So, how did he manage to do that?

The first step was to take away the idea of hope for the future of society. Because without a future, what use is potential?

In the late 1920s, while studying for his Nonexistent Pretend Theology degree at the Not Even A Recognized School of Any Kind, Portland Public library, Herbert Armstrong discovered a profound power that resides in the biblical narrative.

SOMETHING VERY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SUFFER LIKE THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE OR EVER WILL AGAIN. 

We don't know when it will happen, but probably sometime sooner rather than later, so y'all best get your shoes on and be ready to flee whenever you hear the trumpets.

Further down her posting is this gem of truth:

Herbert probably realized that the more strongly someone believed that The End Times were close at hand, the less they would care about preparing for their future financial security or reputation in the community.

A man who believes that Christ will return to Earth within the next 3 years has no motivation to spend 8 years getting a PhD. A family who thinks they will be going to a "place of safety" before the end of the decade, has no motivation to pay off a mortgage or save for a new car.

And why should someone not give most of their money to help "God's Apostle" spread the true gospel today? After all, in a few years all material possessions will all be worthless anyway, right?

I'm pretty sure that the ramifications of promoting this line of thinking never really crossed his mind.

But let me ask you this...

What does the constant reinforcement of the idea that Satan is about to take over the entire world and we are already surrounded by demons who are trying to separate us from our salvation do to your mental health?

Ripley invites your thoughts on what he has written.  See his blog here that also has other entries mentioning Armstrongism:   "What Did He Do That Was So Wrong?" (Part One)