For decades, the church spread its message through pirate radio stations, WLS superstations, and Mexican radio stations. In the cool of late-night evenings, their powerful signals reached deep into the heartland of America.
The World Tomorrow" radio program, presented by Herbert W. Armstrong, was broadcast on Mexican radio stations.
The World Tomorrow" radio program, presented by Herbert W. Armstrong, was broadcast on Mexican radio stations.
Specifically, the program was aired over the superpower 100,000-watt station XELO in Juarez, Mexico. This station, having an exclusive channel over the North American continent, could then be heard in virtually every state.
In addition, the broadcast was also carried by powerful border stations XEG and XERB, along with XELO.
One failed prophecy after another tore the church apart. When 1975 passed without event, the focus shifted to new time cycles and myths.
The church limped along, with prosperous years and lean ones.
Money was squandered in ways that would shock members even today if they knew the full extent.
Beneath the surface, it was a festering cesspool of corruption and deceit. Then, its vulnerability was laid bare.
Armstrongism’s greatest vulnerability wasn’t ex-members, dissidents, or the disfellowshipped—it was the internet and WiFi.
When the internet spread, the church’s tightly woven stories began to fray. Headquarters could no longer dictate the narrative. People shed their silence and fear of losing salvation. Ex-members, apostates, critical thinkers, and dissidents, wielding firsthand knowledge of the church’s wrongs, exposed it to scrutiny the leadership couldn’t stifle. They labeled it a “rumor mill” and tried to quash it. They couldn’t.
The truth exposed the church’s gaslighting and lies, which could no longer hold.
Armstrongism thrived on control, relying on members’ perceived ignorance. “Pay, pray, obey, and never question” was the mantra for decades. But with computers and smartphones, the church became a public embarrassment. Never in its history has the extent of its folly been so clear.
Today, the youth are slipping away—quietly, in groups, in waves—realizing fear, guilt, and fantasy aren’t needed to live a good life.
Armstrongism’s greatest vulnerability wasn’t ex-members, dissidents, or the disfellowshipped—it was the internet and WiFi.
When the internet spread, the church’s tightly woven stories began to fray. Headquarters could no longer dictate the narrative. People shed their silence and fear of losing salvation. Ex-members, apostates, critical thinkers, and dissidents, wielding firsthand knowledge of the church’s wrongs, exposed it to scrutiny the leadership couldn’t stifle. They labeled it a “rumor mill” and tried to quash it. They couldn’t.
The truth exposed the church’s gaslighting and lies, which could no longer hold.
Armstrongism thrived on control, relying on members’ perceived ignorance. “Pay, pray, obey, and never question” was the mantra for decades. But with computers and smartphones, the church became a public embarrassment. Never in its history has the extent of its folly been so clear.
Regular members are leaving too. Some mourn years lost, others feel grateful for their newfound freedom, and many are simply fed up with the lies.
For decades, the church warned that Satan and his forces—through the Catholic Church, world governments, or vast powers—would persecute them. Yet, the Church of God’s reckoning came from within, from its own members.
One thing is certain: the church will never recover. Not next year, not in five years, nor in fifty—if it even survives that long. Freedom and truth have a way of changing everything.
1 comment:
Let's not forget ZZ Top's "Heard it on the X," Or, for that matter "Wolfman Jack" on XERB in American Grafitti.
These were clear channel stations. Local radio stations were mandated by the FCC to go dark at sunset, giving way for the clear channel stations which would then boost their power, From suburban Philly, at around 9:00 PM, I could pull in Cousin Brucie on WABC New York, Dick Biondi on WLS Chicago. I got WBZ Boston, CKLW, Windsor Ontario, and WWVA Wheeling West Virginia. Many nights, I fell asleep on my 6 transistor radio. No matter! A new 9 volt battery only cost 19 cents! These are part of what gave me a sense of reality and saved my ass from Armstrongism during my tormented childhood. If I'd ever gotten busted by the parental units, I could have easily told them I fell asleep listening to Mr. Armstrong! I kept secrets! They never knew about my beer in the attic, or the Marlboro reds in my locker at school. Oops, I did get busted once, cause my mom wanted to smell my right hand, but I had just started a fresh pack, so convinced them it was my first time trying them! I had good cover because I was on student council, a miler on the track team, and a member of Spokesmans Club! If it hadn't been for the regular child abuse, as taught in the child rearing booklet, I probably would not have gotten into the smoking and drinking, but would still have listened to the rock and roll! Anyhoo, I was smoking the cigarettes given out by TWA on the plane flight to AC, Pasadena. In those days anyone travelling on public transportation smelled as if they had been smoking.
Authoritarian parents believe they can run over their kids roughshod! This is a cautionary tale, and possibly germain to one of the topics currently on hand. You really can't control them! If anything, the kids of today have so many more outlets and alternatives. Presentation is everything. If you want your kids to absorb your beliefs and values, find a way to make them appealing. It's your responsibility to sell it to them! Your kids are a report card as to how effective you are as a loving parent! My parents? Double F! I would encourage Father God to forgive them, but still double F! I need some of that forgiveness myself, come to think about it!
BB
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