Dave Pack, the Church of God and Willful Ignorance

 

Banned by HWA recently posted some commentary on a video produced by Dave Pack which purports to definitively answer the question: Does God Exist? In fact, Mr. Pack's video is only one of many offerings from the ACOG's on this topic - The founder of the movement, Herbert W Armstrong was the first of this tribe to discourse on the subject.

The problem with these offerings is that they almost always rely on false science - bits and pieces of real science which ignore anything that might contradict the point they are trying to make. This is often called confirmation bias in the real world. What is confirmation bias? According to Psychology Today, "Once we have formed a view, we embrace information that confirms that view while ignoring, or rejecting, information that casts doubt on it. Confirmation bias suggests that we don’t perceive circumstances objectively. We pick out those bits of data that make us feel good because they confirm our prejudices. Thus, we may become prisoners of our assumptions."

This phenomenon is closely related to the concept of willful ignorance. In defining the term, Urban Dictionary tells us: "The practice or act of intentional and blatant avoidance, disregard or disagreement with facts, empirical evidence and well-founded arguments because they oppose or contradict your own existing personal beliefs. This practice is most commonly found in the political or religious ideologies of 'conservative' Americans. Many times it is practiced due to laziness--people not wanting to have to do the work to rethink their opinions, the fear of the unknown, the fear of being wrong, or sometimes simply close-mindedness." In this connection, it is interesting to note that the author of the Second Epistle of Peter denigrated those who are "willingly" ignorant (see II Peter 3:5).

However, this kind of ignorance is not the exclusive property of Armstrongites or Christians in general. Unfortunately, it also very often afflicts the atheists and intellectuals who are fond of pointing out the cognitive dissonance and outright hypocrisy of their religious counterparts! Very often, these folks ridicule or dismiss the concept of FAITH (which should be the real basis of the true Christian's belief in things Divine).

And most students of the Bible know that the best definition of faith is found in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. As with many things biblical, however, the flowery old King James English sometimes gets in the way of comprehending the real import of what is being said. Please allow me to paraphrase those critical first three verses of the chapter: "Faith demonstrates the reality which underscores our hope - it is our EVIDENCE for the things that we cannot perceive or evaluate by the exercising of our human senses. Our forbearers shined through the expression of their faith (and we should not devalue their contributions to our understanding of these things). Faith is our tool for understanding that God created everything out of things which are also not readily perceived through our five human senses - it allows us to conclude that God is the source of all things without having all of the physical evidence at our disposal to reach that conclusion based entirely on our own observations." (see Hebrews 11:1-3)

It makes me sad when folks attempt to negate or dismiss things which they don't understand (and don't demonstrate any inclination/desire/willingness to understand). Unfortunately, most of us reach conclusions about things based on varying degrees of research and consideration (often little to none), and then we are finished with it. We have proven our belief(s) to our satisfaction, and everyone else be damned! The problem with this should be obvious to everyone. When we are no longer willing to explore and learn, when we close ourselves off to the possibility that others may be right (and we may be wrong), we have taken the path of willful ignorance. Is it really so terrifying to admit that we don't know something? Is God finite or infinite? Is God contained? Is God finished? What is the origin of our ability to learn? Can God learn? Can God grow? Is ignorance bliss? What do you think?

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones

Philadelphia Church of God: A Breeding Ground For Unhappiness

...as if any of them ever did in the COG

 

There is one trait that Church of God groups have and that is their self-righteous indignation about everything they work overtime to find wrong with the world around them while their own houses are cesspools of spiritual wickedness and moral depravity.

The all-knowing purveyors of righteousness in the Philadelphia Church of God are ragging about "Universities" and how evil they are and how holy and righteous Herbert W Armstrong College is.

Rufaro Manyepa has an article up in The Trumpet about the evils of universities.

Going to university used to be considered the natural course of life for a young person. Acquiring a degree was the crowning achievement setting them up for a life of success. After all, having a degree meant making more money. But the data shows decreasing graduate salaries and rising non-graduate salaries.

In fact, having a degree is no longer even a guarantee of finding work. According to the Telegraph, graduates no longer stand out in a difficult jobs market in which degree certificates are commonplace. These grim circumstances, coupled with enormous student debt, are leading many graduates to be disillusioned with their lot.

Why are universities failing? Because the educational system as a whole is built upon the wrong foundation.

Late educator and namesake of Herbert W. Armstrong College wrote in his autobiography: “[T]he Bible is the very foundation of all knowledge—the basic concept as an approachto the acquisition of all knowledge—whether academic, scientific, historic, philosophical or otherwise. The Bible provides the missing dimension in education. Therefore, it must be the basis for all academic courses.”

Granted there is a lot wrong with universities and colleges today, but those I know that have been to university and graduated are upstanding people who contribute to their communities. They work to better their communities and the lives of those around them. None of them ever went to a Church of God "college".

What good has this "missing dimension in education" been in the Churches of God today? They have all produced a cadre of abusive ministers who have made the lives of church members a living hell. That superior education has also produced some of the most idiotic Pastor Generals, Overseers, Presidents, Apostles, Evangelists, and Witless Witnesses the church has ever seen. Well, unless you are an Overseer and you get your diploma from an Indian diploma mill then you are in a category all by yourself.

Herbert W. Armstrong College is built on the very same policy. A house built on a faulty foundation is bound to fall (Matthew 7:24-27). That is the problem facing the educational system of today. That is the reason why this world’s universities are churning out unhappy, dissatisfied graduates.

God’s college stands in stark contrast. It is built on the foundation of all knowledge, God’s Word, to teach students not just how to make a living, but how to live. The graduates from God’s college receive an academic, social, physical and spiritual education that trains not only intellect but also character.

A "house built on a faulty foundation is bound to fall". Let's look at that statement. The entire "house" that was Ambassador College/University failed. Three campuses were sold for pennies on the dollar. The very church behind them all imploded in the most ghastly manner imaginable and now we are confronted with hundreds and hundreds of bastard children of the mother church, all claiming they are the one true successor. So much for being inculcated with that true knowledge and living lives of integrity and good moral character! Does the church even have a leader today that has good moral character?

Facebook is filled with numerous COG related groups that are filled with thousands of ex-members who have shared their horror stories of what it was like being treated like dirt by COG ministers and leaders. They share their stories about how they were mistreated as children growing in the church and the spiritual damage it has wreaked in their lives.

On those Facebook pages, this blog, The Painful Truth, Exit and Support Network, As Bereans Did, and other worthwhile sites, there are hundreds and hundreds of horror stories from Philadelphia Church of God members and ex-members. The vile PCG doctrines and teachings that have wrecked people's lives, marriages, and families are shocking and continue to this day with students from their so-called college. Even PCG admits they have had a few "disgruntled" past students.

In its nearly two decades, only a tiny portion of Armstrong College graduates would claim to be unhappy. Unhappy students are certainly the exception rather than the rule. That would be a lofty achievement for this world’s universities. But even more ideal prospects loom for the entire world.

I find it hilarious that COG groups just cannot stand people who rebel against their abusive teachings and hold them accountable. 

The bleak circumstances surrounding today’s graduates will not last. Very soon, the world’s system of education will be abolished. There will be no more unhappy students, no dissatisfied graduates, no anxiety or worry among college students or the general population itself. God’s system of education, founded on right knowledge, will proliferate around this entire world. Never again will there be an unhappy graduate as all come into the knowledge of God and His way of life.

The bleak circumstances surrounding the PCG and many of the other COG's will certainly not last. Very soon, many, if not all to them, are bound for the dunghill where they belong upon. There will be no more unhappy members, no dissatisfied students, and no anxiety over whether or not they are pleasing the angry god of their leaders. The perverse personality cults that masquerade as God's very elect will be no more. None of the current leaders of ANY of the COG groups will ever again be able to destroy members' lives. 

What a glorious day that will be!

 

Dave Pack Gets Annihilated In New Video Examining His "Does God Exist?" Video

 

Dave and his superstitious myths are exposed by yet another person. 

Dave Pack is the gift that just keeps on giving.

by Paulogia: a former Christian takes a look at the claims of Christians

The one thing that Paulogia misses is that Dave is NOT a Christian nor is his cult Christian.