"If The Vision Is Big Enough, Then Facts Don't Matter!"

I don't think this is a splinter group of the old WCG, but just a group that took WCG's name and incorporated into theirs.

Nor do I think they realize how appropriate their web page banner is in it's description of Armstrongism.  Though HWA's vision was grand, it is quit obvious now that facts NEVER mattered!  Though Dave Pack's and Gerald Flurry's vision may be big, facts have never mattered.

Oh wait, that seems to be what's wrong with most of Christianity!  Facts never matter. Fluff, literalism, speculation, false prophecies, bigotry, homophobia, racism, stupid apostles and aberrant doctrines do.

It sure sounds like a happening group!  One Accord Worldwide Church of God, Inc.

"Apostle Wesley is a SPIRITUAL PARAMEDIC that helps resuscitate them back to life by providing a healing and delivering WORD of GOD.

"In January 2012, Friendship Worldwide Fellowship Ministries merged with One Accord Holiness Church; thus creating One Accord Worldwide Church of God, Inc., where the Presiding Bishop is Dr. John D. Wesley and Apostle serves as the Diocesan."

"

New Book: The End Will Be Graphic: Apocalyptic in Comic Books and Graphic Novels

There is a new book being published that discusses the graphics used by different illustrators to portray the end of the world.  One of those artists featured is Basil Wolverton.  Wolverton is the one who created teh nightmare inducing graphics for the children Bible Story books for WCG.

More info is here:  The End Will Be Graphic Apocalyptic in Comic Books and Graphic Novels

The End Will Be Graphic
Apocalyptic in Comic Books and Graphic Novels
Edited by Dan W. Clanton, Jr

This collection is based on the premise that apocalyptic imagery and themes pervade not only cultural products that employ specifically biblical imagery, but are also found in media that do not purport to impart biblical or even religious messages. Comic books and graphic novels are the focus here because, it is suggested, they are the medium that comes the closest to the imaginative malleability found in the history of biblical interpretation.

In Part One, the focus is on Indie/Creator-Owned works. Emily Laycock demonstrates the overwhelming influence of Herbert W. Armstrong and his apocalyptic Worldwide Church of God on Basil Wolverton’s work, especially his biblical art. Aaron Kashtan then introduces us to Kevin Huizenga’s short story, “Jeepers Jacobs,” in which the title character—a theologian whose main area of research is the Christian doctrine of Hell—tries to convert an acquaintance with odd and fatal results. In her chapter, Diana Green examines Alan Moore’s Promethea, a character whose purpose is to initiate an Apocalypse but whose journey is much more complicated. Finally, A. David Lewis engages humorous and profane examples of apocalyptic imagery in the recent Indie comics Battle Pope and The Chronicles of Wormwood.

Part Two examines more mainstream works and begins with Terry Ray Clark’s adroit examination of how Kingdom Come utilizes both the functions and forms of ancient apocalyptic literature. Greg Stevenson then analyses a variety of texts—including X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse and issues #666 of Superman and Batman—to discern the way(s) in which the mythological language of apocalyptic and the mythology of superheroes interact. And finally, Greg Garrett provides a broad and thoughtful rumination on the two most widely read mainstream comics that deal with the End of Days: Kingdom Come and Watchmen.

This is a volume in the series Apocalypse and Popular Culture (see Howard, Network Apocalypse, Gribben and Sweetnam, Left Behind and the Evangelical Imagination, Walliss and Quinby, Reel Revelations, Partridge).

Dan W. Clanton, Jr, is Assistant Professor of Religion at Doane College, Crete, Nebraska.

Mike Swagerty Thesis On Decline In Church Attendance

This may interest some here.  I have not read through most of it.  Mainstream Christianity has been going through a gradual decline over the last several years.  Evangelicals are the latest taking a hit.  People are tired of the hypocrisy, bigotry, legalism and other things they see wrong and are jumping ship.

While Swagerty claims to have written this geared towards all churches who are suffering from this decline, I have to wonder if the main reason for this paper was the continuing decline of the GCI/WCG membership.

It was thought for many years that the church would grow dramatically after the dust had settled after the changes.  People would be in awe of us and want to join.  It hasn't happened.  A few years ago GCI/WCG was closing down a church a week.  What membership it has now, is made up of current and former members who may be returning.  New ones, with no connection to Armstrongism, are few in number.

I don't care to weed through his thesis, but some may.

Mike Swagerty: Church Growth in America: Whose Responsibility Is It?