The Preposterous Fiction of Literalism

What will happen to Armstrongism when we colonize the Moon and Mars?   

It's a valid question. One that these days we cannot just readily dismiss. We already have humans orbiting Earth at the International Space Station, and plans are to send men to Mars by 2020. If we can set up a colony on Mars, no matter how small, that obviously throws a lot of long-held Armstrongism beliefs into deep confusion. 

For the sake of argument - let's imagine that in the next twenty years at the minimum, and who knows how long after that, we have established some sort of colony on the Moon or on Mars. We'll go with Mars with this one. Hang with me here folks, There's a point to this. It's going to seem a little calendarish and trivial at first, but bear with the trivialities...

Here are some facts:

The Martian day lasts 1 day and 37 minutes. 

The Martian year lasts 687 days.

Spring is seven months long, summer is 6 months long, fall is 5.3 months long, and winter is just over 4 months long. 

Here is the Dorian Calendar, proposed by the Planetary Society for timekeeping on Mars:

http://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/mars/mars-calendar.html

Let's use this year as an example. 

Martian Spring started this year on March 23, 2019 Earth Time.

Martian Summer starts this year on October 8, 2019 Earth Time. 

Martian Fall starts this year on April 8, 2020 Earth Time. 

Martian Winter starts this year on September 2, 2020. 

Which brings in mind ethical questions:

Everything that Armstrongism stands for has to do with Earth, NOT Mars.

We all know that Armstrongism takes everything extremely literally, from the Isaiah Prophecies to the "World Tomorrow". Since they have proposed a theology deeply embedded in literalism, I will do the same with my questions. Try not to laugh too hard. 

• When Christ returns to Earth, will Christ do a fly-by and a wave going past Mars?
• Will Mars be spared from "The Great Tribulation", including any colonies? 
• Are Martian Humans subject to the Law just as much as Earthly humans?
• If the Kingdom of God is on Earth, and Earth is Heaven, do Martian Humans really go to Heaven when they die? 
• If Earth's atmosphere is a "heaven", what is Mars' atmosphere? a Marsvean? 
• If the Millennium takes place on Earth, are Martian Colonies left out? 
• Will you be able to see The Holy City from Mars?
• What about the Sabbath and Holy Days on Mars? What meaning will these have there?
• Will sunset to sunset still apply? 
• Will the Moon become a new Feast Site? Or will all Martians go to Earth for the Feast? 
• Why are there no Mars-prophecies recorded in the Bible? 
• Why are there no Moon-prophecies recorded in the Bible?

Are these questions ludicrous? In Armstrongism, everything is ludicrous, so I jumped on the Ludicrous Train for a moment so I can bring out loud and clear what happens when you take biblical allegory and scripture LITERALLY. It brings up a bunch of questions that, clearly ridiculous, are deeply embedded in Armstrong theology. Which leads me to a final question.

Is Armstrongism so steeped in literalism that it has become an unapologetic mockery all of its own? 

If the entirety of the above questions make you smirk and squirm at it's ridiculousness, then perhaps you will get a taste at how the entirety of Armstrongism's literal theology - as incorrect as it has been proven to be - is to those who have actually studied religion and look at what Herbert did to it. Remember, Herbert was the one who said Christ would literally travel millions of miles in a day to return to Earth. So in his theology, these questions really aren't so preposterous. Right? 

Whether on Earth, Mars, in deep space, the two great commandments stand - LOVE. You can love your neighbor here or there. That transcends time, space, literalism, debate over law, seasons, times, and years. It transcends holy days, Sabbaths, and festivals. It can be practiced anywhere and everywhere humans do and will exist. The funny thing is? 

Armstrongism can't even get it together here on Earth, and as such, they miss the boat, hanging their entire doctrinal palette on literalism which has become its own genre of science fiction, ignoring the reality of love for the inferiority of the shadows. And that's the point I am trying to bring out in this somewhat ridiculous post. 

submitted by SHT

LCG to control member's charity, plus more hubbub about sex

LCG doesn't like for its members to strike out on their own and be charitable without the minister's permission. LCG wants to control the money, and prefers that you just send in all charitable gifts to headquarters so they can determine who is most deserving. If you ask your local LCG minister as this suggests, what do you think he'll tell you to do? Send in to HQ.

From the most recent weekly update:

Caution on Internet Fund Requests—Repeat AnnouncementMore and more often we see friends, relatives, church members, and total strangers requesting financial assistance over the Internet through various funding sites, such as “GoFundMe” and others. By way of examples, some requests are for medical emergencies, disaster relief, or family tragedies. Other requests are made to help fund honeymoons, business ventures, vacations, personal desires, or trips to the Feast. Members should exercise caution, using their heads as well as their hearts. Why is the request being made? Are the requests true needs or emergencies? If the request is coming from a member, it might be a good idea to seek advice from one’s minister. As in many situations involving online activities, please exercise caution when considering a donation to a funding site.—Church Administration Department

In the update there's also more obsession about sex:

There Is NO “Gay Gene”! Research just published in the highly respected journal Science contains findings that will be shocking to many. In a genome-association study of nearly 500,000 people in the U.S., U.K., and Sweden, researchers concluded, “No individual gene alone makes a person gay, lesbian or bisexual; instead, thousands of genes likely influence sexual orientation” (Live Science, August 29, 2019). The report continues (emphasis added throughout), “The biological factors that contribute to sexual orientation are largely unknown, but many scientists suspect that genetics plays a role”—meaning scientists still do not know why some humans have homosexual tendencies. The researchers also noted, “Instead, the predisposition to same-sex sexual behavior appeared influenced by a complex mix of genetic and environmental influences.” One of the study’s co-authors stated, “It’s effectively impossible to predict an individual’s sexual behavior from their genome,” demonstrating that the “gay gene” is, in the words of Live Science, “a total myth.” 

This cutting-edge study was roughly 100 times larger than any previous study, carrying with it a tremendous amount of weight and a high degree of credibility. The study relied on data collected through the U.S.-based 23andME and the U.K. BioBank, as well as survey questions.  

It is surprising that this study was published and relayed by the press, when its findings contradict popular public opinions. However, the findings support the assertion that homosexuality is not something fixed and determined from birth, as well as the fact that “God does not make people homosexual.” With that in mind, it makes more sense when we read biblical injunctions that homosexual behavior is wrong (Romans 1:26–28)! A loving God would never condemn a behavior if people had no choice but to engage in it. For more on this topic, be sure to read “The Plain Truth About Homosexuality.”—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, Chris Sookdeo, Richard Franz, and John Wheeler

From an LCG source

A Short Public Service Announcement...

I recognize that matters of faith, hope and belief are unique to each of us as is our experience in coming to, going through and passing out of the WCG experience.  We all have our story and the thoughts, feelings and emotions that go along with them for having had that experience.  Once burned, twice smart as we say.

I also recognize there are, or should be boundaries in the topics expressed here.  The purpose of Banned is well stated in the Blog Header.  Each of us, I am sure, only ever wanted to know what is true in life and what is not.  We all come to different conclusions and like it or not, what is true for one is heresy and annoying to another.

I do consider the criticism received here, though please know, I express my own experiences and journey through all this in my own life sincerely. We all think others will "get it" if we just explain it well. But ultimately it is each to their own and we all have a right to the personal outcomes in our hearts and minds for having had this experience.

All that to say, I take the criticism to heart. It is not my purpose to offend, destroy faith or take one's crown.  I only ever wished to share my own perspectives , interests now able to be better expressed and conclusions for myself in my own life if it helped others in some way.  As a former member and pastor, I simply wished to share my own journey out of both.

I  do apologize for straying too often outside the boundaries of the intent of this Blog and will tighten it up to reflect appropriate observations about the  WCG experience and all the reminders out there of why are very glad to be free of it.

And now we return to our regularly scheduled program