Armstrongism has a long track record of weird splinter cults splintering off. To date there are estimates of well over 600 different groups all from the original Radio Church of God. Many are benign and have quickly died out from lack of relevance. Others have been larger in numbers when they are formed by charismatic leaders. Many of these turned into dangerous splinter cults that have lead to untold misery and hardship. One such splinter cult is The House of Yahweh, centered in Abilene, Texas and led by Yisrayl Hawkins, a former Armstrongite. Hawkins has been in jail for bigamy, child abuse and other accusations.
This month sees the release of a new book by Hawkins former wife, Kay Hawkins, and details the inside workings of this dangerous splinter cult of Armstrongism.
Silenced has an entry today about the book:
Kay Hawkins Speaks Out
Amazon has this to say:
The House of Yahweh My Side of the Story
Publication
Date: July 27, 2012
Many years have elapsed
since I was excommunicated from The House of Yahweh in Abilene, Texas. In the
interim, this religious organization has come to be known as the largest
doomsday cult in America. How did The House of Yahweh, Abilene, get this sordid
reputation? As you read, you will come to understand.
Buffalo Bill Hawkins, now
known as Yisrayl B. Hawkins, the Elder and Overseer of this organization,
declared to me, "I am The House of Yahweh."
He also declares, "I
am without sin." The scriptures in the editions of the bible that he now
publishes have been rewritten, cleverly twisted to fit his own personal
doctrines. The scriptures plainly show that you will "know him" by
his fruit, in other words, by what he has produced. I am sharing these
"fruits" with you.
How did this organization
begin? Why do people who seem rational, who seem to have a sound mind, get
wrapped up in something that Yisrayl Hawkins has caused The House of Yahweh to
become? Why do these people change their last names to "Hawkins?" Why
do they pierce their ear to a door of The House of Yahweh building in order to
go into servitude to a mere man? Why do the men secretly practice polygamy? How
would a person stay in a religion like this? Why did I stay as long as I did?
Why did I leave? I am writing my personal account to tell you my side of these
events.
I was there at the
beginning when The House of Yahweh was actually a wonderful place to be. I was
also there when things slowly began to change for the worse, like a frog placed
in a cool pot of water which the fire slowly brings to a boil.