Exposing the underbelly of Armstrongism in all of its wacky glory! Nothing you read here is made up. What you read here is the up to date face of Herbert W Armstrong's legacy. It's the gritty and dirty behind the scenes look at Armstrongism as you have never seen it before!
With all the new crazy self-appointed Chief Overseers, Apostles, Prophets, Pharisees, legalists, and outright liars leading various Churches of God today, it is important to hold these agents of deception accountable.
Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders
Living Church of God is foolishly going ahead with the ministerial conference in March. Their inane admonition that
"...no one should travel to the U.S. if they are feeling ill or have been around people who are ill..."
provides only an illusion of safety. Everyone by now -- except apparently the leadership of LCG -- knows that COVID-19 is asymptomatic, that is, you can have the virus and be contagious without any symptoms. It is time church members spoke out against this reckless folly that will needlessly exposes members of the church and employees to a potentially life-threatening pathogen. Aristophanes
Ministerial Conference, March 16–18As was mentioned in an e-mail this past week to all the ministers who have registered to attend the conference, after careful consultation, Mr. Weston has made the decision to continue with plans for the upcoming Ministerial Conference, but with caution. We are expecting over 300 attendees to the Ministerial Conference March 16–18. However, the international situation with the COVID-19 virus is very fluid, and we will be prepared to adjust plans as needed, with special concern for international travelers. We urge our ministry to be aware of the COVID-19 virus situation, and how it might impact their travels, particularly if they are coming from outside the United States. As mentioned in the e-mail, no one should travel to the U.S. if they are feeling ill or have been around people who are ill. All of us, especially the elderly, need to consider carefully whether or not to travel at this time. The Church has long practiced the biblical statute regarding quarantine (Leviticus 13:46 and others), and members should be especially alert and careful in these times (Proverbs 22:3). CAD is not requiring anyone to travel in these times if they would rather not. CAD will make arrangements regarding costs associated with cancelled flights, etc., on an individual basis. Concerning ministry from the U.S. and Canada, the quarantine statute should be carefully observed. If possible, drive instead of using air travel, and CAD will discuss the financial aspects with individual situations. In any case, you should not come if you are uncomfortable with travelling in the current conditions.
The self-appointed prophet of the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god" is scrambling to get his face on various podcasts and interviews in order to get his message across.
Since many have asked me about it, here is something I posted at COGwriter.com on Tuesday:
Last month, I was interviewed for a holistic podcast as well as a segment for a naturally-oriented television program related to COVID-19, the “novel” strain of the coronavirus.
Basically, I said to wash hands frequently and work to support a stronger immune system.
Avoiding unnecessary contact with the sick can also be helpful for many.
HERE ARE TEN RULES
1. Sleep — Be sure of good ventilation — PLENTY OF FRESH AIR in the bedroom all night, winter and summer. … Fresh air is FREE — and nothing is more vital to health, but avoid drafts striking you.
2. Arise — Get right out of bed the instant you awaken. Do not lie in bed, or turn over for a second sleep, no matter how tired or dragged down you feel. A second sleep dulls the mind.
Nothing is more important in Armstrongism than a brisk towel rub down.
3. Bath and rubdown — Take a regular morning shower bath if possible, making it short and snappy, ending with a vigorous rubdown. If no shower is available, take a tub bath at least two or three times a week. End with cold water, especially in cold weather. This closes the pores and prevents chilling and taking cold.
If no shower is available, take a vigorous rubdown in the bedroom daily or twice daily, using a turkish or bath towel or massage brush. Begin at wrists and feet massaging vigorously toward the heart. If the room is cold, just apply a little more energy — the vigorous rubbing will keep you warm.
Vibrate your brain and shampoo your hair every 2 - 3 weeks.
4. Head rub and shampoo — Before leaving the bedroom, massage and rub the scalp vigorously with tips of fingers, suitable stiff bristle brush, or electric vibrator. This stimulates new circulation thru the scalp, makes the brain more active, and is the best guarantee there is against baldness. Shampoo the hair at least every two or three weeks. Be sure to use neutral, mild soap (imported castile is best) and rinse thoroughly.
5. Water — …. Start in with whatever you can drink, increasing it till you are able to take one or two full glasses. Soon you will crave it. … This morning glass of water is very important.
6. Breakfast — Avoid too heavy a breakfast. If you eat pancakes, eat but few. Do not eat too many eggs, and never more than two or three times a week. Eggs are good food, but too many produce a sluggish liver. Avoid soggy, heavy foods. Eat some fruit if possible — especially grapefruit, oranges, etc.
7. Food — In the main, simply eat what you find agrees with you — but be sure to get a reasonable amount of fruits, and leafy vegetables (lettuce, raw cabbage, spinach, etc.) and milk, every day. Avoid meals loaded with meat, potatoes, beans, corn, etc., unless balanced with leafy vegetables and fruits.
For health’s sake eat … none of the meats called “unclean” and forbidden under the Old Testament Mosaic law. Above all, eat slowly, and CHEW THOROUGHLY before swallowing. Avoid overeating. Most people eat twice what they should.
This did not work too well for Loma, his wife, but it was the membership's fault she was constipated and not his refusal to take her to proper medical intervention.
8. Elimination — Nothing is more vital to health than habitual regularity of elimination. Constipation is nothing but the penalty of lack of regularity. Pills will not CURE constipation. Nothing but the re-establishment of regularity of habit will cure it. For those suffering from this, I would advise resorting to divine healing — but be sure you deserve it by reestablishment of regular habits, preferably at a set time of day. Also regulate diet to aid this.
9. Breathing — At least three times during the day — preferably bed time, rising time and once during the day — go outdoors, or open all the windows and doors in the house, stand erect, chest out and shoulders back, and BREATHE DEEPLY several times. Inhale slowly through the nose, till lungs are completely full. Exhale through the mouth, till the lungs are entirely emptied of air. Repeat several times. Try to learn the habit of breathing deeply, taking in more air and more completely emptying the lungs at every breath.
10. Exercise — Few people past twenty- five get sufficient exercise, except those who are farmers, or get exercise through daily labor. Even in this case it is likely that only certain parts of the body are receiving sufficient exercise. Walking in the fresh air every day is good. For those who lead an in-door life, such sports as golf or tennis are splendid. Often bedroom exercises are advisable. Your body and muscles will not likely wear out, but can more easily rust out. Each individual must determine for himself what additional exercise, if any, he needs, as differing daily occupations naturally affect this.
Of course, to keep the money stream going, the following MUST be done:
It goes without saying that all forms of dissipation must be avoided if these 10 health rules are to prove successful.
So, in addition to the rules like the above, what can be done to support the immune system?
Well, regular fasting is one item I mentioned when interviewed.
But I AM basically following a version of Herbert W. Armstrong’s Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health (including exercising regularly and not eating any biblically unclean animals).
Furthermore, yes, I regularly consume a fair amount of fruit, try to avoid a lot of processed foods, pray to God for wisdom, and do fast pretty much every month.
So much for the "praying to God for wisdom" part. Epic failure.
This time it is not Bob Thiel, the first and only REAL Zerrubabel, but that OTHER Zerubbabel. The one who wanted to impregnate his daughter to produce a holy child. Now Zerub is on to a new topic.
Only in Armstrongism can you hear a self-appointed prophet talk about "the head of his penis emerging." Oh wait, I forgot, this is a normal topic Christians discuss and need to be worried about. But this is Armstrongism we were talking about, so that changes things.
As the Philadelphia Church of God membership roles continue to decrease, the PCg is trying to give the impression that people are flocking to join up with them and attend services. They have a new article up for those who "want" to attend PCg services. PCg does not draw in members of the public, and if they do it is usually 1 person from numerous campaigns. However, it makes current PCg members feel encouraged that PCg apparently has numerous requests from people to join. They never question the leadership in this matter, even though they see friends leaving the church and numbers shrinking week after week.
Like most of the other splinter cult leaders in Armstrongims, they like to trot out that they are a little flock." It is not because people are not being called into them, but their numbers are small because of demonic doctrines that destroy families and members' lives with double blessed legalistic zealotry lives are driving people out. God does not call people into the PCg or any of the other splinter personally cults out there today (particularly into Thielism, Malmism Packism and Flurryism.
Get a load of this crap:
The Church is a “little flock” (Luke 12:32), personally and carefully called by God the Father (John 6:44) in order to fulfill specific work in preparation for the time when He will carry out His plan of salvation for all mankind. Its members did not individually choose to join the Church; rather they responded favorably to being invited and set there by God.
No god out there has ever invited people to "join" Furry's cult.
The answer to the question, “Can I attend services with the Philadelphia Church of God?” depends on God’s purpose for you at this time.
Is God calling you into His Church? Many churches encourage people to visit and see if it “feels right” to them. They may even put on emotional pressure to make an altar call and “give your heart to Jesus.” A great many people have been drawn into commitments they didn’t truly understand based solely on feelings, which can be fickle, even deceptive.
The "commitments" they are supposedly being "drawn into" that they do not realize the significance of, are heretical man-made doctrines of a sick-minded group of men who demand that members do not seek medical attention and that they separate themselves from family members, spouses, children, grandchildren, and grandparents, because those people may no longer believe the heretical fake Sabbatarian crap of Flurry.
God’s calling is based on truth—and obedience to the truth—not on a feeling or a swell of emotion.
Obedience to the laws of a man and his cabal of abusive twisted ministers is NOT obedience to the truth.
Here is the requirement that potential PCg members MUST do before asking to attend services. The number one priority is to read Mystery of the Ages
Study the entirety of Mystery of the Ages along with your Bible, and you will gain a superb overview of the foundational doctrines of the Philadelphia Church of God. Ask yourself whether you believe God is working in your life. Is He opening your mind to understand the plain teachings of the Bible—even where those teachings may differ from what many churches preach?
The mere fact that potential income streams are required to read the quagmire of MOA's as their first requirement before opening their bibles to prove their desire to attend services, proves jus how sick they are.
If you believe He is calling you, you ought to take action. To look into this more deeply, definitely read “The Mystery of the Church” from Mystery of the Ages, if not the whole book. If you have done this study and want to speak with a Philadelphia Church of God minister
Nope! MOA has to be the most boring book Herbert ever wrote. It ranks right up there next to Tomorrow's World and The Incredible Human Potential. This triumvirate of butt-numbing and incredibly boring books that have absolutely NOTHING to do with one's salvation.
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come; for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, curse their parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power." -II Timothy 3:1-5
The following quotes are from Sam Vaknin's book, "Malignant Self Love". All of them come from pages 388-399 where he talks about narcissists in positions of power, and particularly, as religious leaders. As you will see, it reads like a biography on Herbert W. Armstrong and many others of his underling creations over the years. It is interesting to note that the context above in II Timothy is religious leaders. I believe this describes the inevitable fruits of hierarchically structured religions.
I sprinkled in some commentary along the way. There are so many good quotes here that I'm sure they will trigger many thoughts, memories, examples, and experiences of your own. Please share them in the comments. [Narcissists need not apply!] "Narcissists in Positions of Authority" "Being in a position of authority secures the uninterrupted flow of Narcissistic Supply. Fed by the awe, fear, subordination, admiration, adoration, and obedience of his underlings, parish, students, or patients, the narcissist thrives in such circumstances. The narcissist aspires to acquire authority by any means available to him."
"As far as the narcissist is concerned, there is no moral dimension to abusing others-only a pragmatic one: will he be punished for doing so? The narcissist is atavistically responsive to fear and lacks any in-depth understanding of what it is to be a human being." "Narcissistic Leaders"
"The narcissistic leader fosters and encourages a personality cult with all the hallmarks of an institutional religion: priesthood, rites, rituals, temples, worship, catechism, mythology. The leader is this religion's ascetic saint. He monastically denies himself earthly pleasures (or so he claims) in order to be able to dedicate himself fully to his calling. The narcissistic leader is a monstrously inverted Jesus, sacrificing his life and denying himself so that his people-or humanity at large-should benefit. By surpassing and suppressing his humanity, the narcissistic leader becomes a distorted version of Nietzsche's 'Superman'." Herb's autobiography is crafted with fabled years on end of suffering (not of his doing, of course) and supposed sacrifice for the "work" Jesus Christ supposedly 'cursed' him with. I'm sure he hoped it would satisfy people's concerns about his glamorous lifestyle; stealing from the poor, fearful and ignorant.
"In short: narcissistic leadership is about theatre, not about life. To enjoy the spectacle (and be subsumed by it) the leader demands the suspension of judgment, depersonalization, and de-realization." Actors and performers in ancient times were the priests. The religious guru and propagandist was also the entertainer and bedazzler; the hypnotizer.
This resonates well with Wes White's post, "Kayfabe Gospel Preaching".
"Narcissistic leadership often poses as a rebellion against the 'old ways': against the hegemonic culture, the upper classes, the established religions, the superpowers, the corrupt order."
"The narcissistic leader prefers the sparkle and glamour of well-orchestrated illusions to the tedium and method of real accomplishments. His reign is all smoke and mirrors, devoid of substances, consisting of mere appearances and mass delusions. In the aftermath of his regime-the narcissistic leader having died, been deposed, or voted out of office-it all unravels. The tireless and constant prestidigitation ceases and the entire edifice crumbles. What looked like an economic miracles turns out to have been a fraud-laced bubble." Robert Coulter points out as much in his history of COG7D, "The Journey". For all of HWA's slander of the church he stole many of his ideas from, that church remains with close to half a million members and absent of websites, established by ex-members, devoted to exposing the abusive nature of cult life. The money train sure chugged along for a season but just as Vaknin said, once the narcissist was dead, it all came crumbling down into a pile of ineffective nothing and left behind, a trail of wasted and broken lives. "To the narcissist, things and people are either entirely bad (evil) or entirely good. 'You are either with me or against me' is a common refrain." This mentality is still embedded in the splinter culture. "The 'small people', the 'rank and file', the 'loyal soldiers' of the narcissist-his flock, his nation, his employees-they pay the price. The disillusionment and disenchantment are agonizing. The process of reconstruction, of rising from the ashes, of overcoming the trauma of having been deceived, exploited and manipulated-is drawn out. It is difficult to trust again, to have faith, to love, to be led, to collaborate. Feelings of shame and guilt engulf the erstwhile followers of the narcissist. This is his sole legacy: a massive Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."
The internet is a blessing to humanity. It exposes evil and shows how it's not normal to have a ton of negative things about you in the public domain.
But I also find it repugnant how often people will come to blogs where people share their trauma in hopes of dealing with it better and find healing, only to be castigated by the kool-aid drinking sycophants still denying their own mental illness. Many of themselves, narcissists, as is evident by their cruel comments, superior attitude and tiring argumentative spirit.
The ultimate legacy of a religious narcissist like Herb and Dave are conversions to atheism by acts of cruelty and abuse. These conversions give the narcissist messiah his ultimate victory; vanquishing God and taking His place upon the throne of the universe. This isn't a knock on atheism, only an observance of what narcissists do to people of faith. It is one thing for an atheist to influence someone away from their faith by reason. I have no problem with that. Narcissists go as far as to use some tactics none short of Satanic ritual abuse. "The Cult of the Narcissist" "The narcissist is the guru at the center of a cult. Like other gurus, he demands complete obedience from his flock. He feels entitled to adulation and special treatment by his followers. He punishes the wayward and the straying lambs." "The-often involuntary-members of the narcissist's mini-cult inhabit a twilight zone of his own construction. He imposes on them a shared psychosis, replete with persecutory delusions, 'enemies', mythical narratives, and apocalyptic scenarios if he is flouted." This 'twilight zone' HWA masterfully concocted on radio and television was his main hook, rooted simply in fear and nothing else. It truly amazes me that after all these decades, there are still people arguing prophecy with any kind of Herbesque dire consequence. Give it a rest. Just the fact that prophecy is a religious narcissists' favorite tool in his box of tricks should be enough for anyone to steer clear of anyone coming at you dogmatically about future events and dates. Fixations on the future is what enables the narcissist to engulf others in his own twisted reality of urgency existing paradoxically in a cocoon of suspended animation. "The narcissist is a micro-manager. He exerts control over the minutest details and behaviours. He punishes severely and abuses withholders of information and those who fail to conform to his wishes and goals." "The narcissist does not respect the boundaries and privacy of his reluctant adherents. He ignores their wishes and treats them as objects or instruments of gratification." "He strongly disapproves of others' personal autonomy and independence. Even innocuous activities, such as meeting a friend or visiting one's family require his permission." The last few descriptions are strongly evident in PCG and RCG. I know personally, the demand Dave Pack puts on his slaves and the toll it takes. He is the vilest narcissist I have ever known in my life. "His thinking is dogmatic, rigid and doctrinaire. He does not countenance free thought, pluralism, or free speech and doesn't brook criticism and disagreement." Unfortunately, the sycophant managers left holding the bag after Herb didn't take everyone to Petra, still uphold the same dogmatic, rigid, free-thought crushing system. And, of course, they have to...their employment and retirement is at stake. "He forces the participants in his cult to be hostile to critics, the authorities, institutions, his personal enemies, or the media-if they try to uncover his actions and reveal the truth. He closely monitors and censors information from the outside, exposing his captive audience only to selective data and analyses." This is another policy that has carried over in the splinters. I have heard several sermons at feasts where ministers got up and brazenly told brethren to stay off the internet. They attempt to ridicule and bully the listeners with threats that they will become flat-earthers and moon-landing deniers if they don't obey. (Some of them do...but so what?) These portfolio managers don't care about brethren getting sucked into dumb ideas. Their only concern is that people start finding out the truth about their 'twilight zone'. "The narcissist's cult is 'missionary' and 'imperialistic'. He is always on the lookout for new recruits." "As the leader of his congregation, the narcissist feels entitled to special amenities and benefits not accorded the 'rank and file'. He expects to be waited on hand and foot, to make free use of everyone's money and dispose of their assets liberally, and to be cynically exempt from the rules that he himself established (if such violation is pleasurable or gainful)." "In extreme cases, the narcissist feels above the law-any kind of law. This grandiose and haughty conviction leads to criminal acts, incestuous or polygamous relationships, and recurrent friction with the authorities. Hence the narcissist's panicky and sometimes violent reaction to 'dropouts' from his cult. There's a lot going on that the narcissist wants kept under wraps." This explains why out of the hundreds of people that came and went in RCG, hardly a peep from any of them. You can be sure Pack is 'lawyered' up with signatures on the dotted line from every one of them. They don't dare speak out unless they want to end up like Don Tiger. "The narcissist sees enemies and conspiracies everywhere. He often casts himself as the heroic victim (martyr) of dark and stupendous forces. In every deviation from his tenets, he espies malevolent and ominous subversion. He, therefore, is bent on disempowering his devotees. By any and all means." The easiest way for a narcissist to keep his devotees disempowered is to lock them into the prison of hierarchy, tithing laws and prophecy obsession. "The Professions of a Narcissist" "The narcissist naturally gravitates towards those professions which guarantee the abundant and uninterrupted provision of Narcissistic Supply. He seeks to interact with people from a position of authority, advantage, or superiority. He thus elicits their automatic admiration, adulation, and affirmation-or, failing that, their fear and obedience. Several vocations meet these requirements: teaching, the priesthood, show business, corporate management, the medical professions, politics, and sports. It is safe to predict that narcissists would be over-represented in these occupations. This is a worrisome state of affairs. Narcissists are liars. They misrepresent their credentials, knowledge, talents, skills, and achievements." Notice the very similar relationship between teacher, priest, actor, sports icon and politician. Narcissists will do whatever it takes to climb the corporate, educational, political or ecclesiastical ladder. Fortunately, some of them aren't very good at masking their narcissism and those around them impede them from reaching positions of power and control. This is what happened to Herb in COG7D. But Herb did do what many other narcissists have done when they fail to scale existing hierarchies...they create their own. Already in his 50's, he started a school for 18-year-olds to build his fiefdom. The perfect toadies. He already commanded respect with over 30 years their senior. He was their teacher, rabbi, and spiritual papa. The man was an idol unto himself who hand-picked his loyal underling priests that would do whatever he said. Period. "Can Men of God Be Narcissists?" "God is everything the narcissist ever wants to be: omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, admired, much discussed, and awe-inspiring. God is the narcissist's wet dream, his ultimate grandiose fantasy. But God comes handy in other ways as well."
I wonder if the 'wet dream' and 'handy' was intentional. Maybe this is what Herb's 'flog log' was really about.
"The narcissist alternately idealizes and devalues figures of authority. In the idealization phase, he strives to emulate them, he admires them (often ludicrously) and defends them. They cannot go wrong, or be wrong. The narcissist regards them as bigger than life, infallible, perfect, whole, and brilliant. But as the narcissist's unrealistic and inflated expectations are inevitably frustrated, he begins to devalue his former idols." This is an apt description of Dave Pack and Bob Thiel.
"Now they are 'human' (to the narcissist, a derogatory term). They are small, fragile, error-prone, pusillanimous, mean, dumb, and mediocre. The narcissist goes through the same cycle in his relationship with God., the quintessential authority figure." "But often, even when disillusionment and iconoclastic despair set in, the narcissist continues to pretend to love God and follow Him. The narcissist maintains this deception because of his continued proximity to God confers on him authority. Priests, leaders of the congregation, preachers, evangelists, cultists, politicians, intellectuals-all derive authority from their allegedly privileged relationship with God." This reminds me of Simon Magus. Many claim to be following in the footsteps of Peter when their idol is Simon. This is largely why I am confident HWA was never converted in any way whatsoever at any time in his life. I think it is important to frame his 10 years of incest with what else was going on in his life. The first 5-7 years of incest were also his ordination years in COG7D. What kind of human being neglects his family, studying religion for a few years, only to conclude that God was calling him for a special purpose, forces ordination among peers who didn't like him, and promptly begins raping his own child?
"Religious authority allows the narcissist to indulge his sadistic urges and to exercise his misogynism freely and openly. Such a narcissist is likely to taunt and torment his followers, hector and chastise them, humiliate and berate them, abuse them spiritually, or even sexually. The narcissist whose source of authority is religion is looking for obedient and unquestioning slaves upon whom to exercise his capricious and wicked mastery. The narcissist transforms even the most innocuous and pure religious sentiments into a cultish ritual and a virulent hierarchy. He preys on the gullible. His flock becomes his hostages." "Religious authority also secures the narcissist's Narcissistic Supply. His coreligionists, members of his congregation, his parish, his constituency, his audience are transformed into loyal and stable Sources of Narcissistic Supply. They obey his commands, heed his admonitions, follow his creed, admire his personality, applaud his personal traits, satisfy his needs (sometimes even his carnal desires), revere and idolize him." I never saw or heard Herb until I was several years in the churches of God. Literature produced in the 90's drew me in. I don't know how many people would tell me how HWA would rant and rave like a lunatic and was very short-tempered and tell me this with pride as though it was an admirable trait.
"Moreover, being a part of an immanent 'bigger thing' is very gratifying narcissistically. Being a particle of God, being immersed in His grandeur, experiencing His power and blessings first hand, communing with Him are all Sources of unending Narcissistic Supply. The narcissist becomes God by observing His commandments, following His instructions, loving Him, obeying Him, succumbing to Him, merging with Him, communicating and communing with Him, or even by defying Him (the greater the narcissist's adversary-the more grandiosely important the narcissist feels). I wouldn't be surprised if Dave Pack wasn't one step away from taking on God, himself.
Like everything else in the narcissist's life, he mutates God into a kind of inverted narcissist. God becomes his dominant Source of Supply. He forms a personal relationship with this overwhelming and overpowering entity in order to overwhelm and overpower others. He becomes God vicariously, by the proxy of his relationship with Him. He idealizes God, then devalues Him, then abuses Him. This is the classic narcissistic pattern and even God Himself cannot escape it." Jesus was well aware of narcissists and psychopaths. He knew there were conniving liars who would play-act their ways into positions of power and control over others. He argued with them regularly, calling them vipers and white-washed tombs. Part 3 will be about His simple formula for protecting the church from narcissistic ghouls.
