Radio Church of God and NXVIM - One Woman's Journey Through Them Both

There is a fascinating article out today about the personality cult NXVIM and how it lured so many women into it.  Even more fascinating is to read that a former radio Church of God member jumped from one cult into another.  The article details how easy it is and how frequent people who leave high controlling groups will easily be attracted to another group.  You can easily see why when people left Herbert Armstrong, they were easily duped by the Flurry, Meredith, Pack, Weinland, Thiel, Malm and others.
                 
                    

Teah Banks was born into an evangelical Christian sect called the Radio Church of God. Founded in the 1930s by an advertising sales representative turned minister, the insular group promoted an ultra-fundamentalist reading of the Old Testament, eschewing divorce, premarital sex and even wearing makeup. “It was a super closed religion,” Banks, now 42, remembers. “We had pictures of the leader in our home. We worshipped him like he was a god.”

Although Banks started having questions about the group, she attended services until her 20s, when she was expelled from the organization. In 2004, she and her then-boyfriend, a filmmaker named Mark Vicente (best known for the documentary What the Bleep Do We Know?), were approached by two women who wanted Vicente to make films for their organization, NXIVM, which taught a curriculum called the Executive Success Program, or ESP. The two women (one of whom was NXIVM co-founder Nancy Salzman) raved about their leader, a mathematician, scientist, judo champion and concert-level pianist who had patented a unique method of hacking the human brain. The man’s name, the women said, was Keith Raniere.

Banks and Vicente’s interest was piqued, and they agreed to join the women for lunch; when Salzman successfully used ESP methods to “cure” Banks of her lifelong lactose intolerance, she was even more intrigued. “I’m just like, wow, this is amazing. This woman is amazing,” she says. “And I said, ‘Nancy, I want to be one of your people.'” Blown away by the women and by ESP in general, Banks encouraged Vicente to take a NXIVM intensive; eventually, he bought an apartment in New York to be closer to group headquarters in Albany. She was involved with the group until 2005, when the two broke up, though she continued taking courses remotely for years afterward. Vicente, who eventually became a member of the NXIVM executive board, was involved with the group until 2017.

At the time she joined NXIVM, Banks had just left one large organization with an enigmatic leader at the helm. Vicente, too, had also just extricated himself from a similarly insular fringe spiritual organization: the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, a group led by a New Age figure named JZ Knight, who claimed to be channeling a 35,000-year-old warrior deity named Ramtha. But even though they were both disillusioned with spiritual organizations, NXIVM struck them as different. “The first day you’re there, they’re like, ‘We’re not a cult. Cult is a bad word. It is used loosely,'” Banks said. “‘[We’re] a success school. We’re helping you raise your ethics.'” 

At this point, everyone knows the rest of the story: in March 2018, Raniere and five of his NXIVM cohorts, including Salzman, were arrested on such charges as sex trafficking, racketeering and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Raniere is currently standing trial in Brooklyn, where his former supporters (including Vicente) have testified that he, among other things, imprisoned a woman for nearly two years, convinced his followers that he controlled technology and the weather, and ran DOS, a secret all-female organization of “slaves” who were branded with his initials and told to have sex with him. 

Later in the article, there is this: 

Because cultic studies is a relatively under-researched field (unsurprisingly, cults themselves are resistant to outsiders conducting research on their practices), there isn’t much data attesting to exactly how prevalent “cult-hopping” is. But anecdotally, Eichel says, the practice is common, in part because those who are kicked out of a cult or excommunicated are looking for another organization to fill the void. Most cults, including NXIVM, teach adherents that they are wholly responsible for their own actions, which creates feelings of extreme self-doubt and anguish when they’e cut off from their support system. “That leaves [them] vulnerable to another group to say, ‘Well no, you’re in the wrong group, this is the right group,'” Eichel says.

Those who leave cults on their own – which Eichel says constitutes the “vast majority” of cult members — most often do so because they’ve had a bad experience with the group, perhaps observing something that violates their own ethics, or inconsistencies between the leader’s behavior and his teachings. But contrary to what you might expect, from the perspective of a former cult member, having one bad experience with a cult does not necessarily reflect on cult-like organizations as a whole. Eichel compares it to how most people would feel after they visit a bad dentist: sure, the experience of being poked and prodded by a poorly trained practitioner might make us slightly more wary of dentistry in general, but it certainly won’t stop anyone from hopping on Yelp and trying to find another, better dentist.

Read the rest of this fascinating story here:   Rolling Stone Magazine: How People Leave One Cult — and End Up in Another

Did you know there is only ONE Church of God that Jesus is going to return to?

A few years ago, the god that inspires nightmares in certain COG men, decided he needed a new spokesman here on the earth, in this day and age.  Ever since he had appointed Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, and Rod Meredith to be the one true COG leaders, his plan has been thwarted by one idiotic prediction or event after another.  

Jesus has been getting so antsy to return that he has given up on strolling around the Wadsworth campus of Dave Pack. In a deep conversation with God, the two of them determined to raise up a new man.   A man totally unqualified and rejected by his peers.  They devised a plan to inculcate a few nightmares in the mind of this man and a couple other disturbed individuals around the world.  Pretty soon, after a couple restless nights of wild and delusional dreams, the future ONE TRUE COG leader woke up from his dream and proclaimed to his wife, "I AM THE CHOSEN ONE!"  

Ever since that moment, more and more crazy things flow forth from his mouth as he makes proclamation after proclamation.  Now, the Chosen One, the REAL Elijah, the REAL Amos, the REAL Habakkuk, the REAL Second Witness, and the only one who has EVER been doubly blessed by and equally deceived man, has declared that when his created creature he calls "jesus" returns, it will come FIRST to the only church that keeps these specific points:

Baptism of Christians was by immersion and did not include infants.

The complete Bible with the proper Old Testament and New Testament was relied on by the true Church in Asia Minor.

A Binitarian or Semi-Arian view, that acknowledged the Holy Spirit, was held by the apostolic and post-apostolic true Christian leaders.

Birthdays were not celebrated by early Christians.

Born-Again meant being born at the resurrection, not at the time of conversion, which is when a spiritual begettal occurs.

Celibacy for Bishops/Presbyters/Elders was not a requirement. 

Church Governance was properly hierarchical.

Christmas was not observed by any professing Christ prior to the third century, or ever by those holding to early teachings; December 25th did not come from the Bible.

Circumcision, though not required, was long practiced by original Nazarene Christians.

Confession of sins were not made to priests and did not require penance.

Deification of Christians (which begins after the first resurrection) was taught by the early leaders of the Church.

Duties of Elders/Pastors were pastoral and theological, not predominantly sacramental–nor did they dress as many now do. Easterper se was not observed by the apostolic church.

The Fall (and Spring) Holy Days were observed by true early Christians.

The Father was considered to be God by all early professing Christians.

The True Gospel included the kingdom of God and obedience to the law of God and was so understood by the faithful.

Heaven was not taught to be the reward of Christians.

Holy Spirit was not referred to as God or as a person by any early true Christians.

Hymns were mainly psalms, not praises to Christ.

Idols were taught against, including adoration of the cross.

Immortality of the soul or humans was not taught. Jesus was considered to be God by the true Christians.

The Kingdom of God was preached.

Leavened Bread was removed from the homes of early Christians when the Jews did the same.

Lent was not observed by the primitive church.

Limbo was not taught by the original church.

Mary was the mother of Jesus, was blessed (Luke 1:28) and called blessed (Luke 1:48), but was not prayed to, etc. by true early Christians.

Military Service was not allowed for true early Christians.

Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.

Monasticism was unheard of in the early Christian church.

Passover was kept annually on the 14th of Nisan by apostolic and second century Christians in Asia Minor.

Pentecost was kept on Sunday by certain Jews and was observed then by professing Christians.

Purgatory was not taught by the original apostolic church.

The Resurrection of the dead was taught by all early Christians

The Sabbath was observed on Saturday by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church.

Salvation was believed to be offered to the chosen now by the early Church, with others being called later, though not all that taught that (or other doctrines) practiced “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). God’s

Six Thousand Year Plan for humankind to rule itself was believed by early professors of Christ.

Sunday was not observed by the apostolic and original post-apostolic Christians.

The Ten Commandments were observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians–and in the order that the Church of God claims they are in.

Tithes and Offerings were given to support the ministry, the churches, the needy, and evangelical travels and proclamation.

Tradition had some impact on the second century Christians, but was never supposed to supercede the Bible.

The Trinity was not a word used to describe the Godhead by the apostolic or second century Christians, though a certain threeness was acknowledged.

Unclean Meats were eaten by the early allegorists, but not by true Christians.

The Virgin Birth was acknowledged by all true ante-Nicene Christians.

I am exhausted reading it!  One law after another, more things to weigh people down. More things to keep people imprisoned in another vile splinter cult of the harlot mother, the Worldwide Church of God.

There were only two demands made upon the Christians of the first century: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor.  Two small little steps that the Chosen One fails to do.

So join us in another mind-boggling video experience as The Chosen One, the Great Bwana, himself, Bob Thiel tells you which church his creature "jesus" will be returning to.  And no, it is NOT coming back to Wadsworth first!

Living Church of God: Sex! Gay Sex! Pride! High Living! Unconcern for the Poor! Just another day in LCG...

Dang, it!  Don't you just love it when Living Church of God talks about itself in such a way as it is below!  It sounds like a perfect description of the Headquarters staff in Charlotte.  According to LCG members, Charlotte is a cesspool of prideful and arrogant men lording themselves over the members.  How can we forget the "high living" stories that have appeared here about Lil'Jimmy and others spending hundreds of thousands of dollars remodeling their offices and living the high life, at church expense, at Feast sites?  When has LCG every had concern for the poor?  With Rod McNair claiming the elderly are demon possessed and telling church members not to work in jobs that care for the elderly, just where do we see concern for the poor? The COG has an abysmal track record of helping the poor in their communities, let alone their won church members!

Come out of her perverted ways LCG members!  Come out and be free!

Sobering Signs of the Times: Jesus said we are to watch world events as we get closer to the end of the age (Matthew 24:42–44). It is sobering to see the parallels between significant events mentioned in the Scriptures and the times in which we are living. In Genesis 6 we see that God sent a flood to end a civilization that was permeated with violence and wickedness. In Genesis 18 and 19, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sinful depravity—pride, arrogance, open homosexuality, high living, and unconcern for the poor (Genesis 19:1–11; Ezekiel 16:49–50). The citizens of these cities, including Lot and his family, had forgotten why God had destroyed almost the entire human race only 400 years before. Yet, in spite of being surrounded by moral depravity, Lot and his family were reluctant to leave their city. As we see the same moral depravity and horrendous violence spreading throughout the world, we need to remember these Old Testament examples were recorded for our admonition as we approach the end of the age (1 Corinthians 10:1–13). We also need to remember the Apostle Paul’s admonition to “come out” of this world and its perverted ways (2 Corinthians 6:17–18), because God’s judgment on our modern Satan-influenced world is coming—just as it did on the ancient world. We all need to wake up and recognize the real significance of what is happening around us and earnestly pray, “Thy Kingdom come.”

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

14 people describe what it is like to grow up in cults..including WCG

They put me in a room for three days without food. They wanted me to confess my sins. I didn't know what to say, so I just came out with every doubt about the group I’d ever had. I made strange noises because I thought that’s what they wanted, but I was worrying, "What happens if they’re the wrong noises?"

People Who Grew Up In Cults Describe What Their Childhoods Were Like  

The media covers and occasionally sensationalizes cults, but few news outlets know much about the children who grow up in cults. Not every cult member experiences the horror and raids depicted on TV. Of course, there are challenges, and each day can bring a multitude of concerns that other children don't typically face. And people who were once in cults share their experiences more often than one might imagine.

Many of their stories refer to the disorientating nature of their childhood - many survivors reportedly had to deal with violence, nonsensical teachings, and debilitating rules. Each cult seems to have had their own ways of destroying a young person's spirit, but each group also appears to have wanted the same result: a brainwashed follower without autonomy. 

Click the above link and you will see a Worldwide Church of God story in the article.

Third Tithe: The Church of God Con Game

The demand in the Churches of God over tithing has created huge nightmares for members and a steady stream of income for the leaders in charge.  Most of these men have never worked an honest day of sweat-producing,  callous forming work in their lives, so having someone else support them is always the best choice.  Can you imagine Gerald Flurry, Gerald Weston, Bob Thiel, James Malm and others ever seen sweating?  Apostles NEVER sweat!

The church has always hit back at those that claim it demands three tithes from its members and is always quick to point out that a second tithe is for the members themselves to travel to various sites for annual fall celebrations.  But this quick to remind members that the church demands that members tithe upon that money and then expects them to give any remaining money leftover to the church.

And then there is the most misused and fraudulent tithe the church demanded, third tithe, money that was supposed to go to the fatherless, widows and needy. If you combined all 400 some of the COG's still in existence, you would be hard pressed to count on two hands how many orphans the church has ever helped in 80 some years!  It is only slightly better for the widows.  The church was very reluctant to help widows in the church and when they did the women had to go through lots of hoops and major ass-kissing in order to get a mere pittance.  Stories of how widows in the church were never helped by the church have been circulating on Facebook and elsewhere over the past few months.  The cold-hearted callousness of ministers and church leaders in making up excuses as to why they would not help are appalling to read.

When I say 3rd tithe was misused, it is not an accident.  Ambassador Reports and others have long reported stories about how ministers and church leaders dipped into 3rd tithe to remodel their homes and for other expenses.  When I came to Pasadena it was widely known that Rod Meredith had dipped into the 3rd tithe fund when he wanted his home on Waverly Drive remodeled.

In “Twisted Teachings on Tithing” AR wrote:  “The purpose of the third tithe fund is to help the fatherless, the widows, and the needy—at least that's what members have been told.  It's sad to say, but the third tithe fund [in 1976] would be many millions of dollars larger than it presently is if the Armstrongs hadn't secretly authorized using its funds to buy jet fuel, to furnish and redecorate high-ranking ministers' homes, and to pay ministers' salaries.  Somehow using this third tithe ‘poor fund’ for these things—when there's not enough money to help the needy church widows—seems like a ‘Robin Hood in reverse’—robbing the poor to give to the rich (AR #2, p. 17).  

Holly Ruiz, who was married for 18 years to Enrique Ruiz, director of the Mexico City office of the Worldwide Church of God, told Mary Jones the following about third tithe in “Southern Exposure”: “RUIZ:  I remember one time when Enrique wanted to buy $1,000 worth of dining room furniture, he asked Garner Ted for the money.  Well, Ted told him to simply take it out of Third Tithe funds. [Editor: WCG members were led to believe that the Third Tithe Fund was used solely to help widows, orphans, & the poor.]“JONES:  Was the whole house furnished with Third Tithe funds?“RUIZ:  I believe so.”  (AR #2, p. 32)

In “Fleecing the Flock” John Trechak wrote that he had a large stack of approved and signed Ambassador College purchase orders (PO’s) from one of AR’s sources showing money spent totally from third tithe (AR #2, p. 61).  Here are a few samples:

Date	P. O. #	Recipient	Description	Amount
1969	20904	D. Apartian	Furniture, carpets	$22,000
1/29/69	18634	Ron Dart	Appliances, drapery	$5,000
1/29/69	20123	Ron Dart	All furnishings	$40,000

The article further reported that on two occasions in 1974 a tape recorder caught Garner Ted Armstrong actually admitting to fellow ministers that third tithe funds were being used for purposes other than the sustenance of the widows and orphans of the church.  Notice his words:  "...it is true that massive segments of third tithe as it built up in the balances of this work were used both for ministerial homes and for ministerial salaries."  (Garner Ted Armstrong, ministerial conference, Jan. 3, 1974.)  "But you know it [third tithe] is still being used for your salaries.  It's still being used for church homes." (Garner Ted Armstrong, ministerial conference, May 7, 1974.)  (See AR #2, p. 61.)

Third tithe funds were used for the jets, but who authorized it?  According to one Ted Armstrong statement, it was Albert J. Portune.  According to Albert J. Portune, it was Herbert W. Armstrong.  In February 1974 evangelist David Antion commented on this at a meeting in Richmond, Virginia:  “About that time Al [Portune] had a conscience problem and he just went to Mr. [Herbert] Armstrong and said, ‘Do we have to use third tithe?  That doesn't look good.  It's bad.  It's not right to use the third tithe fund to fly jets and pay for all that fuel.'" (See “Fleecing the Flock,” AR #2, p. 61.)  

Yet when reading this, certain church members still claim the church is the most ethical church ever to exist on earth since the original 1st century Christians came into existence.  They stumble all over themselves trying to claim the actions of the  men in charge were not that bad and that they were practicing "1st century Christianity." 

There were lots of members who caught on to the abuse of 3rd tithe and started giving it directly to widows and needy they knew that were in need.

The Church of God has always revolved around money and devised countless ways to bilk members out of hard-earned money:

1st tithe
2nd tithe
3rd tithe
Tithe of the tithe
Excess 2nd tithe
Holy day offerings
Special offerings from member letters
Special offerings from co-worker letters
Building fund

First fruit offerings
(I am sure there are others I have forgotten)

It is no wonder modern-day crooks in the COG, like Thiel, Malm, Pack, Flurry, Weinland, Weston, Kubik, Franks and others, still, demand of their followers that they tithe. Their little man-made organizations would dissolve. Plus, they fail to let their followers that tithing is NOT a new covenant demand. But since when has ever following the new covenant ever been a high priority!

As the bigger Churches of God continue to be bloated by more and more people on payroll, less and less money is going into proclaiming their "gospel witness" to the world.  There is, after all, one priority on the mind of all of the top COG leaders, and it is this: