Comments on Ambassador Watch: Doh!

Huh?"So are the Republicans 'dead'? Is that politi...

2007-08-22T11:08:00.000+12:00

Huh?

"So are the Republicans 'dead'? Is that political movement gone for good?

"Institutions have an amazing way of recovering over time.

"You just need the right circumstances and under the right leadership The Plain Truth could once again have a world wide circulation and threaten the current Evangelical revival."

It takes the kind of myopia that only a deep-dipped COGer can bring, to think this way, Anony.

At its very zenith, PTTM (Plain Truth, TM) had a claimed "circulation" of what, 9 million, with an actual subscriber base (even with obligatory mailings to 'coworkers') of a much smaller number. WCG publishing was notorious, among evangelicals at least, but was hardly as influential as nostalgic alumni often think. And then to compare Armstrongism to one of the two major political parties in America, as you have done, requires breathtaking hubris. Sorta like comparing Bill Gates' net worth to the national debt, because both numbers have at least nine zeroes.

And I don't know what "evangelical revival" you have in mind, friend, but self-described evangelicals (in the USA, the nation I'm most familiar with) number over 100 million. That such a large and multi-faceted movement (think subcultures - Latino, Black, white; traditions - pentecostal, charismatic, Baptist, Adventist, Reformed, Wesleyan, Anglican, ad infinitum) would all be overcome by the perfidious weirdness of some sort of revived Armstrongism is pretty unlikely. Fringe groups will always be around, of course, peeling off a few converts, but dwarfing the mainstream is something that just hasn't been observed in the history of the church.

And I, for one, am profoundly thankful. In God's providence, HWA had his moment and stole some sheep. Other false teachers will come and go, but the sort of religious moonbattiness that we all fell for just hasn't been allowed to swallow Christ's church whole.

How about "Painful Tooth"?That's closer to the rea...

2007-08-22T02:41:00.000+12:00

How about "Painful Tooth"?

That's closer to the real feel of it I think...

So does this mean we have to use a little TM logo ...

2007-08-21T19:12:00.000+12:00

So does this mean we have to use a little TM logo anytime Plain Truth&trade is mentioned?

How can the name "Plain Truth&trade" be trademarked when HWA plagiarized the name straight out of Ben Franklin's Autobiography?

Isn't that a bit like trademarking the Declaration of Independence&trade?

Maybe I should take out that trademark on Tom Sawyer&trade and Huckleberry Finn&trade after all?

"So don't worry too much about who owns The Tradem...

2007-08-21T16:14:00.000+12:00

"So don't worry too much about who owns The Trademark. Hardly anyone is reading the rag anyway."

So are the Republicans "dead"? Is that political movement gone for good?

Institutions have an amazing way of recovering over time.

You just need the right circumstances and under the right leadership The Plain Truth could once again have a world wide circulation and threaten the current Evangelical revival.

Anonymous said... Egyptians embalmers preserved th...

2007-08-21T14:46:00.000+12:00

Anonymous said...
Egyptians embalmers preserved the organs for the afterlife journey, but removed the brain and threw it away
<<<<<<<<<<<<

What a waste! Brains cooked with eggs is the most delightful breakfast one could have!

Kscribe!

"Many want it dead, never to rise again."Don't fre...

2007-08-21T12:46:00.000+12:00

"Many want it dead, never to rise again."

Don't fret yourself, Anony, it is. It's just taking a while.

What seems to me to receive little "airtime" these days (both in WCG and among those who have run screaming from it) is the demographic death dive that is Armstrongism. There may still be "over 400" WCG congregations in the US, for instance, but many of them consist of an unpaid, gray-headed pastor who used to be a deacon, and fifteen or twenty members with long affiliations.

UCG, LCG and their ilk are dreaming if they think they're doing much better.

As a new-WCG member, I couldn't help noticing a sad little demographic anecdote in every WN (or whatever they're calling it these days): obits beat birth announcements by a factor of two to one, every month.

So don't worry too much about who owns The Trademark. Hardly anyone is reading the rag anyway.

Well, how come no Simpsons comments after 22 repli...

2007-08-21T03:22:00.000+12:00

Well, how come no Simpsons comments after 22 replies?

DOH! Yep, it's all BB's fault!
I love a handy scapegoat, but I don't want him to bleed. Well, maybe just a bit as he wrenches his Harley and skins his knuckles. That's good blood.

But, I digress. I've learned that my brain is a cooling mechanism, and it explains why I needed a bag of ice on my head after I left WCG: to boost the cooling for recovery purposes.

I saw the Simpsons Movie recently and enjoyed it. The scene where they were walking into church and talking amongst themselves(while they thought no one in the church could hear them) is priceless. Here's an article from 8 years ago, entitled, The Gospel According to Homer :
www.snpp.com/other/articles/gospelhomer.html

~Mel

Egyptians embalmers preserved the organs for the a...

2007-08-21T00:23:00.000+12:00

Egyptians embalmers preserved the organs for the afterlife journey, but removed the brain and threw it away, reflecting the ancient idea as well that the intellect and "soul" were elsewhere than in the brain. The brain was also thought to be a cooling mechanism at one time.

We can't blame anyone for seeing it this way. When I get anxious or fearful, I don't hold my head. I feel it below the sternum and above the navel. But when I get confused, I don't grab my liver either. I put my hands on my brain.

This is all Biker Bob's fault! :)

"And just how does the oxygen get to your brain? "...

2007-08-21T00:09:00.000+12:00

"And just how does the oxygen get to your brain? "

Bible talk is about the emotions, the seat of the "soul". Not talking about the whole physiological system. Of course it's all connected. But when someone is dead, we say they are brain dead, not blood dead or liver, kidney or heart dead.

We're talking about the intellectual faculties being in the head where the Bible seems to locate them in the organs where you "feel" the results of brain chemistry sent out to the body. We have "gut" reactions and feel things in the "gut" literally, but that is not where they originate. That is where they manifest due to the neuropeptids launched intot he blook by the brain and the cells they attach to to give us emotions.

Example: Roman philosopher Lucretius wrote in a similar Aristotelian vein, "The dominant force in the whole body is that guiding principle which we term mind or intellect. This is firmly lodged in the midregion of the breast. Here is the place where fear and alarm pulsate. Here is felt the caressing touch of joy. Here, then, is the seat of the intellect and mind" (On the Nature of Things, Book III, circa 55 B.C.).

The life is in the blood as a delivery system of course. When this was noted however, they were not speaking of "because it has the oxygen in it for the brain."

I'm referring to the seat of intellect being in the head as we all know now as oppposed to organs that support the survival of the brain, which is the last to die that gets us pronounced dead.

However, a post religion brain transplant may not be a bad idea!

The author of this article is a personal friend and you can read it here for the context of the observation.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28426681&postID=4654313522282360384

DD

"The Bible mentions a number of key human organs, ...

2007-08-20T13:32:00.000+12:00

"The Bible mentions a number of key human organs, such as the heart, blood, bowels, liver, and kidneys, but never mentions the most important organ of all, the brain."

That's because they didn't know what the brain was for. They thought that thoughts came from the heart - literally.

"as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he".

It sounds to me like this is a concerted effort to...

2007-08-20T13:10:00.000+12:00

It sounds to me like this is a concerted effort to blot out the name "The Plain Truth" from history. Kill it legally.

Sophisticated societal legal types think in these terms. They think both tactically and strategically. Very nice guys...

IMO these two legal entities are in collusion to do that.

They are giving pastor Allprick the legal rights to the name; in time pastor Allprick's ministry dies and the name "The Plain Truth" legally dies.

There are probably other prestigious players, who are unnamed, working behind the scenes with Pastor Joe and Pastor Allprick.

Even after all these years there is still a gnawing hatred for the old WCG and its flagship publication "The Plain Truth".

Many want it dead, never to rise again.

"This is in obvious contrast to scientific consens...

2007-08-20T08:38:00.000+12:00

"This is in obvious contrast to scientific consensus, which agrees that human "life" is not primarily "in the blood" but in the brain and nervous system."

DD

And just how does the oxygen get to your brain?

Why do they all have magazines about hackneyed/reh...

2007-08-20T08:01:00.000+12:00

Why do they all have magazines about hackneyed/rehashed world news just because HWA did it in the 1960s. Magazines are much less relevant - if relevant at all - these days . So it's amazinf seeing them all killing themselves grinding out all this boring fishwrap. The REAL TRUTH has a staff of 30 - almost 5% of their membership !

PS from DDhowever, what this has to do with the Pl...

2007-08-20T06:44:00.000+12:00

PS from DD

however, what this has to do with the Plain Truth I haven't a clue..ha.

"The human mind is a wonderful thing, in fact, I'v...

2007-08-20T06:43:00.000+12:00

"The human mind is a wonderful thing, in fact, I've often said that my mind is my favorite toy. Unfortunately, the mind often "f"s with itself."

BB

Don't trust the mind, It's the trickster. It does "f" with itself big time. It says yes and no at the same time. It argues with itself and can hold many contradictory ideas about lots of things at the same time. It spins and turns around on itself and can launch attacks against itself for ideas it has held within itself that it doesn't agree with.

The mind tells you to obey the guru and then laughs at itself for doing it. It makes you sit and agree with things you don't agree with. It keeps you sitting down when you want to stand up. It tells you stand up and wave your hands and then asks you if you know how stupid you look! It leads you down the path and then scoffs at you for thinking there was a path. It tells you to comply and then makes fun of you when you do. It is the Coyote!

Spinning is what the mind does while the brain is trying to come up with something useful to do.

The mind can be a terrible thing...waste it...

Now the consciousness awareness within us and that which observes the whole show is deeeeferent! :)

Even more fun. It took the Greeks to get come up with a head instead of heart centered emotions. The Bible seems to find brain stuff in the liver, kidneys, bowels and heart..literally.

Does the Bible or the witless Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz mention the brain more frequently? If your answer was the scarecrow, you are right.

The Bible mentions a number of key human organs, such as the heart, blood, bowels, liver, and kidneys, but never mentions the most important organ of all, the brain.

This is not unusual, of course, unless you happen to view the Bible as an inspired scientific textbook, in which case it would appear to be missing a bit of vital information.

Note:

My bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord (Jer. 31:20).

Be ye straitened [restrained] in your own bowels (2 Cor. 6:12).
I long after you in the bowels [affection] of Christ (Philip. 1:8).

(T)he bowels of the saints are refreshed.... (R)efresh my bowels in the Lord (Philemon 7:20).

(S)hutteth up his bowels of compassion (1 John 3:17).

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins [Latin, renes, which means kidneys, a literal translation of the Hebrew] (Ps. 73:21).

My reins [kidneys] also instruct me in the night seasons (Ps. 16:7).
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the heart and reins [kidneys] (Ps. 7:9).

Yea, my reins [kidneys] shall rejoice when my lips speak right things (Prov. 23:16).

I am He [God] which searcheth the reins [kidneys] and hearts (Rev. 2:23).

Or consider the twin biblical notions that "the life is in the blood" and "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" (Lev. 17:11-14 ; Heb. 9:22).

Because of such ideas, the ancient Hebrews sacrificed in a bloody fashion many thousands of animals, and Christians came to view Jesus' "blood" sacrifice as necessary for the forgiveness of sins and the drinking of Jesus' "blood" (in symbolic and/or mystical fashion) as partaking of his "life."

This is in obvious contrast to scientific consensus, which agrees that human "life" is not primarily "in the blood" but in the brain and nervous system.

(Source: Does the Bible Speak of the Brain?")

DD :)

Plenty of Plain Truths available in Malasia!Have y...

2007-08-20T06:30:00.000+12:00

Plenty of Plain Truths available in Malasia!

Have you read Tkachjr's July 2007 Plain Truth cover article, "We Are Living In The Last Days"?

Plenty of ink and space for Neil Earle and Feazell too in the July 2007 issue of the Plain Truth.

The Plain Truth inside page even says "For Non-Muslims Only". Isn't the plain truth message supposed to be going to everybody? Check it out!

July 2007 Plain Truth

Evidently Tkachjr thinks The Plain Truth trademark is XXX Skull and Crossbones inside the U.S., so he gave it away for nothing as a gift to Albrecht's PTM.

Even Paul called it "the present truth," probably ...

2007-08-20T05:51:00.000+12:00

Even Paul called it "the present truth," probably knowing it would need to be adjusted depending on need in the future...

There's a human tendency, native amongst religious...

2007-08-20T05:49:00.000+12:00

There's a human tendency, native amongst religious people, to somehow want to feel connected to power, and to be "bigger than human". It's some pretty heady stuff. One wants to feel as if one is on a special mission, and then imagines all manner of things. Some, while in this state, actually tell us that God is talking to them.

The human mind is a wonderful thing, in fact, I've often said that my mind is my favorite toy. Unfortunately, the mind often "f"s with itself.

BB

Lussenheide, you mention Ralph Helge? I heard he ...

2007-08-20T05:08:00.001+12:00

Lussenheide, you mention Ralph Helge? I heard he started going to LCG in LA, gave one sermonette and was never seen in LCG again. He now attends UCG in LA.

Lussenheide, you mention Ralph Helge? I heard he ...

2007-08-20T05:08:00.000+12:00

Lussenheide, you mention Ralph Helge? I heard he started going to LCG in LA, gave one sermonette and was never seen in LCG again. He now attends UCG in LA.

So who would want to crank out a magazine called "...

2007-08-20T04:29:00.000+12:00

So who would want to crank out a magazine called "the plain truth"? It seems to me "the truth" was not at all "plain" and definitely totally unknown to the former publishers of said magazine.

Taking that into consideration, who would want the ridicule that would befall anyone else that would copy that title?

What about "The Herald of Truth"? Oh yeah, someone already did that one . . . What about "The Truth for Dummies"? Now THAT would fit.

I believe the stories about JT Sr. routing the ent...

2007-08-20T01:25:00.000+12:00

I believe the stories about JT Sr. routing the entire Japanese army at Guadalcanal and jumping ship to go to town only to have the ship torpedoed and "I alone survived" may be a slight exaggeration as well.

Why do humans create these stories for themselves..oh wait, amazing adults were always amazingly faithful, honest, brave and noble children. I mean Lincoln walked 16 miles to return 9 cents he was overpaid, George Washington just "could not tell a lie," and Yassar Arafat was born in Jerusalem (near Cairo evidently).

It's why Mr Pack is just sure he created the PT newstand program and was trained by HWA personally, unbeknownst to HWA or anyone else....It's a mystery, wrapped in swiss cheese....

Besides being odd, the following is not legal, leg...

2007-08-20T01:17:00.000+12:00

Besides being odd, the following is not legal, legalese or for that matter understandable: "The WCG requests, and strongly advises, any entity related ecclesiastically to the WCG, even though it not be legally controlled by WCG (defined below), to also discontinue any present mention of the Trademark in the United States and refrain from future mention. Although the WCG would not incur liability for any infringement by an entity not legally controlled by it, the entity in question may still incur liability for itself if it infringes on the Trademark."

I think all of this shows that, despite its downsizing to Glendora, there are still many at WCG Headquarters with way too much time on the hands.

I am considerably dumber for having read this.

Mark Lax

If one follows the tawdry history of the Tkaches, ...

2007-08-20T00:28:00.000+12:00

If one follows the tawdry history of the Tkaches, it becomes a wonder that people would praise them for bringing "freedom" to the WCG.

It wasn't just the Tkaches, of course. Gerald Waterhouse lied as he spread his manure about how Senior was a manager at the Jet factory and people protested his being suspended because of keeping the Sabbath. Pure fiction. Pure fantasy. People praise Dr. Hoeh as being so wonderful, but he contributed to this nonsense too by compromising himself in order to keep his salary and other perks. He'd agree with the administration publicly but tell a different story privately.

The whole thing from beginning to end is a con job.

It looks like Junior is very envious of Greg's big...

2007-08-19T17:18:00.000+12:00

It looks like Junior is very envious of Greg's bigger income as reported recently in The Journal.