Comments on Ambassador Watch: Doctor Bob does a Dankenbring

Anonymous 1:39, as someone else pointed out earlie...

2009-09-20T05:22:21.966+12:00

Anonymous 1:39, as someone else pointed out earlier (perhaps it was you) this information about Thiel's organization was publicly available on the Internet - I found it via Goggle in about 30 seconds or so. It was in the public domain and therefore not illegal in any way to post it in my comment. And my intent was not to focus on how much money Thiel's company made last year, but instead to establish the connection between his "research" (vitamin) company and his publishing company, and thus verify that his latest book on prophecy was SELF-published, most likely because no serious publisher would ever dare touch it.

And indeed, bogus “PhD degrees” in the area of health and nutrition (apparently Thiel’s actual field) are awarded by the thousands every year from such diploma mills – this is fairly common knowledge. Such fields are not very well regulated at all, and so standards are pretty low as far as actual qualifications go.

Yes, I always am extremely skeptical of authors who proudly proclaim their PhD's in big, bold text on the front covers of books they write - yet never get around to informing readers as to the exact field of study it was originally earned in, or the granting educational body that it was earned from.

Not to beat a dead horse here, but our fellow blogger Larry, for instance, claims to be a scientist who has a doctorate from a “world-class university” – but has refused time and again to provide any specifics, even after Gavin made the offer to verify Larry’s claims without divulging specifics to the rest of us, which sounded fair to me. I just cannot understand why someone with a legitimate doctorate from a legitimate university would be so hesitant or ashamed of informing the rest of us regarding his hard-earned credentials, don’t you?

But anyway, as Nostadennis pointed out in an earlier post, this is a standard creationist tactic with regard to publishing. Some religiously-inclined believer with a doctorate in sports medicine (or whatever) writes a book on paleontology, a field he has absolutely no formal training in whatsoever, and then just assumes his reader's won't question his formal qualifications. Many creationist publications fall into this category.

It’s deception, pure and simple.

But then again, such books aren't aimed at the most educated nor discerning of audiences are they?!

It appears the illustrious Dr. Bob has intercepted...

2009-09-19T13:39:36.983+12:00

It appears the illustrious Dr. Bob has intercepted the link Leonardo posted. There is no longer any data listed under his company name at the website referenced.

I guess Bob didn't want the world to know at least one of his PhD's came from a diploma mill (Union Insitute).

Bamboo_bends said... "Sarcasm always transl...

2009-09-19T04:37:36.222+12:00

Bamboo_bends said...

"Sarcasm always translates badly in text. I've seen more than a few flame wars start because of sarcasm. Stuff that would never start an argument if two people spoke in person with the same words."

You're so right, Bamboo.

I'm pretty new to all this.

And so this is a reminder to me, that I should be careful to explain myself better, and keep in mind, that we are communicating through print, and not in person.

It could save a lot of extra typing. :)

Coco Joe

One observes that Amazon is temporarily O/S(out-of...

2009-09-18T13:01:19.187+12:00

One observes that Amazon is temporarily O/S(out-of-stock) of Dr Bob's MAGNUM OPUS.

There must be lots of minds out there looking for direction for the future in this topsy-turvy world.Hooray for Dr Bob!!

Gerry and Spanky should order this in bulk for their brain-washed adherents,as a gift for the up-coming Semiramide.

It will make a great shocking,oops,stocking stuffer.

Cheers,

Jorgheinz

P.S.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Dr Bob's book is so jolly.

Coco Joe said.... What I was doing was making a p...

2009-09-18T09:21:01.553+12:00

Coco Joe said....

What I was doing was making a play on the words of Ephesians 2:9 and Mark 16:16, all in humor. :)

Gotcha. Doh! My Homer Simpson moment.

Email, chat and text postings all lack the nuance of spoken and visual communications. Emoticons help, but we all sometimes miss the more subtle forms of humor.

Sarcasm always translates badly in text. I've seen more than a few flame wars start because of sarcasm. Stuff that would never start an argument if two people spoke in person with the same words.

On the flip side, electronic communication is often surprisingly frank, and sometimes intimate. I often marvel at what shy people reveal about themselves in email.

Bamboo_bends said... I've got news for you. N...

2009-09-18T04:14:27.170+12:00

Bamboo_bends said...
I've got news for you. Nobody gets out of this life alive! Being human is terminal...................The opposite of fear is not courage, its love. Courage emerges from love. Love casts out all fear.

And Gavin said...Well stated Mr Bends, sir. Well stated!

I totally agree with both of you !!

What I was doing was making a play on the words of Ephesians 2:9 and Mark 16:16, all in humor. :)

I guess I should have mentioned that I was "quoting" those scriptures.

The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith. (for those who believe)

I was trying to make the point, that what these apocalyptic fear mongers seem to be saying is that, unless we buy into their particular interpretations of prophecy, we are doomed.

And the bad thing is that, a lot of people seem to buy into their nonsense.

And so I just made a play on those two scriptures, substituting "knowledge of prophecy" for faith, or belief, as the Bible says. :)

Well stated Mr Bends, sir. Well stated!

2009-09-17T22:04:22.687+12:00

Well stated Mr Bends, sir. Well stated!

Coco Joe said... By knowledge of prophecy and...

2009-09-17T21:42:01.707+12:00

Coco Joe said...

By knowledge of prophecy and what is going to happen are you saved, and that not of yourselves, nor works, lest anyone should boast.

He who understands prophecy and knows what is going to happen shall be saved, but he who does not will be condemned.

I've got news for you. Nobody gets out of this life alive! Being human is terminal.

Some die of war. Some die of accident. Some of disease. Physical life is a temporary reversal of entropy by quantum information, but its a biological trick that only lasts so long.

The genius of biology is in reproduction and the production of a new generation.

Its not in how well we worry about the end of the world that marks our presence upon this stage of life in our mortal coils, its how well we live, how we love, and how we make the world better for our children.

I've seen precious little in apocalyptic religion that makes the world a better place. Its just chock full of fear and fearful people.

The opposite of fear is not courage, its love. Courage emerges from love. Love casts out all fear.

Tom Mahon said... Bamboo_bends said... &...

2009-09-17T21:31:49.769+12:00

Tom Mahon said...

Bamboo_bends said...

>>So equivocation is of the devil? ROTFLMAO!!! I guess if that's true Dick Cheney must be a shoe-in for Sainthood!<<

Equivocation is certainly of the devil! As for Cheney, if he is a candidate for sainthood, there is no evidence of it.

Are you sure you're not confusing equivocation with fornication?

:)

Bamboo_bends said... >>Tom Mahon said... ...

2009-09-17T18:49:37.305+12:00

Bamboo_bends said...

>>Tom Mahon said...

...The phrase, "are likely," clearly indicates that God is not speaking through Dr. Thiel. The prophets of God always spoke with certainty.<<

Bamboo

>>So equivocation is of the devil? ROTFLMAO!!! I guess if that's true Dick Cheney must be a shoe-in for Sainthood!<<

Equivocation is certainly of the devil! As for Cheney, if he is a candidate for sainthood, there is no evidence of it.

The web site that was pasted by Leonardo lists Thi...

2009-09-17T18:13:25.957+12:00

The web site that was pasted by Leonardo lists Thiels vitamin company and it's yearly income. It is NOT private information, it is the in the public domain.

http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_c1g7t6

I have removed the comment above - in the absence ...

2009-09-17T17:35:51.595+12:00

I have removed the comment above - in the absence of any supporting documentation or evidence - that infers that Bob earns a certain six-figure salary from his health business interests. Bob's business income, whatever it is, is really not a concern of anyone here. It's also worth noting that Bob does not receive a salary from LCG, nor has he been (at least last time I heard) ordained.

Tom Mahon said... ...The phrase, "are lik...

2009-09-17T11:59:46.701+12:00

Tom Mahon said...

...The phrase, "are likely," clearly indicates that God is not speaking through Dr. Thiel. The prophets of God always spoke with certainty.

So equivocation is of the devil? ROTFLMAO!!! I guess if that's true Dick Cheney must be a shoe-in for Sainthood!

God must only support full-bore loonies. Strange how that almost sounds like an endorsement of Dr Bob. "Bob, you're not as crazy as the rest of them are!"

Coco Joe said... "By knowledge of prophec...

2009-09-17T11:13:57.006+12:00

Coco Joe said...

"By knowledge of prophecy and what is going to happen are you saved, and that not of yourselves, nor works, lest anyone should boast.

He who understands prophecy and knows what is going to happen shall be saved, but he who does not will be condemned."

I hope you made these statements with tongue in cheek Joe, or else we will have to start spelling your name Coocoo Joe :-))

As for the remark, by someone else, about Greg Albrecht and his wife being reduced to eating beans, consider how old he must be getting. That now is probably the only way he and his wife can make beautiful music together.

Well, hate to say it, but it appears as if the Arm...

2009-09-17T08:17:43.912+12:00

Well, hate to say it, but it appears as if the Armstrong movement (pun intended) is soon going to need to purchase a flatus napkin (toilet tissue) factory to deal with the solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes emanating from their borg collective!

Here's how it will eventually go down. Meredi...

2009-09-17T04:59:47.744+12:00

Here's how it will eventually go down. Meredith will eventually die, and the LCG will split between Dr. Bob and whoever else is gunning for the top position. I just have one question. Why is the book for sale privately, and not offered as part of LCG's free literature to the public. I think I see coup d'etat coming.

Mark Lax said... The normally sane Corky writes:. ...

2009-09-16T15:43:20.427+12:00

Mark Lax said...
The normally sane Corky writes:.

Well, at least I'm normally sane but there were not many herbalist left to blame the black plague on by that time in history so they had to blame that one on the Jews.

But hey, it was someone to blame (besides the useless prayers and anointing by priests) and don't we all love torture and burning and stuff?

Perhaps Dr Bob,our naturopath,can help Greg Albrec...

2009-09-16T10:35:10.254+12:00

Perhaps Dr Bob,our naturopath,can help Greg Albrecht with his "beans" dilemma.Charcoal tablets and peppermint tea might help,also.

Dan Brown's book,"Lost Symbol" has just been released onto the market...anyone purchased a copy...any consumer reviews via AW?

"Without Roots" by Razinger and Pera is an interesting read,also.

And all this before the most momentous Feast that the collective COGs will have celebrated.Prophecy is sure to be high on the agenda.

Cheers,

Jorgheinz

"Doh! Dang (we in LCG don't say Damn or u...

2009-09-16T10:31:41.913+12:00

"Doh! Dang (we in LCG don't say Damn or use crosses) ...I aready wrote that chapter..."

Not supposed to say D[]ng either Doctor Bob. Not very godly at all.

Is Bob confident about his predictions, or is he j...

2009-09-16T09:56:28.218+12:00

Is Bob confident about his predictions, or is he just THIELING his way? The latter,I suspect.

Gavin," grammatical infelicities"...wonderful language that you use.Bob has had more than the occasional BAD SPELL,unorthographically speaking, and his grandma,oops grammar is not always all that she/it could be.

Bob,has given us a FEAST of reading.

Talking about SUCCOTH,or the FEAST of BOOZE,all the profits,pardon,prophets will be quoting their favourite verse....

Matt 11:28 "Come unto me all that labour and are HEAVY LADEN,and I will give you rest." It is that " heavy laden " bit I want to deal with.

Spanky and his ilk are always looking for the dosh,the moolah,the gold.So in these times of recession,all you wealthy and financial types who are heavy laden with cash can donate to the collective cause.

Mark my words, at this coming Feast around the world sermons,reminders will be given about the parlous state of the
COGS.

And that wonderful celebration called Xmas is about to be prematurely celebrated in retail shop windows about a month from now.They want your bucks and so do Spanky,Gerry and similar.Watch for the pathetic pleas for extra-extra special offerings over and above the already generous tithes you are giving already.

Cheers,

Jorgheinz

2009-09-16T07:27:15.095+12:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Someone once said that everything that a man says ...

2009-09-16T07:21:50.115+12:00

Someone once said that everything that a man says is basically an attempt to, how shall I say it, have relations with a woman.

Likewise, anything these guys say about predictive prophecy is an attempt to make money.

The Bear

By knowledge of prophecy and what is going to happ...

2009-09-16T06:26:32.567+12:00

By knowledge of prophecy and what is going to happen are you saved, and that not of yourselves, nor works, lest anyone should boast.

He who understands prophecy and knows what is going to happen shall be saved, but he who does not will be condemned.

Megachurch jeebus said: "Heroin Jeebus sugges...

2009-09-16T04:46:49.938+12:00

Megachurch jeebus said: "Heroin Jeebus suggests that you change the term, "documented knowledge" to "completely unverified horseshit", as well as changing "knowledge seekers" to "gullible kooks lacking in the fundamentals of discernment"."

PERFECT!

Mental Ward Looking For Clients wrote: “Dr. Bob is...

2009-09-16T03:00:56.450+12:00

Mental Ward Looking For Clients wrote:
“Dr. Bob is now exhibiting the outward signs of mental illness.”

You know, Mental, in the final analysis, I really think this is the best (and simplest) explanation proposed for all the end-time zaniness we see among COG prophecy fanatics like Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, etc.

Yes, I think in some of the larger COG groups, their paid ministers are probably in it, at least now to a great extent, for the continued paychecks and potential pension packages. I know there are a number of ministers who themselves know that a lot of COG doctrine is simply not true, even though such ideas will always be popular and uncritically accepted by the COG tithing-paying sheep.

But for the greater majority of ex-WCG nutcases like Thiel, it appears that these people truly believe in their loony predictions, and mental illness seems to be very much looming in the background.

And as nutty as they appear to us - who’ve already been through the HWA end-time prophecy gig and found it seriously wanting – unfortunately there will always be a certain number of gullible and uninformed people who will carelessly buy into all this nonsense, much as we foolishly did in former times.

That’s why I think websites whose presence can stand and relay the actual historical record of HWA and his mass of failed prophecies serve an important purpose. I wish there would have been an Internet back in 1974 when I first became involved with the WCG prophecy machine.

By the way, I wonder about the book’s ONE reviewer out there on Amazon: how could Lupe Gutierrez have made a review of the book, claiming “Since reading the book I have experienced a paradigm shift in the way I think, pray, and live” when the book hadn’t even been published yet?

According to Amazon, the book's first edition release date is today (Sept 15th). So how could the reviewer have reviewed it back on August 4th unless it was reviewed by one of Dr. Bob’s disciples?