COG preachers may like to make fun of the Roman Catholic practice of holy relics, but you have to wonder at the bravado of doing so when you consider the dessicated corpses that are regularly trotted out in the cause of the COGgish gospel.
Of course, we're not talking actual body parts here, but the analogy is still pretty close. In Edmond, Gerry Flurry can hardly complete a sentence without referring to "Mr Armstrong." Herbert's body lies a moldering in his grave, but he still gets trundled out in each and every issue of the Philadelphia Trumpet to validate Gerry's ministry. Lo and behold, the same thing is true in Wadsworth, Ohio; and other locales where splinter ministries have sprung up like weeds in a cemetery.
Out in Texas, the holy family endures in the form of Mark Armstrong, grandson of Herb, son of the once heir apparent. Mark recycles his father's TV shows, and you'd scarcely know that Garner Ted was dead judging from his website. Presumably the aging tapes still ensure a steady income stream.
Ernest Martin is also long gone, but you can still "ask ELM" over at the ASK website, where David Sielaff dusts off his master's finery each month like a high-class rag and bone merchant.
Maybe we're just a remarkably backward looking bunch. The glory days of slick magazines, saturation TV and radio, and carefully coiffed college campuses has passed into history, and the giants of the faith - or is that ogres? - have toppled (or soon will!) None of the inheritors, despite healthy egos, has the chutzpah of Herbert Armstrong who, unlike his pale imitators, felt absolutely no need to call on the authority of his predecessors - men like Andrew Dugger.
The COGs are walking backward into the future, eyes firmly fixed on the past. It's not a recipe for survival.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Doctor of Thielology
The Last Great Day has been and gone, and thousands of Feast-goers are toddling their weary way home. The "best Feast ever"? Well, maybe.
I'm looking forward to Bob Thiel at last having time to share the details on his acquisition of the Th.D which suddenly appeared on his resumé , so to speak, just days before the Feast. This may seem a bit obsessive, but I think it's important that we all can feel Bob's honesty is not in question here. We may disagree with Bob, but nobody has had reason to question his sincerity and integrity before.
As late as March last year Bob didn't seem to know about his own Th.D. Here's what he wrote in answer to a critic on another blog (you can read the whole rebuttal here):
I do have a Ph.D. and it is from the Union Institute & University. And Union is regionally accredited (the highest accepted accrediting standard in the United States for universities and colleges). I also have a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California (which, of course, is also regionally accredited).
I believe Bob unreservedly, and these qualifications are not in question. But note, no mention of a Th.D from TCU (or anywhere else.) Has Bob acquired his prestigious doctorate in theology since then? If so, how? If Bob wants to continue to be regarded as credible, he needs to come clean on this, and sooner rather than later.
I'm looking forward to Bob Thiel at last having time to share the details on his acquisition of the Th.D which suddenly appeared on his resumé , so to speak, just days before the Feast. This may seem a bit obsessive, but I think it's important that we all can feel Bob's honesty is not in question here. We may disagree with Bob, but nobody has had reason to question his sincerity and integrity before.
As late as March last year Bob didn't seem to know about his own Th.D. Here's what he wrote in answer to a critic on another blog (you can read the whole rebuttal here):
I do have a Ph.D. and it is from the Union Institute & University. And Union is regionally accredited (the highest accepted accrediting standard in the United States for universities and colleges). I also have a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California (which, of course, is also regionally accredited).
I believe Bob unreservedly, and these qualifications are not in question. But note, no mention of a Th.D from TCU (or anywhere else.) Has Bob acquired his prestigious doctorate in theology since then? If so, how? If Bob wants to continue to be regarded as credible, he needs to come clean on this, and sooner rather than later.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Homegrown
From Robert, a correspondent in Vancouver:
Today was one of those days when my past life and my current life intersected in an unusual way. I rode my bike downtown with a graduate student studying ecological goods and services to view a film at the Vancouver International Film Fest. Strangely enough the film, “Homegrown,” was about a family with a WCG background.
Jules Dervaes might be best know amoung xCOG followers for penning an article that got plagiarized by Gerald Flurry. But among climate change activists, those concerned about food system sustainability and locavores he is famous for something else. He and his family have created one of the most successful and well known examples of urban agriculture.
The film only briefly touched on religion. There was passing mention of moving to Pasadena to study theology and the family was shown praying before the meals. But most of the film dealt with the inspiring story of how this family has managed to create an amazing example of sustainability and self sufficiency in an urban environment.
The film brought up a few memories. There was a scene at the Rose Bowl where I spent some time doing fundraisers for AC. And some old family pictures from the 80s that somehow looked familiar. I had probably seen that family at church services during my time at college in Pasadena. I smiled when one if them is shown riding an Xtracycle to the grocery store. How many people that I used to go to church with even know what an Xtracycle is?
The audience at the film fest seemed inspired by the story. There was enthusiastic clapping at the end. And I overheard people sharing the Dervaes project website with each other. My companion and I joked about finding 1/5 of an acre in our city to replicate what the Dervaes family had done.
But for me there was another element to the story that probably no one else in audience appreciated. Here was a family from a fundamentalist WCG background who found themselves part of larger community that was quite different than the church environment that they came from. They found themselves, perhaps accidentally, at the forefront of a movement that is deeply concerned about the health and welfare of our planet and future generations. A movement that is concerned about finding practical solutions to issues of sustainability – not just praying and waiting for messianic intervention. And I also found that inspiring.
Here are a couple of links to information on the film:
Urban Homestead
VIFF
Today was one of those days when my past life and my current life intersected in an unusual way. I rode my bike downtown with a graduate student studying ecological goods and services to view a film at the Vancouver International Film Fest. Strangely enough the film, “Homegrown,” was about a family with a WCG background.Jules Dervaes might be best know amoung xCOG followers for penning an article that got plagiarized by Gerald Flurry. But among climate change activists, those concerned about food system sustainability and locavores he is famous for something else. He and his family have created one of the most successful and well known examples of urban agriculture.
The film only briefly touched on religion. There was passing mention of moving to Pasadena to study theology and the family was shown praying before the meals. But most of the film dealt with the inspiring story of how this family has managed to create an amazing example of sustainability and self sufficiency in an urban environment.
The film brought up a few memories. There was a scene at the Rose Bowl where I spent some time doing fundraisers for AC. And some old family pictures from the 80s that somehow looked familiar. I had probably seen that family at church services during my time at college in Pasadena. I smiled when one if them is shown riding an Xtracycle to the grocery store. How many people that I used to go to church with even know what an Xtracycle is?
The audience at the film fest seemed inspired by the story. There was enthusiastic clapping at the end. And I overheard people sharing the Dervaes project website with each other. My companion and I joked about finding 1/5 of an acre in our city to replicate what the Dervaes family had done.
But for me there was another element to the story that probably no one else in audience appreciated. Here was a family from a fundamentalist WCG background who found themselves part of larger community that was quite different than the church environment that they came from. They found themselves, perhaps accidentally, at the forefront of a movement that is deeply concerned about the health and welfare of our planet and future generations. A movement that is concerned about finding practical solutions to issues of sustainability – not just praying and waiting for messianic intervention. And I also found that inspiring.
Here are a couple of links to information on the film:
Urban Homestead
VIFF
Feasts Galore
It's a bit late for 2009, but if you're already thinking about next year's festivities, you might like to bookmark this site which lists various Tabernacles options on offer, with a heavy emphasis on COG splinters.And yes, there's merchandise! The obligatory t-shirts, coffee mugs, greeting cards (!) and buttons. Awwwwwww...
My suggestion is a special post-Feast button: I got fleeced at the Feast, but then I'm obviously a cynic.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Purple Praise
You know you miss it, so here's your chance to get it. The purple hymnal is online in pristine PDF format. All your favorites plus your least favorites. Dwight Armstrong's greatest hits. Download it while you can.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Complete Journal Issue Online
The Journal team have provided access to the complete September 29 issue online. That's all 32 pages including the unique offerings in the Connections ad section. It's a nice gesture, and an opportunity to see what subscribers get.
Ian Boyne (who features in this issue) has a couple of his own articles online at the Jamaica Gleaner: The problem of evil, the rise of militant atheism, and Atheists' problem with the Bible.
In case you missed it, the Living Armstrongism blog has an interesting piece about LCG leader Rod Meredith wheedling money out of his festal flock. Thus spake Spanky:
Yet, mainly because of the recession—which is now ending—the Work of Christ is experiencing a very “tight” financial condition. Though we have budgeted 5.3 percent increase in income for this year—and deeply need this in order to sustain our current programs—our current income is only running about two percent increase year-to-date. So unless we receive truly generous Feast offerings this year we will have to make more cuts in our television stations and other parts of the Work. But, in all honesty, we have tried to run a “lean” operation and do not have any extravagance that I am aware of. So we do deeply need the prayers of all of God’s people and their sacrificial offerings in the weeks to come!
Therefore, please announce this to the brethren and tell them of the unusual need at this time. Let them know that as they come to worship God and picture Tomorrow’s World at the Feast of Tabernacles, they should think of these coming Feast offerings at Trumpets, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles in that context. This is worshiping our Creator and being truly thankful that most of us in the western world still have far more material wealth and “things” than the vast majority of mankind. Even though some of us, at times, think that we are “giving until it hurts” we do not even begin to commence to have the “hurt” others have in less fortunate circumstances. So encourage everyone to be generous—though we do not want any of our widows or less fortunate people to put themselves into financial hardship because of this.
Also, brethren, as Mr. Armstrong stated a number of times, we do want the brethren to know that it is all right to give any of their “excess” second tithe as Feast offerings—especially as part of the final Feast offering on the Last Great Day. A number of people have actually “enjoyed” this opportunity to give of their substance to the Work—knowing that they did not need to use it all up during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Ah, the joy of throwing money at Meredith! Dig deep brethren; give till it hurts!
Ian Boyne (who features in this issue) has a couple of his own articles online at the Jamaica Gleaner: The problem of evil, the rise of militant atheism, and Atheists' problem with the Bible.
In case you missed it, the Living Armstrongism blog has an interesting piece about LCG leader Rod Meredith wheedling money out of his festal flock. Thus spake Spanky:
Yet, mainly because of the recession—which is now ending—the Work of Christ is experiencing a very “tight” financial condition. Though we have budgeted 5.3 percent increase in income for this year—and deeply need this in order to sustain our current programs—our current income is only running about two percent increase year-to-date. So unless we receive truly generous Feast offerings this year we will have to make more cuts in our television stations and other parts of the Work. But, in all honesty, we have tried to run a “lean” operation and do not have any extravagance that I am aware of. So we do deeply need the prayers of all of God’s people and their sacrificial offerings in the weeks to come!Therefore, please announce this to the brethren and tell them of the unusual need at this time. Let them know that as they come to worship God and picture Tomorrow’s World at the Feast of Tabernacles, they should think of these coming Feast offerings at Trumpets, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles in that context. This is worshiping our Creator and being truly thankful that most of us in the western world still have far more material wealth and “things” than the vast majority of mankind. Even though some of us, at times, think that we are “giving until it hurts” we do not even begin to commence to have the “hurt” others have in less fortunate circumstances. So encourage everyone to be generous—though we do not want any of our widows or less fortunate people to put themselves into financial hardship because of this.
Also, brethren, as Mr. Armstrong stated a number of times, we do want the brethren to know that it is all right to give any of their “excess” second tithe as Feast offerings—especially as part of the final Feast offering on the Last Great Day. A number of people have actually “enjoyed” this opportunity to give of their substance to the Work—knowing that they did not need to use it all up during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Ah, the joy of throwing money at Meredith! Dig deep brethren; give till it hurts!
Thursday, 1 October 2009
The Haj
(This is a reprise of a piece that originally appeared prior to the 2006 Feast of Tabernacles.)Every year tens of thousands of Muslims gather in the holy city of Mecca. The haj is a pilgrimage all good followers of Islam are encouraged to make at least once in their lifetimes.
The haj is prefigured in, of all places, the book of Exodus, chapter 23:17. Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
John Collins (Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, page 133) comments.
These were occasions when the males were to “appear before the Lord” by going to a sanctuary. The Hebrew word for such a pilgrim feast is hag, which is related to the Arabic name for the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the haj.
In a sense, then, the Church of God observance of the Feast of Tabernacles is a haj. Thousands of people travelling to far away places in obedience to what they believe is a divine command.
The similarities don't end there. Islam has a prophet, Muhammed, and so does Armstrongism. At a minimum we're talking about Herbert Armstrong (Apostle, Elijah), but others have claimed a similarly exalted status (Gerry Flurry for example.) The COGs talk about dwelling in tabernacles or booths (though they prefer nice solid motel rooms) while the Muslim pilgrims literally do dwell in tents, whether rich or poor. And as anyone who has read the embittered ravings of Mark Armstrong will know, there is a certain mullah-like disposition to many of the preachers of Armstrongism. As worshipers in some (but by no means all) mosques are exposed to disturbingly overt political messages, just so are many (but not all) Church of God members lambasted with not-so subtle conservative political rhetoric parading as “Bible truth”.
For others the Feast is a great occasion, and they return home feeling genuinely recharged and renewed in their sense of identity as Christians. More power to them. I've listened to a number of feast sermons that were positive and upbuilding. It's simply not true to characterize the Feast as something inevitably negative or legalistic. I've never attended a Friday prayer service at a mosque, but I suspect something similar is true there too.
For those departing for the eight days, happy haj!
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Samoan Tsunami
The first I heard of the Pacific Tsunami today was an email from a dear (but anonymous) brother in Christ.
A tsunami is headed towards NZ what do you think of that? I am praying for the people of NZ and even you though you don't believe in God.
How thoughtful! Sadly, I didn't initially publish it to the comments section, but on second thoughts I decided I'd share it anyway. In fact, that email was the final straw that led to the previous post on moderation.
The only COG blog to mention the tsunami so far is COGwriter, where Bob sagely notes: "This has been a rough week in the South Pacific, and its only Tuesday. Ultimately, the Bible tells of a time there will be no more islands (Revelation 16:17-21)."
Well, that's cheery. No more islands? Are you kidding? Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, what about the British Isles? Bob may have a PhD and a ThD (ahem) but, well, gimme a break! It's another example of the need not to be completely wooden and literal when you read the Bible. "And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found." Bob's transformation of poetic metaphors into a gray utilitarian paradise doesn't sound too attractive to me; not only no islands, but no mountains. Maybe his god has no concept of natural beauty.
The travail in Samoa and American Samoa is real, and while the anonymous brother's heartfelt prayers would doubtless be appreciated in a very religious nation, I'd have thought a donation to a relief agency might be more practical. As for arguing with this genius about his opinion that I "don't believe in God," well, it'd be a waste of breath. The guy is obviously a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.
For the record, the tsunami thankfully skipped New Zealand's shores. But what kind of Christianity is it that uses a disaster to slap around someone who has a different theological perspective, or play Internet doom-caster to illustrate a proof text?
A tsunami is headed towards NZ what do you think of that? I am praying for the people of NZ and even you though you don't believe in God.
How thoughtful! Sadly, I didn't initially publish it to the comments section, but on second thoughts I decided I'd share it anyway. In fact, that email was the final straw that led to the previous post on moderation.
The only COG blog to mention the tsunami so far is COGwriter, where Bob sagely notes: "This has been a rough week in the South Pacific, and its only Tuesday. Ultimately, the Bible tells of a time there will be no more islands (Revelation 16:17-21)."
Well, that's cheery. No more islands? Are you kidding? Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, what about the British Isles? Bob may have a PhD and a ThD (ahem) but, well, gimme a break! It's another example of the need not to be completely wooden and literal when you read the Bible. "And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found." Bob's transformation of poetic metaphors into a gray utilitarian paradise doesn't sound too attractive to me; not only no islands, but no mountains. Maybe his god has no concept of natural beauty.
The travail in Samoa and American Samoa is real, and while the anonymous brother's heartfelt prayers would doubtless be appreciated in a very religious nation, I'd have thought a donation to a relief agency might be more practical. As for arguing with this genius about his opinion that I "don't believe in God," well, it'd be a waste of breath. The guy is obviously a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.
For the record, the tsunami thankfully skipped New Zealand's shores. But what kind of Christianity is it that uses a disaster to slap around someone who has a different theological perspective, or play Internet doom-caster to illustrate a proof text?
Comments Policy 1.1
Nothing causes more bother on this blog than the moderation of comments. Without moderation the exchanges descend into irrelevancies and flame wars. With moderation people complain, whinge, whine and gibber. It's a no-win situation.AW is hopefully a place everyone can comment, regardless of “where they're at,” if they're minded to be civil. Personal insults are inappropriate, but feel totally free to disagree agreeably! Please don't get upset if your comment doesn't appear every time, sometimes it's just an oversight on my part. I often moderate comments received overnight while crunching toast and rushing out the door at 7AM... mistakes do happen!
So here are the guidelines. Number 4 has been edited: five submissions on any one day seems more than fair, and avoids having one person dominating a conversation. I apply the rules at my own discretion (they are after all guidelines, not the Ten Commandments), but I do genuinely try to be evenhanded, and err where possible on the side of giving the benefit of the doubt. I don't think there's anything unreasonable here: the short version is "play nice!"
If I can't make sense of a comment, it won't be posted.
If it repeats something the same person has said earlier in the same thread, without offering anything fresh, it probably won't be posted.
If it's part of an ongoing private tit for tat exchange between two posters, it probably won't be posted.
If there are more than five postings from the same person on the same day on the same thread, excess comments are highly unlikely to appear to appear.
If it's off topic, it has less chance of being posted.
If it seems to be a comment directed to me personally, it probably won't be posted.
If it just quotes Bible verses rather than putting up a case, it probably will be rejected.
Be aware that Blogger does not permit a moderator to edit comments. The options are “publish” or “reject.” While there are probably ways around this, I just don't have the time or energy to “clean up” submissions to make them acceptable.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Trumpeting Out of Tune
Phlurrydelphia Trumpet hack Ron Fraser writes in the October issue:In February 1934, Herbert W. Armstrong launched a magazine... It was to become the most widely circulated of all periodic publications during the 20th century.
That's an interesting claim, but is it really credible?
Of greater concern is the ratcheting up of PCG's anti-German rhetoric yet a further notch, if that's possible. When does this stuff stop being just wacky and cross the threshold into hate literature? A full page ad proclaims "The Fourth Reich is Rising." Another staff writer, Brad Macdonald, attempts to convince us that Herb was right all along when he said (in 1945):
And the Nazis have now gone UNDERGROUND. ... They plan to COME BACK and to win on the third try.
Wasn't Hitler supposed to be hiding out in South America, or in a secret base in Antarctica or something? How did Herb know that? I guess it was "the more sure word of prophecy." But hey, it's 2009 Brad. No matter, another Trumpet hack, Joel Hilliker, assures us...
It is all now so close to coming to pass. We are witnessing the beginning of the seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire.
Sorry lads, but we are witnessing no such thing.
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