Getting Rid of Armstrongism Mind-Control

Getting rid of Armstrongism mind-control is a long, and for many slow process. The indoctrination of age-old notes is something you need to get rid of, and teaching an old dog new tricks is difficult. Herbie was right about one thing: it's difficult to unlearn what you have already learned - and this was used very effectively in the repetition for emphasis concept that went through the entire organization, and still does in numerous offshoots today.

Getting rid of Armstrongism is instrumental in allowing you to see what is ACTUALLY written in the Bible. You will find that when you read entire chapters in the proper context that many of the scriptures used to say one thing while within Armstrongism, but a whole new thing once you read what God originally intended to be written.

Have you got rid of old traces of Armstrongism mind-control? Please share your thoughts for others to learn also. Thanks beforehand

Spanky Is At It Again...

Spanky is at it again, this time in his june member letter to the faithfuls. He now emphasises a couple that were spared from a hurricane. Normal thinking people would call it pure coincidence, remembering Ecclesiastes 9:11 which says the following:

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

The strange part, for those unfamiliar with Armstrongism at its core, is that people were for a long time encouraged to trust in the Lord rather than spend any money on insurances. Naturally, the ministry didn't take quite the same chances - as was documented for many years in the Ambassador Report written by John Trechak.

When people who WERE members were hit by disaster, the Ecclesiastes scripture was used to avoid answering why people were not spared. But if they ever dared ask questions about why it was more important to tithe (to the organization, then the WCG) than to show wise stewardship, they were declared "rebellious"...

So even though it is always good to see people being lucky, it can't be proved to be anything but pure coincidence. Even when Roderick Meredith wants to avoid the historic implications of his wonder story.

Have a nice weekend everyone. :-)

The Various Perspectives on Bible Translations

When it comes to Bible translations there are various perspectives. Some treat it almost as doctrine that you should use either the King James Version from the 16^th century, or the New King James version published in 1982 by Nelson Publishers. In the WCG there was a translation calling for the Moffatt translation. It was used by founder, Herbert Armstrong, and therefore considered almost anathema to call it just a paraphrase.

Nonetheless, and this will come as a shock to some Armstrongites, the Moffatt translation WAS a paraphrase - just as is the New International Version or the Good News Bible traditionally distributed by bible companies all over the globe.

What translation should you use today?

Use the one you feel is easiest to read, and use a concordance for deeper studies along with reference works, a Bible dictionary etc. Don't let others decide what you like best. Studying the Word of God should be pleasurable and easy to read - not a question of what level of reader you are.

So start thinking for yourself, and make your own choices. Choosing YOUR preferred translation is the first step in that positive direction. :-)

God Is Not Mocked!

God is not mocked. False prediction forecaster, Harold Camping, apparently suffered a stroke on June 9^th 2011. Here's the announcement from their website:

Harold Camping, the president and general manager of Family Radio, suffered a mild stroke on the evening of June 9, 2011. Mr. Camping is receiving excellent care, and the doctors treating him are encouraged with the progress that he is making. Mr. Camping's family appreciates everyone's thoughts and prayers. Any additional information will be updated on this site [...]

Interesting indeed, and we should be careful in ever presuming what we think, feel or believe IS inspired. If Harold Camping had followed that principle he wouldn't have declared May 21^st 2011 as the beginning of the end. It wasn't, as everyone outside the group could see...

United Church of God - Hoping for Christ

The United Church of God has created an article entitled "Seven Prophecies That Must Be Fulfilled Before Jesus Christ's Return".

Notice the cautious way in which they answer the question of whether that return draws near:

Will this generation see God's Kingdom established on earth?
We have seen how seven biblically prophesied circumstances could not have come to pass until recent times. In fact, the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 was clearly a major turning point in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, as was the acquisition of the hydrogen bomb by the two superpowers of the 1950s that led to the period of mutually assured destruction.
All has now become possible. This, in turn, makes it much more likely that our generation will live to see Jesus Christ return and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. After all, Jesus Himself said that once these things begin, the generation alive at that time "will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew:24:34).
It's both sobering and encouraging to think that we appear to be living in the generation that will ultimately witness the most important event in the history of mankind. As Jesus Christ tells His followers in Luke:21:28, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

This is the type of double-speak you will find in Armstrongism and its offshoots. Careful examination of each of the offshoots will show that this is the type of article released for the public to APPEAR balanced, but that date-setting is still a part in individual speculation. They just won't say it aloud. Stay tuned for more on this subject.

Mind Control - Don't Get Caught

When it comes to mind control my best warning is to shout: "Don't get caught!" Religion is about one of the worst places where lots of charlatans have created religions based upon the weirdest of theological standpoints.

Over a year ago I wrote the article "How to Start Your Own Religion" because I wanted to focus on the important aspect of religion that it should unite people. The article was also supposed to provoke people into remembering that it is possible to create anything. Religious speculators have indeed done that very thing, and for those who couldn't care less about the well-being of others, it is indeed possible to sift in lots of dollars from gullible people...

A sad state of affairs.

Don't get caught up in being controlled by others. Think for yourself, and stay alert whenever someone makes crazy suggestions. That is the best defence against religious charlatans.

Have a nice weekend everyone. :-)

Harold Camping - Redesigned

Can you spot the difference between these two screenshots:

Cache taken on May 22^nd 2011:



This is how the Family Radio site looks today:



Gone is the counter supposed to end up in the rapture on May 21^st 2011. Gone are the predictions of this being as sure as [fill in the blank]. Gone is prophetic interpretations - very probably trying to ride off the storm since the fake prediction turned Harold Camping into a real fool when compared with the words of the Bible about false predictions...

Next in line for a false prediction label is apparently, Ron Weinland who on February 25^th 2011 wrote the following:

Seven months have now passed since my last posting. It has been a little over two years since the Seventh Seal of Revelation was opened. More incredible yet is the reality that in about 15 months from now, Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth.

This puts his prediction at about May 2012. Just so you know it. ;-)

All kidding aside. False predictions cause people to lose faith in God, and you should never let that happen to you. It should awaken you to error, but not cause you to lose faith in our Creator.

Harold Camping's Failed Predictions

Harold Camping's Family Radio is losing hope by the minute. They created an ad that is going to be pretty useless after today ends. It is now 1:20 PM in the afternoon, the sun is shining - but apparently we only have 4 hours and 40 minutes left, if one could trust the predictions of Harold Camping.

I thought I would share the video just so you can see this 1 minute farce:

May 21, 2011 from Family Radio on Vimeo.

Harold Camping has a poor track record. Just like his mentor, the late Herbie, who predicted numerous dated including 1975 (in the booklet 1972 in Prophecy), and probably thought the California investigation was also a precursor to the "end of the world", so Harold predicted 1994, now today, and the very end on October 21st 2011.

I think he is spending the day trying to find some way to explain away this very definite prediction to predict some special scenario that fits the biblically corrupted minds of those who still listen to Harold...

Happy search, Harold. :-)

Now Available in Danish Also

This blog will be available in Danish also. The name of the blog is "Armstrongismen - Den ultimative guide" which will service Danes, Norwegians and Swedes leaving Armstrongism.

If you know anyone in Scandinavia who could benefit from this information, please feel welcome to direct them towards that blog.

I am translating all relevant articles that are still relevant time-wise so they will be released in the month ahead on that blog.

Cults ARE Winning...

In the quest for information about cults, there is very sadly an aspect that is working to the advantage of cults. Cults have no conscience so getting people to pay the increased expenses is disguised as tithes. Tithes that are paid by faithful people who just follow what they believe is a Scriptural command.

What is much less recognized is the fact that information about these cults takes time AND energy, research AND enthusiasm. In recent years numerous anti-cult groups have closed shop. People were willing to spend thousands of dollars in their cult experience, but couldn't be bothered with supporting an information agency that inspired their exit. They couldn't even imagine even just saying thanks to the people who gave them the information noone else provided.

Some people need to be remembered in that regard. John Trechak fought for many years, trying to get every single Ambassador Report published. If the internet had been a daily element back when he started his publication, you can be certain he would never have set any copyright rules. Just as I never forbid anyone in republishing my articles - provided you tell people where you got the information. A full reprint IS allowed as long as you provide a link to the original source.

Noone should ever let their egos hinder the free promulgation of information, and the cultic behavior should never be continued by freedom seekers who are motivated to share their knowledge about Armstrongism.

Therefore, feel free to share, and help MORE people come out of the darkness of Armstrongism and into the light of the Bible. Your help may inspire someone who otherwise ends up having mental scars that could take years to recover from. Helping involves sharing, and paying due credit to whom credit is due by linking to each other.