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?

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!"

1. If I can't make sense of a comment, it won't be posted.

2. If it repeats something the same person has said earlier in the same thread, without offering anything fresh, it probably won't be posted.

3. If it's part of an ongoing private tit for tat exchange between two posters, it probably won't be posted.

4. 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.
   

5. If it's off topic, it has less chance of being posted.

6. If it seems to be a comment directed to me personally, it probably won't be posted.

7. If it just quotes Bible verses rather than putting up a case, it probably will be rejected.

8. 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.

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.

A Very Special Treat...

... from triple-doc Bob Th[D]iel.

It's one of three videos Bob delivers in his attempt to sell copies of his book on 2012. This one is entitled Mayans, the others are labeled Obama and Catholic. They're all available here, click on "more from."

If you're willing to invest three and a half minutes of your life in inane, rambling waffle, this is for you.

Actually Bob, how about a short YouTube video explaining all about that ThD you've got from TCU?

Bob's ThD... revised edition

Just a few hours ago Bob had this to say on his website:

...I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools. A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.

Now there's a new, edited version:

...I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA like T of CU, where a Th.D. in Early Christianity was earned). A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.

Uh... T of CU? Anyone have any idea what this means? TCU seems to know nothing about Bob (see previous posts.) And, accepting what Bob now says on face value, fancy him forgetting to mention his excellent doctorate in theology till now...

Bob's ThD

What do we make of the claim that Bob Thiel holds a ThD from TCU? Click on the image to enlarge. Inquiries have been made by concerned AW readers. Leonardo is one:

...in the endeavor to "prove all things" I called the Registrar's Office (817-257-7825) of Texas Christian University located in Ft. Worth, Texas – and talked to one Kristi Harrison at the Registrar’s Office. She informed me of the following facts: First of all, Texas Christian University does NOT have a doctorate of theology (ThD) program. They do have a Masters of Theological Studies program, a Master of Divinity program, and a Master of Theology program – but not a ThD program. And second, the name of Bob (or Robert) Thiel does NOT show up on ANY student listing the university has. They have a computerized file dating from 1984 forward – and Thiel is NOT on this one. And they have a microfiche file for students who attended before 1984 – and Thiel doesn’t show up on this one either.

I've always found Bob a scrupulously honest person, so it will be intriguing to follow this as it develops.

Bob's been busy

Not only in writing books, but now articles for examiner.com. Here's the bio:

Dr. Bob Thiel has studied theology and prophecy for decades, and possesses a Ph.D. (UIU) and a Th.D. (TCU). He has also traveled extensively, and has visited sites of religious interest in Rome, Greece, Central Europe, Asia Minor, Cappadocia, Constantinople (Istanbul), Africa, Asia, North America, and Latin America.

Bob has a ThD from Texas Christian University? When did that happen? Bob doesn't mention it in his COGwriter bio.

And here's the article, ostensibly on the celebration of Rosh Hoshanah, but note the sly promo for the local LCG at the end!

I didn't vote for this guy, but...

Matches in the Gas Tank

Here's a new autobiographical account about growing up in the WCG/GCI: Matches in the Gas Tank: Trial by Fire in the Armstrong Cult - due for release in a week's time.

Carla Powers was Daddy's princess back in Arkansas in the late 1950s. Then Daddy got religion. That religion, based in the teachings and deprivation of narrow-minded, punitive ministers, tormented her dangerous alcoholic father and her entire family. Growing up, Carla never knew a woman could do anything more than she was asked—or demanded—to do. She definitely never imagined that other worlds would open up to her and she would rise to become a powerful attorney.

Matches in the Gas Tank tells the story of life inside the Radio Church of God and the influence of Herbert W. Armstrong, the Church's founder and prophet. Under his influence, Carla's family moved away from relatives and friends to Big Sandy, Texas, an enclave in which everyone lived by strict and unforgiving rules arbitrarily determined by Armstrong. His vision of how to get to the "Kingdom of God" and avoid a sea of flames consisted of unending lists of rules covering everything from food consumption, to financial responsibilities, to sexual behavior. The only way to rise above the poverty level was to become a minister, and the only way to become a minister was to continually police your neighbors for sin. Ministers were allowed to barge in a home any time of the day or night to inspect everything from the cleanliness of a family's kitchen to the contents of their tax returns.

This is the story of how Carla escaped the control of the church and found a way to deal with the legacy of abuse and shame left to her by her father. As she embraces her difficult childhood, she comes to understand that while those we love have the power to hurt us, they can't destroy us. We can find strength in unexpected places.

Anyone who has had a less-than-perfect family, has struggled with the faith of her fathers or has gone through recovery from abuse, perfectionism, or any cult of personality will connect with the power of redemption in this moving memoir.

The author heads the litigation department of a major multinational energy company (Shell). Before entering the corporate world, she was a trial lawyer in Houston for more than 20 years and an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center.

It promises to be quite a story. Perfect for post-FOT reading!

The Plain Truth - Fruit Loop version

Behold, a dedicated "Plain Truth for Wingnuts" site. Links to World Net Daily? Joe "the bi-bull expert" Kovacs? Yup, the fruit loops are breeding. Subtitled "God's hand behind today's news," these nutburgers have managed to snatch the URL plaintruth.com. Huh? How did Joe or Greg manage to let that slip by? Remember when the WCG registered ambassadorwatch.com (and variations thereof) a few short years ago in order to stop AW from using it?

So who runs the idiot's clone of the PT? Click on the "about" link and you'll get a blank page... big surprise! Is the anonymous editor, cowering in the background, consciously attempting to copy the Plain Truth magazine of the past? Well, yes: read the intro to this posting and he makes it very clear.

Although our Plain Truth website has NOTHING to do with Armstrong or any Church (we are NOT a church organization) we do try and show our readers that to understand the news, one must understand God and HIS word. All the answers are there....

He then goes on to reproduce an article by your favorite Apostle and mine.

"God's hand behind today's news"? Nope. That's not God's hand bub, it's yours. And if you keep doing what you're doing with it, folk wisdom says you'll go blind.