sejuly04

Flagships of the Fleet

I admit it. Almost 35 years after unwrapping the very first copy of The Plain Truth to grace my letterbox, I'm still as much a sucker for COG magazines as Star Trek reruns.

Not so much the content, you understand. All those ludicrous articles about Bible prophecy being fulfilled in your newspaper? Yeah, right. And the knee-jerk conservatism that under-girds what passes for Christian social commentary? Gimme a break.

No, I'm talking about something else altogether. It hit me forcefully some time ago when, on a whim, I went through every single issue of both The Plain Truth and The Good News from 1955, a time trip back nearly half a century.

It was almost surreal. An article about weather change boldly proclaims a coming great drought: "and prophecy proves it will happen - before 1975!" There are memorably horrific black and white illustrations by the inimitable Basil Wolverton, and articles that would still be circulating decades later: Is Jesus God? and The Seven Laws of Radiant Health.

And that's just January!

I found myself momentarily lost in the romance of those pages. A part of me wanted to suspend disbelief, just as you have to during a Star Trek movie, and enter the world of warm certainties and assurance that had suddenly and tantalizingly reappeared like a mirage in the desert (repeat after me: there is no Starfleet, there is no Starfleet...)

Of course the effect was temporary. I'm older and, if not wiser, more crinkled about the edges. There are those however who still imagine themselves whooshing through the Outer Reaches of the Quadrant at Warp 6. Rod Meredith for example. I'm pretty sure he'd stand by The Seven Laws of Radiant Health and Should Women Preach? (The guy is so predictable that you know the answer to the question in his second title without having to bother actually reading it.) How do you get to reach your allotted "three score and ten" and still learn absolutely nothing in the process? I'd ask Bob Thiel, but I hear he's on an away-mission, patrolling the Neutral Zone in case of Romulan or UCG incursions.

But I digress. The Plain Truth was always more than just twisted logic and bad proof texting. It was also a beautifully presented magazine. The use of white space, the selection of photographs, type face and art work... it was consistently state-of-the-art, a pleasure to pick up and browse. And it was one glossy magazine that was free for the asking.

So how do the latter-day pretenders measure up? Here's my personal (and completely one-eyed) salute to some of the current candidates.

The Bible Advocate. Before the first Plain Truth came off the mimeograph, the BA was already an established publication. It's still appearing and in its 141st year. The most "Protestant" of the brood in its approach, I daresay it'll outlast all its flashier offspring. Design: ho hum. Content: zzzzzzzzzz.

The Good News. The UCG's recreation of an old WCG title. Sometimes they're even crass enough to infer that it is the same publication. I don't care, I love it! It evokes a nostalgia for past convictions and a time before Herbert went mad and proclaimed himself Christ's Sole End Time Apostle. The new GN has the ability to present the silliest ideas in the most reasonable of tones. Design: excellent. Content: off the wall.

Tomorrow's World: Another WCG title, this time appropriated by Meredith to serve as his flagship. Fuelled by 96 octane arrogance, it's a Meredith sermon transmuted into paper and ink. It can fairly scream at you. Not nearly as tastefully understated as the GN. I can't work up any enthusiasm for this thing. Design: reasonable. Content: reprehensible.

Vision: What's that, do I hear you ask? Vision is produced by the David Hulme splinter. You might expect something horrible, but in fact it's the pick of the bunch. A fresh name and a fresh look. The creative director deserves a medal. The online version does it scant justice. Vision wouldn't look out of place on anyone's coffee table, and it succeeds in capturing your attention without being overly preachy. Design: knockout! Content: mutton dressed as lamb.

The Philadelphia Trumpet. Less said the better. Why mess with the Borg? Design: copycat. Content: handle with rubber gloves.

The Plain Truth. Well, yes, it's still there, kind of. And it occasionally has some helpful articles, judging from the online content. Technically it's no longer a COG magazine, but... Design: excellent. Content: variable.

Scurrying around below the floorboards are an assortment of also-rans, but these six are the market leaders.

Just be careful where they lead you to. It might be safer to stick with Captain Janeway.