The Painful Truth About The Worldwide Church of God

Email To The Editor
(Page 46)
(Mail from Kooks, Nuts and Loonies is on another page)

 

2/19/01

I just read your "Acts of God" page and just wanted to say that its sad beyond words.

I didn't know a lot of the horror of humanity that I read there... If mankind was created by a god then he should have run away eons ago and hidden in embarrassment. I came to suspect there was no god a few years ago when I realized that I had never, no not ever, had a single prayer answered in my entire life. and the Worldwide Church of God ministers would always blame me...No matter how good I tried to be, I was just never good enough for god to give a god damn about. He liked the adulteress neighbor a lot better than me cause I wound up homeless sleeping in a car after tithing over and above the 10% faithfully while she cheated on her husband and said god was a crock....She lived in a nice warm house.

I also tried to get a job that I desperately needed to support my child but it went to a non church going non tithing atheist who had applied after me. and after a lifetime of never being answered by this god I came to feel that if he did exist he was one cold hearted mean indifferent bastard...but I don't believe there is no such being. the thing that bothers me is that humanity is so evil to one another. Really evil. Reading about the holocaust and the other stuff takes my breath away....

I've heard in the past some of the stuff that used to be done to children in experiments in those camps and its beyond my ability to fathom mankind. I love animals and you should see and hear the things people do to helpless defenseless animals too.

I don't know if anything will ever happen to make man stop his evil, his horrendous incomprehensible evil to his fellow man. I feel that man is the lowest form of animal on this earth...and he'll never, never change. I have family growing up in this world and I cry inside for them. Anyway.

I'm sorry I went on like that sir, I just wanted to tell you that your Acts of God page ripped my heart out.....I cried. I really believe that there's no hope for mankind. he's gotten worse not better. but there's nothing we can do about it..

Its just my heartbroken ramblings after I've read that stuff. It hurt....but I thank you for writing it

Marlee

 HI!

I thought you were gone1 So glad to see you back! Should you have as a title on the top of Explorer abpout the WWC of G? Include more ( Armstrongism/Phil.Ch. of God, etc?)since WWCG switched theology? I am a former born again., never Armstronger, but I am glad to see you are backI went to your aite before & it wasn't there.

Take care & thanks!

Harry

REPLY:

  The Painful Truth website has been where it is from 1997 and hasn't left. You may have been looking at one of my mirror sites that I no longer maintain.

The purpose of the site is to expose the former Worldwide Church of God for its ungodliness and the present Worldwide Church of God for being un-Christlike; in effect, un-Christian and unapologetically hypocritical.

I was never a member of the Philadelphia Church of God or any of the other Armstrongite Daughters. If people would like to provide interesting information regarding these other tax-free, con-game/businesses, I would publish it.

Editor

 Hello, my name is Cathy and I am thirty years old and am a former memeber of the armstrong church.

I stopped attending the church when I turned 16. I grew up in this church and after I stopped attending my mother and sister still attended. My father never went. When I look back at the years I attended honestly I only remember good things such as y.o.u. activities and the feast.

Since the years have past my mother has informed me on some things about the church that I never knew or would have thought of. I never knew of the church not wanting us to see dr. due to the fact that my mom took us to the dr. anyway. I am a nurse now and I have faith in God but there are certain considerations. The story of your first wife suffering makes me cringe.

I have just started searching to find more information of the church. I don't currently attend church but I still have my faith in God and I believe that God will accept as I am and how I believe.

Is there any real true church, not that I am agreeing with all religions, but if people believe in God and follow his teaching the way as they read them to be who are we as humans to judge them. Not everyone views the bible in the same exact way.

I can not believe some of the things that happened in this church and it hurts to hear of it but I am interested on learning more. I will continue to read your website and please contact me on any new that you can. There is so much I could talk about but I don't have all day. I will email you again. Thank you for you time and effort to let people be aware of what has happened.

Cathy

 I have personal experience of loss initiated by the Worldwide Church of God and have recovered!!

I have just unearthed the 'box of stuff' that meant so much years ago.

I have books and leaflets:

'The truth Shall Make You Free' John Tuit,

'Radio Church of Gos' How its teachings differ from those of the seventh day adventists by Harry W. Lowe. sent to me in 1972 but copy write 1970,

Armstongism's 300 errors exposed by S.E. Anderson copy write 1973,

The Foundations for Biblical Research-Marriage and the Bible 1974,

Who is Qualified to be your minister?

20th century Church of God, Church Government and Church Organization the Foundations for biblical research, Pagan Holidays - or God's Holy Day - Which? by Herbert W. Armstrong (copyright 1957, 1970 Ambassador College,);

Tithing, a Worldwide Church of God Publication 1975;

The Tithing Question , Ernest L. Martin and staff 1974,

The Tithe By James L.  Porter, Fountain of Life Fellowship, Valley Center, Kansas, 67147;

This is the Worldwide Church of God (copyright 1970),

The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy by H.W. Armstrong 1967;

The Marson Report 1970;

God Speaks out on "The New Morality" 1964 Ambassador College;

The Armstrong Empire 'A Look at the Worldwide Church of God' by Joseph Hopkins;

The incredible Human Potential by H.W. Armstrong 1978;

The Armstrong Error Charles F. DeLoach The Plain Truth on Herbert W. Armstrong 1971;

The United States and Britain in Prophecy 1967, 1972, 1975, 1980 World Wide Church of God;

Against the Gates of Hell Stanley R. Rader, 1980;

Do you have an Immortal Soul? Ambassador College 1957, 1970, 1973 by Garner Ted Armstrong;

The Missing Dimension in Sex, Herbert W. Armstrong 3rd edition 1981;

Armstrongism Religion or Rip-off by Marion J.  McNair 1977,

Babylon Mystery Religion by Ralph Woodrow 1966-1963;

Famine 1969-70;

How to Study the Bible 1964-1973;

How to Study the Bible David Jon Hill 1964-1973;

Read the Book David Jon Hill 1970-1973; 

Hippies Hypocrisy and happiness;

Is this the End Time? 1971-1973; 

The polluted Planet;

The Plain Truth About Christmas;

The Real Jesus1971-1971;

All about Water Baptism 191948-1972 H.W. Armstrong;

The Crucifixion Was not on Friday Herman L Hoeh 1959-1968;

The Wonderful World Tomorrow What will it be like? 1966-1973 H.W.Armstrong and G.T.Armstrong;

Just What do you mean? The Kingdom of God?  1962-1972; 

Where is God's True Church today? 1973;

Managing Your Personal Finances 1970;

What is a Real Christian?

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse;

Does God Exist? 1957-1972;

I think I have every letter from 1974 to the Brethren.  Arch Bradly;

Raymond McNair;  John Schroeder; Brian Knowles Newsletters,

I have just covered the surface of what I have.  My project in the late

70's was to collect and analyze H.W. Armstrong's history from his

beginnings.  I have it all.  Are you interested in any of the material?

Where do you recommend that I forward this information?

 Mary

REPLY:

Seriously, don't throw it out: BURN IT. It will be much more satisfying when you can see it going up in flames. I regret just throwing my vast collection, going back into the '50's, in the trash. Would have been much better to burn it then it can return to Herb as he burns, crackles and pops in ever burning HELL FIRE reserved for the most despicable of men!!!

And then there is the pollution factor, we have to protect the environment and not let such putrid crap get back into circulation. Also the possibility that some poor soul may, by chance, pickup a copy of this trash and read it and believe it. Now that is really dangerous.

No. Just burn it.

Editor

 I would like to talk about two things, and there is a horrible, gut-wrenching, tragic point to this...

First of all, think about what it would take for "god" to intervene and give someone a good parking spot at a mall, or whatever? He would have to inspire and influence the person who parked in the parking spot to hurry up in order to provide that spot on time. Then he would have to inspire and influence all of the people in line ahead of this person who is violating the now-sacred parking spot. Then he would have to inspire the check-out clerk, bag boys and everyone in-between this person and the hollowed parking spot. After all, this "parking spot squatter" can't be held up or delayed. Unless of course, the squatter is running ahead of time, which would require even more influence and intervention to delay the squatter. Then god would have to see to it that no one else pulled into the now "divinely reserved" parking spot ahead of the "blessed" person. A person who is no doubt, righteous and worthy of such a small task from such a great god.

We could simplify all of this and say that the squatter was pulling out of a prime parking spot at just the right time. But god would still have to protect that spot by inspiring and influencing any number of people from parking there. Anything less than this removes god from the equation and it becomes a matter of dumb luck. Anything less than this and god is no longer involved. That is a hell of a lot of power, influence and intervention for an insignificant, meaningless parking spot.

The second thing I want to say is that the highest ranking person in the company I work for lost his 20-year old daughter last week. She was a normal, healthy young woman who broke her ankle, and her doctor put her on blood-thinners. When he took her off of the thinners -her body formed a blood-clot that killed her instantly. Her own mother found her body...

Her funeral was on Saturday. She would have turned 21 on Sunday.

 All it would have taken was a passing, simple inspiration for the doctor not to prescribe the thinners, "or" a passing inspiration to a mothers-intuition that the thinners were "somehow" dangerous, "or" a passing inspiration to the girl herself not to take them. It would have been so much easier to save a young woman's life than to grant a parking spot.

Let he who has a sane mind -think...

 Jim V

 You said, "The evidence for the existence of Santa is much stronger: I get presents from Santa and hear radar tracking reports about Santa on the news every year. Millions have even seen Santa, I am among them. Even if 99.99999% of the sighting are false, that still certain proof of Santa."

 Shit! I LMAO at that one :)

Well I don't know if your being serious or not, but in either way, I would like to answer what you said. Santa Clause is.. well..(brace yourself) a fictions character that was based on St. Nick. You see, he's not real!

REPLY:

 Joe,

Very observant of you.

Now, go prove that Jesus ever existed.

Editor

3/5/01

I attended the Boston, Mass. Worldwide Church of God church in 1975, and vaguely remember this Robidoux fellow who was a local church elder then giving sermonettes and stuff.  He went WAY, WAY off the deep end and started his own super-isolated cult based on whatever popped into his own pea brain.  Some of his followers are now in jail for murdering two of their infant children by way of neglecting to feed them or give them any medical attention, because to do so would have been pagan and against the holy teachings of Robidoux (French for "God", apparently).  I read a long, detailed history of their tragedy in the 26 NOV 00 Boston Globe, and regret not keeping a copy of that article.  Here is some info on them from some body else's web site (http://www.freedomofmind.com/groups/attleboro/attleboro.htm).  I think you should post this somehow but you may need to contact the owner of this web site to get permission.  This article also has a lot of good stuff on mind control and destructive cults.

I remember one particular sick anecdote in the Globe article mentioned below.  At one time they all thought they should drive in a convoy to Maine to a certain place to await Christ's return.  They had at least two cars full of people and started out.  After a while one car ran out of gas, so all the people in that car got into the other car and they resumed their trip.  After a while the second car also ran out of gas.  They all remained in that one car with nothing to eat and no gas.  They had no money, either.  They were fasting, praying, and waiting for God to rescue them.  After about three days "God" finally rescued them.  God appeared in the form of a highway patrolman, I think.  They were sent to their homes back in Attleboro where they continued falling farther and farther off the deep end.

Bill

I was born in the World Wide Cult. I never belonged there. I knew from an early age that I wasn't supposed to be like that. I "brought shame upon my family" and was brutally beaten with my fathers fist to reconcile and hopefully allow passage into heaven for the rest of them.  I've been in plenty of fights since I left. A fist never hurts as much as when it's your fathers. I was very lonely for a long time. I tried to kill myself twice. I didn't want to die, I just didn't want my father to hurt me again. I wanted, and still do, a relationship with my father like the one I see on TV, in my friends families, and my church.

My father turned his back on me for a cult. Watched me destroy myself as a teenager. Hurt me in ways I can never be hurt again. I often compare it to a Ming vase. If you drop it once, you can glue the pieces back together. When you hit it with a fist, it's destroyed. I haven't spoken to my father or any member of my family in over a year. I forgive them all. I hope my love can comfort them at some point. However, any time I think of my father, I don't remember the nick name he called me when I was little, I don't remember rides in his truck, I remember him pinning me down and banging my head into the floor. I remember being dizzy for three days after. I remember my father calling a minister from my hospital room (I broke my arm) and asking them to pray for us, he would've asked for healing before taking me to the ER.

I'm doing okay now. I have a nice life. But a broken past. I am now part of a wonderful church. They are loving, supportive and generous. My friends are my family, none really know the true depth of the things I went through as a child. I don't hate my father and my family anymore, but the vase is broken. No attempts need be made to fix it. Please do no use my name.

You can identify me as Birmingham AM. All those affected will know who I am, I am they, they are me.

What a great book.  So informative and I know now, so truthful.  Would love to embrace David Robinson for his faith and courage.  What happened to him?  I wish I could find more men like him.  He was fired, then wrote this book and did internet work?  I hope  to hear that God blessed him for telling the TRUTH, with a better occupation at age 56!   Just wanted to say, "Well done, David."  Thanks.

Former member of Worldwide Church of God,

Peggy

REPLY:

Peggy,

Unfortunately, David Robinson did not get as good a paying job as he had had with Worldwide, but he had one where he could maintain his integrity, (unlike the present ministry of the Worldwide Church of God and its daughters): a school janitor. Defending himself and his book virtually broke him financially. David died in 1995. See the Obituary written by John Trechak in AR 61.

Yes, indeed, well done David.

Editor

Editor,

I suggest that John's last article be "show cased." John's open letter should be the very first article anyone reads.

I suggest this because if John's open letter does not make people think, and if "that" article does not affect them -then nothing else on the website will.

Jim V

HELLO,

I HAVE FOUND YOUR SIGHT MOST INFORMATIVE, HAVING STUMBLED ON IT LOOKING FOR AN ARTICLE OR NEWSLETTER OF VERY INFLAMMATORY NATURE ABOUT A FORMER MINISTER OF WWCG, WHICH WAS MAILED ANONYMOUSLY TO A FRIEND OF MINE. I HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION, HOWEVER, I WONDER IF YOU HAVE ADDRESSED THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH MADE ASTRONOMICAL SALARIES, THE MINISTERS IN THE FIELD BARELY MADE A LIVING WAGE, ESPECIALLY IN IN AREAS WHERE THE COST OF LIVING IS SO HIGH. Many, IF NOT MOST OF THE MINISTRY WAS FORCED TO GO INTO EXTREME DEBT, SUBSIDIZING THEIR WORK FOR THE CHURCH. OF COURSE, WHEN THE MASSIVE LAYOFFS BEGAN, THEY WERE LEFT HAT IN HAND, WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A PENSION.

ALSO, I WONDER IF IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AS TO HOW MUCH OF THE SUPPOSED "INSPIRED" LITERATURE SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY THE EVANGELISTS WERE ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY THE WRITERS WITHIN THE CHURCH, AND NOT FROM THE HIGHER-UPS AT ALL. I TOO, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS, I, AM OF THE FORMER REGIME, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE MY OWN "HORROR STORIES," THE HEAD GAMES THAT WERE PLAYED WITH MY CHILDREN AND SO MANY BOTHERS REMAINS MY GREATEST SOURCE OF BITTERNESS. AT LEAST AS ADULTS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROTECT OURSELVES SOMEWHAT, BUT CHILDREN ARE ESSENTIALLY DEFENSELESS.

JUST A THOUGHT,

SUSAN

REPLY: 

When you consider what the ministers in the field had to do for "work," they were probably very well paid. If any of them had any idea of what was really going on, I have no sympathy for them at all.

As far as ghost writers for the "evangelists", don't know. What we need is for people who do know these things to write some articles.

Yes, the real crime is what was done to our children because of our mistakes. I really feel bad about that. Screwing up my own life is one thing, doing it to my kids is another.

Editor

 REPLY: 

 AS FOR THE COMMENT RE: MINISTER'S PAY, I HAD ONE IN MY FAMILY, AND NOTHING APPROACHING THE MEAGER AMOUNT OF PAY HE RECEIVED COMPENSATED HIM OR HIS FAMILY FOR THE HOURS HE PUT IN, OR THE EXCESSIVELY HIGH-RENT AREA HE HAD TO LIVE IN. THEY WENT WAY INTO PERSONAL DEBT-AND THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING WAS BOTTOM OF THE BARREL AND REMAINS SO-EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BEEN OUT OF THE CHURCH FOR QUITE AWHILE.

NO, MOST OF THE MINISTRY WAS AS CLUELESS AS THE REST OF US REGARDING WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TOP-OR AT LEAST MOST OF IT. WHEN YOU FAIL TO ADDRESS THE WAY MANY OF THE MINISTRY (OFTEN FINE, DEDICATED PEOPLE) WERE TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS, DEMORALIZED AND VICTIMIZED AS WERE SO MANY OTHERS, YOU ARE THROWING OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATER. AFTER ALL, IT COULD BE SAID OF ANY OF US "BUYER, BEWARE,"

yes, I've HAD MINISTERS THAT WERE OUTRAGEOUS-A SHINNING CONTRADICTION OF EVERYTHING THEY PREACHED. BUT I'VE ALSO KNOW GOOD, COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE. I THANK GOD FOR THEM, THEY ARE SOME OF THE BEST MEMORIES I HAVE OF THAT WHOLE TIME.

SUSAN

 REPLY: 

 Well, I would like to know exactly what these "ministers" did to earn the meager pay that you talk about. I'd like to know what their time schedule was like, since they all worked out of their homes.

And, even if they were just dupes as we were, they got paid to be a dupe. The rest of us lost money. And, I might add that I was at almost every minister's house that I can recall over a period of 25 years, in our area, and their houses and furniture were ALL much nicer, by far, than my house and most members houses. They always had the very nicest cars to drive and changed them every other year or so. This was a nice little perk. I don't remember if they had to pay taxes or not, I don't think so. So their main job was to counsel potential members, and counsel members who were having "family problems" that were caused by the church forcing people in unhappy marriages to stay together. Then they also had to occasionally give a sermon that may have occasionally been interesting or helpful. And, if they had been in the church for any amount of time and had saved their notes and been transferred more than once, they didn't even have to prepare a fresh new sermon; they could just go to their file drawer and recycle an old one.

If your family member was taken advantage of and his standard of living was at the bottom of the barrel, he must have had a good feeling of what his member's lives were like.

No, I do not accept that "most of the ministry was as clueless as the rest of us." They heard all the rumors regarding Herb, Incest, Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, Ambassador Report, etc. that the rest of us never even knew about. If they didn't look into them to find out if they were true, then they have no one to blame but themselves. They hid these things from the members and would kick the members out if they would even talk about these things. I imagine that this is something that your very own relative did. Perhaps your relative would like to sign the Apology Page and show everyone that he abused out of his "ignorance" how sorry he is?

Editor

PS: You probably are an internet novice, so just a little tip: Don't use ALL CAPS. It is taken by the readers as though the person is YELLING at them. I assume you are not yelling at me.

 Hi,

Since I have been unkindly thrown away by Worldwide Church of God, tossed out of service like a piece of unwanted garbage, and am no longer one of their pastors, you may wish to take me off your list.

Blessings, Grant Spong.

 REPLY: 

Perhaps you would like to apologize to all those whose lives were screwed up by yourself or by those you endorsed and supported, by signing the Apology Page? Then your name can be removed.

Would you still be working for them if they hadn't thrown you away? If so, then that is not exactly the repentant attitude that we are looking for.

Editor

 REPLY: 

Hi,

I'm sorry you feel that way. You are not my judge. You don't know my heart. You don't know that I preached strongly that HWA was a false prophet, that Worldwide Church of God was a cult, and that I would refuse to preach any Armstrongism. Perhaps that is why I am no longer a pastor with Worldwide Church of God. Perhaps my messages were too direct and blunt for some. All of us were deceived. You don't know the pain we suffered. You only seem to assume that members suffered at the hand of pastors, not the other way around. Yet, many of us (pastors and lay members) who worked for reform within the church suffered at the hands of others. There were those of us who apologized to our congregations for our sins, and remained and worked for change from within. There were lay members who apologized to their pastors. However, I am still waiting for some to apologize who tried to destroy our lives the past few years. I doubt that will happen, so like Jesus who died for us before we repented, I have chosen to forgive them even though they may not have yet repented. As for my sins? I have chosen other forums to apologize for my sins, and of course I confess to God in private. I have preached apologies and written private letters of apology. I do not choose a priest, a confession booth, or even your forum. All three seem to be in the same category and it just seems wrong. Thank you anyway. Sorry for the trouble. Go ahead and keep your little list. As for me and my household, we choose to forgive and erase all such sins against us.

Blessings, Grant

 REPLY: 

 Yes, I am your judge since I have seen no evidence that any God is going to right any of your wrongs or protect me from being misled by you. Also, since religion is a legal con-game, there is no governmental protection from this scam.

Since I can't look at your heart, and I trust no god to do it, I will look at your actions and judge from them.

On the negative side:

1. You were a minister: Immediate cause for concern.

2. You were a minister for a cult, not exactly credentials that certify you as being able to help people heal from cultic damage.

3. You may still consider yourself a minister, just unemployed. You may still be trying to find another job in this profession.

On the positive side:

1. You preached against herbie.

2. You preached that Worldwide Church of God was a cult and would refuse to preach any Armstrongism.

3. You say you have apologized in person and in letters. (Are you sure that you got to everyone?)

Until you withdraw from any further "preaching" and apologize for ever being a minister of Armstrongism, and publicly apologize for supporting this organization that did so much damage in people's lives, you must remain in The Hall of Shame. If you ministers that have been "trashed" by this business cannot do a proper apology and proper repentance, then just who the hell can? Do you really think that those who are still drawing paychecks from this organization and hoping to divide up the loot for their own retirements are going to apologize to you?

It is believing this crap about forgiving everyone without their even being repentant that leaves you Christians wide open for scam artists, such as the Worldwide Church of God, taking advantage of you. It makes the world no better to allow bad people to get away with doing bad things. You are erasing nothing more than your responsibility to right wrongs and, in so doing, protect others from being taken advantage of also.

You and your house are doing nothing more than enabling those who do wrong in the name of god.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

Editor

See coat_of_lies_2 for ministerial defenses for their lack of accountability.

I just wanted to let you know how I found your site tonight. First let me start by telling you that I was a member of the Worldwide Church of God from 1974-1988 (I was 4 in 1974).

Anyhow I was watching Dateline tonight and was surprised to see the story was about an breakoff group of the Worldwide Church of God. After the broadcast I went to the website for Dateline and started talking to ex-WCG members. The very first person who started talking to me gave me the link for this site. I started reading the "you know you grew up in WCG if.." and started to cry. For so long I have been trying to explain to my husband what I went through as a child and teenager being apart of this church. Almost every single thing on that lengthy list was familiar to me! I have 2 children now(3 and 1) and I will NEVER involve them in any organized religion-I don't care what it is! Luckily I am still friends with a lot of the kids I grew up with in the church, and I have forwarded this link to them via email. I can't wait to read more of this site and finally come to terms with the repercussions of being raised within the Worldwide Church of God.

Thanks, CJWE

PS. You know you grew up in the WCG if...

1) The first time you went to the movies on a Friday night you waited for god to kill you as a punishment.

2) Pagans were the bad guys-You never knew who they were, they were just BAD..

3) If you were 14 you knew you only had 4 more years until you would be able to get married

4) Any return visit from an AC student was cause for grand celebration!

Thanks again, I will spread the word!

 I read Hebert W. Armstrong's article about gay men from one of his "Plain Truth" excerpts. Ol' boy truly missed the mark!

Right off the bat he stated that Rock Hudson was a true masculine man. That was just Hollywood pulling a deception, especially in those times (1950s-1960s) when an openly gay entertainer was not acceptable. If HWA was such a holy man, why couldn't he see through the smokescreen and realize that Rock was hiding in a well-guarded closet? Physical fitness does anyone good, but has nothing to do with their sexual preference. Yeah buddy, there are some out-of -shape straight people out there right along with the "macho", buff fellas who are really closet queens! Guess Herb missed his target big-time here!

John C

 I have just had the pleasure of finding your site last night. Since that time I have not been able to quit looking at it. I think I have called at least 5 people today and have given them this link.

My parents picked up a copy of "The Plain Truth" one day in 1975. I was 5 years old. They were actually divorced at the time and having custody issues with my brother and I. Well 8 months later my parents were re-married and active members of the Worldwide Church of God. It was the worse thing that could have happened to them. My mother spent the next 15 years in a relationship that should have ended naturally in 1975. 15 years of her life GONE! My father, however was allowed to continue with his "extra curricular activities" through-out the marriage and my mom was advised(told) to forgive him for his "place in the kingdom of God". I know see that it was more because my father was a bread winner and represented cash.

I was fortunate enough to finally break free from the church when I turned 18. I continued to go every once in a while because I still had a lot of childhood friends there. eventually however, the kids all turned 18 and almost all of them left. The biggest challenge we all faced after life in the Worldwide Church of God was getting over the fear of being "killed" for not going to church on Saturday or doing something on Friday night. Every ex-member I have ever talked to had to deal with this fear!

As an adult now, I have 2 children that will never never, never be forced to go to church. I will never set foot in a church again and I am completely agnostic and feel extremely liberated about it. The one positive thing that the Worldwide Church of God did for me was to set me free of the guilt and the control at such a young age. Everyday I watch with sadness as my mother makes decisions in life that revert back to her existence in the Worldwide Church of God. She is learning though and I feel like your site will finally remove ANY remaining guilt she may feel about "deserting" God.

Thank you for making these issues real! I now have a place where my husband can validate so many of the things I have told him and also maybe understand a little more what makes me tick and why. I will continue to pass on this site to all of my friends that deal with there messed up lives after the Worldwide Church of God.

Thanks,

 It's 2001 and the PCG continues to send me its slick TRUMPET magazine... as I continue to look for anything I can find online that is anti-Armstrongism.

When I first found the 'painful truth' website I lived in it for several days, devouring testimony after testimony from people put through the ravages of fear-based legalism. I avoided THAT, but I must admit I bought some of the 'coming great tribulation' B.S.

If there is more reading like that on this Delphi forum of yours, I'd certainly want to take a look at it, and maybe post my own contributions.

 Hi...

Maybe this is wrong, but i am assuming that you actually keep abreast of the Philadelphia church and their TRUMPET to some extent (maybe not read every issue, BUT...)

My question: where do you think they are NOW? to me they seem to be reprising their 50's Worldwide Church of God period! they now plan to build a university, and expand, and expand, and E X P A N D...

But they seem in denial of the end never coming in the past, or any time in the near future. any thoughts?

Thanks.

 REPLY: 

I do receive the Trumpet but only to sap the energy from their efforts. It usually goes straight into the wastebasket after I look over the titles of the articles.

I also noted that, in the grand style of Herbert W. Armstrong, Flurry is starting "God's college" once again. Just copying what worked for herbie and gang.

And Flurry also knows that the reason that the end never comes, Jesus never returns, as predicted, is because the "people" are not ready. It is these true believer's fault that Jesus does not return because they are using too much of their money for their own enjoyment, such as feeding and clothing their families. Shame on them. All these members holding up God from doing his will on this earth.

The "Work" must go on and on. The pyramid must be built before the Pharaoh dies. They must keep finding new members (slaves) for the most glorious plans of Flurry and his co-horts, so that they may suck the hard-earned money out of deluded members.

The Philadelphia Church of God will die and dissemble, just as the Worldwide Church of God did, when Gerald Flurry dies. But then many entrepreneurs will arise to pick up the fallen baton, (the rod of iron, the Bible), to beat into subjection with fear of eternal death and physical punishment by an angry and jealous god, and make merchandise of these poor people.

Editor

Hi Editor,

The first three links in "Cult Information" under "Page Index For The Painful Truth Website" are not working. The last one is o.k..

I have been out of the cult now for 13 years, and haven't thought about it much in the last few years. I came across your site a couple of weeks ago and I have been visiting it every day since.

As I am writing this there is a story on "Dateline" about a small spinoff of Worldwide Church of God! A real bunch of screwballs.

Thanks for your website. Mike

 REPLY: 

 Mike,

Thanks for helping me keep the site up to date. That is what happens when I link to other sites and they move or close down.

I also will have some bad links on my site and I really appreciate it when people tell me which pages have the bad links.

Best, Editor

 I just came across a web site (livingcog.org) starring Rod Meredith and Richard Ames. I know all I care to about Meredith (he makes me want to take a shower), but Ames what can you tell me about him, outside of the World Tomorrow telecasts I have no background on him. Is he sincere or just another one of those people who helped HWA to fleece his flock, and ruin people's lives? The fact that he is with Meredith is telling, but I'd rather rely on an informed source

Also, another "watchman" by the name of Gerald Flurry has popped up (Philadelphia Church of God). He strikes me as a poor speaker, arrogant, and a little loony. Perhaps I am misjudging and do not wish to disparage anyone, but he seems to revere HWA. I read one of his booklet, which promptly dissembles into a tirade about some fight to publish United States and Britain in Prophecy the booklet was supposed to be about Daniel. He has a television program called The Key of David.

What about him?

I visit your site a good deal and have learned so much about Worldwide Church of God. I had thought they were honestly seeking to do good work, particularly when they toned down the prophecies for awhile there. I was introduced to them by way of TV in the late 1980s. I had no idea that they were as awful as you have proved them to be. Keep up the good work and let me know what I can do to help.

Sylvester

 REPLY: 

Sylvester,

Thanks for your message.

I have no information on Richard Ames. I have to question the integrity of any of these "higher up" people whether from the Worldwide Church of God or Meredith's gang or Flurry's gang. These guys all knew what was going on with Herbert Armstrong and Garner Ted and the money that was wasted, and the sex and incest. If they had any integrity at all, they would have exposed what was going on. Instead they were more interested in their own paychecks. If any member had brought these subjects up, they would have been disfellowshipped by any of these men.

If Ames follows Meredith, what makes him any better than Meredith? He has subjugated himself to Meredith's authority and accepted him as his leader.

Regarding Flurry, why is it that God cannot get someone who isn't just a little whacked out to be his representative? Same thing with Meredith. Same thing with Armstrong. Go by your gut feelings, you are probably right. If they appear "arrogant, and a little loony" it is probably because they actually ARE that way.

And they do revere Herbert W. Armstrong. After finding out the Painful Truth about this bottom feeder, how could anyone respect Meredith or Flurry and their virtual worship of this man? Its all about money.

Regards, Editor

 REPLY: 

 Thanks, so much for your reply. I am truly indebted to your informative Ambassador Report.

I wish there were a law on the books that could be brought to bear on these people. They are indeed a stain on Christianity and are no better than the others they accuse. If I can be of any service, please let me know. It steams me to know these so-called "men of God" could be so selfish, greedy, cruel, and heartless. So many people have suffered at the hands of them, and yet, they are still out there, with their bizarre messages and their hands out. The world would be much better off without men of this ilk. Again, thanks!

Sylvester

 

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