It is truly astonishing how the human mind is capable of ignoring things it does not want to believe or focus on.
Here's one example of this in the COGs concerning Ramona Martin.
My first encounter with a non-COG description of HWA's WCG mentioned the Three tithes, which some COGs deceptively hide from potential recruits, and also mentioned that HWA was divorced.
None of the COG portrayals of HWA which I encountered while I was a believer in Armstrongism mentioned that HWA was divorced.
Because they did not mention it I actually managed to convince myself that the non-COG page was just making it up that HWA divorced.
Then I read the Autobiography of HWA and indeed it mentioned (in Chapter 81) that indeed HWA did remarry after Loma's death to Ramona Martin in 1977.
It also mentioned how she saved HWA's life when he had a heart attack in 1978.
But there was no mention of a divorce.
In all that I read there I came across no other mention of Ramona Martin at all.
This was not mentioned in LCG's 'Church History' booklet.
PCG never mentioned it. In this 2002 Philadelphia Trumpet article, The Legacy of Herbert Armstrong, no mention is made of the divorce. (The careful reader will also note there is no mention of the failed 1972 prophecy.)
I do not recall ever seeing any mention of her in Bob Theil's website. If you look for her name you will find nothing here and here.
I avoided this thought, even half believing that they must have stayed together, (but there was no mention of her at his death as one would expect if they were still together).
It was not until I read the Ambassador Report that I learned the truth.
HWA indeed did divorce.
It was very messy as the original non-COG webpage described it.
I saw that it was HWA the Apostle himself who applied for the divorce. It says so right here in Time Magazine.
Ramona Martin has been sent down the memory hole and the COGs act as though she never existed.
It should also be noted that HWA dedicated his last book, Mystery of the Ages, to Loma with these words:
I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of 50 happy years, Loma Armstrong.
When I was an Armstrongite believer I thought this was a beautiful expression of HWA's love for his (first) wive.
Now I view it as HWA's final vindictive jab at the wife he divorced, Ramona Martin (nee Crittenden).
It is amazing how the COGs have excised her from their collective memory.
LCG Admits They Are Not Doing That Great Of A Job With Their Message
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And, it has taken them this long to realize this?
Members of the Living Church of God Council of Elders met for three days of
meetings this week. Many...
2 days ago
Do you know, out of curiousity, if Ramona Martin is still living?
ReplyDeleteYes she is my step mother.
DeleteShe was my 1st wife and is no longer living. She died several years ago. She suffered much abuse from that con-artist, Herbert Armstrong
DeleteThe con artist was her.she was Satan's plant through Stanley Rader to get dirt on HWA and ultimately use it in court against him.
DeleteI do not know what has become of her.
ReplyDeleteYeah i was wondering this myself today as I'd love to interview her and get her views and opinions on the events of the 70s and 80s, her messy divorce and especially what she knew about the circumstances over HWA's incest with Dorothy. Did anyone interview the latter about it while she was still living or anyone whom she confided in before she died about this as it would be good to finally end the charade once and for all with conclusive proof that'd shut up those who idolize the man and excuse his behavior, which if true, is inexcusable.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, part of her divorce settlement hinged on her agreement to remain silent about Herbert and his daughter. A violation would result in a law suite.
DeleteHis grandson, Larry Gott (son of Beverly Armstrong Gott) said that the incest did happen and the family knew of it. He said that when David Robinson's "Tangled Web" book came out (circa 1980), Armstrong shrugged off the allegations of incest and said, "My people will never believe it." Gott said that his grandfather was "that smug about it."
ReplyDeleteI believe he also tried to stop the book from being published, but couldn't.
DeleteThis whole thing is ridiculous. Why would it matter if HWA divorced? He never married again. As I recall, Ramona was given a home and a financial settlement. No one ever spoke an evil word against her. Mr Armstrong was not bound to her if what was thought as the whole reason for that marriage was true and who orchestrated it, and the Bible plainly says if fraud is there, the marriage can be dissolved. Quit worrying about others, dead or alive, and get right with God.
ReplyDeleteWhere is that scripture regarding fraud and marriage? I have often wondered. Thanks.
DeleteI think she had been married and divorced when he married her.
DeleteIt does matter that he married her, a divorced woman, while her husband was still living. Many were forced to separate from their spouse if they came into the church divorced if the spouse they divorced was still living.
DeleteHe was Satan. It's my dream to sh-t on his grave and hope his mouth is open.
ReplyDeleteHe was Satan. It's my dream to sh-t on his grave and hope his mouth is open.
ReplyDeleteWOW !!!!! May God help us all.
ReplyDeleteRamona and her son lived behind us in a house near Los Robles and Villa Street in Pasadena in the late 1960s. She lived with her parents, Mr and Mrs Crittenden. They were nice neighbors.
ReplyDeletehwa... was...just... a... man. Carnal.selfish.inconsiderate.vain.vainglorious.greedy.rude.given to fits of rage.lusted for recognition & power. God first allowed satan to use the woman eve to deceive the man adam.God used the virgin Mary to bring forth the Messiah, our saviour! God used Loma Dillon Armstrong first, b4 HE could ever use herbert..herbert may have had the best of intentions, but once darling Loma was dead & gone, well,that left herbert free to persecute the church at a staggering pace!
ReplyDelete45 years on from 1975 in prophecy! Wwcog imploded, and I thank GOD for it!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGods True church is divided, this is plain to see. Pcog.Lcog.Rcog.Cogi.Ucog.& the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteName the elders who laid hands on Herbert in his ordination. His doctrine was that it had to be at the hands of already-ordained elders, and that your "True Church" had a succession of such ordination back to the original Apostles. Per the precedent of Ezra 2/Nehemiah 7 in dealing with those claiming priestly descent--and don't lie about how Armstrongist teachings put their ministry in direct parallel to the Levitical priesthood--unless you can produce that lineage, your claim to "True Church" status stands invalidated. Failure to reply constitutes admission of the falsity of your claim.
Delete(To other readers: It'll be interesting to see which of several possible falsities gets used by this Armstrongist to uhole her guru.)