Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Overview of the July 2016 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

The July 2016 issue of PCG's recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet, is now out.

Let's take a look.


The editors are listed as Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad MacDonald, Dennis Leap, Robert Morley, Jeremiah Jacques and Philip Nice.

The cover is illustrated by Gary Dorning and alludes to the border disputes in the South China Sea.

This issue's circulation is 281,190. This is a slight increase from the previous May-June issue which had a circulation of 280,230. The April issue's circulation was 285,193. For March it was 287,175. The downward trend for its circulation continues.

Gerald Flurry has an alarmist editorial proclaiming that China's construction of islands in the South China Sea will lead to some sort of world war.

Brad MacDonald and the late Ron Fraser have a little article accompanying the editorial. It is an updated version of an article first published in 2012. It scare mongers about a great "mart of nations" will soon arise at the United States' expense.

Jorg Mardian has a little article encouraging people to exercise to keep one's brain functioning well.

Brad MacDonald has an article insisting that Iran and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's lackeys of ISIL are really working together against the United States. This ignores the venomous hatred against Shia Muslims that ISIL and their predecessors have propagated for over a decade. It contains an illustration by Gary Dorning portraying this alleged alliance. Since 1994 PCG has demonized Iran as the future "King of the South" but now that attention has focused on the genocidal murderers and terrorists of ISIL the would be prophets of PCG are squirming that people are not quite so fearful of Iran anymore.

Andrew Müller has an article complaining about Senator Sanders' campaign and how it is shifting some to move further to the left.

Andrew Müller has an insert article complaining about President Obama advising people to "pick what works" for themselves.

Robert Morley has an article insisting that socialism is not in the Bible. This seems to be done to condemn anyone too far to the left for his tastes. He also mentions second tithe and third tithe. The third tithe is mentioned to discredit some among the left.

Richard Palmer has an article complaining that the US military is wasting money. PCG constantly proclaims that a dire future awaits the United States. Such talk is bound to encourage those who listen to PCG to think that it is necessary to spend money on the military. Inserts may be seen here and here.

The Infographic scare mongers about the border dispute in the South China Sea.

Gerald Flurry has an article that scare mongers about Germany and Iran's political moves in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. He speculates about "sea gates" which is a common fixation within Armstrongism. HWA taught such things during World War II when he thought the Nazis would win. LCG teach this "sea gates" doctrine as well. The article even exploits a photo of Malta in ruins during World War II to incite fear in readers on page 23.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article about Alexander the Great.

Stephen Flurry has a little article advising readers how to age gracefully.

Joel Hilliker has an article bemoaning the discouragement some Republicans feel about Donald Trump. He insinuates in a dire manner that there will be no presidential election in 2020.
This sequence of curses is already beginning to ravage the U.S. at an accelerating tempo. It is not difficult to imagine that, despite Mr. Stephens’s hope, there won’t be a “next election.” (p. 35.)
WorldWatch mentions the rise of a far right candidate for President of Austria;scare mongering that ISIL is plotting to attack Germany; Germany building a military base in Turkey; President Putin reorganizing security personnel; scare mongering that Russians want the Soviet Union back; scare mongering about Russia prosecuting religious groups; scare mongering that President Obama is ending the special relationship with Britain; scare mongering about Iran's military development regarding missiles; and the murderous terrorist group Boko Haram's use of child suicide bombers.

SocietyWatch discusses the attractiveness of sugar; attempts to legalize marijuana in Canada; and complaining about President Obama making an executive order to make federally funded schools provide gender neutral toilets. PCG has a long and shameful history of demonizing transgender people.

There are letters. Here's one letter from Australia from a man who very often gets his letters published in this magazine.
In a voting system, the people are a reflection of the government and leaders they choose.... I enjoyed the article, but it left a heavy sadness. Knowing that the amount of suffering that is coming—although righteously measured— is going to be beyond the greatest horror we can envisage. True education, real government and God’s law are needed now more than ever. Thanks for the article and a glimpse of the American system of government
Here's one letter that seems to compliment Germany trying to be nice to the refugees but the writer seems conflicted about it.
These are troubled times.... As much as I would like to consider the refugees, I cannot forget about the nation that was there first and has built a certain reputation over centuries. I am all of respect for those who open the door to the needy and for the needy to not take advantage only, but to cooperate and be thankful without imposing their point of view.
Here's one letter agreeing with Gerald Flurry's condemnation of Beyoncé's performance during the Super Bowl. This person even uses PCG's ugly phrase, "race war".
The Super Bowl performance by Ms. Knowles was met with some controversy. ... People who objected to the symbols of race war were themselves labeled racist. But what’s written by Mr. Flurry in this article is so easy to prove. The office of U.S. president is being used to radicalize America, utilizing media and pop culture to pull the masses toward class war and race war.
Quite likely this person is unaware of PCG's false prophecy of "race war."

And so we see that PCG's leaders have produced yet another issue to convince their followers that God is with PCG and that they know what will soon happen in the future. However PCG's leaders have made many false predictions over the years. They cannot see the future. There is no need to follow them or to give them any money.

5 comments:

  1. I have added links to the articles so that readers can look up what I described for themselves.

    I also added the statement, "Inserts may be seen here and here" regarding Palmer's article about military spending.

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  2. About this time last year PCG's in-house “newspaper” The Philadelphian published an article which indicated that 200,000 of the current subscription list were waiting room subscriptions!

    The waiting room programme was a member-ran initiative that had PCG lay-members cold-calling potential outlets asking them to accept a copy of PCG’s Trumpet via subscription. Effectively this means that only around 75-80,000 copies have actually been requested by their readers.

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    Replies
    1. That is good to hear that their recruitment magazine has so little influence and circulation.

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  3. The only evidence of Flurry's "work" that I ever see in daily life experiences is an occasional copy of the Philadelphia Trumpet at Supercuts, where I get my hair styled. Because I know what it is, I never read it. Fortunately, Supercuts also has Car and Driver, and other more interesting magazines to read while waiting. Also, my TV remote has a button I can push for a listing of programs for each channel, and sometimes, I'll notice that the Key of David is listed at really oddball times when only insomniacs would run across it.

    Honestly, these are not having any impact on our local community, and were it not for ex-member websites, I would not even know what they are. In fact, there is no detectable evidence or impact of any of the splinters that is comparable to what the WCG was doing in the 1950s thru 1970s. Certainly, members must realize that they are all but invisible.

    BB

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    Replies
    1. So true. Outside of the immediate membership and family members PCG has little influence or visibility in the world. Their recruitment telecast is scheduled with bad time slots. Outside their small niche they are not important.

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