Over 100,000 Americans Killed by the Coronavirus

The coronavirus continues to ravage the United States. The death toll in the United States caused by the coronavirus has now exceeded 100,000. One survey says about one in eight Americans knows someone who died. The people of the United States are living within an ongoing catastrophe.

However there is one thing we do not need to be afraid of. Some may be afraid that this coronavirus is some sort of sign that the COGs' dire predictions will soon occur. This current crisis is no such thing.

Herbert Armstrong and his imitators are false prophets who do not know what will happen in the future. Every now and then Armstrongite demogogues would make their followers scared of disease epidemics but no one among the Armstrongites predicted this coronavirus catastrophe. Some of them even chose to downplay this epidemic.

While many are suffering and need help because of the coronavirus there is no need to be afraid of the Armstrongites' dire predictions. They are but false prophets.

Hydroxychloroquine is No Good Against the Coronavirus

So President Trump stayed that he takes hydroxychloroquine to protect himself against the coronavirus.

Unfortunately there is scientific evidence indicates that hydroxychloroquine does not work against the coronavirus. One nationwide study reported that more coronavirus patients died after taking hydroxychloroquine than if they had not taken it.

It is a medicine for malaria, lupus and arthritis. Not the coronavirus. It is dangerous that some people are fixated on a medicine that actually might make it more likely for you to die from the coronavirus. We need to follow proper hygiene procedures and listen to medical professionals instead of following a wild goose chase.

PCG Insists Coronavirus Death Toll is Overstated

Currently the death toll of COVID-19 in the United States is about 85,000, an ongoing catastrophe that staggers the imagination. It is probably an underestimate since it took awhile for the US to get testing to be widely available. Many Americans are unable to be tested even today. Also there is the issue of indirect harm to the population such as persons who need medical attention for other reasons but are having difficulty to get proper treatment because of the epidemic.

Nevertheless PCG continues to downplay it. In the July 2020 issue of PCG's recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet, it is insisted that the death toll of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States is understated. PCG's writers stated the following in the Infographic.

... the real COVID-19 death rate is lower than reported. ... 

Those who die from the disease are mostly elderly people with serious preexisting health conditions. 

COVID-19 deaths are likely overestimates. ... 

Compared to past pandemics, COVID-19 is relatively mild.  

Imperial College of London originally
estimated that 2.2 million people in the
United States and 510,000 people in the
United Kingdom would die from COVID-19
without government lockdowns. While it is
now impossible to know what the death rate would have been without the lockdowns, updated information about the number of mild COVID-19 cases shows that these initial death toll estimates were gross exaggerations.

It is awful that PCG continues to downplay the severity of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

PCG Moaning About Stay in Shelter Orders During Coronavirus Catastrophe

PCG just can't the coronavirus seriously. Here it is implied that the stay in shelter orders are a leftist plot to somehow change society instead of a sincere effort to save lives.

05:00 Radical Left Lockdown (32 minutes) 

The radical left does not want to see the lockdown lifted. This is the crisis it has been waiting for. With oil prices down, millions out of work, and the economy virtually frozen, now is the time to push ahead with the radical agenda to fundamentally transform America. In order to justify the lockdown, the radical left must continue to stoke panic and fear. Rather than report the facts, the leftist media maintain that coronavirus is the greatest crisis mankind has ever faced. You must stay scared. (Source.)

Shame on PCG for moaning about our present inconveniences when it is being done to save lives.

Armstrongite One Percenters Badly Responding to Coronavirus Catastrophe

So far about twenty-eight thousand Americans have died of Covid-19. The situation is terrible. But it is our duty to minimize the spread of the virus as much as possible. We must wash our hands. We must practice social distancing.

Sadly, but unsurprisingly, some of the COGs have responded poorly to the ongoing crisis. HWA spread his anti-medicine superstition for decades among his followers. Even though COG splinter groups have moved on from this stance some Armstrongites fanatically cling to this dangerous attitude.

We all have the opportunity to show love to our neighbors by socially isolating ourselves to slow down the spread of Covid-19 and save lives in the process but some COG splinter groups have chosen to behave unwisely.

RCG continued to hold services. LCG tried to have a ministerial conference and the LCG leadership only cancelled it after many people, including Banned by HWA, spoke out about the dire consequences of such a meeting at the present time.

ICG's Mark Armstrong has been as misanthropic as ever, even in this present crisis.

In their zeal to “keep everybody safe,” government, all the way down to the state and city level is making sure no one escapes the fall-out from the kung-flu (That's right, I said it even if Trump didn't). (Mark Armstrong, Weekly Update, March 20, 2020.)

Here's Mark Armstrong insinuating that the fear of the coronavirus is politically motivated.

The “news” people have foisted one false story after another upon the public. The “Russian collusion” story was delivered to the American public day after day for at least two years. When that failed to convince the public that President Trump was a Russian agent, they flipped to the Ukrainian phone call to claim that American interests had been sold out for political advantage. In fact, the sham impeachment hearings were still in progress when stories about the Chinese virus were beginning to surface. But, getting rid of Trump was the main objective and that's what his enemies went with. You don't suppose this panic is Plan C? (Mark Armstrong, Weekly Update, April 3, 2020.)

PCG's attitude is compromised by their partisan affection for the Republican Party and their focus upon their prophetic speculations. Much of their discussion of the coronavirus does not treat the pandemic with the seriousness the topic requires. Here is one example of this dismissive attitude in action from Brad Macdonald.

I'm not sure about you, but I have never been more wary (and weary) of “experts.” I’m tired of hearing from WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus and Dr. Anthony Fauci. I chortle with disbelief when I hear a world leader other than United States President Donald Trump talk about the coronavirus. I treat with extreme skepticism the orations of esteemed professors from the world’s most venerable educational institutions. And I cringe at the monologues from the talking heads of CNN and BBC and the micro-sermons delivered on Twitter. All of these people, our leaders, have an unlimited supply of opinions and answers, which they communicate with unqualified resolve and confidence. 

Sadly, I struggle to trust almost everything these people say. I have little confidence in their solutions and policies. Perhaps I’m the only one who has an intensifying skepticism and faithlessness in our leaders. Maybe I’m alone in my growing contempt for the opinions of smart people, the “experts.” But I suspect not. (Brad Macdonald, Why You Should Look Forward to This Saturday, March 26, 2020.)

It is astonishing to see this person's contempt for expertise. Nothing good can be produced with such an attitude.

On March 25 PCG produced an episode of The Trumpet Daily that moaned about stay in shelter orders.

#1202: Lock It Down: It’s What We’re ‘Supposed’ to Do

[00:30] Why Lockdowns? (22 minutes) 

India has a population of 1.3 billion people. The nation has had just 10 deaths related to coronavirus, but the government has imposed a nationwide lockdown. It’s as if each nation is trying to out-shutdown the one before it! When in history have you heard of such extreme measures being taken to combat the flu? 

[23:00] Mortality Rate (11 minutes) 

The World Health Organization initially said the mortality rate for the coronavirus was in the 4 to 5 percent range. These numbers contributed to the worldwide panic. Now estimates are coming in that suggest the mortality rate could be well below 1 percent. (Source.)

First of all it is not a flu. It is a coronavirus. And even if the death rate was one percent that would still make it at least ten times deadly than the flu.

Furthermore even if the death rate was one percent the diffence in projected death rates does not matter since the main problem with this coronavirus is its ability to spread exponentially and kill thousands at the same time.

Even though some of the COGs have chosen to respond so badly to this ongoing crisis we don't have to. Wash your hands. Avoid touching your face. Respect stay in shelter orders. Avoid crowded places. Keep yourself safe. Be informed.

PCG Cheerleading Brexit: Overview of the October 2019 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

Currently we all are caught in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Stay safe. Practice social distancing. Avoid crowds. Be informed. This crisis will not be ending soon so we must try to mitigate this epidemic as much as possible. I wish you well in these trying times.

And now on to the post.

Let's take a look at the October 2019 issue of PCG's recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet.

The editors for this issue are Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad Macdonald, Richard Palmer, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap and Phillip Nice.

The circulation of this issue is 250,583 issues.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article discussing the issue of mass shootings in the United States.

Richard Palmer has an article discussing the Brexit issue and the rise of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Joel Hilliker has an article discussing the Battle of Britain.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering about some sort of "deep state" conspiracy to remove President Trump from the presidency. Is this alleged "deep state" conspiracy seeking to replace him with Vice President Pence?

Jeremiah Jacques has an article fantasizing about the Earth being miraculously changed into a peaceful utopia after (PCG's interpretation of) Christ returns.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering that Germany has been plotting how to win World War III. It is taught by PCG and the other Armstrongite groups that Germany is fated to lead a future European Empire to wage war upon the United States and conquer it and take Americans en mass as slaves back with them to Europe. All this is said to occur just before Christ's return. The article is illustrated with a picture of pipes arranged to look similar to a Nazi swastika.

The Infographic scare mongers about European nations' involvement in the arms trade all over the world. It is ignored that the United States has military forces in Europe in fulfillment of its duties as part of the NATO alliance. This phobia over Europe going to conquer the United States is not based on evidence in the real world. It is based on HWA's idiosyncratic speculations and teachings about prophecies which have failed over and over again.

José Michaels has an article saying that Germans will end up loving life during the millennial rule of Christ after the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming.

Gerald Flurry has an article discussing the Assyrians' invasion of the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah in order to promote PCG's sponsorship of archaeological excavations in the Holy Land.

Gerald Flurry has an article telling his readers that angels and demons exist.

WorldWatch discusses EU proposed laws about the Internet; fear mongering about a future union arising from the European Union; condemning Pope Francis for not supporting President Trump; discusses a recently completed four year military mission by the German military in Cameroon; speculation that Hamas and Hezbollah are planning to attack the State of Israel together; an alleged Israeli strike in Iraq; scare mongering about China's Belt and Road initiative; the border dispute in the South China Sea; and scare mongering about Russia and India having military connections.

SocietyWatch discusses scare mongering about increased levels of immigration to the United States; an increase in arms sales after massacres in El Paso and Dayton; a poll that says patroitism levels in the United States is low; and allegations of criminal pedophilia attacks within the Boy Scouts of America.

Joel Hilliker discussing the Armstrongite definition of sin. It is taught by PCG and the other Armstrongite groups that certain Jewish customs and traditions mentioned in the Old Testament are to be observed by their followers.

Joel Hilliker has an article moaning about left wingers calling for law reforms to address mass shootings, claim the left are vilifying the right as white nationalists and telling his readers how to assess threats.

Here is how to assess the actual threat level on any given subject: Look at what Bible prophecy says. It will help you distinguish actual crises from fake ones. (p. 35.)

But in this context "Bible prophecy" is defined by how it is interpreted by the PCG leadership. This is a call for his readers to do what PCG's 1% tell them to do.

There are letters. Here is one letter from British Columbia, Canada from a person complaining that certain people are not behaving as they should or as this person expects them to.

I am shocked by the anti-Trump and anti-Netanyahu rhetoric coming from Israel’s main news source, Haaretz. They have gone so far as to call both of these men neo-Nazis and racists. Haaretz appears to hate anyone who loves Israel. Sadly, many American Jews also appear to hate both Trump and Israel! It doesn’t add up! (p. 36.)

Other people, Jew or Gentile, are under no obligation to behave as this person expects them to do so.

And so PCG's 1% had produced yet another issue of their recruitment magazine seeking new recruits and to keep their followers convinced to continue supporting PCG.

LCG Cancels Ministerial Conference Due to Coronavirus Epidemic

Banned by HWA has done everyone a great favor by highlighting the troubling fact that LCG was planning to hold a ministerial conference while this coronavirus epidemic continues to spread within the United States.

Thankfully LCG has done the right thing and cancelled it. There is no doubt that lives will be saved by this decision.

PCG's Awful Article About Anti-Semitism in France

PCG has recently posted an article discussing a case of a murder of a Jewish women in France in which the killer was judged to be not guilty due to his use of cannabis. Naturally this is a controversial and painful issue. In response PCG has written an article with the following lurid title, "Is It Murder If You Kill a Jew?" (January 27, 2020).

This title is irresponsible. While no fair minded person would even ask such a depraved question it is worth bearing in mind that there are extremists out there who hate Jews. Some of them just might say no to the lurid article title. We should not give them any reason to think their hatred of Jews is somehow justified in any way. It is shocking that anyone in PCG's 1% thought such a title for this article was a good idea.

Later the article states the following:

the hatred for the Jews is coming from ... Satan the devil.

Has this PCG writer thought through the implications of this statement? If Satan is causing some people in France to hate Jews then how can those Anti-Semites be blamed for they did while being supposedly under the influence of Satan? Such reasoning excuses Anti-Semitism and relieves bigots of responsibility for their actions.

Oh, what confusion and luridness Armstrongism has wrought upon the world!

Infamous Hollywood Mogul Convicted

It is good that Harvey Weinstein has been convicted. It is terrible that a man with such power has committed so many horrific crimes for so long. Now the whole world knows he is a convicted criminal.

May all those guilty of such horrific crimes be brought before the courts of justice.

PCG's Fawning over Republican President on Alledged Eve of America's Doom

So often PCG's 1% preach doom and gloom about so many things but somehow one ceremonial car ride of the President prompts PCG's 1% produce a fawning paean to President Trump. The PCG leadership heavily favors the Republican Party when discussing political matters.

After two weeks of victories, United States President Donald Trump took a victory lap, literally. ... 

With the crowd bellowing familiar chants of “U.S.A., U.S.A.” and “Four more years!” the president again took to the beast and led the pace lap. The president even picked up a radio and spoke directly to the drivers and pit crews. ... 

The president is basking in a supreme moment of success. (Callum Wood, NASCAR and the Supreme Moment of Success, February 21, 2020.)

Considering that PCG also teaches that the United States will soon by conquered by a German led European Empire very soon one would have thought that PCG's 1% would not be so enraptured by the sight of their preferred president making an appearance in Florida.