Overview of the March 2019 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG's 1% have released the March 2019 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Let us see what they have to say this time.

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

This issue has a circulation of 270,483 issues.

Gerald Flurry has an article scare mongering that the European Union and various Latin American nations will economically blockade the United States. PCG has constantly made similar predictions of dire catastrophe and yet such things have just never occurred.

Richard Palmer has an article bemoaning the Brexit process in Britain. Even though PCG is primarily based in the United States, a nation founded by waging war to liberate themselves from British rule, PCG's leaders still let Richard Palmer claim that the British Empire was the best empire ever.

A nation that has stared down Napoleon and Hitler, that remained unstained by the bloodletting of events like the French Revolution, that led the greatest and best empire in world history, that still leads a commonwealth of nations, is now coming undone, trying to quit a glorified free trade agreement. Why? (p. 2.)

If the British Empire truly was "the greatest and best empire in world history" then why did the founder decided it was necessary to go to war against the British Empire to liberate themselves from British rule? Why was it that about a million and half people in Ireland starved to death in the famine of the 1840s? Why was it necessary for the British Empire to constantly wage war to expand its territory and suppress numerous uprisings by people who tired of living under the rule of foreigners? Most of the vast territories placed under British rule were acquired by military force.

Brent Nagtegaal has an article condemning President Trump's decision to withdrew US military personnel from Syria. Even when the President is from their preferred political party if he takes any step to lessen the military power of the United States the PCG leadership instinctively condemn any such move. PCG's militarist attitude is exposed with such a statement.

Tyrel Schlote has an article insisting that economic cataclysm will soon afflict the United States.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article discussing a man in India helping to revitalize a river. Very likely that man and those people have had nothing to do with the organization that produces this recruitment magazine.

Andrew Müller and Jeremiah Jacques have an article scare mongering that China is positioning itself to be able to economically blockade the United States by gaining influence in the Caribbean nations.

Gerald Flurry also has an article condemning the vast majority of Christian churches for worshiping on Sunday. It should be noted that PCG's practice of worshiping during the Jewish Sabbath is not unique to PCG or the Armstrongite organizations. Sabbatarianism does not prove that one should follow PCG.

Jorg Mardian has an article encouraging people to improve their sitting posture.

Christopher Eames has an article insisting that Joshua's long day happened and condemning a proposal from some academics at the University of Cambridge suggesting that Joshua's long day is to identified with an eclipse that occurred in the region back on October 30, 1207 BC. Eames insists that the Israelites moved into Canaan just before 1400 BC.

Eames cites the Amarna letters as corroborating evidence of the Israelite conquest of Canaan as described in the Book of Joshua. The Amarna letters mentions a people called the Habiru and Eames identifies this people with the Israelites. But back in the 1960s, before HWA's organization began to experience schisms within its midst, Herman Hoeh, a major leader of what was then called the Radio Church of God, stated in his Compendium of World History, that the Amarna letters were to be dated to the ninth century BC, about six hundred years later than Eames' assertion, and he insisted that the Habiru were not Israelites. Why is it that PCG's leaders now believe that Herman Hoeh was wrong?

Joel Hilliker has an article denouncing transgender peoples while condemning the appearance of such such person on Good Morning America. He makes no mention of the numerous difficulties that transgender people face.

Richard Palmer also has an article discussing NASA's observation of Ultima Thule. It should be noted that NASA was able to make such an astounding feat without any help from PCG.

There are letters. Here is one letter praising Gerald Flurry's denunciation of President Macron.

So now Macron is paying the price for his arrogance. Look at the riots in France.

Here's a letter from an individual in France expressing skepticism about PCG's fear mongering about Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg.

I regularly receive the Trumpet magazine, and I can see the positive evolution of its content and layout as well. I thank you for presenting a new aspect of political games. Although I do not share your point of view concerning Russia and your belief that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg should become the new leader in Europe, I share a lot of points of view you present (such as, Germany building its new reich). Guttenberg is a dead political figure. But he may act in the background. He is rich.

PCG's leaders respond with this simple statement.

Keep watching Guttenberg. –Ed.

Since 2009 PCG's leadership have constantly insinuated in their writings that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg may be destined to be the dictator fated to lead Europe into conquering the United States and Britain and taking those peoples as slaves in Europe. They continue to do so even after he was removed from the German cabinet following a plagiarism scandal.

Here's a letter from a person who had been listening to HWA and his imitators since about 1969.

I had read The United States and Britain in Prophecy when Mr. Armstrong was still with us. My dad, when he was alive, and I were subscribers and viewers of The World Tomorrow. I have read most of his books and am now 60 years of age. I listened to the radio broadcast back 50 years ago, when I was 10. It was good to learn from Mr. Armstrong. He sure knew what was up.

For thirty years PCG's leaders have constantly promoted fear inducing prophecies of woe and catastrophe but many of their dire predictions have failed miserably.

PCG's Article on Islamophobic Terror Attack in New Zealand

PCG has released an article discussing the Islamophobic terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand in which fifty Muslim worshipers were murdered on March 15, 2019. PCG's author, Christopher Eames, originates from New Zealand. Let's see what they have to say. (Christopher Eames, Day of Tragedy: 50 Dead in New Zealand Mosque Attacks, March 15, 2019.)

Eames describes some of the basics facts about this atrocity.

One of New Zealand’s worst-ever massacres shook the city of Christchurch today. At least 50 individuals were killed during attacks on two mosques; another died later in the hospital. A further 48 were wounded. The attacks were carried out by a heavily armed white supremacist....

While seeking to note incidents of mass murder to compare with this massacre Eames makes a culturally insensitive statement about the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. Here Eames disparagingly refers to certain warriors of indigenous tribes of the pre-colonial era as "Maori cannibals."

Today’s death toll ties the 1943 prisoner-of-war riots for the deadliest massacre in New Zealand in 210 years, and the deadliest in its history as an independent nation. The casualty total is only surpassed by incidents in 1809 and 1772—before New Zealand was established as a nation in 1840—which were warlike attacks between colonialists and Maori cannibals. [Links added.]

An Australian Senator caused much outrage by saying that the presence of too many immigrants was a "problem."

Australian Sen. Fraser Anning sparked controversy with this statement: 

Whilst this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand, of the increasing Muslim presence. 

As always, left-wing politicians and the media will rush to claim that the causes of today’s shootings lie with gun laws or those who hold nationalist views, but this is all clichéd nonsense.

The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place. 

And Eames can only bring himself to say that it was "poorly timed" refusing to say such statements are morally wrong.

The senator’s statements were poorly timed, but his views do represent the fears of a significant percentage of Australians, who voted him into the Australian Parliament.

He then appears to complain that multiculturalism is not a strength.

Despite the noblest of platitudes from leaders and officials, multiculturalism is never “our greatest strength.” There is no “strength in diversity.” And there is no place for bloodthirsty radicals like [name omitted], whether they are Muslim extremists or Islamophobes.

He states that multiculturalism has failed.

Attacks like this point to serious problems in our societies: failures in family that can lead to monsters like [name omitted], the failure of multiculturalism, the spread of terrorism around the world. We can expect to see politicians put forward many simple solutions to these problems, such as more gun control in New Zealand, crackdowns on criticism of Islam, and more policing of what you can post on Facebook. But none of these solutions address the real cause of our problems.

And what is the "real cause of our problems"? That we are cursed. And why are we cursed? Because don't view things the way PCG's leaders do. And we are obsessed with multiculturalism.

As we point out continually at the Trumpet, Britain and its Commonwealth of nations, including New Zealand and Australia, are cursed. The Bible precisely describes the state of our nations, down to our weather problems, our obsession with multiculturalism and our internal division. It describes our “sick” nations as being like “a cake not turned” (Hosea 7:8)—fragile and divided. Our own sins and moral failings are causing us many problems. In addition, God is sending curses on our societies for our rebellion against Him....

Tragedies like the New Zealand mosque attacks should stir us more than ever to pray, “Thy Kingdom come.” The good news is that it is coming—very soon.

PCG has been waiting nearly thirty years for the Second Coming to occur. PCG have made at least 52 failed predictions. PCG's leaders are clearly unable to see the future. Relying on PCG's predictions will not succeed.

Alas, PCG has a long history of stirring up fear towards Muslims. This attitude may be seen in the following quote from PCG's recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet, in which it is asserted that believing "most Muslims are peaceful folks" is a "lie." This is but one example of PCG's Islamophobia.

Americans, in their extreme penchant for even-handedness, have been selling themselves the lie that most Muslims are peaceful folks. If this be the case, why is it that America’s own media continue to throw up perpetual video images of hundreds, even thousands, in Iraq and Pakistan, demonstrating against the U.S. and baying for the blood of American men, women and children? (Ron Fraser, The Battle Lines Broaden, November 2001. As cited in a previous post.)

Here are some other articles from this blog discussing PCG's demonization of Muslims:

PCG and the Islamophobia Network

PCG's Demonization of Muslims Part 1: Before 9/11
 
PCG's Demonization of Muslims Part 2: Conceiving Hate (2001-3) 

PCG's Demonization of Muslims Part 3: Hatred Blooms (2003)

PCG Continuing to Vilify Muslims

Is PCG a Part of "the Shari'ah Conspiracy Theory Industry"?

PCG's Demonization of Iran

PCG and Bigotry Against Muslims (Islamophobia)

PCG's Ron Fraser Mistakes Wahhabism's Age by 1100 Years

PCG's Ron Fraser's Demonization of Muslims After 9/11 (2001) 

PCG's Stephen Flurry Obliquely Quoted in Book About Islamophobia: PCG's Small Impact Upon Society Exposed

PCG's Richard Palmer Moans About the Non-Islamophobic World

PCG Condemns "Pro-Muslim Demonstrators" in New York

Mosque Vandalized in PCG's Hometown, Edmond, Last Month [April 2015]

PCG's Kiall Lorenz Falsely Accuse President Obama of Meeting with Muslim Brotherhood Leaders: PCG Slander Exposed

PCG's Positive Reaction to Anti-Muslim Film, Fitna (2008)

PCG Scare Mongering Against Leftists and Muslims

PCG Spreading Islamophobia After Terrorism in Brussels

Joel Hilliker Ignoring the Muslim Condemnations of the 2005 London Bombings

PCG's Ron Fraser on Obama's Rise to Power

Joel Hilliker's Fear Mongering of British Muslims (2006)

PCG Quoting Daniel Pipes

PCG's Fear Ad

Mark Armstrong Uses Ethnic Slur and Moans About Gun Control After Anti-Muslim Massacre in New Zealand

Mark Armstrong, son of Garner Ted Armstrong, grandson of Herbert Armstrong, leader of the Intercontinental Church of God, has another weekly update posted (March 15, 2019). He constantly bad mouths immigrants and Muslims so let us see what he has to say this time after the Islamophobic terrorist massacre in New Zealand in which 49 people, Muslims worshipers at their mosques, were murdered.

First Mark Armstrong talks about Brexit.

Greetings from Tyler, They're still wrangling, unsuccessfully, with so-called Brexit. Some have said they'd sign the (EU crafted) deal if Prime Minister Theresa May would resign. The complications are such that most of us wouldn't want to know the technicalities of all that is in play. The short version is that everything is delayed, again. Apparently a three month delay is in the offing, but that would take Britain into the EU elections as an active member. The fallout from that possibility is impossible to fathom. Obviously, Britain got itself into a royal mess by hooking up with the EU in the first place. It's been a roiling disaster, and it's not over yet. It may never be over. 

Mark Armstrong constantly speaks harshly about immigrants, Muslims and the political left in general. He now mentions the recent anti-Muslim massacre in New Zealand but in this paragraph he seems to be more concerned that it may lead to stricter rules about the possession of guns.

Our news is brimming with reports of the New Zealand massacre of Muslims in their mosques, with 49 dead. The shooter memorialized and live-streamed his gruesome actions on social media, though thankfully it's not being beamed into our living rooms. But yes, New Zealand has strict gun laws. Citizens have to be licensed by Police to possess a firearm, and records are kept along with driver's license data. But the record shows that New Zealand, like Australia and Britain have used the national horror in the wake of mass shootings to confiscate and outlaw firearms. We'll see if it happens again. 

Lives have been shattered in the massacre. Even little children were murdered. But Mark Armstrong makes no attempt to think about the pain and suffering of the victims and their loved ones. Instead he moans that this anti-Muslim massacre will make his preferred president look bad and makes his followers fearful that some sort of violence might happen to them.

It was all too predictable that President Trump would be blamed, as he was by the shooter himself and in at least one prominent British publication. The Iranians said it was because of our Constitutionally guaranteed free speech. The media darling who would destroy all of western civilization with her squeaky genius and flailing arms blamed the NRA. Undoubtedly we'll be treated to plenty more idiotic explanations and half-cocked solutions in the days ahead. Presumably, those who deserve the blame will pay dearly, as they should. There's simply no excuse for the cold-blooded murder of unsuspecting human beings, no matter what. But ISIS wants revenge, as if they've not committed similar atrocities and worse. 

(The "media darling" mentioned above refers to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.)

Mark Armstrong then discusses recent tensions between the State of Israel and Gaza. The COGs tend to think that events concerning the State of Israel will be a sign that the Second Coming will soon occur hence why they often focus on matters concerning that nation state. While discussing this matter he uses a disgusting ethnic slur so soon after 49 Muslims were murdered in their places of worship in New Zealand.

Hamas made the mistake of firing rockets into Israel, one targeting the modern city of Tel Aviv. Unbelievably, the launches took place while Hamas representatives were meeting with an Egyptian delegation of mediators. The Egyptians were flabbergasted, and said so. Hamas claimed it had no idea about the rockets and would investigate. Israel suggested the Egyptian delegation depart Gaza, then proceeded to pound one hundred targets with air strikes. Apparently, the Israeli military believes the explanation that the rocket launches were in fact not planned but set off accidentally by rookie ragheads. Had Israel believed the rocket attacks to have been approved by Hamas, they'd have retaliated with five times the air strikes. Just another day in paradise. 

Mark Armstrong then moans about the widespread concern about climate change, as he often does.

It seems everyone's having another global warming meltdown. Maybe the temperature will rise by a degree or two in the next several generations. If it does, it will have little if anything to do with American energy policies. All but the true fanatics know that China and India are the world's premier polluters, but these wild-eyed arm flappers are determined to rule over us by government mandate. That'll be the day. 

Mark Armstrong then mentions attending a funeral. He cites an article by the Armstrongite Bob Theil while discussing this funeral.

We attended the funeral of Mr. Les McCullough yesterday. He was a close friend of my Dad's and we have a lot of fond memories, from Big Sandy to the hunting camps of Colorado. There was quite a turn out for his funeral held yesterday in the town of Gladewater, and our sympathies go out to Mrs. McCullough, Kim, Lynne, Michael and extended family. Have a good Sabbath,  

Mark

It is unsurprising that Mark Armstrong continues to show the world what sort of character he possesses. The tithes paying followers of Mark Armstrong enable him to spread his disturbing views and must bear a certain share of responsibility in empowering him.

The Horror of Islamophobia: 49 Murdered in New Zealand

Stirring up hatred against entire peoples is shameful and horrible. At present in Christchurch, New Zealand there has been a massacre in which 49 people have been murdered in two mosques.

CNN reports on this terrorist attack.

Overview of the February 2019 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG released the February 2019 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Let us see what they have to say this time.

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

This issue has a circulation of 269,516 issues.

Gerald Flurry has an article fuming at President Macron for criticizing nationalism in front of Flurry's beloved president. How dare he. Flurry proclaims on page 1 that "soon the French will come to realize that they are making the greatest mistake in their nation’s history" by not keeping themselves as closely aligned with the Trump Administration as Flurry wishes.

Phillip Nice has an article discussing PCG's personal appearance campaigns in the United States and Britain.

Brent Nagtegaal has an article scare mongering about rumors that Hezbollah are constructing tunnels from Lebanon into Israeli land. The fact that the State of Israel possesses a far greater military force than Hezbollah, even, it is widely supposed, possessing nuclear weapons, is left unstated. It is hard to scare the intended audience when stating such things.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering that the United States may find itself unable to pay for its military. He makes the emotive claim that disbanding some US military bases overseas will leave the United States vulnerable to economic blockade.

Once America loses the ability to protect and control the world’s most strategic trade routes and maritime choke points, foreign powers will seize these powerful prizes. America’s homeland will be vulnerable to economic siege by hostile enemies. (p. 11.)

Christopher Eames has an article insisting that scientists are utterly foolish in trying to explain how languages arose instead of just agreeing with PCG's creationist interpretation of the Bible.

Stephen Flurry has an article restating HWA's dogma that there will soon be a "seventh revival" of the Roman Empire. In this interpretation it is insisted that Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany were merely the "feeble sixth head" of the reviving Roman Empire. Is this not a belittling of those many people who suffered so much from the cruel actions of those regimes that they are referred to a feeble sixth head?

Gerald Flurry has an article insisting that people will only be born again once Jesus Christ returns and transforms PCG members into God beings as fully God as God is God though of a lower rank.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article scare mongering about China's economic activities.

Andrew Müller also has an article scare mongering that President Putin is imitating a Russian neo-fascist in conducting foreign policy.

Joel Hilliker has a little article calling upon people to work all their lives disparaging the dream of retirement.

Joel Hilliker also has a little article telling his readers to remember their recruitment magazine and insisting that once World War III actually occurs then most readers will start paying attention to PCG's recruitment magazine. Indicating that PCG's version of God is somehow incapable of preventing the alleged coming catastrophe. But somehow PCG's dire predictions just never occur. There is no need to fear their dire predictions.

There are letters. Even though PCG's mainly tries to target English speaking nations they still promote their doctrines among any peoples they can. This letter is from Nigeria.

Appreciation! I am deeply indebted to your ministry for the tons of life-enriching, Bible-based literature I receive regularly in the post. I am moved by your generosity and brand of gospel outreach. My perspective and worldview have changed for the better. I am building a better relationship with my Creator, my family, my career, my neighborhood and my ministry. I sincerely appreciate your love and support. May the good Lord continue to reward your ministry efforts in Jesus’s name.

They also include a letter from a person complaining about the PCG's recruitment magazine constant use of an English translation of the Bible made back in the 1760s. (That which is called the King James Version today is actually a revision made in the 1760s. The original King James Version released in 1611 is even more archaic by today's standards of English.)

I love the newsletter and articles and have really enjoyed reading them the past several years. I have one comment/request. The Bible quotes in King James make it harder to read than it should be. I’m 38, and I have no experience with the KJV wording, and I have to sit and really think through the “thy’s” and “thees,” etc. That wording is from a time when people spoke that way, and we do not speak that way anymore, so it adds a barrier to our understanding. The NIV would be much better for comprehension for everyone. But of course I’ll keep reading no matter what.

PCG's editors respond:

Thank you for reading, and for your input. We use the King James Version because it is the most accurate Bible translation. The New International and other more modern translations tend to introduce errors because of license taken by translators. But we will endeavor to use other accurate translations when it will clarify the meaning.

How can PCG's leaders possibly judge whether one translation is better than another? Can any of PCG's leaders read Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic? It is worth noting that HWA mainly used the 1760s King James Version when he cobbled together his syncretist religion. It is the translation most familiar to the leaders of the Armstrongite WCG and its offshoot organizations. It is more plausible to conclude that this is why PCG's leaders mainly use the 1760s King James Version in their writings. It is their habit. How can PCG's leaders possibly judge which translation is better than others unless they happened to be very familiar or even fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek?

Since 1989 PCG's 1% have made many predictions that have failed miserably. There is no need to give heed to their dire predictions.

A Familiar Picture

Back in January 2009 Evangelical Press in Britain published a book that provides brief biographies of notable Christian leaders, Stars in God's Sky: Short Biographies of Extraordinary Ordinary Christians by Faith Cook.

The cover happens to be similar to the cover of the July-August 2000 issue of LCG's recruitment magazine, Tomorrow's World.

LCG's dire predictions of disaster have always failed. There is no need to live in fear.

And We Thought the God Family Doctrine Made Us Special

And to think we thought it was so amazing that we would become God beings as fully God as God is God though of lower rank. Turns out back in the ninth century some Sufi Muslim mystics yearned to be one with God. Is that not even more impressive then being some sort of a lesser God being?

[Abu Yazid al-Bistami] also learned the disciine of fanah (annihilation): by gradually peeling away the layers of egoism ... [he] found an enhanced self in the ground of his own being that was nothing other than Allah himself, who told al-Bistami: "I am through Thee; there is no god but Thou." ....

Husain al-Mansur (d. 922), also known as al-Hallaj, the Wool-Carder, is said to have made a similar claìm, crying: 'Ana al-Haqq!' ('I am the Truth!' or 'I am the Real!'), though some scholars have suggested that this should read: 'I see the Truth!' (Karen Armstrong, Islam: A Short History, 2000, pp. 63-64.)

PCG Accuses "Many Young People" of Being Disloyal to Britain

While condemning a certain advertising campaign by the British Army PCG's Christopher Eames accuses "many young people" of being somehow not loyal towards the United Kingdom.

These new posters drew inspiration from the classic World War I Lord Kitchener posters, with some key differences. One is that the Kitchener poster declares, “Your country needs you.” The new posters read, “Your army needs you.” This helps solve the problem that many young people in modern, deeply multicultural Britain don’t actually feel loyal to the country. The distinction may help new recruits feel more comfortable entering a separate entity. (Source.)

And who would these disloyal people be? What evidence does Eames have to make this inflammatory accusation? Doesn't his readers deserve to know who these allegedly disloyal people are? Why won't Eames tell his readers?

What disgusting scare mongering. I cannot help but be reminded of the scare tactics of McCarthyism.

WCG During the Rise of the Religious Right (1981)

Back in 1981 two Presbyterian ministers, Dr. William R. Goodman, Jr. and Dr. James J. H. Price, wrote a book entitled Jerry Falwell: An Unauthorized Profile, discussing Jerry Falwell and the rise to political prominence of the Moral Majority. Both men were then based in Lynchburg, Virginia, the same city Falwell was based in.

On pages 72-3 the authors mentioned an article by WCG's Jeff Calkins ("The Plain Truth About the So-Called Christian Right," The Plain Truth, February 1981, pp. 26-9), criticizing the Moral Majority for not agreeing with certain WCG doctrines. Reading this passage I will say that I wish the authors were a bit more critical about WCG.

Below is the quote.

******* 

One interesting reaction to Falwell and the Moral Majority has come from Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God. While claiming that The Plain Truth and the Worldwide Church of God share the Moral Majority goal of restoring a proper family life in America, Armstrong says they do not want to be considered a part of Falwell's organization. In the February issue of The Plain Truth Jeff Calkins, writing for Armstrong and the church, says:

. . . We are not part of the Moral Majority or of any like or unlike groups. We take no part in this world's politics! God's true Church must remain "unspotted" by political involvement.

While attacking left-leaning critics of Falwell and the Moral Majority, Calkins goes on to point out the real danger of the Christian Right:

If the Christian Right may pose a possible danger, it is in an area largely overlooked by the left-leaning critics. While there is a smattering of Jews, the Christian Right is made up almost completely of Sunday-keeping churches. It would be a tragedy if the Moral Majority--which has fought against secular atheistic humanistic propaganda being forced on believers in the public school system--were to try to enforce Sunday keeping under the guise of blue laws, which forbid work or shopping on Sunday. Thus far, Sunday keeping is not one of the causes of the Christian Right. We hope it will stay that way.

Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God need not worry right now about the laws regarding the keeping of Sunday becoming a concern of the Moral Majority and Falwell. Championing free enterprise as a God-given right seems to be more important to Falwell and Moral Majority judging from the emphasis of their spoken and written words.

Herbert Armstrong and his followers find that Falwell's shortcoming lies in his failure to follow the Bible. Calkins states for Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God:

Jerry Falwell and other leaders of the Christian Right profess, of course, to follow the Bible. It is a shame, then, that, outside matters of basic morality, many of their doctrines are nowhere to be found in Scripture. Mr. Falwell should know, for example, that reverend is a title appropriate to the Eternal God (Psalm 111:9), and therefore not something that he should attach to his own name. Likewise, nowhere to be found are beliefs that you go to heaven when you die, that you should worship on the first day of the week, that you should observe Christmas and Easter instead of God's revealed Holy Days, that God is a Trinity--or that it is a sin not to vote, as Mr. Falwell claims.

*******

End of quote.

Little did anyone foresee that Armstrongism would splinter into hundreds of competing organizations leaving Armstrongites as being less able to command attention from the surrounding, mainstream society.

Notes from Plain Truth Issues (1961-2)

Continuing from a previous post let us continue taking a look at HWA's recruitment magazine, The Plain Truth. In this post issues from 1961 and 1962 are discussed.

February 1961

Even back in 1961 HWA's organization was complaining about the US debt and stirring up hostility among their readers against other nations.

Today, thanks to altruistic and naive "give-away" programs, the most stable economies of the world are the former bitter enemies of two decades ago. Germany, Japan, and Italy have the largest surplus of GOLD and DOLLARS of any countries in the world INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES! The devastated axis powers of fifteen years ago have embarrassing surpluses in their treasuries while the Rich Uncle who GAVE THEM their strong economy has the greatest deficit in governmental history and a GREATER DEBT than all the REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED! (David Jon Hill, What the US Gold Crisis Means to You, p. 9.)

Actually per capita the US debt was larger back in the 1940s due to World War II when compared with the size the nation's economy but Hill seems to be utterly unaware of that fact.

March 1961

Here we see the Armstrongite madness towards the corporeal punishment of little children begins to take hold.

"No!" Brings Results  

"When I say 'no' to my year-old daughter she really knows what it means. She is very well behaved and is a very happy girl. I am proud of her wherever I am. Other children are sassy, have no respect for anyone, disobey, and don't seem to know what the world 'no' means. Thanks to you I don't have this problem. I didn't know when to start to discipline my baby. Well, I read an article in The PLAIN TRUTH that said to start in their early months say a sharp 'no' and then to follow it up with a slap on the bottom. This is exactly what I have done."  

Woman from Kittery, Maine

This woman in all likelihood had little idea that the people behind this recruitment magazine were not professionally qualified to give advice about parenting. This attitude towards raising up children would cause much misery for children raised up by within or otherwise influenced by HWA's Radio Church of God.

The main purpose of this publication is to attract new tithes paying members so no wonder it should fail so dreadfully at accomplishing other goals such as giving parenting advice.

April 1961

Herman Hoeh's article, "The Astounding Truth About Easter," (pp. 16-19) features passages that were later plagiarized into HWA's 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter. It is a reprint of an article published in the April 1955 issue of The Plain Truth (pp. 3-6, 16).

On page 30 it is stated that in the early days of The Plain Truth it once had a circulation of 108 copies.

The last page features a frightful letter from a person who had run out of money and still seeks mental health attention and this person asks the Radio Church of God for help.

For years I have gone to a psychiatrist, but have received no help. Besides this, my money is almost gone. To whom can I go for help?

It is to be hoped that this person sought and found help elsewhere.

May 1961

In the world of Armstrongism the blind leads the blind.

"Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

Today I met a girl from Germany who will go back next August. She told me that Frankfurt was 90% destroyed, bur that Germany today is very modern. I asked her which country she liked best, America or Germany. She replied America was nice, but that she liked Germany much better."  

Man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin  

Editor's Comment: Many Germans remain loyal to Germany even when they move to other nations. Germans are often strongly nationalistic.

Well of course she liked Germany better. She grew up there. She probably had to learn English as a second language but in Germany she could speak her first language freely. She would have had citizenship in Germany and not in America. She would not feel like a foreigner over there.

Also one reason West Germany advanced so well was that the United States supplied a lot of military spending that West Germany otherwise would have had to pay. Also much of the debt incurred by Germany during World War II was written off to avoid the problems of what happened after World War I. Both the letter and the response are crassly chauvinistic and narrow minded.

Here's another letter once again stirring up resentment toward West Germany.

Germany Will Rise Again  

"A school teacher who had recently returned from Germany told his West End Club exactly what you said in your magazine about the bustle and prosperity of Germany. Said that country was coming ahead with leaps and bounds, and building underground. There are some neighbors in back of us who claim that Germany will rise again, that in the eyes of the German youth Hitler is not dead. His teachings still remain. These neighbors back of us are German immigrants and they want to go back to Germany."  

Woman, Regina, Sask, Canada

It is just awful that immigrants dreaming of returning to the land of their nativity is viewed as a sign that these Germans are going to conquer the United States in a military invasion. Fifty-eight years later Germany remains firmly aligned with the United States. When will anyone within the Armstrongite organizations apologize for promoting bitterness and hostility to people who have proven to be such loyal allies to America for all those years?

Garner Ted Armstrong writes,

Why is childbearing considered such a painful, torturous ordeal by many women? Shouldn't it be the moment of supreme JOY for a young mother? 

And why does a man presume to lecture about childbirth in this manner?

Herman Hoeh also has an article condemning the New English Bible. He insists that the translators relied on unreliable manuscripts. He insists that the translators made errors because they disagree with dogmas taught by HWA's organization. He even complains that certain passages disagree with HWA's teaching of a Wednesday crucifixion.

June 1961

In this issue HWA asserts that Yuri Gagarin was not the first man into space. It is claimed that one Colonel Ilyushin was sent into space a few days earlier but something went wrong and he returned a few days days driven insane. He cites a "correspondent" of his in Britain named William Pee. Whatever you say, Herb.

Garner Ted Armstrong encourages his female readers to give birth at home.

HWA has this ridiculous article insisting that you can determine how you would have reacted to Jesus Christ if you had encountered Jesus while teaching. HWA says that if you believe in what the Radio Church of (HWA's) God teaches then you would have had sided with Jesus if you had lived back in those ancient days. What narcissistic nonsense.

This issue contains pictures of HWA, Herman Hoeh, Roderick Meredith, Garner Ted Armstrong, Basil Wolverton, Albert Portune, C. Paul Meredith and others.

July 1961

HWA pontificates on when is the best age to marry.

This issue's installment of Basil Wolverton's The Bible Story discusses clean and unclean meats, teachings that HWA took from Judaism. HWA failed to understand that Christian leaders in the apostolic era taught that Gentile converts to Christianity were under no obligation to become a Jew by undergoing circumcision and observing Jewish religious rules and regulations in order to believe in Jesus Christ. Historically speaking if they had not made it easier for non-Jews to embrace Christianity in this way then Christianity would never had become the world religion it is today.

This letter claims many employees of the Ford Motor Company listened to HWA's recruitment radio broadcast.

Motor Company Employees Listen  

"Many of my fellow employees are listening to The WORLD TOMORROW. I work at Ford Motor Company which employs around 2,000 men on the day shift. The WORLD TOMORROW precedes the UAW-CIO program which comes on at 5:30 a.m. One of the head union committeemen, whose job it is to wander around the plant and keep a check on the men and talk to them, stopped to ask me if that was my church's program. I replied, 'Yes.' He told me that I would be surprised to know how many of the men in the plant were listening to it. Some of the comments about the program from men are: 'Mr. Armstrong is really sharp.' 'Mr. Armstrong has some good points, but I don't agree with everything he says.' 'Mr. Armstrong uses very good English and has a good speaking voice.' Another head union man says he would not miss the program."  

Man from Kansas City

How would they have reacted once they learned how anti-union HWA was?

August 1961

HWA wrote his preface article in Copenhagen, Denmark. Even before he started meeting with world leaders HWA was already going overseas using the tithes and offerings his followers sent to his organization.

HWA has an article fearfully asking, could you be brainwashed?

Charles Dorothy has an article stated that he and Herman Hoeh visited "the annual convention of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis held in New York" and were utterly shocked at what these Protestant leaders were teaching.

In this issue's installment of HWA's Autobiography he demeaningly compared Palestinian Arabs who had, according to him, superficially converted to a certain missionary, to guinea pigs. He relates that around 1936 he cooperated and financially supported a preacher of a formerly Jewish background to go to Palestine and make Christian converts out of the Jewish people living there. This preacher went there and, at first, told HWA he was gaining many converts. A year later he went back to HWA and reported that most of the converts were Palestinian Arabs and most of them had not really been converted at all. While discussing all this HWA compared these alleged Palestinian Arab converts as being as converted as "a guinea pig."

The "converts" being made in Palestine, he reported, were not Jews at all, but Arabs-who were no more converted than a guinea pig. (p. 22.)

This passage did not make HWA look good so it was quietly sanitized in later printings. Also Palestine was replaced with "the Holy Land" in later printings. Here is the sentence as presented in the 1973 version of HWA's Autobiography.

The "converts" being made in the Holy Land, he reported, were not Jews at all, but Arabs -- who were not really converted. (HWA's Autobiography, 1973 version, Chapter 38, p. 527.)

Here is the sentence as presented in the 1986-7 version.

The "converts" being made in the Holy Land, he reported, were not Jews at all, but Arabs -- who were not really converted. (HWA's Autobiography, Chapter 38.)

This issue features the following letter which elicits a response which bizarrely implies that Americans were not being told about West Germany's economic growth by media outlets.

Poorly Informed??? 

"You apparently cannot see beyond your nose. Referring to Berlin, you are either poorly informed, or choose to purposely omit the truth. For your information, the United States has pumped $26 billion (?) into Germany just to build up West Berlin and create a 'false front.' Let's keep religion out of world politics. Your place is in the spiritual." 

Man from Vancouver, Canada. 

(Editor's Comment: West Berlin is only part of the West Germany that has been built up. The West German Treasury is now the richest in the world! We have published many pictures from different parts of West Germany showing her absolute resurgence -- her victories in the TRADE WAR! These pictures were taken by leading reporters and correspondents. WHY HASN'T THIS MAN SEEN THESE PICTURES AND REPORTS IN OTHER NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES?)

Here's another letter on the same topic.

Germany Growing 

"Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

"While I was stationed in the States I had many times read The PLAIN TRUTH or heard you speak over the radio concerning the rising of Germany as a major power in economics. Since I didn't know the news too well at the rime, I have since been reading all the news magazines I can get my hands on. I wasn't taking your word for it. The Air Force transferred me to Germany and there I saw that your preaching was true. Germany is a major power and growing each day. The unemployment in the States is extremely high, while the Germans have to import foreign help to fill the empty gaps. The military newspaper 'Stars and Stripes' stated recently that there were approximately 100,000 vacancies begging for filling." 

Man, USAF, Germany.

A lot of that "foreign help" mentioned above were workers from Turkey.

Here's a letter from Nigeria.

PLAIN TRUTH Helps College Students in Africa 

"We thank you very much for all the help we have been getting from your organization. Your PLAIN TRUTH is generally admired with great interest by all students of the Commercial College. We have been getting and stocking The PLAIN TRUTH in our college library since we started getting it many years ago. It is now an indispensable journal to our college library. We are greatly thankful for this." 

From the Principal, Commonwealth College of Commerce, Nigeria.

September 1961

This issue features a letter which reveals that most Americans viewed West Germany's prosperity positively and considering that Germany has remained a strong ally of the United States these fifty-eight years since this letter was written they were correct and those taught to be fearful of West Germany by HWA were and are wrong.

Professor Unaware of World Affairs 

"Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

"Ever since I have been listening to The WORLD TOMORROW and reading your literature, my interest in world developments has been alerted. I am a student at the University. . . . 

"Last semester I enrolled in a non-credit evening course on Communism and Democracy. During one of these discussion sessions, the rising economic power of the European Common Market was brought up. Literally everyone, with the exception of myself, was completely in favor of this alarming threat to America. I brought out several points (which I had read in The PLAIN TRUTH) showing that the ECM was already underselling us and producing higher quality merchandise. The instructor, a brilliant political scientist, promptly stated that this competition from Western Europe was a wonderful thing for the free world. He also said this was necessary and would stimulate the U.S. to increase production, lower the prices on our goods, and produce higher quality products. 

"Apparently he is not very well aware of the danger ahead. I am thankful I have come to some understanding of world developments." 

Man from Eunice, Louisiana

October 1961

HWA discusses the Bay of Pigs invasion and the fact that America then had a President who was Catholic.

Charles Dorothy has an article scare mongering that many Protestant ministers are liberal in regards to the Christian religion.

Here's a letter from a person wanting information from HWA's recruitment magazine to be used while in discussion with parliamentary representatives of the people of Britain.

Parliament Warned 

"In your May issue of The PLAIN TRUTH I was most interested to read the article 'Behind the Congo Crisis.' I am a student of prophecy and thoroughly agree with the writer. I am most intrigued by the Madrid Circular as quoted, and would like more derails on this document so that I may use its contents in Parliamentary circles with some authority." 

Commander from England.

Here's a letter revealing a young, female fan of Garner Ted Armstrong admiring his handsome appearance. If only the mother knew about his womanizing ways. That issue did not become public knowledge until his brief suspension in 1972.

TV Loses Out 

"I received a packet from you today containing the May, June and July copies of The PLAIN TRUTH. My 17- year-old daughter nearly 'flipped' when I showed her the picture of Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong. She was absolutely overwhelmed with his handsomeness. This is what she said: 'Well, I just never think of Christians looking like that!' Television lost out tonight to The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast via KRLD." 

Woman from Commerce, Texas.

November 1961

Garner Ted Armstrong has an article entitled "War with Russia This Year?" Even though HWA and Co. taught that it would be a German led European Empire which would be fated to conquer the United States they were perfectly content to attract readers by making them scared of other nations going to war with the United States even though HWA and Co. insisted such a thing would not occur except at the hands of a unified Europe led by Germany.

This issue feature the following letter praising HWA's autobiography.

Autobiography Reassures Faith 

"Mr. Armstrong's autobiography has confirmed my faith in Ambassador and The WORLD TOMORROW. The way he has had to fight, it is a sure thing he did not do it alone. God had to be with him for him to stay on cop and for things to turn out as they have. His life story surely has given me a lift," 

Man from Bloomington, Indiana.

This issue also features a letter from what was then named Northern Rhodesia, namely modern day Zambia.

Wants Lifetime Subscription 

"I am very thankful for the continual supply of The PLAIN TRUTH to me during the past year. It is the only magazine which, as long as it remains in publication, I would wish to read. I am beginning to understand the Bible, which did not seem to be an interesting book at all before. I was suffering from lack of understanding." 

Man from Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, Africa.

Whoever the editor was for the letters section in this issue petulantly criticized in print one woman who wanted to no longer receive HWA's recruitment magazine, even comparing  her to an ostrich.

Ostrich!! 

"I am not well, and have not been for over a year and what was in your magazine seemed to upset me terribly. I never read more than a page or two, in a month. The news makes me very nervous. I feel it's about all I can endure. I have my own small world to reckon with, and am unable to do anything toward world situations. Just hearing how dreadful the conditions are over the whole earth makes me lose much of what small energy I have. Being just a woman with home and husband to do for takes my strength. Recently I have had a heart attack which puts more strain on my nerves. So please take my name off your list of subscribers." 

Woman from Kansas. 

Note the pathetic, self serving response from the editor below. There is no sympathy for this woman's distress. The purpose of this magazine is to get readers recruited as co-worker or members of HWA's organization who will pay tithes and offerings to it. But this woman did not fulfill the organization's intention. The editor spitefully lashed out against her.

Editor's comment: Running from reality never has helped anyone. God commands you to be conversant with world affairs and trust Him for deliverance. God help you not to follow this onetime subscriber's example.

Here's one letter asking why HWA thinks Christ will return in ten to fifteen years.

Agnostic Wonders 

"Last Sunday evening on WOW I heard you discuss prophecies made nearly 2700 years ago by men who were supposedly inspired by some supreme Being. For over 20 years I have been an agnostic. I must confess I was stunned at the impact of your program. The realization that these prophecies also embraced our era left me questioning my own established beliefs. For this reason I am writing to ask you upon which sections of the Bible do you base your theory that within 10 or 15 years we will witness the Lamb's conquest of His enemies. I do not ask this idly. I am deeply interested." 

Man from Carter Lake, Iowa.

The booklet he would have needed to read to answer that question is Herman Hoeh's 1959 booklet, A True History of the True Church, which insisted that HWA's organization had been given two 19 year time cycles (1934-72) to preach their teachings before the Great Tribulation would begin. He insisted the first 19 year time cycle began on January 7, 1934 when HWA first began to regularly broadcast on the radio and the second 19 year time cycle began with their first broadcast over Radio Luxembourg in 1953. Therefore it was taught that the Great Tribulation would begin in 1972. However that false prophecy failed miserably.

Here's a letter from Sierra Leone.

Finds His Purpose in Life 

"At this time last year I was wondering what was the purpose of life. Despite my attendance at church services, I felt hollow; but today life is different. Our Heavenly Father has revealed to me the purpose of life, and the great plan He has for mankind is being unfolded before my eyes through the Correspondence Course." 

Man from Sierra Leone, West Africa.

In this issue's installment of HWA's Autobiography HWA bizarrely pontificates that a boy of about eleven years of age is the happiest a person ever is.

Meanwhile, our four children were growing up. ... The boys ten and eleven-Dick about twelve. For the boys, this, I believe, is the happiest age ever enjoyed by any person. Surely nothing to compare is experienced by girls. ... At eleven and twelve a boy has few responsibilities--devotes himself primarily to "fun"--and yet, he does nor altogether take a vacation from disappointments, humiliation and painful suffering. His problems are far more serious to him than they are to Dad or Mom or other grown-ups. (pp. 20, 22.)

Even back when I believed in Armstrongism this statement struck me as odd. What a strange thing to say. What a way to devalue life after being twelve years of age. HWA also bizarrely demeaned every women's childhood as being less enjoyable than the childhood of boys.

And as if that is not odd enough he states in this section of his autobiography that his nine year old sister, Mabel Armstrong, died of spinal meningitis when he was eleven. A picture of her is even included on page 25. The more one thinks about this passage the more strange it seems.

December 1961

This issue features Roderick C. Meredith's infamous article, "The Shocking Truth About Queer Men!" Even compared with the other purveyors of Armstrongism Meredith was especially bitter towards LGBT individuals and constantly condemned them and stirred up hostile feelings against LGBT communities among his followers.

Ernest Martin has an article dating Jesus' birth to about September, 4 BC. Information like this is often used by Armstrongites to insist that one must not celebrate Christmas. However HWA's ban against Christmas was plagiarized from the Jehovah's Witnesses. However Armstrongites as a rule will not mention that fact when trying to convince other people to stop celebrating Christmas. We deserve to know the truth about this matter.

January 1962

In this issue three letters written in response to Meredith's condemnation of gay men are published. The first letter praises Meredith's screed and complains of the LGBT people living alongside him in Los Angeles.

Long Overdue Article 

"Congratulations on the December issue which was received today contain the article 'The Shocking Truth About Queer Men.' Articles such as this have long been overdue in the press. In my opinion this is the most outstanding and moving article to appear on this subject. I live in the Hollywood area and am disgusted daily about the existing homosexuality. These 'its' come out at night) frequent the many 'gay' bars in the area and rove the streets in packs. I have seen grown 'men' crossing the street wearing high heel shoes. As the article mentions, something must be done to reverse the trend. The suggestions mentioned are excellent," 

Man from Los Angeles, California.

The second letter condemns Meredith's screed. The editor replies with a snarky comment.

From a Critic, Too 

"The article by R. C. Meredith really stirred up my ire! Let's assume all he said seems to be true. What about it? Has he really shown how to remedy it? To me he is like a teacher scolding a group of students for not working a problem in mathematics correctly! He scolds and scolds and points out all the mistakes but does not point out the right or rather the underlying principle of the problem!" 

Woman from Hermosa Beach, California. 

Editor's comment: Apparently some people don't understand the answer even when they read it. 

The third letter praises Meredith's screed.

Timely and Virile 

"I think the article by Roderick C. Meredith 'The Shocking Truth About Queer Men' in the December PLAIN TRUTH is one of the most timely and virile articles I have read. I give thanks to God for it, for it paints in clear colors the picture of a righteous way of life both for man and womankind, and that picture is pure, noble and Godly. On the other hand, it makes very clear the fruit of a filthy way of life, so that no man can deny the Truth. More and more I see how really wicked are the ways of the flesh, and in what danger we are in because of them. More and more I lose respect for nominal churches and their so-called 'pastors' who really know little or nothing of the God they profess to preach about!" 

Woman, Kingsville, Missouri.

Meredith would continue to preach hostility and bitterness toward LGBT individuals and communities until he died in 2017. He is still revered among LCG members and presumably a sizable portion of other Armstrongites. His words continue to have the power to negatively influence people.

February 1962

This issue features a letter from New Zealand by a family that decided to stop eating meats deemed unclean according to HWA's teachings, an idea he incorporated into his syncretic teachings from his superficial knowledge of Judaism.

Bible Story Stirs to Action 

"I must tell you what happened after we had read the first chapter of The Bible Story char we received. It was the one dealing with unclean foods. The children started looking around to see if we had any foods that were unclean, and we found that we were eating bacon and ham. Now those two items are off our menu." 

Family from New Zealand

And with that testimony of just how quickly people can be influenced by an organization like HWA's this post ends.