Plain Truth Magazine plug: It is basically all anti-cult all the time!!!

by Check_Your_Premises 17 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Check_Your_Premises

  I got a free subscription from ptm.org for one year.

  For those of you not familiar with the story of the World Wide Church of God, they were a cult remarkeably similar to the jw doctrinally. It was founded by Herbert Armstrong.

  After his death they went through a remarkeable and turbulent reformation. Now they claim to be a fairly mainline, orthodox church. I have heard claims that they are still cultic. However after reading the last 3 issues of PTM, I find that very hard to believe.

  The magazine is OUTSTANDING. It is basically all about the dangers of legalism and authoritarian control in churches. Maybe that will play out intellectually, but I think they feel they have alot of atoning to do. Not to Jesus of course, but to all their fellow Christians.

  Especially for you folks who have left JW recently, I would highly recommend getting a free subscription. I leave mine laying around in hopes that they will be read.

  Hope springs eternal.

  CYP
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  Terry

  I use to listen with my grandmother to Herbert W. Armstrong's THE WORLD TOMORROW on the radio when I was a kid. He had a distinctive speaking style and a very clear presentation (within the context).

  We got the PLAIN TRUTH magazine and it was always free.

  British-Israelism is kind of kinky if you ask me.

  T.
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  Lady Lee

  My first thought is

  What better way to say you are not a cult than to label everyone else and say "Not us"
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  Nathan Natas

  Anyone interested in this subject should take a look at this recent thread:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/94751/1.ashx

  I'm not a proponent of the new improved worldwide church of god anymore than I was a proponent of the Armstrong original, but the story of how the church changed after confronting the reality that HWA was a scamster of the first order is a human drama that is very moving.
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  Check_Your_Premises

  They have totally rejected British-Israelism.

  Keep in mind, I am not plugging WCG. I have never attended a single congregation.

  I am plugging this magazine though. It does not mention by name ANY other religion. It does not judge or condemn any other religions. It simply describes and debunks all aspects of control, legalism, and reverence to human authority.

  It does not appear to be attacking cultism to deflect any criticism anyone might level against them for being cultic. They openly and loudly proclaim their cultic past and label it as such. They appear to be interested in using their experience to help others not to make the same mistakes.
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  Elsewhere

  I find it very interesting that they post PDF versions of their current issues. This is something the WTS would NEVER do because they want the articles to be read by new people under the direction of a JW.

  You are right, they are mostly anti-cult and anti-control articles. Granted, they are targeted at christians and this is something that I am not interested in, but the content of the articles is still interesting.

  http://www.ptm.org/05PT/SepOct/SelectArtcl.htm
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  Nathan Natas

  You are right, they are mostly anti-cult and anti-control articles. Granted, they are targeted at christians and this is something that I am not interested in, but the content of the articles is still interesting.

  When you consider the recent history of the WWCOG, how it fragmented like peanut brittle after the death of HWA and the "APOLOGY," it suggests that most of the content of the "anti-cult" articles is directed to those strayed members of the WWCOG flock who decided that they LIKE triple tithing and British Israelism and all the other trappings of HWA's sideshow.

  I think they are hoping to recover those former members, not warn the world in general about the snares of The Watchtowr, Reverend Moon and the Hare Krishnas.
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  Ticker

  I remember the Plain Truth Magazines, but never ever read one. I have researched into them when I was researching about cults and yes I do think they have reformed and recanted from their former past. They are basically mainstream as already stated. Interesting though if the magazines attack legalism and authority in religion. It may still be hard to get a JW to read another religious magazine though since they will be paranoid of even doing that, nevermind questioning their own religions doctrine. You never know though and it's worth a try if it helps.

  Ticker
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  mustang

  Déjà vu!!! That brings back serious memories. Occasionally we would hear Armstrong’s show blaring on the TV in the background at a door during Sunday morning FS.

  My dad would do his best to use that to get his sermon in while Armstrong droned on!!

  Mustang
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  mustang

  I think that CYP is saying that these are USEFUL TOOLS: especially if you DON’T COMMIT!!!

  I agree, and add that it’s a TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN situation.

  I do the same with Dr. Gene Scott’s (AOG- Assemblies Of God) review of the history of the evolution of Judeo-Christian theology and the analysis of scriptural translation.

  I think that we all have learned the valuable lesson of LOOK BEFORE YOU COMMIT!!!

  Mustang