WHAT CHURCH BRETHREN MEAN TO ME I like church people. I don't really feel these are bad people. But Herbert has exercised this power and authority over the church people for years. He knows that no matter what he says, they keep coming back for more. Have you noticed the people around the college and church? They are all very immature. Everybody, no matter how young or old, stays immature. And they get back so little for all that they give. Here in Pasadena, the employees do all right because they are on the receiving end of donations from all the people in the rest of the country. But "out there" the local church people get nothing back-except bad advice and co-worker letters.I'm not even going to say that all the doctrines of the church are necessarily bad and that members should reject everything. That is not my point. My point is that they should be thinking for themselves.
In the Eric Hoffer book, True Believer, the greatest danger to an authoritarian organization like the WCG is when the authority is relaxed a bit-they ease up on the people a bit. Then, the true believers begin to lose their fear. Most people are sheep, and they need the support of others. With enough people like us, the people will see they are not alone. Then it can be just like an avalanche.
CLOSING REMARKS
Well, I know what Armstrong is going to say [in reaction to this interview]. He'll say, "His [chess] career is finished. He's bitter." Or, "He's disturbed. He was a fringer. He was never with us."
It's all so sad, though. It's very tragic because it's just the opposite of what we got into it for.
Anyway, I can't imagine anybody not having their minds cleared after reading your publication. Our mind is all we've got. Not that it won't lead us astray sometimes, but we still have to analyze things out within ourselves.
Your conscience-God gave you that conscience. He had to give you protection from this evil world. He gave us our minds. We can think!
theotherside
JoinedPosts by theotherside
-
6
Chess Great Bobby Fischer's Cult Experience
by theotherside inthe world wide church of god has always had a lot of similarities with the wtbs here is a article of interest http://www.herbertwarmstrong.com/ar/fischer.html
-
-
theotherside
-
6
Chess Great Bobby Fischer's Cult Experience
by theotherside inthe world wide church of god has always had a lot of similarities with the wtbs here is a article of interest http://www.herbertwarmstrong.com/ar/fischer.html
-
-
theotherside
"Herbert Armstrong keeps encouraging people to give up everything for the kingdom, but why doesn't he set the example himself"
I was looking through some of his old co-worker letters-so phony, you know. He talks about this world and how evil it is and all, but actually he's really of this world with all these high-pressure sales tactics. That's exactly the stuff he talks about-the stuff he was doing as a kid that he supposedly outgrew. For example, he continuously tries to frighten and panic you in his coworker letters about the supposed imminent end of the world-so that you will empty your bank account before him. Articles in old Plain Truths tell you that you haven't much time to develop character to prepare for Christ's return-to take the last train to sanity by joining Armstrongism. The idea is constantly drummed into your head that you must obey God=Armstrongism before it's too late. You must decide now. Time is running out .... This kind of super high-pressure salesmanship leads people to make rash decisions, based on fear, often made against their better judgment. This is the very essence of Armstrongism (i.e., fear, panic, guilt).
He is even more advanced than Madison Avenue because he is willing to give you his literature indefinitely almost, whereas the Madison Avenue people kind of want that quick return. He is much more insidious because he's combining the most powerful and evil techniques of everybody .... This guy is voracious. He never quits on you. He wants you. You can turn against him completely and he would still want you back. He'd still want your mind. He never gives up on getting your mind.
Oh, man, he keeps encouraging people to give up everything for the kingdom, but why doesn't he set the example himself? He plays on your emotions. That is what he does. He pretends that he is trying to get away from that. That's what "the world" does. They play on your emotions and weaknesses, but he plays on them the worst. There is no depth at all in his spiritual approach.
People have committed suicide under the tremendous barrage of Armstrongism's subtly induced feelings of self-hate and hopelessness for this life.... Like he tells you to be interested in the next life, but he's interested, in this life very much.
Really, people are just getting one side of this whole story all the time from Herbert Armstrong. He's so convincing, you know. I don't think anybody has a more convincing style than he. This Armstrong-I was thinking if you had to think of one word to describe this guy, if you could only use one word, I would use "dangerous."
The only thing that refutes his style is true facts-hard facts.
-
6
Chess Great Bobby Fischer's Cult Experience
by theotherside inthe world wide church of god has always had a lot of similarities with the wtbs here is a article of interest http://www.herbertwarmstrong.com/ar/fischer.html
-
-
theotherside
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ARMSTRONGISM Church members shouldn't let themselves be confused. They begin not trusting in their own judgment, and then they're finished. That's a terrible, terrible thing. First, they get conducted in with a nice sweet program, no money, everything free, free, free. And then they get sucked in, and suddenly a few lies get mixed in. They are told that their human nature is wicked and these nice people who gave them all these things wouldn't be lying to them, would they? And then I think once you start distrusting your own mind you're finished. From there you just get more and more confused. Once you think that your own mind is not your friend any more-your own conscience and your own mind is not your friend-then I think you are on your way to insanity. You have been stripped bare. All your defenses are gone. You must trust Armstrongism, his ministers, doctrines, and organization. Otherwise you're going in the wrong direction, and you know where that leads.
Herbert Armstrong claims to be freeing you from the world's churches, freeing you from all the trash you've heard all your life. He's freeing you, and finally you're coming to know the truth that will set you free, free, free, and the next thing you know you are really a zombie. You are completely under the power of Armstrongism. Good luck... you're going to need it.
sounds alot like jdubs 2 me
-
6
Chess Great Bobby Fischer's Cult Experience
by theotherside inthe world wide church of god has always had a lot of similarities with the wtbs here is a article of interest http://www.herbertwarmstrong.com/ar/fischer.html
-
-
theotherside
The World Wide Church of God has always had a lot of similarities with the WTBS here is a article of interest http://www.herbertwarmstrong.com/ar/Fischer.html
-
76
no stones please!
by almosthome ini am hoping a little balance is allowed here, or at least the coin's flip side.
this is my story so far, but i am fairly sure it is going to end up a bit differently than most i have read on your site.
the brothers couldn't help my husband, he didn't want help.
-
-
theotherside
But the JW teachings are the only thing to make sense to me, all of these years. There can't be a burning hell...
But there can be a God who will destroy every one who doesnt belong 2 the WT org including young children. They say cults are the "unpaid bills of the church" Elements of truth that have been neglected by various Christian denominations have not seldom occasioned the rise of cults that unduly stressed such ignored or belittled truths to the point of creating a lopsided religion....(THE CHAOS OF CULTS....J.K. VAN BAALEN) J Stafford Wright stated....the very essence of deception is to speak 90% truth and 10% error......almost home get out of the box and research for yourself the basic teachings of the bible an Im sure you will find the truth and the error of watchtower dogma -
1
How did Fred Franz get control of the lives of so many?
by theotherside ini use fred franz as a scapegoat because he was the main so called scholar, author and doctrine creator of the society 4 many decades.
he along with the gb manipulated so many lives by the teachings they laid down that had 2 be accepted ( no blood, no holidays, no birthday celebrations no career-----*** w68 8/15 p. 508 what can i do?
***possibly you are now employed in some kind of secular job.
-
-
theotherside
I use Fred Franz as a scapegoat because he was the main so called scholar, author and doctrine creator of the society 4 many decades. He along with the GB manipulated so many lives by the teachings they laid down that had 2 be accepted ( no blood, no holidays, no birthday celebrations no career-----*** w68 8/15 p. 508 What Can I Do? ***Possibly you are now employed in some kind of secular job. But if you are one of God’s dedicated ministers you can never make a career of that job, can you?------ the end is close stay busy*** w68 8/15 pp. 500-501 Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975? *** 35 One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man’s existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that "concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matt. 24:36) I could go on but dont have the time.
But I have figured out how they got control and I think its so simple when u look at it. And this may have been elaborated b4. I think the core out it comes from distorting John 10:16. *** Rbi8 John 10:16 ***"And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd
When u separate the little flock from the other sheep u got a small group that can now say we are being used by Jesus (when actually the other sheep were Gentiles that were chosen 2 be a part of spiritual Isreal and had nothing 2 do with who lives on earth One flock one shepherd) then when u get your small group how small is it? Well then u distort John 7*** Rbi8 Revelation 7:4 *** 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: concerning the 144000 and make it a literal number ( in reality it is a symbolic number taken from symbolic tribes 2 represent the full number of those who rule with Christ) Then here is the clencher tell everybody to believe that Jesus words only apply 2 u*** Rbi8 Luke 22:19-20 *** 19 Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: "This means my body which is to be given in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me." 20 Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: "This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in YOUR behalf. ( instead of all partaking as a sign of faith in the ransom and never forgeting how important Jesus' sacrifice is 4 us) So now u can identify at the memorial each year who goes 2 heaven and from this group who can eventually chose someone 2 rule over the flock as a part of the GB. If u think about it in order 2 have authority over someone U got 2 have power and in order 2 keep power u got 2 control who gets it and I think that is how Fred Franz got the control and how the GB keeps the power over the org .
-
27
No compassion during Bible Study
by Grace ini was remembering today about a bible study an elder's wife took me on once (actually, her elder husband was the congregation overseer).
after the chapter was over for that day (i think the knowledge book), the elder's wife asked when we could arrange the next study.
the frail single mother of three evaded the question, and the elder's wife persisted.
-
-
theotherside
how about if u need me Im here 4 u and through it all I will be praying 4 u .....jws hardly ever say I will be praying 4 u ....sounds so much like Christendom i geuss
-
50
Does The GB Assign Someone To Make Believe They Are An XJW On This Forum?
by frankiespeakin ini think from time to time we have posters here that may be assigned by the gb to speak xjw speak and try to discourage posters from attacking the organization, or to just give up our internet fight to expose them, to just give up our efforts and forget about the wt.
if they did this they would have to keep close tabs on whoever they assign because they know that there is a great possiblity they may turn on them.
or perhaps they would trust no one except themselves and so you might even have a member of the gb actually posting in disguise.
-
-
theotherside
YES I AM FRED FRANZ IM ROLLING OVER IM MY GRAVE AT U GUYS DOUBTING ALL THAT I CONCOCTED
-
71
Where Is The Ultimate Truth Found?
by JamesThomas inthere is much discussion here about the bible.
some might see that after hundreds of years of argument and controversy no two people interpret the damn thing exactly the same, and so they have acquired the wisdom to abandon it.
there is a story which goes like this: .
-
-
theotherside
If God is the very essence of Love, anything that teaches Love is of God. I believe God Almighty can only judge based on Love, regardless of religious belief.
-
19
Jesus or the Kingdom?
by theotherside init appears 2 me that jws harp so much on the new system and the " good news of the kingdom " that maybe the real theme of the bible is lost in the process.
from what i've studied the theme of the bible is all about jesus.
from the seed of genesis 3:15 to gods promise to abraham to giving the law as a tutor to christ ( you can't live or justify your salvation by law, you must have sins atoned 4 by jesus' sacrifice) 2 the real good news of the first century faith in that sacrifice and living like jesus did and being a christian which is learning how 2 love which brings life right now and future prospects of hope.
-
-
theotherside
so true honesty anything else is contrived by the leaders of the borg 2 keep jw busy with organizational agenda