Something seems to be absent. The blazing rhetoric of televangelists and others proclaiming the wrath of God on New Orleans when Katrina blew ashore are strangely silent as a massive outbreak of tornadoes has ripped through the Bible Belt... I do not make light of this disaster... There is, however, a lack of continuity.I'm not sure whether Meredith, Flurry or Pack will feel any such constraint, but time will tell. The whole entry appears on Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
God's Wrath on the Bible Belt?
Steve Wiggins provides an interesting commentary on the destructive weather that has recently produced tragic results across a wide area of the United States.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Grumpy old men
"Getting a handpicked collection of grumpy, world-weary blokes to gripe on given subjects may not sound like a very promising premise for a TV show..." So reads a promo for the British series "Grumpy Old Men". Maybe not, but it's been a hit for the BBC. Then again: getting a handpicked collection of grumpy, world-weary blokes to gripe on given subjects may not sound like a very promising premise for a blog either. But lo and behold, the ACD site seems to revel in it.
The crotchety old fellows fume, rant and jerk their rheumatic knees in the best Ann Coulter style. Indeed, they seem determined to carve out a niche somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun. Excerpts:
"The UN is Not Our Friend!... most of the people who determine and implement the UN agenda are from the Third World. Many represent thug nations who have no love for the United States... UNESCO is using US taxpayer dollars to foster an end to US sovereignty... The US should get out of the UN, and out of all of its member organizations. The UN is a Trojan horse within our borders for globalists, Third World thugs and international bureaucratic fat cats who wish to live high on US dues..."
[That's Brian Knowles who, in his lucid moments, manages to sound reasonably sane. But get him started on stuff like this and - WHOOSH!]
"There is an ongoing debate whether we should spend more on social programs or spend more on military strength. The American appeaser party says we can't afford to project our power, we should rely on diplomacy and the UN, and spend our national treasure on ourselves. They are the British politicians of the 1930s. Jesus gave us a principle that might apply to power politics in the real world in which we live. "How can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house" (Mt 12:29)."
["American appeaser party"? That's Ken Westby, the "One God" man. That "One God" must definitely be a Republican, and his "power politics" Jesus seems a completely different chap from the one most Christians have encountered in the New Testament.]
"Sooner or later, everything in American life becomes politicized. In our time, we are increasingly witnessing the politicization of the Christian religion. This trend has dangerous potential."
[Brian again. Hang on, has the old boy actually seen the light? Is Brian about to repent and withdraw his inflammatory rhetoric? Read on.]
"Evangelical Christians are viewed by the Left as a troublesome voting bloc -- one that can sway the course of elections. Consequently, wherever possible, the Leftist Press and Media make it a point to mock, demonize, and generally marginalize Evangelical [Conservative] Christianity. The idea seems to be to "divide & conquer" the Republican Party. If Evangelical Christians can become characterized in the American mind as fanatics, religious "fundamentalists" (ala "Muslim Fundamentalists") and "right wing militia types," then it will be increasingly difficult for "mainstreamers" to take them seriously."
"At the moment, the Democrats are seeking to block President Bush's conservative, Constitutionalist, judicial nominees."
End of quotes. Measured, balanced prose eh? These guys have evidently abandoned any pretence of political impartiality.
It's not that these gentlemen don't have a right to a political opinion. They obviously do. But promoting these views in this jaundiced, jingoistic, one-eyed manner on an ostensibly Christian website? It seems a dour, gloomy, narrow, bile-sodden world view. Even recycled Plain Truth editors should be able to distinguish genuine Christianity from Bible-belt politics.
The interesting thing is that the grumps at ACD seem to have gotten away with this stuff without a word of protest so far. Try and present a cautious, reasoned argument from a "liberal" viewpoint and the reaction among True Believers is to go ballistic. Go figure.
The crotchety old fellows fume, rant and jerk their rheumatic knees in the best Ann Coulter style. Indeed, they seem determined to carve out a niche somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun. Excerpts:
"The UN is Not Our Friend!... most of the people who determine and implement the UN agenda are from the Third World. Many represent thug nations who have no love for the United States... UNESCO is using US taxpayer dollars to foster an end to US sovereignty... The US should get out of the UN, and out of all of its member organizations. The UN is a Trojan horse within our borders for globalists, Third World thugs and international bureaucratic fat cats who wish to live high on US dues..."
[That's Brian Knowles who, in his lucid moments, manages to sound reasonably sane. But get him started on stuff like this and - WHOOSH!]
"There is an ongoing debate whether we should spend more on social programs or spend more on military strength. The American appeaser party says we can't afford to project our power, we should rely on diplomacy and the UN, and spend our national treasure on ourselves. They are the British politicians of the 1930s. Jesus gave us a principle that might apply to power politics in the real world in which we live. "How can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house" (Mt 12:29)."
["American appeaser party"? That's Ken Westby, the "One God" man. That "One God" must definitely be a Republican, and his "power politics" Jesus seems a completely different chap from the one most Christians have encountered in the New Testament.]
"Sooner or later, everything in American life becomes politicized. In our time, we are increasingly witnessing the politicization of the Christian religion. This trend has dangerous potential."
[Brian again. Hang on, has the old boy actually seen the light? Is Brian about to repent and withdraw his inflammatory rhetoric? Read on.]
"Evangelical Christians are viewed by the Left as a troublesome voting bloc -- one that can sway the course of elections. Consequently, wherever possible, the Leftist Press and Media make it a point to mock, demonize, and generally marginalize Evangelical [Conservative] Christianity. The idea seems to be to "divide & conquer" the Republican Party. If Evangelical Christians can become characterized in the American mind as fanatics, religious "fundamentalists" (ala "Muslim Fundamentalists") and "right wing militia types," then it will be increasingly difficult for "mainstreamers" to take them seriously."
"At the moment, the Democrats are seeking to block President Bush's conservative, Constitutionalist, judicial nominees."
End of quotes. Measured, balanced prose eh? These guys have evidently abandoned any pretence of political impartiality.
It's not that these gentlemen don't have a right to a political opinion. They obviously do. But promoting these views in this jaundiced, jingoistic, one-eyed manner on an ostensibly Christian website? It seems a dour, gloomy, narrow, bile-sodden world view. Even recycled Plain Truth editors should be able to distinguish genuine Christianity from Bible-belt politics.
The interesting thing is that the grumps at ACD seem to have gotten away with this stuff without a word of protest so far. Try and present a cautious, reasoned argument from a "liberal" viewpoint and the reaction among True Believers is to go ballistic. Go figure.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Annus Horribilis
2005 may well go down as the year from hell for the Churches of God.
As I write this, just over a month has passed from the Brookfield, Wisconsin shootings. It's too early to say just what an impact that tragic event will have on the psyche of the COGs, but there's no doubt it marks a significant turning point.
It's not just that Roderick Meredith's sect has taken a hit, which it certainly has. When the dust settles I expect the Living Church of God to be dead in the water. It was heading on the slow boat to demographic oblivion even before Terry Ratzmann opened fire in Sabbath services, but now it has been holed on the rocks as well. To change metaphors, the corpse may take some time to rot, but the stench of death is even now upon it.
But that's not the full story.
The disintegration of the Worldwide Church of God is too recent an event for people to think of the various splinters as distinct entities unto themselves. We don't see each competing sect as an island apart. What we see is a group or collection of related bodies. That's why The Journal (published by Dixon Cartwright) plays such an important role. It speaks across the paper boundaries to a broader community of former WCG members. These people may belong to one specific group, but they have friends and relatives who have gone to other branches. Not enough time has passed for the barriers to have solidified. The whole Church of God movement has been impacted by Brookfield.
The media was perceptive enough to realize this. Their reports, which were overwhelmingly fair and accurate, drew attention to the relationship of Meredith with Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong. They placed LCG in its setting as a struggling offshoot of a once influential cult.
WCG read the situation and then, to its everlasting shame, chose to ignore what had happened completely. Joseph Tkach, Jr. couldn't even bring himself to offer condolences. This shunning of human decency took even the church's harshest critics by surprise. Ultimately though it hardly matters. WCG will feel the Brookfield tremors too.
When we lose a loved one - partner, parent, child or friend - we deal with the fallout for months and often years. This is no different. How much damage has been done is still difficult to say. I doubt LCG is worth the effort of salvaging (though the hyenas, such as David Pack, have already moved in for a little opportunistic scavenging). A church with only a few thousand members can't take this kind of hit. Even losing 50 tithe-paying members would make a difference, and indications are that several hundred will drop away over the next few months as a direct result. That's a drop in income and a consequent drop in media dollars. But even more important will be the end of innocence and optimism about the church's role in preaching the gospel.
The game is up Mr. Meredith.
Till next time...
As I write this, just over a month has passed from the Brookfield, Wisconsin shootings. It's too early to say just what an impact that tragic event will have on the psyche of the COGs, but there's no doubt it marks a significant turning point.
It's not just that Roderick Meredith's sect has taken a hit, which it certainly has. When the dust settles I expect the Living Church of God to be dead in the water. It was heading on the slow boat to demographic oblivion even before Terry Ratzmann opened fire in Sabbath services, but now it has been holed on the rocks as well. To change metaphors, the corpse may take some time to rot, but the stench of death is even now upon it.
But that's not the full story.
The disintegration of the Worldwide Church of God is too recent an event for people to think of the various splinters as distinct entities unto themselves. We don't see each competing sect as an island apart. What we see is a group or collection of related bodies. That's why The Journal (published by Dixon Cartwright) plays such an important role. It speaks across the paper boundaries to a broader community of former WCG members. These people may belong to one specific group, but they have friends and relatives who have gone to other branches. Not enough time has passed for the barriers to have solidified. The whole Church of God movement has been impacted by Brookfield.
The media was perceptive enough to realize this. Their reports, which were overwhelmingly fair and accurate, drew attention to the relationship of Meredith with Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong. They placed LCG in its setting as a struggling offshoot of a once influential cult.
WCG read the situation and then, to its everlasting shame, chose to ignore what had happened completely. Joseph Tkach, Jr. couldn't even bring himself to offer condolences. This shunning of human decency took even the church's harshest critics by surprise. Ultimately though it hardly matters. WCG will feel the Brookfield tremors too.
When we lose a loved one - partner, parent, child or friend - we deal with the fallout for months and often years. This is no different. How much damage has been done is still difficult to say. I doubt LCG is worth the effort of salvaging (though the hyenas, such as David Pack, have already moved in for a little opportunistic scavenging). A church with only a few thousand members can't take this kind of hit. Even losing 50 tithe-paying members would make a difference, and indications are that several hundred will drop away over the next few months as a direct result. That's a drop in income and a consequent drop in media dollars. But even more important will be the end of innocence and optimism about the church's role in preaching the gospel.
The game is up Mr. Meredith.
Till next time...
Saturday, April 02, 2005
United We Fall
The United Church of God is a moderate form of COGism. The raving lunatics went elsewhere. But that doesn't mean all is rosy in the garden.
For a start, the whole thing is unstable. Congregations and ministers keep peeling off. The Councl of Elders (the dudes who run it) seem to spend a lot of their time shafting each other. Growth is static and the demographic is heading into geriatric territory.
To make matters worse, there's noone willing to challenge the big errors that UCG inherited from the mother church. Like brain-dead apocalyptic ("the sky is falling!") and the fevered fantasies of British Israelism.
And while the control base has been broadened, the lay members have no say at all. If anything, that situation is getting worse. Relative to the WCG, LCG and PCG however, United is positively enlightened.
Remarkable then that this is the largest and most visible COG sect. It publishes an attractive magazine called "The Good News", and has the busiest COG website by a country mile (according to statistics provided by alexa.com and reported on Ambassador Watch.)
It's been called the best of a bad bunch. Attending UCG has been likened to choosing the flu over HIV.
Next time we'll turn the focus in a new direction.
Till then...
For a start, the whole thing is unstable. Congregations and ministers keep peeling off. The Councl of Elders (the dudes who run it) seem to spend a lot of their time shafting each other. Growth is static and the demographic is heading into geriatric territory.
To make matters worse, there's noone willing to challenge the big errors that UCG inherited from the mother church. Like brain-dead apocalyptic ("the sky is falling!") and the fevered fantasies of British Israelism.
And while the control base has been broadened, the lay members have no say at all. If anything, that situation is getting worse. Relative to the WCG, LCG and PCG however, United is positively enlightened.
Remarkable then that this is the largest and most visible COG sect. It publishes an attractive magazine called "The Good News", and has the busiest COG website by a country mile (according to statistics provided by alexa.com and reported on Ambassador Watch.)
It's been called the best of a bad bunch. Attending UCG has been likened to choosing the flu over HIV.
Next time we'll turn the focus in a new direction.
Till then...
Thursday, March 31, 2005
The little church that ate itself
Number two in our top four countdown is the Worldwide Church of God. It once claimed 150,000 members, but now officially numbers itself in the high 60s. That's rubbish, claim some "in the know": its more like mid 20s.
How art the mighty fallen.
And presiding over the whole messy disaster is God's little helper, Joe Tkach, Jr.
Why Joe? Because he was elected as church president? Nope, never been any kind of election. Because he was the best man for the job? Hardly! Joe leads the church because his daddy put him there.
From what I've heard, Joe had a reputation for loopiness as a student at Ambassador College. On graduating he became a ministerial trainee. I guess he wasn't very good because he got laid off. But then a miracle! Joe's dad, also named Joseph Tkach, became the new WCG Pastor General on HWA's death. Suddenly our Joe was back in the game. On Dad's death, Little Joe inherited the sect.
Almost single-handedly this divorced and remarried ministerial reject has, since climbing into the apostolic high-chair, brought the sect crashing about his ears. No mean feat.
Complicating the picture of colossal incompetence is the "evangelical factor". The church Joe downsized has left behind its cultic doctrines to embrace the evangelical mainstream. A host of bubble-brained enthusiasts (including Hank Hanegraaff) embraced the idea of a heretical cult transforming itself into a nice, respectable church. They were too lazy to pose the hard questions.
Evangelical doctrines have been adopted, that's undeniable. But cultic, top-down rule remains. There is a rubber stamp church board - but it's appointed by guess who... and it gets worse. The WCG is less than forthcoming about property sales and financial information. Accountability? What's that? Priesthood of ALL Believers? Oh surely not! This is one church where the members are kept firmly in their place: at the bottom of the spiritual food chain.
If you ask one question too many, it'll be suggested (none too subtly) that you might like to find a new church home (you see, consultation and consensus don't rate highly among WCG's priorities.) So that's exactly what tens of thousands of members have done over the past several years. But fear not, Joe won't be left high and dry. Those bequests and wills provide a steady income stream to keep the corporation chugging over.
WCG has slumped - probably to below the active membership of the leading splinter. It took a special man to manage that trick. Church leaders paint it as a reformation. More accurately it has been an act of self mutilation.
And isn't another evangelical sect exactly what the world needs right now? I mean, why not just go down the road to the local Nazarene, Baptist, Salvation Army or whatever service? Why stay with a mock-evangelical sect that disempowers its members and suppresses debate? Why raise your kids in a church community where they can only aspire to be peons?
And so the good ship WCG steams over the horizon and into obscurity with Cap'n Joe at the helm.
Next time we'll look at the biggest kid on the block: the United Church of God.
Till then...
How art the mighty fallen.
And presiding over the whole messy disaster is God's little helper, Joe Tkach, Jr.
Why Joe? Because he was elected as church president? Nope, never been any kind of election. Because he was the best man for the job? Hardly! Joe leads the church because his daddy put him there.
From what I've heard, Joe had a reputation for loopiness as a student at Ambassador College. On graduating he became a ministerial trainee. I guess he wasn't very good because he got laid off. But then a miracle! Joe's dad, also named Joseph Tkach, became the new WCG Pastor General on HWA's death. Suddenly our Joe was back in the game. On Dad's death, Little Joe inherited the sect.
Almost single-handedly this divorced and remarried ministerial reject has, since climbing into the apostolic high-chair, brought the sect crashing about his ears. No mean feat.
Complicating the picture of colossal incompetence is the "evangelical factor". The church Joe downsized has left behind its cultic doctrines to embrace the evangelical mainstream. A host of bubble-brained enthusiasts (including Hank Hanegraaff) embraced the idea of a heretical cult transforming itself into a nice, respectable church. They were too lazy to pose the hard questions.
Evangelical doctrines have been adopted, that's undeniable. But cultic, top-down rule remains. There is a rubber stamp church board - but it's appointed by guess who... and it gets worse. The WCG is less than forthcoming about property sales and financial information. Accountability? What's that? Priesthood of ALL Believers? Oh surely not! This is one church where the members are kept firmly in their place: at the bottom of the spiritual food chain.
If you ask one question too many, it'll be suggested (none too subtly) that you might like to find a new church home (you see, consultation and consensus don't rate highly among WCG's priorities.) So that's exactly what tens of thousands of members have done over the past several years. But fear not, Joe won't be left high and dry. Those bequests and wills provide a steady income stream to keep the corporation chugging over.
WCG has slumped - probably to below the active membership of the leading splinter. It took a special man to manage that trick. Church leaders paint it as a reformation. More accurately it has been an act of self mutilation.
And isn't another evangelical sect exactly what the world needs right now? I mean, why not just go down the road to the local Nazarene, Baptist, Salvation Army or whatever service? Why stay with a mock-evangelical sect that disempowers its members and suppresses debate? Why raise your kids in a church community where they can only aspire to be peons?
And so the good ship WCG steams over the horizon and into obscurity with Cap'n Joe at the helm.
Next time we'll look at the biggest kid on the block: the United Church of God.
Till then...
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Living in S(p)in
The 3rd place holder in the COG stakes is Rod Meredith's Living Church of God.
Meredith departed from WCG to establish something called the Global Church of God. It published a magazine ("The World Ahead") and bought TV time. But ol' Rod (affectionately known to many as Spanky) found the hirelings were getting ideas above their station. The elders in Global wanted checks and balances put on Meredith. What to do?
And so Spanky scuppered his new church, and set up Living. If you don't play by his rules he'll take his ball and go home.
I remember hearing Rod speak in person for the first time. I'd read a lot of his stuff and thought he would be inspirational. He wasn't. The man exuded arrogance and conceit. He styled himself among the "leading ministers" (and in times past let it be known that he was "number 3" in rank among mere mortals - under HWA and GTA... these days I suppose he's graduated to the Big Enchilada...)
Meredith is obsessed by rank, and suffers under the delusion (proclaimed from the pulpit) that he has never committed a major sin since baptism. Apparently pride doesn't count.
Rod has been around since the 50s, creating a species of havoc wherever he's gone. He was one of Herbert's original team of yes-men, aggressive, insensitive and rigid in his thinking. People who need an authoritarian guru to tell them what to do still appreciate his "strength".
And then there are the weird asides and comments that crop up in his sermons. Does the word "Freudian" mean anything to the man? Rod is one minister who simply opens his mouth and every deranged thought comes out in a relentless tide. Spanking, masculine young men...
You might wonder why I'm concentrating on Meredith rather than his church. The two are inseparable. When Rod finally goes to his eternal reward his church will vaporise. In my view, it can't happen soon enough.
Earlier this month a Meredith disciple, Terry Ratzmann, opened fire at a Living church service in Wisconsin, killing 7 people, including the minister and two teenagers. How much Meredith's gloomy apocalyptic "gospel" was a factor is difficult to tell, but it can't have helped. The following Sabbath Meredith preached on "lessons from Wisconsin". Those listening carefully will probably conclude, though, that the "lessons" were for everyone but him... the "Presiding Evangelist" has no capacity for critical evaluation. Hopefully the unwanted publicity will put paid to whatever small growth LCG had been experiencing. The demographics were already unpromising. Today Meredith's church is dead in the water.
Next time we move on to number 2. But which is it, the WCG (founded by Herbert) or the UCG (the largest splinter)? It's no easy call but I'll take the plunge anyway... and tell you why...
Till then...
Meredith departed from WCG to establish something called the Global Church of God. It published a magazine ("The World Ahead") and bought TV time. But ol' Rod (affectionately known to many as Spanky) found the hirelings were getting ideas above their station. The elders in Global wanted checks and balances put on Meredith. What to do?
And so Spanky scuppered his new church, and set up Living. If you don't play by his rules he'll take his ball and go home.
I remember hearing Rod speak in person for the first time. I'd read a lot of his stuff and thought he would be inspirational. He wasn't. The man exuded arrogance and conceit. He styled himself among the "leading ministers" (and in times past let it be known that he was "number 3" in rank among mere mortals - under HWA and GTA... these days I suppose he's graduated to the Big Enchilada...)
Meredith is obsessed by rank, and suffers under the delusion (proclaimed from the pulpit) that he has never committed a major sin since baptism. Apparently pride doesn't count.
Rod has been around since the 50s, creating a species of havoc wherever he's gone. He was one of Herbert's original team of yes-men, aggressive, insensitive and rigid in his thinking. People who need an authoritarian guru to tell them what to do still appreciate his "strength".
And then there are the weird asides and comments that crop up in his sermons. Does the word "Freudian" mean anything to the man? Rod is one minister who simply opens his mouth and every deranged thought comes out in a relentless tide. Spanking, masculine young men...
You might wonder why I'm concentrating on Meredith rather than his church. The two are inseparable. When Rod finally goes to his eternal reward his church will vaporise. In my view, it can't happen soon enough.
Earlier this month a Meredith disciple, Terry Ratzmann, opened fire at a Living church service in Wisconsin, killing 7 people, including the minister and two teenagers. How much Meredith's gloomy apocalyptic "gospel" was a factor is difficult to tell, but it can't have helped. The following Sabbath Meredith preached on "lessons from Wisconsin". Those listening carefully will probably conclude, though, that the "lessons" were for everyone but him... the "Presiding Evangelist" has no capacity for critical evaluation. Hopefully the unwanted publicity will put paid to whatever small growth LCG had been experiencing. The demographics were already unpromising. Today Meredith's church is dead in the water.
Next time we move on to number 2. But which is it, the WCG (founded by Herbert) or the UCG (the largest splinter)? It's no easy call but I'll take the plunge anyway... and tell you why...
Till then...
Sunday, March 27, 2005
The Church of Boundless Love
There are four main COG sects. Let's take a look at number 4, and work our way upward during the week.
With around 5,000 members (baptized, tithe-paying adults) let's hear it for the Philadelphia Church of God! And no, you won't find it's offices in Philadelphia, despite the name. The good ol' boys who run this business are firmly entrenched in Oklahoma.
Pastor General Gerald Flurry was a lowly minister in the WCG till he saw the light and led an exodus into the hills. There was an angel, and a new book of scripture ("Malachi's Message") involved.
Gerry is a no-nonsense kind of guy. Shades of grey? Grey? What's that? And you wouldn't call him original either. The PCG is cloned from the original model created by Herbert Armstrong.
Flurry's sect is somewhere to the right of Atilla the Hun. The German's are coming to enslave the people of Arkansas, stay away from aspirin, pay those tithes, makeup is the broad highway to gehenna... you get the idea.
And there's a special revelation that God has blessed the PCG with. Gerry, it seems, is "that prophet" spoken of in the Bible. In short, he's one very important dude, so you better watch it!
PCG has a website, http://www.pcog.org, and a free glossy magazine of undiluted rants called The Philadelphia Trumpet. From what I've heard, the turnover rate among members is pretty high... who wants to be a masochist 24/7? And there are dark whispers (supported by a police report) that Prophet Flurry is fond of the six pack.
Of the big four, this is considered the most cultic. The members I know of are good, decent people. I doubt you could say that about some of the leaders though. They're supposed to be "Philadelphians" (from the Greek word meaning "brotherly love".)
But there's not a lot of love in evidence.
Next time: number 3. You'll get to meet the Presiding Evangelist of spanking. It's Rod Meredith's Living Church of God.
Till then...
With around 5,000 members (baptized, tithe-paying adults) let's hear it for the Philadelphia Church of God! And no, you won't find it's offices in Philadelphia, despite the name. The good ol' boys who run this business are firmly entrenched in Oklahoma.
Pastor General Gerald Flurry was a lowly minister in the WCG till he saw the light and led an exodus into the hills. There was an angel, and a new book of scripture ("Malachi's Message") involved.
Gerry is a no-nonsense kind of guy. Shades of grey? Grey? What's that? And you wouldn't call him original either. The PCG is cloned from the original model created by Herbert Armstrong.
Flurry's sect is somewhere to the right of Atilla the Hun. The German's are coming to enslave the people of Arkansas, stay away from aspirin, pay those tithes, makeup is the broad highway to gehenna... you get the idea.
And there's a special revelation that God has blessed the PCG with. Gerry, it seems, is "that prophet" spoken of in the Bible. In short, he's one very important dude, so you better watch it!
PCG has a website, http://www.pcog.org, and a free glossy magazine of undiluted rants called The Philadelphia Trumpet. From what I've heard, the turnover rate among members is pretty high... who wants to be a masochist 24/7? And there are dark whispers (supported by a police report) that Prophet Flurry is fond of the six pack.
Of the big four, this is considered the most cultic. The members I know of are good, decent people. I doubt you could say that about some of the leaders though. They're supposed to be "Philadelphians" (from the Greek word meaning "brotherly love".)
But there's not a lot of love in evidence.
Next time: number 3. You'll get to meet the Presiding Evangelist of spanking. It's Rod Meredith's Living Church of God.
Till then...
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