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Anonymous
| | Posted on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 1:01 pm: | 
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I am concerned about a family member that is heavily involved in this religious organization. I do not know how to go about finding out more information and I believe, from how my brother acts and talks about the teachings in this religion, that it is a cult. Can someone give me advice? I'd appreciate any help you may be able to lend...thanks. |
Perry
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 10:35 am: |
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I grew up in the WCG. When I was growing up, it was very cultish. It wasn't a full blown mind control group, but it could be very controlling. It had a lot of emphasis on legalistic Christianity and observing some Old Testament "laws". In 1995 WCG began changing, becoming more mainstream. Many Christians now consider them to be mainstream Christians. I left in 1998 and at that time, it seemed to have shed most of its cultic practices at least on an organizational level. Many local congregations still had leanings toward the old ways. I'm not sure what your brother talks about and does that makes you think he is involved in a cult, but it is possible that he has become involved in one of the many offshoots of the old WCG. You could try doing a Google search on Armstrongism, Global Church of God, Living Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, Church of God International. WCG's website is http://www.wcg.org. There is a man named Hank Hanegraaff, who does a radio show called Bible Answer Man. He used to really attack WCG as a cult, but since WCG began changing he has become a supporter and defender. You can find contact information at http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/bible_answer_man/ If you contact him he should be able to give you some information. |
Perry
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 10:55 am: |
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http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/wcg.html
http://www.watchman.org/profile/wcgpro.htm
http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/w01.html
Me again. I did a quick search and these are some good informative links. Especially the last one since it also addresses some who are still skeptical about the changes in WCG. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 1:05 pm: |
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Thank you so much for your information, Perry. I will check out the links you sent me and I greatly appreciate your input! |
Rose Mueni
| | Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 5:04 pm: |
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Is World wide church still a cultic group? if they have changed how can one know that some one has detached him/her self from the group and what made this group a cult or what makes it a cult |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 5:19 pm: |
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Is World wide church still a cultic group? if they have changed how can one know that some one has detached him/her self from the group and what made this group a cult or what makes it a cult |
Perry
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 3:36 am: |
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Rose,
Personally I think it is no longer a cult though I no longer attend Worldwide. Many others no longer think it is a cult (for example Hank Hanegraaff). There are some who are still skeptical and if you go to this link http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/w01.html, you will find some info about why they are skeptical. When I stopped attending Worldwide in 1998 there were still a number of members who had not detached themselves from what had made the group cultic. There was a good bit of desire among them for the "old ways". I haven't been involved since 98, but I get the impression there are still a fair number of them left, although many who feel that way have since left Worldwide.
As for your second question, how can you know that someone has detached themselves from the cultic ways. If they are pretty comfortable with the idea of Sunday worship, celebrating Christmas, eating pork, then mostly likely they have detached themselves. If they still insist on Saturday workship, keeping the "Holy Days", not eating pork, nostalgia for the "old days", a certain reverance for Herbert W. Armstrong, those would be warning signs that they had not detached themselves from the cultic practices. Of course none of this is a definite indicator. If you want to know, the best way would be to talk to them about their beliefs. I hope this helps. I'll check this message board again in a couple of days if you have any further questions. |
X-CFCMI
| | Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 8:22 am: |
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I used to be involved with WCG from 1982 to 1986, when I was still in college. I was sucked into Herbert W. Armstrong's crackpot philosophies right away, and I truly believed they were inspired from God. What I did not realize was that the more I became involved with WCG, the more alienated I became with family and friends. I even had Christian friends who did not feel comfortable with Armstrong's teachings. After I joined the service, I bought some books on cults; about this time Armstrong died. I was shocked by the information that was put out about the WCG, and how destructive the were at that time.
I agree that the current WCG no longer follows the practices of Armstrong, but the legacy has poisoned them and the church will not likely ever regain any past attendance or revenues. Joseph Tkach, Jr. pushed for reform at the expense of the organization.
A good website for former WCG members is http://www.herbertwarmstrong.com. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 7:15 pm: |
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The way the world defines cult, then Christ and his followers were members of a cult.That was the true religion.Not the world`s present religion. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2003 - 12:30 pm: |
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There have been so many splits off WCG that it really makes it hard to know which ones have really made the "real change". Some still hold Armstrong as the prophet Malicahi, and apparently, the leader now is following in Armstrongs steps and feels he is some sort of prophet. We have family that has left, some are still in. One part of our family related to us that now (one split) they believe they can hold any day as unto the Lord. They also believe in the trinty, which Armstrong did not and has taught his followers such. One of our family was in the hospital a man went to talk to him and told us he really beleived this family member is saved. He is still with a group that follows Armstrongs teachings. Now, did our family member know how to "answer" the questions or is he really saved? |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2003 - 1:29 pm: |
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The only true leader is Jane Whaley.
You must get honest and straight and support
the true path. |
X-CFCMI
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 6:44 am: |
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Garner Ted Armstrong, HWA's son, died last week. He was at one time the heir apparent to the WCG until issues came up concerning GTA's own conduct and GTA confronting HWA about commiting incest with his own daughter (GTA's sister). He used to host the World Tomorrow program on TV. In later years, GTA would set up shop in Texas where he continued to preach. GTA's website was http://www.gtaea.org. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, November 08, 2003 - 9:17 am: |
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I agree they are a cult. They believe to be saved you need to believe in Jesus Christ. So they are very exclusivist, which is a sure sign of being a cult. After all, if you start to doubt, you start to fear you are losing salvation. And they condemn nonbelievers for still being in sin, and headed for hell. This is typical of fundamentalists. I mean the whole of fundamentalist Christianity is a cult. Very exclusivist. The truth is all decent repentant people will be saved, regardless what beliefs they have, or even if they don't believe in God. |
Anonymous (68.119.47.6)
| | Posted on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 9:33 am: |
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only and i repeat .. only those who have beleived in JESUS as SAVIOR are saved.. JESUS is.. the only way to salvation |
Anonymous (152.163.253.102)
| | Posted on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 5:50 pm: |
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Jesus is the ONLY way. Period. |
man of God (80.179.104.186)
| | Posted on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 9:16 am: |
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my dear brothers Jesus is the only way the trut and the life the bible says that please am beging you repent and b saved a word is enough be wise |
E (67.224.42.164)
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 6:02 pm: |
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the letter kills but the spirit gives life. anything in the ot should be brought over into the nt as a parable. |
Anonymous (66.162.203.195)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 8:11 am: |
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Can a person believe in Jesus as Savior and believe, lets say, that the whole world will be saved by his precious blood, and still be considered a Christian?
In other words...is it believing (the right doctrine) that saves (that puts the salvation on us humans)? Or, is it faith in the atoning work already done that saves? |
Anonymous (199.141.125.33)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 1:16 pm: |
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Is it true that WCG teaches the heresy of Universal Reconcilliation? -- that in the end, everybody will be saved. This doctrine takes away the justice of God and allows you to reject the Lord and get away with it, using the syrupy sweet rhetoric that God is not cruel. |
psalm5613 (psalm5613)
New member
Username: psalm5613
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2004
Posted From: 192.83.111.72
| | Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 11:19 am: |
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“We have indoctrinated thousands of those who follow after the Watchtower Society that their unscholarly and distorted New World Translation is truly of God. We have actively promoted other texts as being equal to or even greater in importance than Yahweh’s book. Books such as Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and the Book of Mormon are two that come to mind.
“Oh, and by the way, both of those books were co-authored by Nakal, the lead seraphim of my southern army. Nakal has played some pivotal roles in the establishment of heretical and apostate groups and cults. It was the demon general Nakal that appeared before Emanuel Swedenborg in 1745 claiming to be God, and telling Emanuel that all truth would come through him. It was Nakal that spoke to Herbert W. Armstrong telling him that the truth would come through him. It was Nakal that guided Charles Taze Russell in the establishment of the Watchtower organization. It was Nakal that appeared to Sun Myung Moon as Jesus on a mountain in Korea in 1935 telling him that God would finish establishing his kingdom through him. It was Nakal that convinced Mary Baker Eddy that she was the woman of Revelation, chapter twelve, who would unlock the mysteries of the dark book of the Bible. It was Nakal that delivered the Qur’an to Muhammad posing as the holy angel Gabriel. It was Nakal that posed as God the Father, and his associate, Pathah, who posed as Jesus. They both stood before the young Joseph Smith, telling him that all the churches were apostate and that the true church would be established through him. Nakal is quite an actor, is he not?”
From "Interview with Lucifer" by Rollin Miller
www.interviewwithlucifer.com |
amanda_in_canada (amanda_in_canada)
New member
Username: amanda_in_canada
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2005
Posted From: 24.202.153.128
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 3:39 pm: |
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I attend A church of God and from my experiance it is not a cult in the way you discribe.A cult is however a group fo people fallowing under a strict set of laws given by one person, and this fits us. We are a groupe of people fallowing under the Laws of God and God is the suprime ruler. We do not oppress thoes who have fallen in sin. We help them find their way out of it. Show them the door and they choose to walk through it or not. We do however encourage moveing forward towards God. My pastor does not say that all will be saved. Nor does he say that we are the sole true church! If any of you have Questions I would be glad to try to answer them.} |
arron (arron)
Intermediate Member
Username: arron
Post Number: 155
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.119.45.188
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 7:21 pm: |
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what kind of CHURCH OF GOD is it the world wide church which is false or is it the CHURCH OF GOD IN TENN. WHO HAS CHURCHES ALL AROUND |
godisgood (godisgood)
New member
Username: godisgood
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2005
Posted From: 66.25.186.7
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 12:54 am: |
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I am seeking a lawyer to represent me in a divorce case with custody of young children.
I was raised in the WWCG and my parents and siblings still attend United or similar groups. As an obedient member, I married another WWCG member.
I tolerated horrific abuse for over 10 years because I was taught in this religion that the husband is the head of the wife and receives direct authority from God. He is not to be questioned, only followed, and the wife will receive salvation based on the extent of her submission.
Granted, my husband took it to a whole new level, but the foundation was firmly built in my formative years as my father promoted the teachings of WWCG.
My challenge has been to find a lawyer who understands the dynamics of brainwashing and religious abuse. I need to be represented by someone who can comprehend the mentality behind my behavior, which, to an outsider, could appear irresponsible, demented or downright depraved.
My whole focus is on creating a stable environment for my young children, where they can grow up knowing that God is a loving, faithful and merciful Lord who has all of our best interests in mind and would never require us to perform years of hellacious "submission" in order to be accepted into His kingdom.
I welcome any referrals. I live in the Central Texas area. |
motherof2
New member
Username: motherof2
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 207.155.56.114
| | Posted on Monday, November 13, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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I was raised the WWCG from 4yrs old until I was 25 years old. And, all I know about the WWCG is that it was a CULT and anything they say now will go on deaf ears.
They took so many things from people. They took their money, dreams, families, pride, sense of self and so so many other things. It has taken me years to just live because of the hurt this church has caused. I still have trouble feeling normal and troubling knowing what I like as a person. Because for years they told you what to like and what not to like! It was a very mind controlling group.
Being a girl and woman in that church was hell! My mother had a horrific disease that she could have received treatment for and the church told her she just didn't have enough faith if she wanted treatment and had not been healed yet. She was in pain all the time and couldn't even walk because they belittled her into thinking she didn't have enough faith. Even though it was a disease that had been passed on by her father and his also. Imagine what that does to a person’s psyche?
I don't care what the WWCG or United Church of God or any splinter group preaches now, I won't believe a thing that they sell or say! |
gatordave
Senior Member
Username: gatordave
Post Number: 2030
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 72.39.120.51
| | Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 4:58 pm: |
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"motherof2", Sue the Bastards "Big Time" for you years of brain washing and coercing you out of your money; the founder of this site did it to C of S!
dave
p.s. And stay away from the Christian "Home Businesses for Stay at Home Moms." Most, if not all, are reprehensible pyramid frauds that many calling themselves Christians are peddling through the churches of the world causing huge loses, wasted time, stress, to millions, destroyed marriages and even suicide.
dave wwwcrimebustersnow.com gatoraid@sympatico.ca 905-963-3389 24/7 We return your calls toll free in North America and 22 countries world-wide. |
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