The Painful Truth BLOG

31Jan10

 

Thanks to Otagosh’s Gavin Rumney for giving the tip. The Painful Truth franchise has recently expanded itself into the world of blogdom. The website editor James has appointed an “blog editor” of the month by the name of  Ralph Haulk, a former long time member of the Worldwide Church of  God.  PT website editor, James briefly states, ”On this blog, we are going to use a rotational system of guest editors.
The rules are as such:
Each guest editor invokes their own standards as to what is acceptable or unacceptable. Please abide by their rules.
We are all adults, but keep in mind that we will not allow certain behavior from certain individuals. We will not lash out against anyone, except those individuals that compose paeans to pharisaism.”

“The ancient Greek dramatists may have discerned a peculiar virtue in being tragic.
The Painful Truth discerns the tragedy and the consequences of our common heritage.”

It is my hope that the PT blog will be the successor to Gavin’s Ambassador Watch and have a long run (perhaps a longer run that Gavin’s blog). Let’s face it, Armstrongism will be with us in the 2010’s and possibly in the 2020’s. Many cults have lasted a long time like Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses, though the Armstrongist splinters maybe smaller than the above mentioned groups, let us not underestimate that they share the same tenacity.  To simply brush them aside because of their low numbers  would be to our peril as opposed to our benefit. North Americans in particular need to get over the “size is everything” mentality but I digress. May the leaders and prominent members of the XCGs still be watched at like a hawk! No breath easies for them! Trolls included.

PS–for those who want to download Gavin’s stuff from his old blog at AW, do so qucikly (I only got up to April 2009 with copy and pasting to Word). February 1st is coming quickly (As I write I got 8 hours Eastern Standard Time) and that blog will cease to exist!

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Children and teens in the XCG’s YOU HAVE RIGHTS TOO!

24Jan10

I have read J of Shadows of WCG’s post on responsibilities and rights of the XCG member.  Read it here. I really liked it so much, I thought I had to compliment the piece with my appreciation and taking the liberty of making this post one of declaring unalienable rights for the chronologically younger members of the XCGs. Yes, I said unalienable rights—like the United States Constitution—for the children and teenagers who were either born in an XCG who were brought to by either  one or two parents who are themselves members of such a group.  Today, as I turn a new age and enter a new decade of my life (40), I can look back to my teen years in the historic WCG and say now that these inalienable rights for me and my peers in the organization at that time, were just as relevant and necessary then as they are now.  I am eternally grateful that the young people in the XCGs have an advantage and have an opportunity and I literally thank God for the internet for that! I have listed some rights they are entitled and trust me, there are more rights here than I can think of but trust me, I will pen them down when they come to mind. Young people of the XCGs this is YOUR destiny for freedom and don’t let anyone con you in surrending your rights!

• You have the right to have proper access to medical care, when you are seriously ill or have a major physical injury. Civil jurisdictions whether federal, state or provincial will back you up! This is an alternative to being either indoctrinated by either your parents or minister who might say it is unnecessary and you should seek no such help but wait to be “magically healed”. You have the right to know that God and medicine can go together and are not mutually exclusive.
• If you have a talent, you have the right to develop to your fullest potential. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sports, music (like you play a mean electric guitar),write (and yes, this includes fiction! Let your imagination wander! It’s not a bad thing! Didn’t Jesus tell stories? Weren’t they called parables?) or even know how to act(school plays anyone? Hey, you might be the next Kevin Spacey, praise God)—GO FOR IT!!! Don’t let the excuses of Sabbath conflicts or this would take you away from serving the church stop you!
• You have an UNALIENABLE right to make money from your part time job at school or your summer job AND KEEP MOST OF IT!  It is your UNALIENABLE right, duty and responsibility to prioritize on HOW you are going to spend your money. For example, saving your money for your college (or university) education, supporting your parents around the house and even supporting yourself (to buy some decent clothes,etc.) COMES FIRST!  Whether you choose to support a triple-tithe (or maybe double tithe if you’re not baptized yet) tithing machine—or as I call it welfare for ministers—COMES DEAD LAST!  This is harsh for some and this where the “hard-right wing” conservatism rages in me but money transferred from the hard working, penny saving, productive citizens is suddenly redistributed to those who are let’s say, non-productive (the ministers, of course! What do they really produce?) is a form of welfare.
• You have the right for a post-secondary education. Why stop at community college? Want to go to Harvard? GO FOR IT!  Former Church of God, International member and former XCG blogger James Pate did!  It would probably be the best thing ever happened to them.
• You have the right to access of all information available to you in a free and democratic society. This another true unalienable right you cannot surrender to anybody! You have the right to read any book available at your local or school library. You have the right to look at all available information on the internet. You even have the right to blog (while some ministers may “ban” you from doing so) and you have a right to have a pseudonym because it really is NONE of the minister’s business of what you do in your own spare time.
• You have the right to know that your local minister is by NO means God’s spokemen on earth. If your minister is saying things where the Bible is silent, he is not worth the respect listening to  because pastor’s agenda is not about mutual respect but all about total submission.
• You have the right to decline to go to ANY youth church activity because of other committments. Just because you went to a church sponsored summer camp (which was paid for) and declined to go to a youth activity in your local congregation (which may be free and you didn’t need to pay a cent), is by no means a form of stealing. The local pastor may scream at the top his lungs it is but in truth he’s just being an egomaniac who wants total control of his congregation and gets a little paranoid when he feels he’s losing it.
• On the topic of declining to attend certain church activities—AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRIORITIZE  that school work or a part-time job COMES FIRST! You also have an unalienable right to be free from ANY guilt for sticking to your decision for doing so.
• You have the right to develop strong friendships outside the church organization. This means you can have trusting, meaningful and healthy relationships with people whom you meet at school. They are not on a conspiracy to get you on the road to perdition. These friendships are probably more useful and helpful  than the relationships inside church organization where it is probably not based on friendship but “using” each other for one’s selfish interests.
• You have the right to participate in ALL extra-curricular activities you school provides. If you want to join a chess club, again I say GO FOR IT! Got baseball teams? GO FOR IT! Want to start a school newspaper? GO FOR IT! Serve on Student Council (maybe run for president? I did back in Junior High in Grade 9!)–GO FOR IT! It is good for self-discovery and character development.
• You the unalienable right to know, embrace, come to terms and deal with the unescapable fact that you ARE a SEXUAL BEING! Forget the nonsense that you are asexual and you better be that way until you’re married. When you are a teenager YOU ARE SUPPOSED to be HORNY! It is a fact of science but I guess you well know that fundamentalists hate science and only seek to manipulate it to fit their conclusions. This subject is no exception. With this being said, I would agree with what most spiritual teachers and health experts that sexual intercourse for teenagers under 18 is not ideal.  There are consequences ranging from the mental and psychological to medical health (disease and early pregnancy) that is just too much for a teenager under 18 to take in at that time. Yes, you do have a right to know about how contraception works and no, it is NOT a provision for sin—it is all about protecting your physical and mental health! Libertarian Protestant Scott Nemeth has discusses these issues in his blog. In the interim, teenagers will relieve themselves sexually in lieu of teenage sexual intercourse. They need not feel guilty of this. Thank God for moderate conservative Christians like  the Quaker Richard J. Foster author of Money, Sex and Power who has no hangup with the concept whatsoever. In other words, mothers LEAVE YOUR SONS ALONE! Read John B’s Painful Truth article towards the end about this subject.
• Speaking on the subject of sex, let us talk about inappropriate sexual relationships and behaviours. A congretation, including it’s pastor and it’s elders, deacons and deaconesses should stand behind  and back you up all the way if you feel that a person who is an older adult (let’s over 25, maybe 30) who is touching you inappropriately or in a way that is making you uncomfortable or is abusing you sexually! If the congregation fails to support you or even manipulatively tries “the blame the victim” game, you have every right to report to civil authorities and seek professional expert help as soon as possible. It is not your fault just because you are “attractive” and you turned this molester on. The onus is on the perpetrator where it belongs and only him! If a middle aged man does NOT have the money NOR looks of the late former Candian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, keep YOUR HANDS off these teenage daughters (yes, they are daughters of parents!)! Plain and simple! My fellow Canadians and fellow Canadiophiles (lovers of Canada, in a healthy way course—think Richard Burkard or Byker Bob) will understand the Trudeau thing.
• Here’s another one that stirs me up—you have the UNALIENABLE  right to CHOOSE NOT TO BE BAPTIZED!  Your not as dumb as the congregation would like think you are. You know full well that being baptized in an XCG is akin to joining the mafia, you took an oath and the ramifications are severe if the oath is broken. Baptism in an XCG ONLY brings more miserable yokes. This full opportunity where the minister can watch you like a hawk waaay more than usual (welcome to the triple tithe for starters). They may say they baptize you into Christ but it is really their organization they want you loyal the most. I do believe that one must have faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior BEFORE baptism. In other words I do not believe baptism provides salvation, it is the faith that saves! Skip an XCG baptism at all costs (well many did back in my time, I even delayed my baptism until age 27 back in 1997, only to leave the WCG a year later).  If you believe and want to follow the command of Christ to be baptized, any Christian church down the street corner  or Messianic Jewish congregation that adheres to the historic Christian faith will gladly help you out in this area. You’ll be glad that you were baptized by them.

As I have said, I am positively sure there are more rights available out there. Also, I am sure you can also think of more to begin with. I sure like to hear your ideas. Let the liberation begin!

Filed under: Empowering younger XCG congregants, Rights for children and teens, Unalienable rights   |  10 Comments

We’ll see you around Gavin

22Jan10

This past Wednesday was the last post on Gavin Rumney’s Ambassador Watch blog. Effective February 1, 2010, the blog itself will cease to exist. It seems like yesterday when he shut down his original website during the end of 2005 but I was glad that a few months later in ‘06, he changed his mind and continued his work on blogger.com. As Gavin said,  he will still blog on his other site Otogosh which I hope is to last for some years to come (I wish decades but that may be pushing it. After all this is cyberspace and it thrives on a nanosecond culture). Also, I consider it a privilege to be his Facebook friend which in effect we can contact each other at anytime at our choosing, while e-mails as usual are easily forgotten. This is probably the “right” time for Gavin to wrap it up. The XCG’s in general are still in circles, still are bickering and fighting at each other, still in doctrinal confusion (after shown many, many, many (did I say many?) times where their errors lie but like the “insane” wing of the Republican Party, think by only getting somewhere is just being more screaming loud about their so-called principles), unhappy and unconfused members, egotistical jerky ministers thinking that they are God’s gift to the world, traditionalist factions demanding total submission from the progressives, progressives scared of making their move to recapture true sanity and freedom for the sake of  “church unity” (which is not really unity but uniformity).  I believe there are many good people in these groups being taken advantage of.  I can hope that it will be a matter of time that these people will stand up and fight for their rights. Covering these never ending soap operas for a little over a decade from the late 1990’s to the early 2010’s (which Gavin exactly did) in NO  doubt takes it’s toll. It is safe to say Gavin has developed new interests in the field of theology. With his mission with Otagosh he states,”For one thing it will continue to take a wider view, reflecting my passionately held belief that the problem isn’t just with the dying world of Armstrongism, but with fundamentalism, evangelicalism and conservative Christianity in general. Unlike many of those who comment here however, that doesn’t mean – for me at least – a rejection of either the positive side of Christianity or the fruits of biblical scholarship, any more than spurning quack remedies means rejecting medical science.” While he told me a few months ago that I should consider myself “proud” to be a “Liberal Protestant”  when a poll I took on Facebook declared that I was, I still have problems coming to terms with that and I hope (time permitting) will write an point-counterpoint commentary on the subject. I still support the Creeds of Christendom (well maybe not so dogmatic on Chalcedon but that’s another story but I am very dogmatic on The Apostle’s, Nicene and Anathasian Creeds,  they are simply non-negotiable. The historic WCG and many other cults take a millitant stand against these creeds. So it doesn’t take an Einstein why I am so dogmatic) . On certain issues the where the church (I’m talking mainstream Christianity of course)  has taken (and I’m not spelling them out today), I would probably take a more progressive approach. Also where I feel the Bible is silent on some issues, I again take a more progressive approach. I am very wary of a broad use of “progressive revelation” (but that is for another time). Well, anyway for those who want to use their minds and “think”, I am sure Otagosh will definately come in handy. Now the responsibility of the other blogs like Ambassador Report, Aggie’s site, J Shadows of WCG, As The Bereans Did,Living Armstrongism and those who are battling the pop-fanaticism of Ron Weinland their work is cut out for them. For myself, I want to continue to be a hand for people who want to exit out of Armstrongism and find them healthier alternatives. Also for those who suffered injustice and abuse in Armstrongism, this blog will be their home to tell the story. Thanks Gavin for the wonderful work you provided. Everyone says it’s an end of an era. It’s a beginning of a new era. May it just be as worth while. See you around (in Otagosh), Gavin.

Filed under: Gavin Rumney, The second and final closing of Ambassador Watch   |  1 Comment

Notes and clips

19Jan10

The tirade against the religious stupidity of Pat Robertson continues on this blog, I will direct you to Father Orthoduck’s blog OrthoCuban where he apologizes for this man’s stupidity right here.  Kansas-based Libertarian Christian Scott Nemeth rightly points out the hypocritical past of Pat Roberson and while Pat Robertson may bitch about a part of his past exposed, it is well deserved because if you tell people to do one thing and do another, it is simply fair game. In other words, practice what you preach!

Also this past weekend marked 24 years since the passing of the founder of the Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong. While the founder used to make cheap shots about those “pagan” Christians believing going to heaven when they die.  HWA, who was not a trained theologian (but acted otherwise but that’s neither here nor there), had no knowledge that heaven also means “the presence of God”.  Well I have always believed that there is always a cost for false witness and false prophecy and even the cost can have eternal consequences. This long time article from The Painful Truth here explains. Also make sure you read J of Shadows of WCG regarding the Armstrong Empire and the impact or (or lack of)  on the  world in general.

Also from the Painful Truth website, another person’s story of life in the historic Worldwide Church of God and life more abundantly after the WCG (though it can be bumpy like this person’s story)is told. I will be turning 40 Sunday (I can’t believe it—but it’s coming), this person’s story at least gave me hope about career changes and life truly beginning at 40! The title of the story is Believing the Unbelievable: In and Out of Fanaticism.

Okay guys (maybe some gals), I watched The Book of Eli this past Saturday night and only to say it rocked! Why I am I putting a clip in my religious as opposed to my current affairs blog? See the movie. If you care about reading and literacy in a free society, all the more to see it. Enjoy! Did I mention Mila Kunis is in this movie too?

 

Here’s the man that Christian fundamentalists have a real field day hating. They blame this man for all the troubles in the world in the 20st and 21st century. For those who can see past two-dimensional characters, here is a movie trailer about Charles Darwin starring British actor Paul Bettany and his wife Jennifer Connolly. The title of the upcoming movie is Creation. I have stated that it is possible to be a practising Christian and believe in evolution. Last year in my blog I mentioned about Dr.Francis Collins who fits the perfect example. The Roman Catholic Church (despite their flaws), Eastern Orthodoxy and mainline Protestant churches have had no hang up with the theory of evolution.  Most (Yes Byker Bob, let the word most be emphasized because I know I cannot use the word “all“) Evangelical Christians and their fundamentalist counterparts are the ones the main objectors to this theory. Without further adieu, here’s the trailer.

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PREACH BROTHER, PREACH!!!

18Jan10

Somebody—I mean SOMEBODY—has to tell it the way it is about Pat Robertson’s approach to the Haitian earthquake. It was tough, no-nonsense, loud and clear. Yes, I believe this man goes by the name of The Amazing Atheist, if this offends some people don’t watch the following clip. If those who can see past that and at least find some common ground against religious nuttery at it’s worst by all means watch it! If this is only guy on earth who has the balls to stand up to this nonsense, so be it!

Filed under: Haiti, Haitian earthquake, Pat Robertson, Religious bullyism, The Amazing Atheist, religious right   |  6 Comments

Can’t those who speak for God be a little humble?

16Jan10

Sometimes I just wish that those who claim to speak for God Himself can be a little more humble when they speak. Just because they speak for God (or claim to), just doesn’t mean you can say anything what comes out of your head or say it anyway you want. It doesn’t mean you say, “facts,data and research be damned, I am just going to let The Holy Spirit speak through me!” In my opinion that is just being plain lazy (and I’m just being polite).  Yes, I detest political correctness and hate it like Jesus hates sin but I ask what about speaking the truth in love?  Long time televangelist preacher Pat Robertson, in my opinion, just does not get it! After all these years, it just seems he does NOT want to get it! He makes stupid, careless and judgemental comments about former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke was punishment from God for him giving the West Bank to the Palestinians or suggesting the Hugo Chavez be assassinated—something that Tony Soprano would blush—so basically Pat Robertson can get greedy his hands in Venezula’s oil supply and this latest statement about the Haitians made a pact with the Satan the devil in the 1700’s, so they can get their freedom from slavery and this pact has brought poverty upon them ever since. Where does he get this information up? It is likely legend and hearsay. There is no hard data or evidence to support this claim? This man could care less to give any! He could have given some hard, cold, solid facts from a book called Central Liberal Truth.  Read the part about the island of Hispaniola, which contains two countries Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It discusses why Hait’s so poor and the D.R. is prosperous. There is no scripture quoting, no Bible thumping her just plain data—which Pat seems hate with the passion. This is one of the reasons why I have my distate for the excesses charismatic-Pentecostal theology and it’s anti-intellectualism is very odious. Thank God for MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and the  Haiti Ambassador to the U.S. in these clips below to set the record straight! As like everyone else, I give my thoughts and prayers for recent tragic incident in Haiti this past Tuesday. I can only pray that something equally good can come out of it.

Filed under: Central Liberal Truth, Haiti, Haitian earthquake, Pat Robertson   |  3 Comments

Intelligent Quote of the Day

12Jan10

In today’s world, some people find it hard to believe that Jesus Christ is God. In the ancient world, some people found it hard to believe that Jesus Christ was a man.

—Kenneth Samples, Reformed scholar and Christian apologist on  mankind’s age old struggle on accepting and understanding the deity and/or  humanity of Jesus Christ.

Filed under: Intelligent quote of the day, Kenneth Samples   |  1 Comment

Happy New Year and New Decade and Lot’s Have Happened!

08Jan10

It has been at least a couple weeks since I posted and lots have happened. On some of the former XCG blogs, Joe Jr. is again being taken to task (and I think rightly so) for his denomination not being on the list of the ECFA(Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability).  Fox News reporter Brit Hume is given flack for giving spiritual advice for Tiger Woods. While there are some telling Brit to STFU, here’s one man’s perspective in light of the so-called media created controversy. Also the silly ultra fundamentalists (the Phelps gang) are friggen at it again! Their target: Lady Gaga. I say, “Give me a break!” Here’s their sick self-righteous parody of “Poker Face” into “Whorish Face”. Lady Gaga if your reading this, listen to Rabbi Shmuely Boteach’s January 4th podcast, especially when he talks about ultra-conservative Uganda’s stance on gays. Rabbi Boteach’s non-judgemental advice is better than listening to losers like the Phelp’s gang (which gives all Christians a black eye, IMHO). Stay tuned folks, more to come…

Filed under: Uncategorized   |  4 Comments

A musical taste of Marty Goetz

19Dec09

 For those not aware of Messianic Jewish singer Marty Geotz, Wikipedia has some information about him right here. I had the pleasure of listening to him live in Toronto back in early 2002. I am sure you will love his voice and his music. Here’s is just a sample.

Filed under: Channuka, He Is My Defence (song), Marty Goetz, Messianic Jewish music   |  3 Comments

Intelligent Quote of the Day

14Dec09

The core belief system of Armstrongists is so similar its amazing they keep fracturing like they do.

Part of that belief system is the idea there is some “pure” version of religion out there, while they give lip service to the Biblical definition given in James 1:27, they never use that definition in deciding who and how to organize themselves.

Their “pure religion” or “true religion” definition is some memory of the Armstrong golden years when money flowed liked the rivers in the Holy City of Jerusalem. Some think they have to recreate an old style media empire – even while conventional TV networks and magazines continue to lose viewers.

The poorer of the splinters have had no choice but to use the low cost Internet to spread their message, but they have a hard time getting face time like HWA did when there was only 3 networks and a few cable channels people watched…on the Internet there’s thousands of voices and faces and nobody is putting one voice ahead of another strictly with buying media time.

Its about content, and their content sucks. Join us or you die in the Great Tribulation. They are marketing the message of death. If you have a healthy life and mind, its not an attractive message. And these days the mainstream media has gotten so good at fear farming that they almost make Armstrong look like a piker.

The Armstrong message is about living for the future. It requires you not to live in the present. But the present is the only thing that is real, the past is gone, and the future is but a statistical probability.

—A poster on Gavin’s blog making the brilliant case that the cult of Armstrongism is a religion of death and ignores the here and now in light of the latest mini-soap opera in the United Church of God.

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