“Despite everything we have said, people really did set their hearts on 1972 being the end of the Work. Now that January 7, 1972 is past, people are wondering how much time is left. People are questioning the validity of Mr. Armstrong’s repeated emphasis on “the gun lap”, “the final phase of the “work”, “the last push”, etc. They are asking, “Are we really in the gun Lap?”, “Is this really the final phase of the Work?” “What does Mr. Armstrong mean when he says the Work is beginning all over again?”
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
“There is no solace above or below, only us…”
“Many say they are aware that Mr .Gotoh
sets up Mr. Armstrong’s appointments with world leaders, and they feel it is not really true when Mr. Armstrong says he has never sought to meet with any of them.”
“Some ask why Mr. Armstrong implies that these leaders are seeking an audience with him.”
“Some feel Mr. Armstrong is stretching the point when he makes such statements as the Ambassador College Press is the second biggest press west of Chicago [it’s not]…”
“People have characterized the social structure at Headquarters as almost a caste system which has its ‘elite’. They say ‘the elite’ is comprised’ of all the Evangelists, some Pastors, and some few favored top men…”
Pg 31
Interesting. Now that Orlin has addressed his D & R issue, he is describing the conditions and concerns prevalent in the WCG in the aftermath of the failure of the earlier 1972 date, when we had all been brainwashed to believe that the Germans were coming. Once 1972 fell, we knew in our hearts that ’75 would be bogus as well.
From what we read about the splinters today, they are still operating under the spectre of the lowered expectations that took their genesis from that era. The ACOGs never regained that red hot zealousness which had been prevalent leading up to the projected end times.
Like the assassination of JFK, or 9/11, the failure of 1972 was a similar game changer for Armstrongism. Funny thing is, the effects of prophecy failure have not been so profound on the JWs. But, the JWs did not experience the moral failure of the heir apparent, receivership, the death of their founder, and an attempt at doctrinal correction within that same time frame.
BB
Bob,
The people who left the PCG, WCG, etc, seem to be more radical in the sense that they actually strike back at the cults. The Mormon have a few like us also.
If you just walk away after being scammed without trying to right a wrong, your a morally deficient human being. I can’t see being fleeced and destroyed by others. If I was held in a prisoner of war camp and tortured, I would hunt down the sick shits who abused me and extract my pound of flesh.
Like I’ve said many times, James, for those of us who were raised in WCG, our childhood was our own private holocaust. That’s what keeps me motivated in continuing to contribute.
BB