Understanding the psychology of religious seduction and spiritual abuse.
Blast from the past…
Since the death of Herbert W. Armstrong in 1986, the leadership of the Worldwide Church of God has been busily dismantling teachings he held to be “the faith once delivered”. Because of these massive doctrinal changes many members have been defecting. Some high-ranking ministers have also defected to organize spin-off churches to continue the “old ways” of Mr. Armstrong.
Why do the churches of Armstrongism heavily stress the importance of tithing? It is a matter of self interest. The Armstrongist groups are not able to attract followers in large numbers, but they require large sums of money to operate. In order for their ministers to live without soiling their fingers with menial work, the churches of God must maintain large payrolls. For a minister to work with his hands is a fate worse than the lake of fire. In 1978, “Mister” Armstrong painted this grim picture of the fate of renegade ministers….
Revisiting the past….