Flying Free: A Journey from Fundamentalism to Freedom

Flying Free: A Journey from Fundamentalism to Freedom

Author: John Morgan

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2009-03-10

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 1409268489

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Flying Free thoroughly covers the background of the Worldwide Church Of God (WCG) cult â its history, leadership, doctrines, beliefs and its membership. This book contains never previously published research explaining Herbert Armstrongâs Holiness Quaker upbringing. It also includes extensive research on the WCGâs comparison to a cult, and the characteristics that actually define a cult. Flying Free documents the impact of the Armstrong teachings on individual lives, but then goes on to show a priceless freedom â found in life beyond fundamentalism.Flying Free is a valuable, practical resource for ex-WCG members and for relatives or friends attempting to come to terms with the reality of loved ones joining a cult. It should serve as a warning to those contemplating entering a fundamentalist church. The book also includes a balanced assessment of the origins of the Bible, the authority of the Bible, and an appraisal of organised Christianityâs influence on the individual Christian.


Raising the Ruins

Raising the Ruins

Author: Stephen Flurry

Publisher: Philadelphia Church of God

Published:

Total Pages: 595

ISBN-13:

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Herbert W. Armstrong was the world's leading televangelist and one of the most prominent religious leaders of the 20th century, watched, read and followed by millions worldwide. But his legacy of Bible-based humanitarianism came under attack after he died. The cabal of leaders who took control of the church he founded, after pledging to "follow in his footsteps," methodically destroyed all he had built. Those who would stop them were silenced or excommunicated. Had it happened in the corporate world, the CEOs and executives responsible for hijacking a corporation and robbing its investors would have been fired, if not prosecuted in a court of law. Never before has this shocking story been told in such riveting detail. Drawing upon official reports, internal memos, court depositions and personal interviews, Stephen Flurry exposes the depth of corruption and deceit that was "Tkachism" - the administration of Joseph Tkach, who succeeded Mr. Armstrong as pastor general of the Worldwide Church of God. In this book you will learn: *How Tkach's men altered doctrines under Mr. Armstrong's nose even before he died. *How the Tkach transformation was driven from the start by an agenda that even shocked most of the top ministers. *How early on, Tkachism brazenly denied its radical changes before the church members. *How Tkachism slashed media operations under the pretense of "wise stewardship"--while income soared at a record $1 billion in five years. *How Tkachism shamefully forced out the very members whose contributions had built the multi-million dollar empire. *How Tkach's men told church members the message of Mr. Armstrong's magnum opus, Mystery of the Ages, was still official, while they secretly trashed 120,000 copies of the book. *How Tkach Jr. considered it his "Christian duty" to stamp out Mr. Armstrong's writings. *How Tkach Jr. nearly achieved that goal in a six-year legal battle, but then, for fear of being exposed, surrendered. *How the marvelous wonder of Mr. Armstrong's work is being raised from the ruins. Worldwide Church of God leaders today present themselves to the mainstream evangelical world as a band of courageous truth-lovers who sacrificed everything to follow Jesus Christ. The stubborn facts of what they did, however, tell a far more sinister story - a story they have done their utmost to keep buried. This book exhumes those facts and exposes them to the furious light of day, as they should have been all along, for your scrutiny. This ebook is offered completely free of charge by the Philadelphia Church of God. However, please not that Google Play will need a verified Google Wallet account which requires your credit card information. In a small number of countries, a temporary authorization of $1 will be charged to your account but will be refunded. This refund can take up to 1 month to process.


America's Alternative Religions

America's Alternative Religions

Author: Timothy Miller

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1995-01-01

Total Pages: 488

ISBN-13: 9780791423974

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This is a source of reliable information on the most important new and alternative religions covering history, theology, impact on the culture, and current status. It includes a chapter on the Branch Davidians.


Minority Religions and Uncertainty

Minority Religions and Uncertainty

Author: Matthew Francis

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-05-04

Total Pages: 285

ISBN-13: 1317095707

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Religions are at their core about creating certainty. But what happens when groups lose control of their destiny? Whether it leads to violence, or to nonviolent innovations, as found in minority religions following the death of their founders or leaders, uncertainty and insecurity can lead to great change in the mission and even teachings of religious groups. This book brings together an international range of contributors to explore the uncertainty faced by new and minority religious movements as well as non-religious fringe groups. The groups considered in the book span a range of religious traditions (Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam), old and new spiritual formations such as esotericism, New Age and organized new religious movements, as well as non-religious movements including the straight edge movement and the British Union of Fascists. The chapters deal with a variety of contexts, from the UK and US, to Japan and Egypt, with others discussing global movements. While all the authors deal with twentieth- and twenty-first-century movements and issues, several focus explicitly on historical cases or change over time. This wide-ranging, yet cohesive volume will be of great interest to scholars of minority religious movements and non-religious fringe groups working across religious studies, sociology and social psychology.