You have to look past the religious facade (i.e. brainwashing) to see inside the looking glass:
1. Read the Co-worker letters without bias. Recognize the trends. Blank out the "double talk". Juxtapose these letters with the actual timeline of the Church. You will find that prophecies and fear mongering rise and fall with physical projects and finances. There was NEVER any truth to the prophecies. Notice the psychological manipulation and repetition throughout. Notice how there was ALWAYS a crisis or emergency all the way up to completion of his "master plan". (Also, count on two hands how many times Jesus was mentioned - or even thankfulness to God - in each of these letters.)
2. Read HWA's Autobiography. Again. If you can bear it. Notice what is the focus of the Autobiography. You will find it is power, success, and how Herb got rich and successful. Notice how thoroughly he brags about secrets of money-making. Hobnobbing with millionaires. Desire of success, etc. etc... AGAIN, remove the religious facade and just read it for what it says.
3. Notice that the peak of the College Building project and it's financial needs co-exist perfectly with the fear-mongering of the 1960s. Also notice that as soon as the Auditorium was completed, and the building project was over, the "Lake of Fire" threats suddenly took a large decline. Pay close attention to exactly how much planning went into the construction of the Master Plan of the college and exactly what was being told to the financial arm (YOU) to keep the money flowing. Consider how much of this were lies to you and gain to him.
4. Learn what Herb actually did on his overseas trips. They were pleasure trips (around the world, etc.) masked in religiosity. Even his "World Leader Tours" were hobnobbing trips with important people with a touch of religious behavior to make it legitimate. Herb's trick was to make his funders believe what he was doing was divinely ordained.
5. The proof of all of this is in the Ambassador College Auditorium, it's story, the timeline, it's funding, and everything that led up to it. The truth is, the Auditorium was a gigantic idol - in the same idolatrous manner as the other shrines of Armstrongism. Some time ago I published a whole story about this, it might be a good time to re-run it.
6. Examine the current fruits. Look at exactly what the legacy of the entire movement has been. They are preaching from the same handbook, and sticking to the same formula. They are not successful because of a failure to adapt, selfish motives and instant internet accountability.
7. Read the accounts - all of them - that you were not allowed to read in the past. Read the Ambassador Reports.
8. Examine Herbert Armstrong. Truthfully, and honestly. Ask hard questions. Examine for yourself if he passes the "speaking presumptuously" religious test of Deuteronomy. Remember what he said WOULD happen compared to what DID happen.
9. Examine the fruits of his son, Garner Ted, and the fruits of the entire "Ministry".
10. And finally, examine and notice the strong materialistic pursuit of frivolous wealth and the treasures accumulated. If you are not sure, the link is on the banner above. You will find exactly where your hard-earned "tithe" money went.
Submitted by SHT