Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God
Religious cults
The Worldwide Church of God used radio and TV through out its existence as a recruitment tool, much as many cults and legitimate organizations do today.
Those who read The Plain Truth or listened to the broadcast were never subjected to the level of degradation reserved for church members. That would come later when the final phase of the recruitment process would result in their baptism.
It’s a funny thing about money and success. If you have it, you flaunt it, and spread it around to those who sing your praises, then you’ll always find “loyalty” within your following.
Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived a guy named Hank. He was a regular fellow, and at about thirty or so years of age, he lived in the poorer part of a small town in the mid West. Each day, Hank would sweep out the local grocery story, and when he’d finished his stocking chores, he’d shoot the breeze with his buddies in the local bar or at someone’s home, and they all drank lots of beer. Hank had a good flair for telling stories and weaving some homespun philosophy into them, and people listened to him, usually agreed, and they always looked to him as a local friend. We can all live in peace, he had said, and the folks all agreed. He never had a girl friend.