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Yup, it's what you'd call "a dog's breakfast." Where does fact end and fantasy begin?
I confess that I probably encountered BI around the same time as Neil, as a flagship component in the rat-bag of doctrines promoted by Herbert Armstrong, an ad-man who turned his considerable talents to the biblicist tithe-farming industry. One of his most popular books was The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy, actually a plagiarised rehash of a classic BI text by J. H. Allen (Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright.) The US was viewed as literal heir to the tribe of Manasseh, joining the English Ephraimites as beneficiaries of the Eternal's blessings. But there were obvious complications; for example, how did you get the Judean royal family - David's throne - grafted over onto the Brits who were supposedly descended from Ephraim, not Judah? That's the purpose of this chart, and I think you'll agree that what it lacks in facticity it more than makes up in creativity.
I still remember trying to make sense of all that as a fifteen-year old. I took the book on the family summer holiday break at the beach as reading material (go figure!) As Yoda might say, "sorely disappointed was I." To spot this garbage again brings a sulphurous whiff of nostalgia for a world that has long passed.
Except... there are indeed still people who believe this stuff is for real. It's foundational to a variety of sects including the United Church of God. Yes, they are a bit more discrete about it, and their charts might have nicer fonts, cooler artwork and carefully selected color coding, but that's little more than lipstick on a pig.
Whether this particular exemplar really helps Neil make his case I'm not sure, but clearly history and myth do indeed mix, as the chart demonstrates. This material has all the cogency of those contemporary orthodox theologies that insist that Adam (clearly a mythological character) wrecked creation, and that the whole need for salvation is predicated on this sinful bit of fiction. If anything that's even sillier than BI.
And if you're wondering whether anyone ever got around to sharing the exciting news of Davidic descent with members of the Windsor family, I recollect that a high-ranking Fijian chieftain (Ratu), who also happened to be a member of the Armstrong church in the 1970s, reportedly presented Prince Philip with a copy of the book referred to above during a tour of the Pacific nation.
His Royal Highness' reaction was not recorded.
I don't recall the Fijian witness of the gospel to HRH. So the gospel was preached to the Davidic family ruling Israel and the end still didn't come. I'm kinda glad it didn't. It saved me from becoming a sexless, thought-controlling dictator ruling my city along with a clique of other super-righteous insufferables all idolizing HWA sitting on the right hand of JC for eternity. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Gavin,
ReplyDeleteAhhh, British Israelism, the proof that the WCG was the One True Church as well as perfect justification to keep (at least a portion of) the old law.
Thank God it was a bunch of bunk.
On a side note, I recently found your review on Amazon for "Showdown at Big Sandy". From reading the reviews, it appears that Doudna goes in depth in his rebuttal of BI. In your opinion, how good is his rebuttal of BI as well as his expose' of the cult?
I'm thinking about buying the book for my elderly mother (although I wouldn't mind reading it myself), who lives a couple of states away. Although she hasn't attended cult meetings in a number of years, she still believes a lot of Armstrong's crap. However, in recent years she has begun asking me a lot of questions about those errant beliefs which I do my best to answer over the phone.
Since she doesn't have Internet access I've been looking for for a decent book to send her about the cults inner workings (as well as one that refutes BI) and this one might fill the bill. Your thoughts on the book (as well as any other suggested books) would be appreciated.
Neil, sounds like we were all lucky that you were saved from that! Whew!
ReplyDeleteRandy,
ReplyDeleteThe Doudna book is expensive but in my view worth every cent.
Randy, I bought Greg Doudna's book a few months ago, on the strength of Gavin's review. It's well written and makes interesting reading. He has a knack of putting familiar ideas in a new light that we may not have thought of before. I imagine it would fit the bill pretty well for what you have in mind - and you might well end up buying a second copy for your own library!
ReplyDeleteHi Gav,
ReplyDeleteAs it happens,about 15 years ago I sent a letter to The Royal Archivist about this very matter.And yes,it was in favour in certain circles prior to the Hanoverian takeover of the English throne.The volume can no longer be found.
Cheers,
Jorgheinz
"It's foundational to a variety of sects including the United Church of God. Yes, they are a bit more discrete about it..."
ReplyDeleteNot really. Used to be, US&BC was the first booklet linked to from the front page of UCG Canada's website. I haven't checked recently, but I imagine it's still the same.
"I recollect that a high-ranking Fijian chieftain (Ratu), who also happened to be a member of the Armstrong church in the 1970s, reportedly presented Prince Philip with a copy of the book referred to above during a tour of the Pacific nation.
His Royal Highness' reaction was not recorded."
Actually, now that you mention the Windsors....