In the mid-1930s Herbert W. Armstrong, an unsuccessful American advertising executive, founded a millennialist Sabbatarian Christian sect with a heterodox theology. Over the next half century, despite a number of setbacks, scandals, criticisms, and attacks from former members and anti-cultists, Armstrong's organization, the Worldwide Church of God, grew to around 100,000 baptized members with a world circulation of over six million for its flagship monthly magazine Plain Truth. In January 1986, Armstrong died. His successor changed most of the church's distinctive doctrines, leading it towards an increasing convergence with mainstream Evangelical Christianity. This created a massive cognitive dissonance in ministers and members: should they accept or reject the authority of the church leadership which had abandoned the authority of the founder's teachings? Groups of ministers left the religion to form new churches, taking tens of thousands of members with them. These schismatic
churches in turn faced continuing schism, resulting in over 400 offshoot churches within little more than a decade.
In this major study David V. Barrett tells the story of the Worldwide Church of God. He examines the processes involved in schism and the varying forms of legitimation of authority within both the original church and its range of offshoots, from hardline to comparatively liberal. His book extends the concepts of rational choice theory when applied to complex religious choices. He also offers a new typological model for categorizing how movements can change after their founder's death, and explores the usefulness of this model by applying it not only to the Worldwide Church of God but also to a wide variety of other religions.
Industry Reviews
"A great example of how history and sociology can partner in search of answers not only about the past of an organization, but also about its present, and may be useful particularly for those whose work is more often allied with the sociology of American religion, sectarian protestantism, schism, and even New Religious Movements."--Church History
"Barrett has written a masterful and highly readable study of cognitive dissonance, self-deception and malleability. It can be read on many levels. Many will enjoy it simply as a cabinet full of psychological grotesques. Others will find that Barrett holds up a mirror that forces them to see their own intellectual dishonesty. It's a rare book that is both truly scholarly and truly entertaining. This is one." --Fortean Times
"Enthralling... Barrett provides a detailed analysis of the WCG's fascinating history and draws many broader, frequently compelling conclusions." --Catholic Herald
"Millions around the world listened by radio or watched on television 'The World Tomorrow' program with Herbert W. Armstong or his son Garner Ted Armstrong, or subscribed to The Plain Truth magazine in the 1960s through the 1990s. Both were sponsored by Ambassador College and the Worldwide Church of God...David Barrett, a sociologist of religion with no connection to the Church, has provided us with the most thorough and objective history to date.
From its inception in the 1930s to its schisms and transformations, Barrett weaves the fascinating story of faith, corruption, disappointment, and hope. His careful research and skillful analysis has not only
advanced our understanding of the Worldwide Church of God and its history, but clarified the dynamics of such modern apocalyptic groups more generally."-James D. Tabor, Chair, Dept. of Religious Studies, UNC Charlotte
"For most people, it really doesn't matter whether Pentecost falls on a Sunday or a Monday. This study of a sect, itself an offshoot of a sect, which has split into over 300 further sects, convincingly demonstrates that such issues can be of incredible importance for thousands who will follow their leaders and/or their convictions into yet another sect, rather than worshipping with family or friends. Why? Read this book."--Eileen Barker, Professor Emeritus of
Sociology of Religion, London School of Economics
"Both the typology of 'what happens after the founder dies' and the amplification of Stark and Finke's theory make truly significant contributions to the field."--James R. Lewis, editor of The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements
"The real value of Barrett's work can serve to remind all of us of the urgent need to be individually and humbly transformed spiritually."--United Church of God
