It’s not because you left the Message.

July 13, 2011 By

I decided that, lacking time to write in-depth blog entries, I’m going to refocus my efforts on shorter posts and, with luck, keep my blog updated more often. That said, I have been thinking lately about misfortune and our human tendency to believe, despite all evidence, that the world is fair and that suffering is [...]

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Reading Recommendation: A Logical Refutation of Branham’s Message

May 22, 2011 By

I received an email today from Nathan Rivera, a former believer who was born and raised in the Message. He has written a book titled A Logical Refutation of Branham’s Message, which you can download and read as a PDF. Nathan also has a blog which can be reached here: http://branhamrefutation.blogspot.com/ I have read Nathan’s [...]

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It’s (not really) the end of the world as we know it (again)

May 19, 2011 By

The internet is abuzz with the fact that tomorrow is evidently going to be the last day on mortal sod for God’s elect. According to Harold Camping, president of Christian broadcast network Family Radio, the world is unequivocally going to end on May 21, 2011, and the destruction of the unbelievers will be complete by [...]

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Just gonna stand there and watch me burn…

April 21, 2011 By

What makes people believe the Message? What makes them keep believing even when it’s become a hurtful force in their lives? I’m not a utilitarian or especially persuaded by rational-choice theory when it is applied to religion, so I don’t think that people need to “get something out of” their faith in tangible ways in [...]

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When Dreams Become Promises

March 8, 2011 By

This post is forthcoming on No Longer Quivering. As followers of God’s final prophet and members of the elect Bride of Christ, we made a lot of promises in God’s name. We promised safety to a world we presumed was in its death throes, ready to face tribulation, destruction and ultimate renewal. We promised healing, [...]

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Mythbusting the Message: “A Pardon is Not a Pardon”

February 3, 2011 By

William Branham told a lot of stories to illustrate his points. I suspect that he did this in imitation of Jesus, actually. It’s not a bad thing. Storytelling is a great way to get your point to stick in the minds of your listeners, especially when it’s a group of mixed ages. When stories purport [...]

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NLQ series update

December 22, 2010 By

Another installment of my (Sierra’s) story is now posted at No Longer Quivering: Daughter of the Patriarchy – The Shift This one deals with the sense of fear and loss I felt during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, at which time I (and most of my church) was sure the world was ending.

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Mythbusting the Message: The Ku Klux Klan

November 19, 2010 By

It has been rumored that some of William Branham’s unsavory doctrines stemmed from a personal connection with the Ku Klux Klan. Such rumors are based on a misreading of Branham’s central doctrine, the Serpent’s Seed. According to the doctrine, Eve had sexual intercourse with an upright mammalian “serpent” and produced Cain, the son of Satan, [...]

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Anger and bitterness

November 10, 2010 By

My friends at No Longer Quivering and I are frequently accused of unforgiveness. The blog Steadfast Daughters was deliberately set up to accuse Hillary MacFarland and other “Quivering Daughters” like myself of holding bitter grudges against our parents and churches for the abuse we suffered. The two most common denunciations we receive, actually, are these: [...]

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Hello to my new friends!

November 9, 2010 By

It’s been brought to my attention that there is a new gathering space on Facebook for ex-Message believers, and that my blog has been linked there. I would like to say a proper hello to you all, and to let you know that you are welcome to send me material that you’d like published here [...]

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