When a naive minister in a doomsday cult becomes a father for the first time, his wife implores him to seek a transfer from England, where their American religion is based, back home to Australia. Upon their return, the wife’s sister dies during pregnancy and the couple soon suffer another tragedy when they lose premature twin babies: all three deaths a direct result of the cult’s rejection of modern medical practice.
In an effort to escape the fear, guilt and anger he increasingly feels, the minister continues preaching about the End Time while struggling with the harsh discipline his church believe is the best way to raise children. After two prophecies for the end of the world fail, the minister’s misgivings drive him to question the core of his spiritual beliefs. However, his wife responds to her grief and confusion by committing deeper to the ever-changing cult dogma.
Eventually the troubled minister can no longer ignore the widespread rumours of sexual and financial corruption in church leadership, and, in a desperate effort to learn the truth, moves his family to church headquarters in California. Enlightened by what he uncovers the minister confronts the cult founder and resigns, ignoring threats of personal retaliation.
Finally, the ex-minister returns to Australia once again, where his long suffering estranged mother is patiently awaiting a long dreamed for reconciliation; still unsure if she will ever get to meet her daughter-in-law, the grandchildren she had been forbidden to see and the son she hasn’t seen since he left home to join the cult.
Based on a true story...
In the last summer of the ‘Summer of Love’, I was born in a cottage on the edge of Manchester. My father was a newly ordained minister in The Worldwide Church of God and had moved to England, as my mum had done, to study at the church’s college. Before my first birthday we moved back to Australia where Dad continued to preach and prepare for The Great Tribulation. This so-called ‘End Time’ was to see the entire world destroyed in 1972 (the final year later amended to 1975), while only members of God’s chosen church would be safe, tucked away in Petra, Jordan - otherwise known to followers of cult leader, Herbert W. Armstrong as - ‘the place of safety’.
Benjamin Grant Mitchell
1 comment:
It's amazing how loose some peoples definitions are. Your concept of "based on a true story" is surprising only in that it doesn't being with "Once upon a time".
Given I have first hand knowledge of this "cult" and the fact that it continuously condemned those who contradicted scripture by demanding unconverted relatives be kept out of contact I can safely say you are the object of my pity.
I dare say that you will find your life consistently disappointing so long as you are incapable of accepting responsibility for your own actions.
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