Armstrong, Herbert W.

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Armstrong, Herbert W. (b. 1892). Leader of the ‘Worldwide Church of God’. Armstrong began as a preacher on radio in the USA in the 1930s, and became widely known through the radio programme ‘The World Tomorrow’, after 1955 continued by his son Garner Ted.

Armstrong's doctrines owe much to British Israelism. Their major theme is the reference of biblical prophecy to Britain and America and to current events (e.g. war in the Middle East as a ‘sign of the times’ and precursor of Armageddon). Worship is on the Sabbath (Saturday), and Jewish festivals are observed rather than Christmas and Easter; the Ten Commandments figure prominently; several tithes are required of church members. Medicine is deprecated in favour of spiritual healing. Since the 1970s the organization has suffered from scandals over the style of life of some of its leaders.

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Herbert W. Armstrong

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