The Contender Chronicles - Faith Fraud and Fanaticism - Revival History - Charles Paisley - ep 306

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

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John and Charles discuss the role of religious propaganda in shaping movements and influencing beliefs, focusing on William Branham’s ministry and the broader Pentecostal and Latter Rain movements. They trace the origins of religious newsletters and publications from figures like John Alexander Dowie, Roy Davis, and the Voice of Healing magazine, examining how these materials spread unchecked messages, gathered followers, and built ideological systems. The discussion extends to the early literature of Faith Assembly and the publication of The Contender, emphasizing how the availability of well-organized religious texts played a crucial role in growing sects of the movement. John and Charles highlight how different factions of Branham’s teachings adapted and systematized their beliefs, ultimately contributing to the fragmentation of the movement.

The conversation also covers internal schisms and conflicts within Faith Assembly, including controversies over leadership, literature, and interpretations of Branham’s teachings. They describe intense disputes at international conventions, purges of dissenters, and the extreme measures taken by ministers to maintain control, including public shaming and ostracization. The impact of these divisions is explored, from the handling of Sarah Branham’s struggle against the central message institutions to Raymond Jackson’s predictions about the end times and the resulting turmoil within the Faith Assembly Fellowship. The episode closes with reflections on how William Branham’s influence extended beyond his original movement, shaping later developments in the New Apostolic Reformation and charismatic Christianity.

00:00 Introduction
01:01 Roots of Religious Propaganda: Dowie, Davis, and Early Newsletters
04:47 The Message Movement’s Use of Print to Establish Authority
06:00 Launch and Impact of The Contender
10:45 Literature’s Role in Global Missionary Work
13:11 Systematizing the Message: From Transcripts to Theology
15:56 Editorial Conflicts and Early Power Struggles
18:56 Doctrinal Evolution and Message-Specific Teachings
22:02 Schisms and Authoritarianism in Faith Assembly
30:18 Psychological Abuse and Spiritual Fear
32:03 Sarah Branham’s Conflict with Message Leadership
39:45 Fragmentation, Rivalries, and Doctrinal Confusion
41:21 1990s Revival and Doomsday Predictions
46:25 Internal Purges and the Fallout of Failed Prophecy
48:05 Collapse of Faith Assembly and Post-Jackson Disintegration
53:05 Financial Misconduct and Embezzlement Scheme
57:03 Early Message Sects and Their Influence on the NAR
59:02 Reaction to the Toronto Blessing and Message Identity
1:01:00 Cultural Ownership and the “False Anointed Ones” Narrative
1:02:00 Conclusion: Evaluating the Spirit Behind the Movement
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