1934 - Religion

Religion

The Worldwide Church of God has its beginnings in the Radio Church of God founded by Pasadena, Calif., advertising man-turned-radio evangelist Herbert W. Armstrong, 37, who goes on the air January 7 adjuring listeners to observe the sabbath on Saturday, celebrate Passover but not Christmas or Easter, and follow kosher dietary laws. Rejecting the Trinity, regarding Anglo-Saxons as lineal descendants of the 10 lost tribes of Israel, calling Christmas and Easter pagan holidays, and predicting that the apocalypse will begin in 1936 (he will later postpone the year to 1943, then to 1972, then indefinitely), Armstrong will attract a wide following with his radio program The World Tomorrow and his magazine Plain Truth will enjoy a large circulation. His 4-year-old son Garner Ted, now 4, will take over both in the 1950s (see 1978).