Also called astral travel. Master of Life, Dick Sutphen, Agoura Hills, CA: New Age, Reiki, astrology, automatic writing. Science of Mind Church, Lunn Gardner, Mobile, AL: New Age, channeling, intuitive powers. Choosing Light, Mill Valley, CA: New Age, meditation, telepathic communication from Higher Dimension Guides and teachers. Martindale, Craig: Installed as president of The Way International by founder Victor Paul Weirwille in On October 23, 1996, the Cult Awareness Network's name, logo, and phone number were sold to a Scientology-related law firm as part of a $20,000 purchase of CAN assets in the federal bankruptcy court. Institute of Mental Science, Nashville, TN: Mental Science, psychic energy, hypnosis. Some parents have charged that children committed suicide under the influence of the game. Originally promoted free thought and democratic political theories. Publishes The Upper Triad newsletter. Uses the Agon Sutras as scriptures. Profile available. Teaches enlightenment and salvation by works, including fire worship and partaking of the hallucinogenic haoma (soma in India). Christ: Based on the Greek christos meaning "anointed one," equivalent to the Hebrew "messiah." "Buffalo BiIll") Hawkins, Abilene, TX: Armstrongism splinter group. Beginning in the early 1990s under the leadership Armstrong's successors, Joseph W. Tkach and his son Joe Tkach, this group has undergone remarkable doctrinal transformation. He is judging all their works, by the standard of God's Law. Followers, called Christians, were initially viewed as a sect of Judaism. The Celts worshipped local deities (frequently associated with nature), often served by a priestly class of Druids. The Nebadon commission of twelve, acting under the direction of Mantutia Melchizedek, supposedly delivered portions of the book to earth. Covered Bridge Canyon, Spanish Fork, UT: Pantheism, channeling, denies reality of death. Anthroposophical Society, Rudolf Steiner, Chicago, IL: Occult, related to Theosophy; teachings on karma, meditation, Atlantis and reincarnation. Church of E Yada di Shi-ite, Mark Probert, Mountain View, CA: New Age, channeling, UFO contactee. The shaman's soul is sometimes believed to leave the body during a trance (see out-of-body experiences, astral projection), at which time the shaman will speak with beings from the other worlds or assume animal forms. Christianity was founded on the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, or Christ, promised in the Old Testament, and that he died to save human beings from the penalty of sin. Some light jazz, instrumental music has been labeled (or re-labeled) "New Age" simply as a marketing category. Virgin Birth: The belief that when Jesus was conceived and born of Mary she was a virgin, and that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Their popular catalog, New Worlds, is sold in newsstands nationwide and has a circulation of nearly 200,000. Armstrong, Garner Ted: Son of Herbert W. Armstrong who formed his own rival Armstrongism splinter group, the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association. Universariun Foundation, Inc., Portland, OR: New Age, Ascended Masters, channeling. The angels who followed Satan and rebelled against God are called demons. Jesus is believed to have become man in order to restore human beings to godhood as renewed "incarnations" of God. Brinkley, Dannion: As chronicled in his bestseller Saved by the Light, Brinkley allegedly underwent a near-death experience after being struck by lightning. WOW: (Word Over the World). CAUSA: Organization affiliated with the Unification Church. Emerald Circle: Paganism, know the Divine within, be part of Gaia. Therefore, God is in "process," evolving along with creation into future possibilities. Its origins are in the German Enlightenment, notably in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and the religious views of Friedrich Schleiermacher. Kabbalah: (Various spellings) Mystical Jewish teachings intermingled with teachings of gnosticism, Neoplatonism, magic and the occult. According to Kisser, between 1991 and 1996 CAN was the victim of approximately 50 lawsuits directly or indirectly sponsored by members of the Church of Scientology, an organization considered by CAN to be a dangerous cult. While many chiropractors are not engaging in alternative religious activities via their practice, critics claim that some chiropractors engage in chiropractic medicine in accordance with the Taoist principle of facilitating the flow of chi. Publishes Sacred Cycles newsletter. The roots of the movement are obscure, but it eventually developed into the idea that Japan, unlike other countries, was uniquely fathered by the god Izanami, whose consort, the goddess Izanagi, gave birth to the Japanese islands. University of the Christ Light, Charlotte, NC: New Age; inner states of consciousness; man is the essence of God (cf. See Baptismal Regeneration. Oneness Pentecostal. See Yoga. Robins, Anthony (or Tony): Business consultant, empowerment, personal transformation and motivational speaker whose theories often contain New Age philosophies. Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to live sinless life and can do the same for any person. Church of the Plains Indians: Native American spirituality, sweat lodge. Order of the Solar Temple: Headed by Luc Jouret and Joseph Di Mambro, this group dabbles in New Age holistic health, Rosicrucian-like rites. Islam rejects the Trinity doctrine, the deity of Christ and His Sonship, claiming that Jesus was only a great prophet. Society for Organizational Learning (SoL), Boston, MA: An affiliate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the SoL researches and promotes learning organizations that facilitate institutional evolution and the rethinking of conventional and reactionary beliefs. Often linked to Eastern metaphysical philosophies, the New Age and/or Eastern religions, these techniques promote the emptying of the mind or the suspension of critical thinking. There are three main branches of modern Judaism: Orthodox (traditional, literal adherence to the Torah as interpreted by the Talmud), Conservative (a middle position advocating traditional beliefs and practices up to a point), and Reform (liberal, non-literal stance on the Torah and Talmud; often non-religious or secular with emphasis on Jewish culture). Past Life Regression: New Age practice associated with hypnosis which allows one to discover one's past lives; assumes reality of reincarnation. State medical examiner claims as many as 25 children have died in the last two decades from complications from otherwise common medical problems. Stil-Light Retreat Center, Waynesville, NC: New Age, meditation, Buddhism, Christ-consciousness, Theosophy. LaBaron died in a Utah State Prison in 1981. Christians believe this to be Jesus of Nazareth, who died to atone for human sin. Similar to Theosophy. Illuminati, ("Enlightened Ones"): Secret society founded by a professor of canon law, Adam Weishaupt, in Bavaria, Germany. In one form of the religion, State Shintoism, the Japanese emperors were seen as infallible descendants of the gods. Temple of Truth: See Light of Truth Church. Father Divine, né George Baker (1878–1965): Black founder of the Peace Mission Movement, believed by his followers to be God. Golden Dawn, John Phillips Palmer, Lumberville, PA: Occult, magic, spiritual authorities are Secret Chiefs and Inner Plane Adepti. The northern kingdom was conquered and decimated by the Assyrians in 722 BC, after which the term Judeans, or Jews, gradually came into use to refer to all Israelites. Gnostic Order of Christ, The, Timothy Harris, San Jose, CA: An esoteric and mystical order reviving the doctrines of the now defunct Holy Order of MANS. Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, The, John Allegro: Book and corresponding church by the late Dead Sea Scroll scholar, Dr. Allegro. Publishes The Unexplained magazine. Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Daisakqu Ikeda, Santa Monica, CA: A cult of Soka Gakkai Buddhism, formerly named Nichiren Shoshu of America. Sacred Order of Mystic Christianity, Mountain View, CA: New Age, mystic keys, Inner God, Christ within, higher self. WISE International, Los Angeles, CA: Acronym for Worldwide Institute of Scientology Enterprises; promotes Church of Scientology. Esoteric Order of Dagon, Soror Azenath 23rd, Abita Springs, LA: Channel the energy of the Nu Aeon, collective magical unconsciousness, worship the Old Ones or Old Gods. Some evangelicals have also charged that the church compromises the Trinity doctrine by confusing the Persons of the Holy Spirit and the Son in a way similar to modalism. White, Ellen G.: See Seventh-day Adventist Church. Orr, Leonard: See Rebirthing International. However, in its modern American form it is a holiday based on pagan, occult, Celtic beliefs and Druid rituals. Aquarian Academy, Robert E. Birdsong, Eureka, CA: Jesus only an avatar of the Cosmic Christ, of the Great White Brotherhood of Light. Mystics explain that from the color of the aura, a person's emotional and intellectual moods can be determined. Milieu Control: One of eight criteria of Mind Control according to Robert Lifton's theory of Thought Reform. Asatru Free Assembly, Denair, CA: Paganism, worships Odin as Father-god, Frigga as Mother-god and Nerthus as Mother-Earth. Xavier). Mystics, through altered states of consciousness, tune into this library for information. The soap is widely available in health-food stores. When Smith died, those who accepted Brigham Young as Smith's successor followed him west to Utah; they are known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Profile available. Spiritual Abuse: The damage or mistreatment of someone seeking spiritual or religious help or guidance. Sacred Name movement: Although some Orthodox Jews and others believe that the name of God is too sacred to speak (and/or fully write), as used in this Index the Sacred Name movement refers to a modern movement that claims that God must be addressed by a form of the Divine Name in the Old Testament (Yahweh, Jehovah, Yah, Yahvah, or some other preferred form). He is said to have done this by dying spiritually as well as physically on the cross, suffering in hell, and then while in hell becoming the first person to be "born again," before finally being raised from the dead. contain definitions that reflect the beliefs of Watchman's staff. Usually associated with the visible movement of physical objects by an unseen spiritual (that is, occult) force. More generally, the term can refer to any alleged contact with spirits through occult techniques. Beth El Shaddai, Dick Amos, Plano, TX: Dual Covenant doctrine, denies Jesus is God. Secrets, Norma Cox, Marshal, AR: UFOs. The group has a strong presence in Hilldale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona (once known as Short Creek), which was the site of a government effort to prosecute polygamists in 1953. Most often props are involved such as the hand (palm reading), the stars (astrology), cards (Tarot), or random symbols (I Ching). Jesus and the Bible are defined and interpreted in light of a class struggle, with the gospel seen as a radical call to activism (or even revolution) promoting political and social answers usually in the form of classic Communism. Keyes College, Ken and Penny Keyes, Eugene, OR: Yoga, higher self, promotes John Bradshaw's philosophy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Dualism—unity of Christ and Satan, both are equally good and should be loved. Chinook Learning Center, Fritz and Vivienne Hull, Clinton, WA: Native American Earth-Spirit philosophy, shamanism, meditation, called one of the most important New Age centers. Dayspring Resources, Leonie Rosenstiel, New York, NY: Hypnosis, Reiki, yoga, reflexology, crystal healing. New Age is a recent and developing belief system in North America encompassing thousands of autonomous (and sometime contradictory) beliefs, organizations, and events. Joseph Fitch and Martin Ebon, and Elizabeth Fenske are popular leaders in the movement. Several splinters formed. Mormon Fundamentalism: A loose collection of doctrines and practices maintained by splinter groups of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Publishes The White Light newsletter. Association for Past-Life Research and Therapies, Inc. Riverside, CA: New Age, reincarnation and astrology. The teaching that baptism is a prerequisite for salvation, however, is considered by many evangelicals to be a heretical compromise of the biblical gospel of salvation by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). Similar to New Thought. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures functions as a virtual second canon of Scripture. To various degrees, virtually all Protestant denominations today share a common heritage concerning the issues of the Reformation. While his Coast to Coast weeknight broadcast and Dreamland weekend broadcast focus on a wide array of New Age and occult issues, as well as many conspiracy theories, one of the most common subjects discussed by guests on the program is UFOs. Reincarnation generally assumes a doctrine of karma. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), Indianapolis, IN: Oldest of the Apostolic churches. Circle Network News Mt. Angels: Supernatural, non-human beings created by God. Universalism: Generically, the belief that all people will eventually receive salvation and eternal life. Key verses have been inaccurately rendered especially to obscure the deity of Christ. Publishes Christian Outlook. See American Atheists, Inc. Atlantic Pagan Council: Association of East Coast pagan covens, magic, moon festivals, paganism. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eadie claims to have died, gone to heaven, and returned to her body (see near-death experiences). Peale's views of Christianity were heavily influenced by his mentor Ernest Holmes, the founder of Religious Science, and also reflected the philosophies of New Thought, and Unity. Institute of Esoteric Study, Milwaukee, WI: Occult, Lunar festivals, astrology, paganism. Fort Worth Bible Students, Fort Worth, TX: Bible Students group that republishes older Watchtower Bible and Tract Society materials. White, Walter: See Followers of Christ Church. Jesus Only: Nickname for Oneness Pentecostalism. Cult: See the Definitions section in the introduction. Christian Rose Cross Church, Olympia, WA: Based on the teachings of Max Heindel (see Rosicrucian Fellowhip), Cosmic Christ, Universal religion. Rainbow Earth Dwelling Society, J. Christine Hayes, San Antonio, TX: New Age, chakras, telepathy, Tarot. The "Holy Ghost" is Divine Science, that is, Christian Science. Dalai Lama: The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, Eknath Easwaran, Petaluma, CA: Hindu philosophy, meditation, uses the Bhagavad-Gita. Coven Gardens, Boulder, CO: Occult, paganism, Wicca, revival of Egyptian deities. Theologically, radical feminism finds influence in diverse religious traditions including liberal Christianity, liberation theology, goddess worship, Wicca, neo-paganism, and New Age beliefs. Profile available. His teaching was developed and spread in the third century BC by Chuang-Tzu, whose writings inspired the Tao Tsang, 1200 volumes of Taoist scripture. Radical feminism, however, pushes for a revolution to free themselves from male enslavement and exploitation. Publishes Psynetic Calendar newsletter. Usually (but not always) a doctrine associated with Adventism. Brotherhood of the Followers of the Present Jesus, Ann and Peter Meyer, San Diego, CA: Alchemy, Christ-consciousness in each person, channeling and clairvoyance. Peace Pole: New Age / occult; poles or obelisks around which people sit in order to practice meditation or visualization of World Peace or other topics important to those meditating. Joy Lake Mountain Seminar Center, Reno, NV: New Age, visualization, crystals, astral projection. Profile available. Ecstasy, Ojai, CA: New Age, man is God, realized through sexual encounters, New Age/Hedonism. Zygon International, Dane Spotts, Issaquah, WA: New Age, inner power, ESP, meditation, fifth state of consciousness. International Community of Christ: See Jamilian University of the Ordained. Unlike monarchianism or modalism, which view Jesus as a manifestation of the unipersonal God, or subordinationism, which views Jesus as a secondary divine being (e.g., the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society), Unitarianism views Jesus as a mere human being. Most channelers give the same basic message, that man is a God. Hunger Project: Claims to help poverty-stricken people using visualization to rid the world of hunger.