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The Holy Order of MANS was founded by Earl Blighton in 1968 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Blighton, a former electrical engineer from Rochester, New York, migrated to the west coast following his very strong and unique hunger for alternative religions. The core of the Holy Order of MANS was formed in 1966 from a small group of men and women who gathered to hear Blighton teach a type of "esoteric Christianity" (Lucas:2). The group originated from the hippie counterculture that engulfed the San Francisco area during the time period. The original followers wanted to abandon this "hippie" lifestyle (Lucas:2).
Blighton organized his group along "Catholic teaching orders" and it borrowed heavily from Asian spirituality and Catholicism (Lucas:2). Mission stations and training centers in sixty cities and forty-eight states were established between 1969 and 1974. The group took a monastic image with its members taking monastic vows and wearing clerical garb (Lucas:2).
The group's structure consisted of one main governing body and a suborder of followers. The main decision-making body was the esoteric council. Blighton assumed the leadership role in the council as the Director General. The suborder of the followers consisted of the "master teachers," priests specially trained by Blighton, minister-priests, stewards, disciples, students, and novices (Lucas:59-60). 1969 through 1970 saw a dramatic jump in the number of students.
To accommodate this rapid growth, Blighton formulated a more definite means for student membership. This more concrete means of indoctrination circled around Blighton's book, Tree of Life , which studied "ancient Christian mysteries" (Lucas:72). The new means of indoctrination had four levels: (1) bible interpretation, (2) universal tools of man, (3) sciences of man, and (4) golden dawn.
The Immaculate Heart Sisters of Mary and the Brown Brothers of the holy light were established by Blighton as two suborders of the group (Lucas:2). These were training steps where members were dedicated to charity and missionary work (Lucas:2). When a member joins either of these groups, the person must turn all financial earnings over to the order ("Coed Monastary"). A part of the group's charitible services were shelters called Raphael House . These were originally shelters in the San Francisco area for homeless families, but soon they were started in other cities (Gerjevic:2). These shelters still exist today.
Blighton's final years saw three developments that would have significant importance on the Holy Order of MANS.
Earl Blighton died in 1974, leaving turbulant years in front of the Holy Order of MANS. After his death, Ruth Blighton, Earl's wife, assumed the role of Director General (Lucas:141). However, because Blighton had not specifically instructed who would lead after his death, a confrontation for power ensued. By early fall 1974, the order was divided between those loyal to Ruth Blighton and those opposed to her rule (Lucas:142). By the spring of 1978, Andrew and Isjesian Rossi became dual Director Generals (Lucas:163)
With the start of a new decade, growing public resentment, and a new Director General, the Holy Order of MANS began moving toward Christianity. After the Jonestown mass suicide in 1978, the group saw growing negative publicity, membership defections, and low recruitment rates (Lucas:2). In addition, the 1980's saw the return of a Republican president, Ronald Reagan, and growing conservatism. Rossi began to lead his group from Rosicrucian /Theosophical roots towards a more mainstream Christian identity.
During the early 1980's Rossi went through a personal conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy. Rossi didn't want to abandon the group after his conversion, so instead he gradually replaced the Order's Rosicrucian and Esoteric cornerstones with more conventional Orthodox doctrines (Lucas:3). A major catalyst for this move by Rossi was Gleb Podmoshensky, a priest and director of the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Rossi asked him to travel around the country, talking to members of the Order. Siobhan Houston states, "when (Podmoshensky) came in contact with the Holy Order of MANS in 1983, he provided the strong charismatic presence and definite direction which the group so desperately needed" (Gerjevic:2). Podmoshensky's talks and Rossi's gradual depletion of the Order's cornerstones caused a mass conversion of 750 MANS members into the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1988 (Lucas:3). The order then changed its name to Christ the Saviour Brotherhood (CSB) (Lucas:3).
Numerous groups have splintered from Christ the Saviour Brotherhood. These groups include Gnostic Order of Christ, Science of Man, American Temple, and the Foundation of Christ Church.
The Holy Order of MANS encompassed numerous beliefs and customs that changed as the group also changed. They were a distinct combination of Western esoterism, apocalyptic millennialism, Christian monasticism, New Thought philosophy, and Tantrism (Lucas:1).
Blighton received his beliefs from numerous sources. These sources were, for the most part, first hand experiences in a specific religious group. The first group in that Blighton gained insight from was the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucia (AMORC)(Lucas:18). He incorporated two AMORC teachings into the Holy Order of MANS. The first was that there are two selves (Lucas:20). There is an inner, subconscious self and a conscious outer self (Lucas:20). AMORC believed in exercises to receive the "wisdom" from the inner self. They used mental concentration and visualization exercises to capture this inner wisdom (Lucas:20). Yogic breathing techniques and the mental imaging of the symbolic forms circle, square, and triangle were used in these exercises (Lucas:20). The second AMORC teaching important to Blighton was the belief in "psychic centers" or Chakras from Indian Tantrism (Lucas:20). Chakras are the areas in the body where the soul's energy frequencies are combined with the physcial body (Lucas:20). The three important Chakra areas are the pituitary body, pineal gland, and the solar plexus (Lucas:20). Chakra could be interpreted by viewing a person's aura (Lucas:20).
A second source of Blighton's beliefs were from the Christian Yoga Church (Lucas:21). Blighton joined this group in 1963, and he moved to the group's monastary in Virginia City, Nevada (Lucas:21). There Blighton was educated in the art of Kriya Yoga . Kriya Yoga uses breathing exercises, concentration exercises, and Chakra manipulation to help a student reach "illumination" (Lucas:21). The combination of "divine light" and self-realization was described as "illumination"(Lucas:21). While at the group's monastary, Blighton, through intense practice, became quite good at Kriya Yoga and actually reached "illumination"(Lucas:21).
Blighton studied alternative religions as a young man and was also subjected to Roman Catholicism. Blighton, while still living in Rochester, studied the Rosicrucian Society and Freemasons (Lucas:37). In addition, his first wife was Catholic and Blighton received catechetical instruction. Moreover, Blighton's second son from his first marriage became a Catholic priest (Lucas:37). Numerous customs and rituals of the Holy Order of MANS originated from the rituals of Roman Catholicism.
While Blighton still called his group the Science of Mans Church, he began to adopt certain unique customs that would follow the evolution of the Holy Order of MANS. The thirty to forty members of the Science of Mans Church regularly referred to Blighton as "Father" and they were made to wear black suits and cut their hair (Lucas:30). A normal part of member training was "street missions" (Lucas:31). These "street missions" were initiated so that students could apply the theoretical knowledge they gained from Blighton (Lucas:31). The students, dressed in their black suits, would walk around low- income or crime filled neighborhoods "visualizing" a pulse of light radiating through it (Lucas:31). These "street patrols" would become a normal occurance for members of the order. In addition, early students recounted that Blighton would partake in telepathic healing (Lucas:32).
A combination of Christian and Masonic/Rosicrucian symbols began to appear in the beliefs of the Science of Mans Church by spring 1967. Blighton saw symbolism as a means for showing the force and power of all things in the universe. Blighton taught that the material or spiritual conditions that a person sought could be gained through the mastering of esoteric symbols on the mental plane and by speaking the "word of power" (Lucas:38). Blighton thought that all things in the universe were first derived from the circle, square, and triangle. The circle represented the Godhead and "the unity of all things" (Lucas:39). The triangle represented the process of creation. The square represented the "material plane" (Lucas:39).
In 1967, Blighton wrote "The Golden Force," in which he outlined the central pillar of his early teachings. This central pillar was the "universal law" of mental dynamics. Blighton states, it was "the great formula which the Creator set in the Solar Pattern of the Universe so that His creations would have freedom" (Lucas:39). Blighton believed that this has been purposely omitted from Christian churches, even though Blighton believed it was "taught by the Master Jesus." Blighton saw educating mainstream Christianity about the "universal law" as one of the order's main missions.
Blighton, in early 1967, started to use his Thursday evening classes for "spiritual seances" (Lucas:39). The room was completely dark, except for candle light, and the member's chairs were formed into a circle. During these seances, Blighton would give and receive "psychic messages" (Lucas:39) As the Holy Order of MANS blossomed and evolved, members would perceive this as Blighton receiving psychic messages from Jesus Christ himself (Lucas:39). These revelations were the source of many beliefs for the Holy Order of MANS.
Blighton received two messages in March 1967 that took a definite millenarian tone. The first message implied that the Earth was in a time of "spiritual transformation" (Lucas:39). Blighton even believed this time of spiritual transformation meant the second coming of Christ. He believed that it was his duty to prepare "society's outcasts" for this new age (Lucas:40). The second message talked about what the coming spiritual transformation entailed. Blighton explained that the Earth's "psychospiritual" atmosphere was being supercharged by the light of the sun and the "light of Christ." This was called a planetary "illumination" (Lucas:40). In addition, Blighton thought this would force a molecular transformation in the earth and the body of everyone on Earth. He believed that a person had to go through spiritual training to live productively in this newly formed illuminated age. Blighton thought it was the group's duty to inform and educate as many persons as possible about the upcoming "illumination" through "solar" initiations by priests of the group (Lucas:40).
A short message in June 1968 from Blighton's spirit guides shows the Holy Order of MANS millenarian/restorationist views during it's founding years. Basically the message states that the Apostles, Paul of Tarsus, Jesus' women followers, and members of the Essene sect had been "reincarnated" in the modern time. They were hoping, through the help of the Holy Order of MANS, to prepare mankind for a new era of "dispensation" (Lucas:46).
On July 24, 1968, Blighton and his wife filed the official bylaws of the Holy Order of MANS with the state of California. These bylaws described the purpose, structure, and sacramental forms of the Holy Order of MANS. The Holy Order of MANS' bylaws state that the purposes of the group were to "preserve the ancient Christian wisdom teachings for the coming generation, fulfill a mission revealed by the Higher Order of the Holy Cross, and establish brotherhouses, seminaries, missions, youth guidance centers, and clinics" (Lucas: 48). Blighton also wanted to make it abundantly clear in the bylaws that the Holy Order of MANS was nonsectarian, non-political, and "universally tolerant."
The bylaws state that the religion of the future would be a universal "way of light" based on the "All encompassing Brotherhood of Man" (Lucas: 50). This religion of the future would be taught by "the next Christ" who would "be born free from relationships with any organization, sect, religion, dogma, or movement" (Lucas: 50). The new age would be marked by the unification of humanity by overcoming religious, political, and ethnic divisions. Blighton thought the Holy Order of MANS was responsible for the education of humanity about this ancient wisdom that leaped over religious and political affiliations (Lucas: 50). The bylaws stated this would be accomplished by starting centers for the training of students in "spiritual disciplines and charitable service" (Lucas: 50-51). Blighton believes that individuals are able to make any material or spiritual happenings they want. The bylaws state, "We accept man as an evolving being of unlimited resources and unlimited expansion" (Lucas: 51).
Blighton believed that the sacraments have always existed, but few have been subjected to them. In addition, as time has passed, the inhabitants of the earth have forgotten "the true nature and function" of the sacraments (Lucas: 52).Blighton believed that one of the purposes of the Holy Order of MANS is to restore these sacramental forms. He believed this could be done by bringing together ancient wisdom and the discoveries of modern science (Lucas: 52). Blighton thought that the first step in the restoration of these sacraments would be through reforming the priestly hierarchy. Blighton said that the priestly hierarchy of the Holy Order of MANS was being formed to give back this wisdom to all denominations of Christianity (Lucas: 52). The power to ordain priests was received directly from Jesus Christ through Blighton's revelations.
The rite of Priestly Ordination was a central custom of the Holy Order of MANS. First, the candidate was dissolved of all past and future karma and was cut from all earthly ties (Lucas: 53-54). Second, the candidate acknowledged an "eternal" vow of priestly service by accepting the "Rod of Power" and a white cord (Lucas: 53-54). Third, the lights in the church were cut except for a single beam of light centered on the candidate. Fourth, the candidate kneeled before Blighton and received a gold ring that had a circle, triangle, and square (Lucas:53-54). Finally, the new priest was recogized as a "universal servant to all humanity" and a "minister-priest in the Holy Order of MANS, under the Divine Order of Melchizedek" (Lucas: 53-54). This elite group of priests were members of the "Order of the Golden Cross." The group wasn't tied to any political or religious affiliation and their only allegiance was to the "Great Christos" or "Lord of the Sun" (Lucas: 54). These priests were freed, by Christ, from the "Wheel of Karma" but were obligated to remain in the "Order of the Golden Cross" for seven incarnations (Lucas: 54).
Baptism
Baptism was believed to be "on the universal path of initiation" (Lucas: 55). Through baptism, the person declared his/her committment to Christ (Lucas: 55). Blighton stated that baptism brought the "Christ Force" into a person's body (Lucas: 55). Baptism would also set into action a "lunar current." This lunar current would remove the "effects of past error" from the person's physical body (Lucas: 55). There are four steps to the Order's baptismal rite. First, the initiate spends time in "solitary retrospect." Next, he/she confesses to the priest. Third, the initiate acknowledges their committment to Christ and is annointed with oil on the forehead in the shape of a cross. Finally, physical senses are prepared to receive transmissions from, "the other realm of creation" (Lucas: 55). At this point in the ceremony, Psalm 23 is read (Lucas: 55).
Communion
Communion is the keystone in the Order's everyday religious ritual. During communion, the attributes of Jesus Christ are infused into a member's body. This rite was received by the Order during a 1967 revelation by Blighton (Lucas: 56-57).
Rite of Illumination
During this rite, a "new body of light" was put inside an initiate's physical body. The steps of the rite were kept secret, but it usually was performed at night because the magnetic forces are stronger at night. First the initiate meditates. Second, Blighton creates an opening in the body for light to enter. Finally, after an initiate receives the light, they spend the following day in seclusion (Lucas: 58).
Rite of "Self-Realization"
This rite was more mysterious than that Illumination. However, after the rite is performed, the "realized being" was able to receive transmissions from the "Godhead" (Lucas: 59).
From 1969-1972 Blighton's sermons, along with other things in the church, became more Christian, abandoning some Rosicrucian-based teachings for more normal Christian ideas (Lucas: 96). Blighton didn't completely vacate his esoteric teachings, he merely expressed them by more Christian means (Lucas: 96). First, Blighton's sermons during this period began with a reading from the New Testament (Lucas:96). Second, the group put increased emphasis on the Christian holiday of Lent (Lucas: 96). Third, the order adopted Christian icons such as Christ floating in clouds (Lucas: 96). Fourth, Blighton denounced the use of "Eastern meditations and chants" (Lucas: 96). Finally, Blighton announced in 1972 that all members had to go through the rite of Baptism (Lucas: 96).
Blighton's final years saw two important additions to the group's main beliefs. The first, as described earlier, was the addition of the Book of Activity to the group's list of sacred texts (Lucas: 104). The Book of Activity is a summation of Blighton's millenarian, restorationist, and initiatory visions(Lucas: 104). It was widely believed to be directly from God and the Order's members thought that some day, it would be incorporated into the Bible's Book of Acts (Lucas: 104). The second change was the group's new emphasis on Mary, the mother of Jesus (Lucas: 119). This can be attributed to Blighton's view that women should be raised to their "rightful spiritual position" (Lucas: 119). By emphasizing Mary, the order was attempting to redefine the role of women (Lucas: 119). This can be seen by the fact that Blighton ordained 52 female priests during his years as Director General (Lucas: 119).
During the period of 1974 through 1978, the Order went through numerous changes. By 1975, the group had adopted a publicly evangelical tone. Paul Anderson, a MANS member, confirmed the group's beliefs in "trinity, the gospel, spiritual healing, baptism, communion, and confession" to a Maine newspaper (Lucas: 145-146). This new evangelical tone can be attributed to public figures like Jimmy Carter and Bob Dylan adopting evangelical tones. However, privately the order kept its ecumenical, esoteric, and eclectic teachings (Lucas: 146). By 1975, a change in the order's character was becoming evident. Daily life in the Order's urban centers became more comfortable and recreational, members watched TV and movies, and soft rock music, dancing, and marajuana were not uncommon in brother houses (Lucas: 147). The Order's membership became more dominated by life-vowed members by 1976. This meant more individual vocational and relationship explorations (Lucas: 158). MANS developed more life-vowed programs which included "family" missions. These family missions consisted of two or more families moving to a city where the order wasn't represented. The families then developed social-service projects (Lucas: 158). This growing trend of marriages and independent missions left the order open to the loss of inner cohesion, something that the order prided itself on (Lucas: 161).
By 1978, the Holy Order of MANS began to abandon Blighton's and the Order's orginal beliefs and customs. First, MANS abandoned the Rosicrucian-style teaching discourse. Second, by late 1979, the Tree of Life lessons were withdrawn from Order's circulation and replaced with mainstream Christian authors like Ben Hoeffer, Lewis, Foster, and Martin. Third, the Order's green-covered books on Esoteric Christianity stopped being circulated. Fourth, the brotherhood's advanced initiatory rites were hidden from public view (Lucas: 170).
After 1978, the beliefs and customs of the Holy Order of MANS mutated dramatically under Rossi's leadership. During 1980 and 1981, the lay discipleship group evolved into "the order of the disciples." The purpose of this group was to "sacramentalize" society's "householder" dimension (Lucas: 171-172). The persons in this group lived "a fully committed life" of Christian discipleship "in the world" (Lucas: 171-172). Second, the Esoteric Council changed its name to "Apostolic Council." The Apostolic Council would oversee the Order's "spiritual transmission" into the world (Lucas: 171- 172). Third, the MANS acronym was a source of problems for the Order. The public viewed the secrecy of the acronym in a negative manner and it fueled the occult perception posessed by the public. In an attempt to makeover the movement's public image, Rossi created "an exoteric definition of MANS that would communicate the group's essential character in a language acceptable to mainstream Christian professionals" (Lucas: 173). The acronym now stood for Mysterion, Agape, Novs, and Sophia (Lucas: 173). Fourth, Rossi denounced that the group was a cult in 1980. He stated that unlike other "cults," the Holy Order of MANS had no "extra-scriptural source of authority" (Lucas: 173). With this denouncement, he also denied the legitamacy of the Book of Activity (Lucas: 173).
The Holy Order of MANS was a very interesting modern religious movement because of the variety of religions it encompassed. However, the Holy Order of MANS was also interesting because of it's sociological significance.
- By studying the Holy Order of MANS, one can better understand the problems following the death of a leader and the impending power struggle. Earl Blighton, also known as "Father Paul," lead the Holy Order of MANS by Charismatic authority (Hadden: 1). His power was based on "supernatural tendencies," including direct conversations with Jesus Christ (Hadden: 2). Blighton was able to organize and sustain this religious movment with his charisma. However, with the death of Blighton in April 1974, the Holy Order of MANS was also hit with troublesome times. Like most groups lead by a charismatic leader, the Order struggled without strong, centralized leadership (Hadden: 2). Blighton did not appoint a successor , causing the group to fall into a power struggle between those loyal to Ruth Blighton's leadership and those opposed (Hadden: 2). But because charisma "is not an inheritable trait," the charisma possessed by Earl Blighton could not be passed onto his successor, or "to the very essence of the group" (Hadden:2). The problems caused by the routinization of charisma forced the Holy Order of MANS to resort to a new leader, Andrew Rossi.
- Andrew Rossi drastically changed the identity of the Holy Order of MANS. He quickly sought to change some of the Order's central beliefs in order to conform to mainstream Christianity. Society's move toward conservatism and growing negative media attention because of the Jonestown mass suicide drove Rossi's mainstream aspirations (Lucas: 2). The changing ideology of the Holy Order of MANS replaced Blighton's charisma, an important process of the routinization of charisma (Hadden: 2). As Rossi lead the Holy Order of MANS farther away from their original ideology and closer to mainstream Christianity, including Eastern Orthodoxy, people began to leave the group (Lucas: 254). With the Order's official transformation into the Christ Our Saviour Brotherhood and Eastern Orthodoxy , schisms surfaced and splinter groups, including the groups described below, formed.
- The case of the Holy Order of MANS' move toward Eastern Orthodoxy shows what can happen to new religious movements when they undergo rapid change. The Holy Order of MANS', now known as Christ the Saviour Brotherhood (CSB), rapid change in religious beliefs, lead by Rossi, left members of the Order with four options (Lucas: 254).
The first option was to completely leave the Holy Order of MANS (Lucas: 254). Between 1969 and 1985, 50% of the Order's new recruits, 37% of "life-vowed members," and 28% of the Order's priests defected the group (Lucas: 254).
The second option was for members to "...organize a circle of like-minded members and attempt a coup" (Lucas: 254). In 1989, a group of the Order's priests overthrew Rossi as Director General of Christ the Saviour Brotherhood (Lucas: 254).
Third, members could break away from the Order and form "derivative organizations" (Lucas: 254). Ruth Blighton split from Christ the Saviour Brotherhood in 1987 to form the Science of Man Church (Lucas: 254-255). Phillip Lucas states in The Odyssey of a New Religion , "As of 1993, these new formations had been unsuccessful in attracting more than a small core of committed members" (Lucas: 255).
The fourth option was for members to remain in Christ the Saviour Brotherhood (Lucas:255). Members might have chosen to remain in the group because of financial dependence on CSB, "substantial investment of emotional capital," and "the haunting sense of guilt and failure that was believed to accompany defection" (Lucas: 255).
Christ the Saviour Brotherhood is the original descendant of the Holy Order of MANS. Director General Rossi, after going through a personal conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy, lead the Order towards the Orthodox church. The movement was made complete in 1988 when 750 HOOM members converted to Eastern Orthodoxy (Lucas:3).
Christ the Saviour Brotherhood is quite different from the original Holy Order of MANS. Phillip Lucas states in The Odyssey of a New Religion , "CSB repudiates the early order's ecumenism and its corollary belief that all religions contain elements of truth. It has abandoned its gnostical theosophical cosmology and christology and adheres strictly to the doctrines of Eastern Orthodoxy" (248). In addition, Blighton's revelations are now sometimes believed to be "the effluvia of his own subconscious" and sometimes "the teachings of demons" (Lucas:249). Two additional changes CSB has incorporated are: 1) The Order's sacramental rites have been replaced by Orthodox liturgical forms (Lucas:249). 2) Women's place in CSB has been demoted to clerical positions; an Orthodox proscription that goes against HOOM's "gender-equal" priestly hierarchy (Lucas:249). The final change CSB has undergone is concerning Blighton's millenarian beliefs. Lucas explains, "...Blighton's millenialism, which looked optimistically forward to a dawning age of spiritual illumination, has been supplanted by a sectarian form of Orthodox apocalypticism. This more pessimistic vision focuses on a coming Antichrist figure who will, it is believed, lead most of humankind to damnation" (Lucas:249).
However, CSB has retained several aspects of the Holy Order of MANS. First, CSB is still committed to charitible services (Lucas:249). Second, Christ the Saviour Brotherhood continues to believe strongly in a monastic lifestyle. Third, CSB continues to be interested in "initiation, light mysticism, and supernatural experience" (Lucas:249). Phillip Lucas states, "The fourth continuity relates to the movements dramaturgical and ceremonial tenor throughout history" (Lucas:250). The Holy Order of MANS had a "nonstop parade" of ceremonies and rituals (Lucas:250). This HOOM practice fits in perfectly to the ancient motif of Eastern Orthodoxy (Lucas:250).
The Christ the Saviour Brotherhood website talks about CSB's mission, purpose, and membership availability. The CSB web page states, "Christ the Saviour Brotherhood is dedicated to bringing the light and truth of Orthodox Christianity to the spiritually perishing peoples of these darkening and crucial times. Our primary purpose is to serve Christ our Lord and Saviour, and our fellow man" (1). Moreover, the CSB web site explains membership availability. The web site states, "Membership in Christ the Saviour Brotherhood is available to all adult baptized Orthodox Christians who wish to dedicate themselves to Christ through the mission and spiritual striving of the Brotherhood. Membership is perceived to be carried out in practice through participation in the work and striving of the Brotherhood, and not simply by association" ("Christ the Saviour Brotherhood Web Site" 2).
The Gnostic Order of Christ was formed by former HOOM members on October 19, 1988. The Gnostic Order of Christ homepage states that, "It is the mission of the Gnostic Order of Christ to continue the spiritual work that was begun by The Holy Order of MANS. We honor Father Paul as the founder of this present manifestation of the Western Path and we seek to follow the Path in a traditional manner suitable for this new era. We seek to be of service to mankind and to provide a spiritual foundation and support for those who find themselves seeking Enlightenment through the Western Tradition" (3). The Gnostic Order of Christ differs from the Holy Order of MANS, as seen from the proceeding quotation, in that it has moved away from the Order's eastern religious teachings, stressing instead the more traditional "Western Path" ("Gnostic Order of Christ Website" 3).
The Gnostic Order of Christ wants to supply a "spiritual framework" for people "who have committed themselves to the vows of obedience, humility, purity, poverty, and service to God" ("Gnostic Order of Christ History and Purpose" 3).
The Gnostic Order of Christ hopes to establish "common places of worship, learning, and charitable works" by establishing: ("The Gnostic Order of Christ History and Purpose" 3- 4)
- Teachings including the Holy Bible and "other sacred literature"
- Rites and Litany
- Programs for the preparation of student ministers and lay persons for the priesthood.
- Religious Works
- Seminaries, Churches, and Service Centers
- Ministry "to serve the poor."
The Gnostic Order of Christ offers a study program, teaching metaphysics. The Gnostic homepage defines metaphysics as, "the branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, and substance" (4). The Gnostic study program requires students to implement the arts of meditation, contemplation, retrospection, and prayer. The Gnostic Study Program web site defines Meditation as "Quieting one's mind for the purpose of gaining inner peace and so that one may receive spiritual insight through the intuitive faculties (1). The web site defines Contemplation as "The ability to concentrate on spiritual things and come to rational conclustions" (1). Retrospection is defined as, "The ability to reexamine one's own and other's behaviors, thoughts, and actions objectively and without condemnation in light of spiritual teachings and adjust one's behavior accordingly" ("The Gnostic Study Program" 1). Finally, Prayer is described as, "The ability to give and ask for forgiveness, blessing and healing for oneself and others" ("The Gnostic Study Program" 2).
The Science of Man church was Earl Blighton's original group that he founded in the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1960's. The group did not keep their original name, opting instead for the Holy Order of MANS. With the Holy Order of MANS move toward Eastern Orthodoxy, Ruth Blighton broke away from Christ the Saviour Brotherhood and formed a new religious organization in 1987 (Lucas 254-255). The group revitalized the name, The Science of Man Church. The Science of Man's web site states, "The Science of Man continues to perpetuate the teachings of Dr. Blighton and endeavors to work towards the purpose of helping to unfold a more thorough understanding of the Universal Laws of the Creator, so that all might better manifest His Creation and thus promote peace and harmony among people everywhere" (2).
The Science of Man web site states, "It is our expressed purpose to bring forth the ancient Christian wisdom teachings as they were taught in the ancient of days" (1). In addition, The Science of Man Church has kept their original logo, the circle, triangle, and cross within a square ("The Science of Man" 1) However, the modern version of the Science of Man church has also incorporated the phoenix in the symbol. The phoenix symbolizes "the overcoming of every partial death or change" ("The Science of Man" 2).
The Foundation of Christ Church is the third splinter group of the Holy Order of MANS. The Foundation of Christ Church web site states that "The Foundation of Christ is an organization of men and women who are called together to promote a more thorough understanding of the divine laws of God and of Creation, and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ with the ancient Christian Mysteries, as a revealed teaching of this day, in accordance with the Testament and the words of our Lord Jesus Christ that 'All the mysteries shall be revealed" ("Foundation of Christ Church" 1). The Foundation of Christ Church web site states that the two purposes of the church are:
- Teaching of the Universal Law of Creation
- Service to God and each other by uniting all men and women.
The Foundation of Christ Church uses the Tree of Life studies as a means of member indoctrination. The Foundation of Christ web site states, "We teach the Tree of Life as taught by the ancients as a map of creation -- showing channels or Paths leading from God to his Creation and back again. We have Bible Study and practice spiritual exercises designed to awaken the God-given Spiritual faculties within us" (1). Students will learn, "Bible Comprehension, and the Tools that God, your Father gave to you on the Heaven Plane before you came through your baptism into earth" ("Foundation of Christ Church" 1).
The American Temple is the fourth splinter group of the Holy Order of MANS. This group continues to use some of Earl Blighton's original teachings and the Holy Order of MANS' religious writings. First, the American Temple wishes to learn why "life and all her varied and wide experiences are a continual unfolding of Revelation" ("American Temple" 1). The answer to this question, according to the American Temple, comes from a quote in the Holy Order of MANS' Philosophy of Sacramental Initiation ("American Temple" 1). The Philosophy of Sacramental Initiation states, "Very simply, the Divine Spirit Consciousness, the Father-Mother Creator, brings the universe into being by reflection upon itself. The divine pattern is thus pictured throughout creation. Everywhere in the universe there is Spirit acting upon soul to create manifestation -- spirit embodied in form" ("American Temple" 1). A second teaching by Blighton that has remained influential in the American Temple is the insistence on living symbolism ("American Temple" 1).
One important practice of the American Temple is chromotherapy . Chromotherapy is the use of different colors to treat medical ailments. The "Color Philosophy" part of Chromotherapy was edited by Blighton ("American Temple" 1). The American Temple web page explains, "In healing by color the subtlest and finest vibrations in nature are used instead of the coarse irritating vibrations of drugs and chemicals. The radiations of sunlight are absorbed by the nervous system and distributed by it and the blood stream to various parts of the body" (2). The American Temple believes that medical drugs leave "residues" in the human body. As the body attempts to free itself of these residues, more damage to the body is done ("American Temple" 2). The American Temple web site states, "Color is the most attenuated form of energy that can be kept in an individual state that will do the work that needs to be done and leave no residue, as it is all free energy. There is no residue to contaminate the body, and it is the residue that keeps the body from feeling healthy" (2). The American Temple web site outlines some important guidelines to follow while undergoing chromotherapy (3-4). They include:
- Reduce the intake of meat
- Avoid tea and coffee
- Eliminate tabacco and alcohol
- Drink water and Fruit Juices
- Do not use any sweetener that contains sulphur dioxide
- Do not take chromotherapy treatments at sunrise or sunset.
- Do not take chromotherapy treatments during an eclipse of the sun or moon
- Decide length of treatments by weather conditions, time of year, hour of day, among other things.
A second important practice of the American Temple is baptism. An essay on baptism by Carol Stone-Anderson on The American Temple web site explains that, "The sacrament of Baptism is the first step toward the receiving, and the acceptance of, entrance into the Body of Christ. It is dedicated to the Way and the preparation of the individual so he may be found acceptable in his spiritual endeavors, and be brought into this Holy Body" (1).
Holy Order of MANS' Newsweek
Article
This is an article found in Newsweek magazine the week of October 1, 1973. It has
interesting information concerning the Holy Order of MANS.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/HOOM/ARTICLES.html
Institute for the Study
of American Religion's Webpage on Rosicrucianism
This page has a detailed history of Rosicrucian thought. In addition, it lists and
describes modern day Rosicrucian groups including AMORC.
http://www.americanreligion.org/cultwtch/rosicruc.html
Raphael House Homepage
This is the official site of Raphael House. The site provides a complete overview of
Raphael House's services. In addition, it provides articles and success stories.
http://www.raphaelhouse.org/raphaelhouse/
The American Temple Homepage
This is the web page of the American Temple. The American Temple is one of the
splinter groups formed from the Holy Order of MANS. The site includes articles and
perspectives from former HOOM members.
http://IAMU.com/americantemple.html
The Gnostic Order of Christ Homepage
This is the web page of the Gnosic Order of Christ. It's the second of four splinter
groups from the original Holy Order of MANS. This is quite an extensive site with
provides insight into this splinter group. It provides a site index and the
availability to order Gnostic literature.
http://www.gnostic.org/
The Science of Man Homepage
This is the web page of the Science of Man, the third Holy Order of MANS splinter
group. It provides a good deal of information including links, a mission statement, and
information about the groups beliefs.
http://www.science-of-man.org/som1.html
Christ Our Saviour Brotherhood Web
Site
This is a site of the Christ Our Saviour Brotherhood, the original group which
originated from the Holy Order of MANS. The site includes extensive information on
teachings, student curriculum, and additional links related to this subject.
http://www.gen.com/jch/stherman/ctsb.html
Foundation of Christ Church Web
Site
This is a web site for the Foundation of Christ Church. This web site is quite
extensive, providing a lot of information on the Foundation of Christ Church.
http://millennium.fortunecity.com/ruthven/190/
Group
Survival: Succession and Institutionalization
This web page is an outline of Professor Jeffrey Hadden's lecture on modern religious
group survival. The concept of group survival is quite important while dealing with the
Holy Order of MANS. Professor Hadden is a sociology professor at the University of
Virginia.
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/lectures/survive.html
Created by
Stephen Elliott
For Soc 257: New Religious Movements
Spring Term, 1999
University of Virginia
Last modified: 07/18/01