|
Meanwhile, Back At The Cult
TUBAC - The Divine Administration sprawls over 165 acres along the banks of the Santa Cruz River on a historic ranch next to the old Tumacacori Mission.Known locally, no doubt, as "Jonestown"... Here, a man known as Gabriel of Urantia oversees a religious order of about 100 men, women and children who believe that the apocalypse is imminent and that their leader is a prophet ordained to save them from doom and then rule the world. "Urantia"? Something similar to "Uranus," which is always open to sniggering misuse... Members of the Global Community Communications Alliance practice a unique blend of New Age theology, old-style Christianity, Buddhism, American Indian religion, environmentalism and business. Their community, which they describe as the Divine Administration, includes an organic farm, legal services, a hospice program, a school, psychological counseling, a film studio, a magazine, an art studio, eco-construction and a "soulistic" medical institute. Not that they actually produce anything other than organic brussels sprouts and radishes. There's no factory for making car parts, no plastics plant for making toys, no foundry for making farm implements or tools. Just organic radishes, picking up a few bucks by renting out their lawyer when he's sober, setting aside a house for people to check into the Great Beyond, a Dear Abby center, amateur art stuff that nobody pays attention to except for the performance artists doing it. I'm not sure what an "eco-construction" firm does -- build rain forests? And a "soulistic" medical institute sounds like it's only a few short steps from the hospice. To join, members must renounce their given names and many of their possessions, steps they say are worth the serenity and security they find with the insular group. Sure. Become someone else because you don't like who you are. And give all your worldly goods, plus regular carnal access to your wife and/or children, to somebody from Your Anus. But critics say the alliance is hardly serene. They describe a controlling, narcissistic leader who requires obedience and runs a cultlike community, and they draw parallels between the group and others that have garnered headlines following ritual-related deaths and mass suicides. "Kool-aid, Kool-aid! Tastes great! Wish we had some! Can't wait!" The GCCA is led by Gabriel, or Anthony Joseph Delevin, 62, the son of a Pittsburgh steelworker. "I got only one word of advice, son: Don't go to work in the mills! Find something easier!" "Okay, Pop!" He and his female "complement," Niann Emerson Chase, have attracted followers from four continents, including a lawyer, a doctor, a psychologist and schoolteachers. Now productively engaged in growing organic brussels sprouts and swapping wives... They founded a religious order and sanctuary, originally known as Aquarian Concepts Community, in 1989 along Oak Creek in Yavapai County. The organization, which functions as a church, adopted its current name several years ago before moving to southern Arizona. Churches are exempt from paying property taxes under state law, and the Internal Revenue Service does not mandate the filing of public financial disclosures that are required of other non-profits. "How about this, Pop? I'll found a church! I won't have to pay no taxes or anything!" "Worked for L. Ron Hubbard." One of group's rites, Native American purification, has come under public scrutiny in the aftermath of a fatal sweat-lodge ceremony involving a different group in Sedona two months ago. In that incident, three people died and 18 others were hospitalized while taking part in a Spiritual Warrior event led by self-improvement guru James Arthur Ray. A criminal investigation is pending. If it's "native American" it's good. The Aztecs were "native Americans," too. And the Coahuiltecans used to have what they called the "second harvest," which's too gross to describe in a family publication... The GCCA conducts similar cleansing ceremonies; although, unlike Ray's group, it does not charge participants huge fees (donations, however, are suggested). There are other parallels: Ray and Gabriel both have written autobiographies describing years of spiritual searching. Both claim to have been influenced by Hopi elders. And both are criticized by former members and clients for their inflated egos and aggressive leadership styles. "Aggressive leadership style" means he's a bully... Although Gabriel's group regularly invites the paying public to visit and operates a number of non-profit services, spokeswoman Centria Lilly declined all interview requests for this story, saying she was concerned that any article would not fairly portray Gabriel's 40 years of good works. "Centria Lilly"? If I was gonna become somebody else and got to pick a new name I wouldn't go for "Centria Lilly." But I'd prob'ly be drunk when I did it and end up with "Archduke Bob" or something like that... "Our only consolation, if this attempt of yellow journalism continues, is that we definitely will . . . put you high on the list along with others of those who misrepresent Divine Administration and Gabriel of Urantia when Jesus Christ returns to set up His planetary government," she wrote. "That's a promise." "We're talkin' major pillar of salt stuff here..." Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-12-17 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=285842 |