Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 29
Directly Imposed
A striking example of directly imposed anorexia appears in the dietary restrictions of Church
Universal and Triumphant. Its leader (until 1996), Elizabeth Clare Prophet, claimed to
channel messages from the great ascended masters (such as Jesus and the Buddha).
Through these messages, Prophet gave her followers direct orders about what they should
eat, how they should eat, and even where they should sit while eating. She stressed that
she knew what was best for them and that ―disobedience‖ (her word) would have been
detrimental to their health and well-being. While members‘ participation in dietary
restrictions might suggest that I should view the group as one that doctrinally accepted the
control of food, I include Prophet in the direct imposition category because of her face-to-
face contact with those of her followers who lived with her or who saw her at events or
retreats.
Prophet‘s dietary restrictions on her members have obvious analogies to the restraint that
the anorexic has over her own body. She wrote, for example, in an internal publication
entitled Pearls of Wisdom that when one eats:
…you must hold them [food] in your right hand, placing once again your left
hand to your heart and calling forth the infinite blessing of Almighty God and
the charging of that substance with a concentrated light that is specific for
your healing (Prophet and Prophet, 1978: 169-170).
Anorexics also often have elaborate ritualized behaviours that accompany eating, such as
breaking their food into little pieces or eating in a specified time (Johnston, 1993: 78).
These behaviours give anorexics a sense of familiarity and routine over their eating habits.
Likewise, Prophet was so intent upon her quest for dominance that she even prescribed
eating-related actions.
In addition to ritualizing the consumption of food, Prophet determined seating
arrangements. These instructions were a direct attempt to dictate the dietary environment
of her followers. For example, Prophet wrote: ―Father and mother should sit opposite one
another at the table anchoring the ray of Alpha and Omega, and the children on either side.
Perfect God-control should be held by father and mother in the wholeness‖ (Prophet and
Prophet, 1978: 71). In less controlled environments, the family meal serves to maintain and
develop familial bonds of solidarity, and family members interact with each one another in
an informal and relaxed atmosphere (Levenstein, 1988:162). Prophet‘s infiltration of the
family meal, therefore, had direct implications for the weakening of group member familial
social bonds. She, however, explained her dietary restraints as necessary so that one
neither strained nor stressed one‘s body temple (Prophet and Prophet 1978: 75). It
appears, however, that the excuse of strain was just a way to exact persistent obedience
from followers.
Prophet outlined what her followers took into their bodies, as well as when and how they
ate. Like the anorexic who uses diet to control herself, Prophet used diet and eating rituals
to repress her followers. In fact, she threatened her followers that if they did not follow her
‗suggestions‘ about what to eat, then they may have been contributing to their own demise:
Watch then, the substance that you take into your body for the appetites of the physical
body and the appetites of death, and when you take in impure substance you violate the
code of the Holy Spirit and you shorten the days of your service. And therefore, let food that
is alive and let the juices of food that is alive be a part of your daily ritual in the Holy Spirit
(Prophet, 1978: 245).
Elizabeth Clare Prophet‘s personal diet varied considerably from the low calorie, bland food
of the members of Church Universal and Triumphant. Prophet had her own walk-in
refrigerator stocked with expensive delicacies such as exotic fruit, ice cream, and seafood
Directly Imposed
A striking example of directly imposed anorexia appears in the dietary restrictions of Church
Universal and Triumphant. Its leader (until 1996), Elizabeth Clare Prophet, claimed to
channel messages from the great ascended masters (such as Jesus and the Buddha).
Through these messages, Prophet gave her followers direct orders about what they should
eat, how they should eat, and even where they should sit while eating. She stressed that
she knew what was best for them and that ―disobedience‖ (her word) would have been
detrimental to their health and well-being. While members‘ participation in dietary
restrictions might suggest that I should view the group as one that doctrinally accepted the
control of food, I include Prophet in the direct imposition category because of her face-to-
face contact with those of her followers who lived with her or who saw her at events or
retreats.
Prophet‘s dietary restrictions on her members have obvious analogies to the restraint that
the anorexic has over her own body. She wrote, for example, in an internal publication
entitled Pearls of Wisdom that when one eats:
…you must hold them [food] in your right hand, placing once again your left
hand to your heart and calling forth the infinite blessing of Almighty God and
the charging of that substance with a concentrated light that is specific for
your healing (Prophet and Prophet, 1978: 169-170).
Anorexics also often have elaborate ritualized behaviours that accompany eating, such as
breaking their food into little pieces or eating in a specified time (Johnston, 1993: 78).
These behaviours give anorexics a sense of familiarity and routine over their eating habits.
Likewise, Prophet was so intent upon her quest for dominance that she even prescribed
eating-related actions.
In addition to ritualizing the consumption of food, Prophet determined seating
arrangements. These instructions were a direct attempt to dictate the dietary environment
of her followers. For example, Prophet wrote: ―Father and mother should sit opposite one
another at the table anchoring the ray of Alpha and Omega, and the children on either side.
Perfect God-control should be held by father and mother in the wholeness‖ (Prophet and
Prophet, 1978: 71). In less controlled environments, the family meal serves to maintain and
develop familial bonds of solidarity, and family members interact with each one another in
an informal and relaxed atmosphere (Levenstein, 1988:162). Prophet‘s infiltration of the
family meal, therefore, had direct implications for the weakening of group member familial
social bonds. She, however, explained her dietary restraints as necessary so that one
neither strained nor stressed one‘s body temple (Prophet and Prophet 1978: 75). It
appears, however, that the excuse of strain was just a way to exact persistent obedience
from followers.
Prophet outlined what her followers took into their bodies, as well as when and how they
ate. Like the anorexic who uses diet to control herself, Prophet used diet and eating rituals
to repress her followers. In fact, she threatened her followers that if they did not follow her
‗suggestions‘ about what to eat, then they may have been contributing to their own demise:
Watch then, the substance that you take into your body for the appetites of the physical
body and the appetites of death, and when you take in impure substance you violate the
code of the Holy Spirit and you shorten the days of your service. And therefore, let food that
is alive and let the juices of food that is alive be a part of your daily ritual in the Holy Spirit
(Prophet, 1978: 245).
Elizabeth Clare Prophet‘s personal diet varied considerably from the low calorie, bland food
of the members of Church Universal and Triumphant. Prophet had her own walk-in
refrigerator stocked with expensive delicacies such as exotic fruit, ice cream, and seafood
