Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 1988 Page 51
OASIS's case, the new order is understood within the broad concept of the millennium, a period
of great happiness, good government, and total freedom from wickedness.
―Ideology,‖ as it is used here, includes the ―apostate‖ church -the global community of religious
seekers or established believers who have strayed from the pristine faith and are dissolved into
―the world.‖ In this way, the world is often referred to as ―Babylon, the great harlot,‖ and the
established religions as apostates, or worse, worshippers of Babylon.
Because a utopian movement can never merge with ideology, a strategy of infiltration, revolution,
and deception develops to fill the significant structural void created when negotiation,
compromise, and unilateral dialogue are impossible to pursue. Utopia is conflict-oriented, while
ideology, though usually stable, lethargic, and unresponsive, is oppressive toward utopian
challenges.
OASIS's justification of Jihad (Moslem term for ―Holy War‖) with the enemies of Utopia is not
difficult to find. Reference to war with evil politicians, enemy countries, wicked sinners, as well as
the justifications for ―marking‖ and ―bringing down‖ sinners and attacking the unrighteous can be
found in nearly every issue of OASIS's magazines, public Bible studies, and leadership training
sessions.
Utopian movements seek to overthrow the status quo ante by contrasting the obvious
weaknesses of ideology with the refreshing zeal, confidence, and idealism that form the basis of
the revolution. Yet, no social order can survive without a strong appeal to legitimacy, authority,
and tradition. Utopias, therefore, must be presented as a logical more accurate form of
government with a correct view of the great questions of humanity. Utopia must claim to cure
social ills, cleanse men's souls, and represent truth. Its founders must present utopian truths as
novel or pristine within the framework of commonly honored modes of legitimacy. Utopian
movements must capitalize on common Symbolic that would appeal to ideology's more inactive,
dormant members. Utopia must appeal to converts in three interrelated areas: (1) A set of
common beliefs that grants significant purpose to life and renders it trustworthy, the most
immediate and obvious expression of utopian ―culture ‖ (2) a set of clear organizational
institutions and strategies that regulate social action and create a controlled sense of community
and (3) a constellation of self-help or salvation therapies that shape the psychological traits and
the content of individual characters. A clearly defamed utopian movement seems to appeal
especially to idealistic youth, and it is not uncommon to find most utopian movements targeting
youth as their primary population.
Placing a utopian religious movement within a broader historical context can present problems for
the ―bringers of utopia.‖ They must present themselves as radically different from past religious
utopias. Within OASIS, this problem is dealt with through a theory of progressive revelation, not
of doctrine, which it believes is complete within the Bible, but of strategies of organization,
structure, and conversion. Consequently, OASIS refers to the strategy of world conquest as the
―Heavenly Vision.‖ OASIS envisions the implementation of new utopian strategies that are cloaked
within the pages of the Bible and which have just now been clearly revealed. This revelation
makes the rest of Christianity apostate.
Utopia and Totalism
Utopias can carry the segmentation of normative life to extremes of such magnitude that totalist
control systems arise. Such a system requires of its adherents extremes of devotion,
participation, and relationships. These extremes can become so well-defined and specific that an
individual's entire life may be reduced to a checklist of conforming behaviors, attitudes, and
activities. Often the remaining world is seen as ―deceitful,‖ ―apostate,‖ or ―ruled by the devil.‖ As
a result, there is an extremely strong emphasis on boundary maintenance and a tendency to
develop a segmented ethic and a utilitarian purpose cloaked in utopian ideals.
OASIS's case, the new order is understood within the broad concept of the millennium, a period
of great happiness, good government, and total freedom from wickedness.
―Ideology,‖ as it is used here, includes the ―apostate‖ church -the global community of religious
seekers or established believers who have strayed from the pristine faith and are dissolved into
―the world.‖ In this way, the world is often referred to as ―Babylon, the great harlot,‖ and the
established religions as apostates, or worse, worshippers of Babylon.
Because a utopian movement can never merge with ideology, a strategy of infiltration, revolution,
and deception develops to fill the significant structural void created when negotiation,
compromise, and unilateral dialogue are impossible to pursue. Utopia is conflict-oriented, while
ideology, though usually stable, lethargic, and unresponsive, is oppressive toward utopian
challenges.
OASIS's justification of Jihad (Moslem term for ―Holy War‖) with the enemies of Utopia is not
difficult to find. Reference to war with evil politicians, enemy countries, wicked sinners, as well as
the justifications for ―marking‖ and ―bringing down‖ sinners and attacking the unrighteous can be
found in nearly every issue of OASIS's magazines, public Bible studies, and leadership training
sessions.
Utopian movements seek to overthrow the status quo ante by contrasting the obvious
weaknesses of ideology with the refreshing zeal, confidence, and idealism that form the basis of
the revolution. Yet, no social order can survive without a strong appeal to legitimacy, authority,
and tradition. Utopias, therefore, must be presented as a logical more accurate form of
government with a correct view of the great questions of humanity. Utopia must claim to cure
social ills, cleanse men's souls, and represent truth. Its founders must present utopian truths as
novel or pristine within the framework of commonly honored modes of legitimacy. Utopian
movements must capitalize on common Symbolic that would appeal to ideology's more inactive,
dormant members. Utopia must appeal to converts in three interrelated areas: (1) A set of
common beliefs that grants significant purpose to life and renders it trustworthy, the most
immediate and obvious expression of utopian ―culture ‖ (2) a set of clear organizational
institutions and strategies that regulate social action and create a controlled sense of community
and (3) a constellation of self-help or salvation therapies that shape the psychological traits and
the content of individual characters. A clearly defamed utopian movement seems to appeal
especially to idealistic youth, and it is not uncommon to find most utopian movements targeting
youth as their primary population.
Placing a utopian religious movement within a broader historical context can present problems for
the ―bringers of utopia.‖ They must present themselves as radically different from past religious
utopias. Within OASIS, this problem is dealt with through a theory of progressive revelation, not
of doctrine, which it believes is complete within the Bible, but of strategies of organization,
structure, and conversion. Consequently, OASIS refers to the strategy of world conquest as the
―Heavenly Vision.‖ OASIS envisions the implementation of new utopian strategies that are cloaked
within the pages of the Bible and which have just now been clearly revealed. This revelation
makes the rest of Christianity apostate.
Utopia and Totalism
Utopias can carry the segmentation of normative life to extremes of such magnitude that totalist
control systems arise. Such a system requires of its adherents extremes of devotion,
participation, and relationships. These extremes can become so well-defined and specific that an
individual's entire life may be reduced to a checklist of conforming behaviors, attitudes, and
activities. Often the remaining world is seen as ―deceitful,‖ ―apostate,‖ or ―ruled by the devil.‖ As
a result, there is an extremely strong emphasis on boundary maintenance and a tendency to
develop a segmented ethic and a utilitarian purpose cloaked in utopian ideals.
