Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1998, page 61
Reincarnation: The Missing Link in Christianity. Elizabeth Clare Prophet with
Erin L. Prophet. Summit University Press, Corwin Springs, MT, 1997, 412 pages.
The subjective tone of this book is set in the foreword, where Erin Prophet states, “For me,
reincarnation and Christianity have always gone together.” As Elizabeth Clare Prophet‟s
eldest daughter, Erin grew up in a “new age” religion lately known as Church Universal and
Triumphant (CUT) and founded by her parents. Her mother underscores this subjectivism in
the preface: “Reincarnation forms a pivotal part of my belief system because it allows us
another chance.” The elder Prophet is alluding to the notion that earthly life is a “school”
from which we cannot “ascend” or graduate until we pass all of our tests. If we flunk, we
repeat and repeat until we get it right. The thesis or argument in this book is syncretic: it
purports to demonstrate that distinctly non-Christian beliefs, such as reincarnation and
spiritual evolutionism, have been unfairly deleted by Church leaders, and that the “mystical”
and Gnostic traditions of Christianity sustain these beliefs. It is syncretic because Elizabeth
Prophet blends a conflicting variety of religious systems in her attempt to “prove” her
beliefs.
The cover reveals the authors‟ intent. Incorporated in a Taoist yin-yang circle are the
Byzantine-style image of Christ healing a blind man and a fragment of a Nag Hammadi
Codex. Thus we have Gnosticism, orthodox Christianity, and an Oriental tradition blended
together. Prophet‟s CUT presents an amalgam of nearly every religion under the sun with its
“guru” as an exclusive spokesperson for the heavenly hierarchy of all: Prophet channels
“masters” from many religions and mythologies. Near the bottom of the front cover is an
endorsement by Brian L. Weiss, author of Many Lives, Many Masters, and a controversial
promoter of reincarnation in his psychic therapy practice.
The Prophets rehash old themes familiar to CUT devotees and most New Agers. There are
chapters on reincarnation in Judaism, Greek religion, Gnosticism, and Jesus‟ trip through
India. Although reincarnation beliefs exist in Greek religion, in certain Gnostic sects (but not
all), and among some Jewish and Christian mystics, Prophet‟s continued, unfortunate
suggestion that Jesus traveled through India almost as a yogi betrays how weak in evidence
this book is. The only “scientific” research cited is that of Ian Stevenson, whose results have
been anything but compelling. Typical of Prophet‟s books, especially found in the last
chapter in this one, is the recruitment pitch for her religion. She offers a technique that is
said to erase all negative karma. The authors suggest the use of CUT “decrees,” or mantras,
that should be chanted rapidly, as the viable way to achieve an “ascension” into the spiritual
worlds. “If you repeat this [two decrees are offered out of the hundreds used by CUT
devotees] and other prayers and decrees mentally and verbally as often as it is comfortable,
you will build a momentum that can propel you into a state of divine union” (p. 314).
The book‟s last hundred pages contain notes and an impressive bibliography, giving the
book a scholarly image. Image may be enough for a New Ager, but scholars of religion will
find this book tiresome, especially in its lack of an index and its abuse of legitimate
historical research. For example, the authors often treat Gnostics as though they were all of
one kind and all believed in reincarnation: for example, “Reincarnation was an important
part of Gnostic theology” (p. 143). An eminent scholar on gnosticism, Ioan P. Couliano,
states from the very book listed in the Prophets‟ bibliography that “some gnostics” believe
in the “preexistent” soul, not all. Perhaps the Prophets should have studied Couliano‟s
research before presenting theirs.
One might ask why Prophet and her daughter needed to write this book. One answer comes
through Elizabeth Prophet‟s subchapter, “Sandbox Recollections” (pp. 20-23). Like so many
immature mystics worldwide, Prophet believes that her profound “mystical” experiences
represent a literal reality without a neurological or psychological explanation. She was a
child in Red Bank, New Jersey, in her backyard sandbox in her “own little world.” “As though
Reincarnation: The Missing Link in Christianity. Elizabeth Clare Prophet with
Erin L. Prophet. Summit University Press, Corwin Springs, MT, 1997, 412 pages.
The subjective tone of this book is set in the foreword, where Erin Prophet states, “For me,
reincarnation and Christianity have always gone together.” As Elizabeth Clare Prophet‟s
eldest daughter, Erin grew up in a “new age” religion lately known as Church Universal and
Triumphant (CUT) and founded by her parents. Her mother underscores this subjectivism in
the preface: “Reincarnation forms a pivotal part of my belief system because it allows us
another chance.” The elder Prophet is alluding to the notion that earthly life is a “school”
from which we cannot “ascend” or graduate until we pass all of our tests. If we flunk, we
repeat and repeat until we get it right. The thesis or argument in this book is syncretic: it
purports to demonstrate that distinctly non-Christian beliefs, such as reincarnation and
spiritual evolutionism, have been unfairly deleted by Church leaders, and that the “mystical”
and Gnostic traditions of Christianity sustain these beliefs. It is syncretic because Elizabeth
Prophet blends a conflicting variety of religious systems in her attempt to “prove” her
beliefs.
The cover reveals the authors‟ intent. Incorporated in a Taoist yin-yang circle are the
Byzantine-style image of Christ healing a blind man and a fragment of a Nag Hammadi
Codex. Thus we have Gnosticism, orthodox Christianity, and an Oriental tradition blended
together. Prophet‟s CUT presents an amalgam of nearly every religion under the sun with its
“guru” as an exclusive spokesperson for the heavenly hierarchy of all: Prophet channels
“masters” from many religions and mythologies. Near the bottom of the front cover is an
endorsement by Brian L. Weiss, author of Many Lives, Many Masters, and a controversial
promoter of reincarnation in his psychic therapy practice.
The Prophets rehash old themes familiar to CUT devotees and most New Agers. There are
chapters on reincarnation in Judaism, Greek religion, Gnosticism, and Jesus‟ trip through
India. Although reincarnation beliefs exist in Greek religion, in certain Gnostic sects (but not
all), and among some Jewish and Christian mystics, Prophet‟s continued, unfortunate
suggestion that Jesus traveled through India almost as a yogi betrays how weak in evidence
this book is. The only “scientific” research cited is that of Ian Stevenson, whose results have
been anything but compelling. Typical of Prophet‟s books, especially found in the last
chapter in this one, is the recruitment pitch for her religion. She offers a technique that is
said to erase all negative karma. The authors suggest the use of CUT “decrees,” or mantras,
that should be chanted rapidly, as the viable way to achieve an “ascension” into the spiritual
worlds. “If you repeat this [two decrees are offered out of the hundreds used by CUT
devotees] and other prayers and decrees mentally and verbally as often as it is comfortable,
you will build a momentum that can propel you into a state of divine union” (p. 314).
The book‟s last hundred pages contain notes and an impressive bibliography, giving the
book a scholarly image. Image may be enough for a New Ager, but scholars of religion will
find this book tiresome, especially in its lack of an index and its abuse of legitimate
historical research. For example, the authors often treat Gnostics as though they were all of
one kind and all believed in reincarnation: for example, “Reincarnation was an important
part of Gnostic theology” (p. 143). An eminent scholar on gnosticism, Ioan P. Couliano,
states from the very book listed in the Prophets‟ bibliography that “some gnostics” believe
in the “preexistent” soul, not all. Perhaps the Prophets should have studied Couliano‟s
research before presenting theirs.
One might ask why Prophet and her daughter needed to write this book. One answer comes
through Elizabeth Prophet‟s subchapter, “Sandbox Recollections” (pp. 20-23). Like so many
immature mystics worldwide, Prophet believes that her profound “mystical” experiences
represent a literal reality without a neurological or psychological explanation. She was a
child in Red Bank, New Jersey, in her backyard sandbox in her “own little world.” “As though
