Cultic Studies Journal, Volume 17, 2000, Page 139
roots of such sects, Freemasonry, Swedenborg, Mesmer, Spiritualism, New Thought, the
Baird T. Spalding books, the Theosophy of Madame Blavatsky and many of her later
imitators, from all of whom CUT draws heavily.
Also in Part II, the Paolinis describe the Agni Yoga Society founded in 1921 and the ―I AM‖
Activity founded in the mid-1930s by Guy and Edna Ballard. CUT specifically claims to fulfill
the missions of both of these groups as well as the ―I AM‖ splinter group, the Bridge to
Freedom. The thread that links all of these messenger cults to CUT is their alleged
connection to a spiritual hierarchy of ―masters‖ through their leaders. But to remain in CUT
all those years the Paolinis had to believe that their guru, Elizabeth Prophet, was the sole,
living Messenger of this hierarchy for all religions. Part II is a valuable resource for anyone
interested in this odd occult tradition and its ongoing story. The authors do mention one
new sect founded by former CUT ministers, the Temple of the Presence, which challenges
the exclusivity of Elizabeth Prophet as sole Messenger. Prophet can no longer perform her
function as she has developed advanced stages of Alzheimer‘s disease, but CUT managers
deny that the new messengers are authentic.
In Parts III and IV, 400 Years takes us on an insightful, skeptical journey through this
stream of teachings. The roots and internal behaviors of the CUT movement are analyzed
and exposed in many ways. The Paolinis use a combination of primary sources, their own
witness, and past critical literature to argue their case. They indicate that there is no
evidence to show that these ascended masters are anything more than ―imaginary beings,‖
albeit powerful in their effect over devotees who worship them as independent entities. 400
Years accomplishes its purpose to offer good source material backed by personal experience
to give readers a well-informed, though critical, ex-member‘s view of Church Universal and
Triumphant and related groups. It has a useful reading list and an extensive bibliography of
references.
*The reviewer, Joe Szimhart, was also involved with CUT for over a year until 1980.
Szimhart wrote the Forward for this book.
Joseph Szimhart
Cult Information Specialist and Consultant
Pottstown, PA
The Giver. Lois Lowry. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books, a Bantam Doubleday Dell
Books for Young Readers, 1994, 180 pages.
The Giver is an award-winning story for young adults and teens with a mature theme --a
―perfect,‖ utopian society runs the risk of eliminating the richness and creativity in its
human subjects. Lois Lowry wraps her narrative around Jonas, who comes of age at twelve
to become a citizen-in-training in the ―Community.‖ The Community is an obscurely defined
habitat and culture where weather, landscape, lifestyle, conduct, food, and daily medication
have been prescribed since an ancient era --―back, back, back‖ is how the citizens phrase
that primordial time. Children, ranked as Ones through Twelves, receive bicycles only as
Nines. Infants selected for the Community do not live with birthmothers, but with assigned
parents who can raise only one male and one female.
The Community has no hills, no sunshine, no wild animals, no snow, no potentially painful
feelings like love --no extreme that might cause suffering. Injuries and illness of any kind
are treated at the Nurturing Center, but anyone deemed unfit for the community is
―released‖ or lives Elsewhere. Release, Jonas learns after his awesome ―Assignment‖ to be
―the Receiver,‖ means euthanasia by injection at the ―Center.‖ All such ceremonies are
recorded for the Hall of Closed Records. Elsewhere is a place far, far away where non-
Community humans and animals live, but Citizens remember nothing about that culture.
roots of such sects, Freemasonry, Swedenborg, Mesmer, Spiritualism, New Thought, the
Baird T. Spalding books, the Theosophy of Madame Blavatsky and many of her later
imitators, from all of whom CUT draws heavily.
Also in Part II, the Paolinis describe the Agni Yoga Society founded in 1921 and the ―I AM‖
Activity founded in the mid-1930s by Guy and Edna Ballard. CUT specifically claims to fulfill
the missions of both of these groups as well as the ―I AM‖ splinter group, the Bridge to
Freedom. The thread that links all of these messenger cults to CUT is their alleged
connection to a spiritual hierarchy of ―masters‖ through their leaders. But to remain in CUT
all those years the Paolinis had to believe that their guru, Elizabeth Prophet, was the sole,
living Messenger of this hierarchy for all religions. Part II is a valuable resource for anyone
interested in this odd occult tradition and its ongoing story. The authors do mention one
new sect founded by former CUT ministers, the Temple of the Presence, which challenges
the exclusivity of Elizabeth Prophet as sole Messenger. Prophet can no longer perform her
function as she has developed advanced stages of Alzheimer‘s disease, but CUT managers
deny that the new messengers are authentic.
In Parts III and IV, 400 Years takes us on an insightful, skeptical journey through this
stream of teachings. The roots and internal behaviors of the CUT movement are analyzed
and exposed in many ways. The Paolinis use a combination of primary sources, their own
witness, and past critical literature to argue their case. They indicate that there is no
evidence to show that these ascended masters are anything more than ―imaginary beings,‖
albeit powerful in their effect over devotees who worship them as independent entities. 400
Years accomplishes its purpose to offer good source material backed by personal experience
to give readers a well-informed, though critical, ex-member‘s view of Church Universal and
Triumphant and related groups. It has a useful reading list and an extensive bibliography of
references.
*The reviewer, Joe Szimhart, was also involved with CUT for over a year until 1980.
Szimhart wrote the Forward for this book.
Joseph Szimhart
Cult Information Specialist and Consultant
Pottstown, PA
The Giver. Lois Lowry. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books, a Bantam Doubleday Dell
Books for Young Readers, 1994, 180 pages.
The Giver is an award-winning story for young adults and teens with a mature theme --a
―perfect,‖ utopian society runs the risk of eliminating the richness and creativity in its
human subjects. Lois Lowry wraps her narrative around Jonas, who comes of age at twelve
to become a citizen-in-training in the ―Community.‖ The Community is an obscurely defined
habitat and culture where weather, landscape, lifestyle, conduct, food, and daily medication
have been prescribed since an ancient era --―back, back, back‖ is how the citizens phrase
that primordial time. Children, ranked as Ones through Twelves, receive bicycles only as
Nines. Infants selected for the Community do not live with birthmothers, but with assigned
parents who can raise only one male and one female.
The Community has no hills, no sunshine, no wild animals, no snow, no potentially painful
feelings like love --no extreme that might cause suffering. Injuries and illness of any kind
are treated at the Nurturing Center, but anyone deemed unfit for the community is
―released‖ or lives Elsewhere. Release, Jonas learns after his awesome ―Assignment‖ to be
―the Receiver,‖ means euthanasia by injection at the ―Center.‖ All such ceremonies are
recorded for the Hall of Closed Records. Elsewhere is a place far, far away where non-
Community humans and animals live, but Citizens remember nothing about that culture.
