The Church Universal and Triumphant: Elizabeth Clare Prophet's Apocalyptic Movement

by Bradley C. Whitsel

Overview

Bradley Whitsel's vivid account of the Church Universal Triumphant (CUT), from its modest origin as a tiny fragment of the esoteric community to its growth into a wealthy and formidable organization in the 1960s and early 1970s, constitutes one of the most compelling stories to emerge from the larger movement of American religion. Founded in 1958 by the charismatic Mark Prophet-and subseqently headed by his wife, Elizabeth Clare Prophet-the Church combines New Age beliefs with an anti-Communist mindset based on the conviction that America was imperiled by left-wing enemies. In his deft examination of the group's evolution, Whitsel uses internal church documents as well as other resources to trace CUT's development of a dark apocalyptic division. He places the Church Universal and Triumphant within the context of other millennial groups sharing a similar psychology of crisis and disaster, and analyze the church's interactions with its political environment. This book will appeal to general readers as well as political scientists and sociologists specializing in the fields of political sociology, millennialism, and radical religio-policical movements.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815630005
Publisher:	Syracuse University Press
Publication date:	03/01/2003
Series:	Religion and Politics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	707,919
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Bradley C. Whitsel is assistant professor of administration of justice and political science at the Pennsylvania State University, Fayette campus, and author of several articles on millennialism and New Age groups.

Table of Contents

	Illustrations	ix
	Preface	xi
	Acknowledgments	xv
1.	Escape to the Mountains	1
2.	History and Beliefs of the Church Universal and Triumphant	15
3.	Camelot and Group Separatism	51
4.	The Road to Armageddon	78
5.	The Apocalyptic Nonevent	115
6.	Post-Prophetic Failure and Decline	131
	Epilogue	160
	Notes	165
	Bibliography	195
	Index	211