New Religious Movements, Part II

"Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy."
-Exodus 20:8

So, the Good Book says I'm supposed to do something to-day. Because I don't belong to any particular sect, I don't feel obligated to attend services. Therefore, I'm going to continue the feature wherein I talk about some sort of alternative religion that's out there. I'll outline their beliefs, cosmology, and current status so far as I understand them.

By popular request, I'm again skipping the obvious and going for the obscure. Here's an older New Age Group, entitled the "I AM religious activity"

Name:I AM Religious Activity
Type:New Age/Christian
Theology:Hierarchical/Theosophical
Prophets:Guy and Edna Ballard, real physical entities
Purpose:"An "I AM" student, in conjunction with the teachings of the Ascended Masters, can use the Presence to eliminate evil and bring justice to the world."
Religious Services:Meditative and Formal

This group goes back to 1932 formally. Their founding story goes something along the lines of the following- Founder Guy Ballard was climbing the slopes of New Age-er magnet Mount Shasta in California when he became quite thirsty. A man then appeared, identifying himself as eighteenth-century French alchemist and mystic Comte Saint Germain, who offered him a frothy liquid that he claimed came from the "Universal Supply". Thus refreshed, Ballard was taken on a tour of the inside of the mountain. Saint Germain explained that he and other ascended masters formed some type of spiritual hierarchy which watches over the earth. He made Ballard, his wife Edna, and later his son Donald the messengers of the Hierarchy. Ballard died in 1939, and Edna and Donald continued the movement until Donald resigned in 1957 and Edna died in 1971.
The focus of the movement is connecting the individual with the "mighty I AM presence," which was freed by Jesus (also an ascended master) during His Ministry. They use a "violet flame" to cleanse their spirit also. This seems to be a common belief among new-age groups, as I've seen the special powers of violet advertised else-where.
Apparently this group was somehow involved with hollow earth theories early on, though a cursory inspection of their web-site reveals no such belief now. They do put on a Passion Play of sorts entitled "I AM COME" which covers the Life of Christ near Mount Shasta.
This group I'm particularly fond of for a number of reasons. First, I've actually seen one of their churches during a visit to Calgary. Second, despite their New Age overtones, they do identify themselves as a Christian group. Third, they're a patriotic group and look to be civic-minded. As I understand it, George Washington's picture hangs in each of their sanctuaries behind the altar. Finally, unlike so many other New Age groups, they don't seem to be obsessed with money. They charge for books and materials, but a quick perusal of their on-line catalogue shows prices that are quite reasonable ($10 soft-cover, $25 hard-cover). Though in my opinion their theology is a bit off, they certainly aren't harming anyone and I don't believe them to be a con job, so unlike much of the new age movement.
If you're spiritually responsive to the colour Purple, you might deign to examine their official web-site here.