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Show August 3, 1996 The Salt Lake Tribune RELIGION RELIGION Beekeeper Founded Vibrant Parowan Church @ Continued from C-1 ROBERTKIRBY Learning to Tell Truth From Lies Last month, | said that Jesus oncecalled us ‘a generation of vipers.” It wasa lie. Oh, it’s true enough that I claimed Jesus said that. The problem is that he didn’t. It was actually John the Bap- ilies hail from Panguitch. The Assembly of Jesus Christ's popularity rests upon the visible faith and contentmentofits members. This was the case for Craig Flanigan, Cedar City. He visited several different southern Utah churches, but whenhe discovered the Assembly of Jesus Christ two years ago, he realized he had foundhisspiritual home. ‘This is where I felt the most comfortable,” Flanigan said, “I like the people I associate with here.” To be sure, membersoftheindependent church are enthusias- storms that will hit your life. We'll ail face storms to see if we'll stand for Jesus.” The rock upon which Christians should build, he suggested,is Jesus Christ and his teachings. Several amens greeted this. Viola Valentine, who lives in Boulder City, Nev., but spends the summers in Parowan where she does volunteer work at a rest home,finds herspiritual nourishment at the Assembly of Jesus Christ. “There is so much love and goodness here,” shesaid. “People give of themselves. People here love the Lord. I do, too. I sure do.” Cowensays the churchis independent and Pentecostal in character. “We believe in that [Pentecostal] experience, but it isn’t an exclusive emphasis.” Pentecostis the Christian holi- day 50 days after Easter that marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus Christ's disci- tist calling people snakes. My tic and affable. Church members ples when they were at worship. scriptural error was pointed out by Dan anid Jo Anne ofSalt happily greeted one another before last Sunday's morning worship. Manywerequick to greet a visitor and willing to tarry and The HolySpirit camewith gifts — prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues — for the early Christians. Whenthe Assembly of Jesus Christ was organized, it was a new experience of ecclesiastical inte- Lake City. What's really troubling about the correction is that Dan’s a Buddhist and Jo Anne's a new age somethingor-other. Frankly, I'd like to know where a coupleof heathens get off correcting a brilliant theologian like myself? It's not proper. If this was truly a Christian country, we'd slice off Dan and Jo Anne's heads or maybe burn them for talk Part of Flanigan’s attraction to the church is music. in 1851 by an expedition sponsored by The Church of Jesus a fewchurches, but the Lord drew stepping-off point for the coloni- me here. i enjoyit thoroughly and there is no other place I'd rather laughs. be.” e. Logical conclusion? Hang on. Even though they're tech- Indeed, music is an active part of the worship experience. More nically heathens, all Dan and Jo Anne did was point out the truth. Wecan’t kill people for being different andtelling the truth, can we? Of course we can. We did it to Jesus. All it takes is for us to get a little bit self-important and narrow-minded. Tossin a little fussiness, a bit gration for the Mormon town of Parowan, which had beensettled “| play the guitar on the worship team, which gives me the opportunity to share myfeeling for the Lord through music and my talent,” he said. “Thereare quite than 30 minutes, or about a third of Sunday's morning worship ser- vice, was taken up with hymns and songs of praise, often accompanied byclapping. A narrator offered brief prayers between some of the numbers There were no hyrinals. Church members used an overhead projector to put lyrics on a screen behind the pulpit The congregation stands to sing, just as it does for prayer. Christ of Latter-day Saints as a zation of southern Utah. Despite the initial shock of a different faith tradition in town, relations between the churches have been cordial. “We get along with the Mor- mons,” Cowensaid. “There are no difficulties. We accept each other Ditto for the Latter-day Saints, says Ron Smith, president of the 2,500-member Parowan Stake. “There have never beenanydiffi- culties and we get along well.” Smith, a lifelong Parowanresident, suspects that a few of the city’s Latter-day Saints had some initial misgivings when the of dogmaand a bunch of pride and you've got yourself a bunch of people who wouldn't recognize the truth if it sat on them. Face it, when you saw the movies ‘‘Edward Scissorhands” or “High Noon,” who did you identify with the most Johnny Depp and Gary Cooper or one of the persecuting sim- goers. Several mentioned friends, relatives or neighbors who were pletons from town? Remem- ill, facing surgeryor dealing with er neighbors.” The elder Cowen feels the church and its members are a part of the community. ber, you goto hell for lying majorillness or hurt. At the end of the service, he invited any “The Mormonsare friendly to us,” he said. They respect us as a It's the same way with the Savior. Everyone assumesthat they'll automatically identify Several members would sing with arms upraised in praise, seeking the HolySpirit Prayer, too, plays a big role. Pastor Dan Cowen, the son of founder John Cowen, twice solicited prayer requests from church- members who wanted to be prayedoverto step forward: sev- Cowens first came to town, but hasnofirst-hand experienceofit. “Some of our closest friends were neighbors when the Cowens first moved here,” Smith said. with Jesus instead of the devil one of the craven townsfolk We're too smart. We've got it all figured out church membersandelders. Cowen, who took over his fa- ther’s ministry in 1988, based his sermon on Jesus’ biblical parable and a second evening service on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. There also abouthowa housebuilt upon rock can withstand nature's buffetings better than a house built upon are fellowship meetings on sand Wednesday nights at members’ homes, and a women’s Bible study at 10 am. on Thursdays at the Our future is determined on the foundation we choose to build,” he said. “You need a good church. tales” appear. The Saudis and Yusuf Islam cite one passage in the miracle. That's probablya safe Ex-Cat Stevens And Saudis someone can turn water into Feud Over Songs No identification: Except nize Jesus thefirst time. What criteria would you use for recognizing the Savior? A robe and sandals? Would Jesus still have a beard? A shepherd’s staff? Golden rays shooting out of his head? Little fat naked angels hovering all about? Maybe you'd hold out for a way of verifying divinity. If wine, they're probably a god right? Not so fast. Things have changed from Bible times. We're a tougher crowd now I can turn water into Kool Aid in five seconds, but that doesn’t make me divine. Cataract surgery can heal the blind. People today can even change their sex in about 24 hours You couldn't use your idea of the truth as a yardstick, ei ther. Thanks to the federal government, television com mercials and the Simpsontrial most people haven't got the slightest idea what truth is any: more Everday encounter: Most wouldrather be happyand stu- pid with a lie than uncomfort- able with thetruth OK, lets make it easier. Would you evenbeabie torec: ognize the second string? John the Baptist? Peter, James and John? Noah? If someone showed up on your street and said that you were a creep who ought to get busybeing good, would you listen to them? Probably not You'd want him to goto prison for violating your civil rights or something. So, what wouldit take to con- vince you? Chancesarethat it's just properliving and a meek heart, two things you don't get by being a nitpicking fussbudget. Townsfolk are the ones who crucified Jesus the first time We better study up. According to the Bible, it'll be the oth: er way around next time. Robert Ki is a journalist wholives in Springville with his wife and three children The self-described “OzyMor- mon” welcomes e-mail at Compuserve (72733,3260) and on the com » Internet at rkirby@itsnet 4 foundation to prepare for the @ Continued fromC-1 membered. After the catharsis of writing his obituary, Dunford began evangelizing his family and friends, urging them to try it. Hetookhis wife andsister Jane to Hawaii for their cbit-writing ritual. His daughter, Erin, 22, gave him a copy of her obit for a Christmas present. Since then, Dunford has helped dozens of friends acquaintances write an obit. He has talked to people in hospices, offering advice and encouragement. He has even developed a sort of work sheet to get people started. And he has had to revise his obit periodically. “My life is a work in progress,” Dunford quipped. “This is not a static document. It is as alive and changing as I am.” All this has earned him the sobriquet, “Mr. Obit.” Where once friends gave him golf balls and beer-making kits, now they give him presents with death themes. Day-of-the-Dead notecards. A wooden carving ofa skeleton,sitting on a stool. The attached note read: ‘Here sits Mr. Obit. Heis here waiting for all of us.” There have been suggestions of a personalized license plate or monogrammed golf shirts. But the kidding is all respect- ful, says Mitzi Dunford. Theircirclesoffriends haveall become engaged by the enterprise. They, too, have changed. “Craig's general demeanor has Al Hartmann The Salt Lake Tribune Craig Dunford golfs to calm his spirit and enjoy mortallife. always been like a clown or fool,” she said. But now heis also “much more introspective and aware, much more in touch with his femi- nary family, in a rather conservative city and state. I, like most, wanted to work in myfamily’s business, get married, have a nineside, more able and willing to show emotion.” Dunford is modest about ail that. “I consider myself to be an or- child or two, watch some TV, and live happily ever after,” he said. But something happened. dinary guy. I grew upin an ordi- containing one objectionable instrument in the eyes of Saudi Arabia, the cymbals. So the Saudis are promoting Cat Stevens’ spiritual conversion while not accepting Yusuf Islam's currentlifestyle. To Saudis, it makes perfect sense. Thereisoneset ofrules for Muslims and another set for Westernersliving in their society. If Cat Stevens can attract more people to Islam with hislife story, that is a plus. But he, as Yusuf learned fromthe 0.J. Simpson often havestrikingly different viewsofsociety. Takecivility, for example. With the exception of their view of the police African-Americansare morelikely to see the world as a civil place than are whites, accerdingto a survey commissioned by U.S. News & World soon will bring to a close his 25 years as spiritual leader of Salt LakeCity’s Society for the Teach- ing of the Inner Christ. Report and Bozell Worldwide. areaRRCeeCeRan rateesa eeeRe or WB Black Americans who say ... B white Civility has worsened Islam, cannotjoin this strain of Islamuntil he accepts the rules of Islam as interpreted here. That means no singing and no playing instruments minister of the Society of the Americans’ driving is basically civil years ago. And it wasin this meeting house, a former home Beverleigh owns but is givingto the congregation, that he was ordained. The way we speak to one another hasgotten better percent Leone 71% Athietes arecivil 72% is Hewill become a Muslim one day,” Falatah said in the World Assembly for Muslim Youth storefront, which sold a variety of videotapes, including “Moham- med the Greatest” and “Embrace Islam BeforeIt's Too Late.’ Tt may take a long time for him,” Falatah said. “It is very dif- ficult to do it quickly” This, of course, greatly upsets Yusuf Islam, 48, wholives in Lon- don and converted to the Islamic faith some 18 years ago. The album was received very well in the Muslim worid. Saudi Arabia was the exception,” said Tayyeb Shah, director of Moun- tain of Light, Yusuf Islam's corPorate headquarters. “We relied ing penalty.” The question becomes: Are Yu- ernment “He rubs the Saudis the wrong way,” said Shah, who spoke on Yusuf Islam’s behalf. Yusuf Islam did not respond to faxed questions. ‘We can traceit back to last year when Yusuf declined to attend a National Day celebration at the Saudi ambassador's residence in London.” The reason: Yusuf Islam doesn't believe in national days of an individual Islamic state, but rather sees the Islamic world as one entity But he really upset the Saudis when he complained about reported human-rights abuses against people associated with Saudi dissident Mohammed MaSari, who lives in London. In responseto his criticism, the on scholars in the U.K., Egypt, Qatar and farther afield, scholars Saudi governmentcut funding to YusufIslam's school, Islamia, and that most Muslimsfeel are orthodox but in touch with modern life Thealbumtook four years to put together, and we kept sending pressured other donors in the Arab world to do the same, Shah drafts for checking and recheck- the grade school, which has 300 said. The result has been about a 75 percent drop in donations for are uncivil ple as by exhortation. “T have seen pain in all ofits forms cometo John and have nev- g% 28% depression,guilt or anger against God,” she said. “Paraphrasing Kipling, I can freelysay, ‘you're a better man than I am, John BeverSince his 1971 ordination, Be- Sect Leader Who Claimed Divinity, Amassed Real Estate Empire, Dies been reported to be in ill health for several years. BY GERALD RENNER RELIGION NEWS SERVICE PLAINVILLE, Conn. — Julius Schacknow, a leader of a Connect- icut religious sect who parlayed his claims todivinityinto a multimillion-dollar real estate empire that crumbled in the late 1980s, is dead at the age of 71 Schacknow, who was known as Brother Julius, attained national attention in the 1970s as an inspiration for spiritually hungry baby boomers whorejected traditional religion to follow charismatic leaders. The death of the reclusive Driven by what they saw as @ holy mission Work,” to advance “The Schacknow’s followers, numbering perhaps 300 at the peak, oversaw the building of an expanding, multimillion-dollar students. In the Koran, there is no mention of the word music. but the terms vain discourse and “idle Saudi governmenttosell the new album « Despite.the fight, Mountain of Light attempted to persuade the Schacknow, whoseself-description progressed from prophet to the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and finally to God almighty, had 3 the Revs. Cindy and Russ Martin serve as co-ministers. The two congregations are During his tenure, Beverleigh has offered a simple but compelling message: that the Creator, or God, dwells within each person cial ‘‘wives.’’ He reportedly stayed with each one no more than one or two daysat a time. Joanne Sweetman, 64, had once been Schacknow’s legal wife and had three children by him. He also had two children by a first wife, Elsie Beville of Norfolk, Va., who divorced him on grounds of religious incompatibility in 1950, and twoby his second wife, Mary Smith of St. Louis, Mo., who The Work.’ congregation in Murray, where seven womenin central Connecticut who hesaid were his unoffi- accused him of infidelity ina 1960 divorce proceeding. Joanne Sweetman has been known among Juliusites as “the holy spirit” and ers in what Schacknow called near the University of Utah remains. Today there is a second small, drawing about two dozen his sleep at the home of one of Schacknow July 28 was an- nounced to his disciples at their verleigh has seen the Society for the Teaching of the Inner Christ growin the Salt Lake Valley. The original 1100 East congregation, Cause of death was not disclosed. Heis said to have died in regular Sundayservice here in a rented hall by Paul and Joanne Sweetman of Cheshire, top lead- ing to ensure it was within Islamic 4 86% leigh’.” real estate and construction business principles mae Ethel Bradford, who has known Beverleigh since 1972, said the minister has led as much by exam- er yet seen him react in despair, Policeofficers suf Islam's songs‘‘idle tales?” What about instruments? Yusuf Islam wrote that ‘the major- part of a larger conflict between Yusuf Islam and the Saudi gov meeting house. The date andplaceare significant for Beverleigh. It was on Aug. 18 that he was ordained a Teaching of the Inner Christ 25 lah through ridicule of the path are not an instrument but rather “white noise.” The debate over the album is The 78-year-old minister retires Aug. 18. He will be feted that dayat an 11 a.m. reception at 273 S. 1100 East, the congregation's in the past decade mislead men from the path of Al- certain times.”” But he holds that the cymbais was about mylife.” BY PETER SCARLET THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The Rev. John C. Beverleigh trial is that blacks and whites Koran to defend their opposing positions: ‘But there are among men those who purchase idle tales without knowledge or meaning, to [peace be upon him] allowed at for me and them. I thoughtI was looking at my death whenin factit Oneimportant lesson Americans Since 1972, the church has operated the Parowan Christian School, which has 20 students. ity view is that tuned musicalinstruments and accompaniment are prohibited and abominable with the exception of percussive drums which the Prophet As it has expanded to those around me, its value has grown Minister, 78, For such there will be a humiliat- Islamic songs — apparently still “Thad an idea that hauled me away. I've been happy about that. To Retire After 25-Year Career church.” In addition to its Sunday morning worship, the congregation offers Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., an hour before morning worship, that lots of very learned and important people didn't recog- @ Continued from C-1 “Theysaid they couldn't have nic- eral did so and were encircled by No way could we possibly be ‘Mr. Obit’ Puts Deathto Paper, Discovers Life Paul Sweetman, 62, as the “chief apostle.” Neither the Sweetmans nor other family members could be reached for comment, and loyal followers who were contacted re- fused to comment. Even people who quit the sect, telling stories of sexual and financial exploitation, declined to speak for the record. They said they did not want their new friends and co-workers to know they bad been duped. people to worship each Sundayat liam and that divine guidance is available to everyone withoutthe need of any third party mediation. “We teach people how to get guidance from within,” he said. Because of this divine presence within each person, Beverleigh said people basically are good. “It is through meditation that wecan contactthis inner presence and open ourselvestoit,” he said. “Meditation is the primary way you canstill your mind so you can hear thestill, small voice, as they callit, within.” While hewill leave the ministry and the Martins will take on min- isterial duties at the Sait Lake City congregation, too, retirement is not quitting for Beverleigh. “I plan to study what other churches are doing, like the Church of Religious Science and Unity,” he said “DH probably miss being minister to some degree,” he said, “but T'll be there to help others in any way I can. That's the main thing, to help others learn that all guid- ance comes from within.” 4 |
