
                WHERE THE HELL IS THE CHURCH OF ALL WORLDS


  WHERE WE'RE AT:


The Church of All Worlds offers a religious position uniquely suited to the
enlightened, inquiring modern mind. In harmony with the principles and
conclusions of science, receptive to the values and wisdom of the ancients and
the great religions of humanity, sensitive to the deep psychological and
spiritual needs of all people, the Church of All Worlds aspires to be the kind
of free, growing and unifying religion that today's and tomorrow's world so
urgently needs.

The Church of All Worlds is Neo-Pagan : a modern Earth Religion - an
orientation chosen because of its traditional associations with Life and the
processes of Nature, which we consider an appropriate religious orientation
for the emerging Aquarian Age. As Western civilisation has been to a great
degree the product of the past two thousand years of Piscean Age Chrisianity,
so do we envision a new whole-Earth culture of transformative religious
ecology to become the product of the next epoch of Aquarian Age Neo-Paganism.
In common with many other Neo-Pagan religions, CAW presents a life-affirming
religious philosophy for the joyous unification of eros, ethos and ecos; of
cult, culture and cultivation.

We consider the Church of All Worlds to be radically evolutionary in concept,
rather than revolutionary. We see the evolution of Life on Earth as moving
towards a point of actualisation whereby the entire planet will come to share
a single vast global consciousness. We see humanity being instrumental in the
course of that evolution. As humans seem to be the only creatures on the
planet capable of disrupting entire ecosystems, it becomes our manifest
responsibility through our unique freedom of choice to prevent such systems
from being disrupted. We are not anti-technology or science, for we recognise
that certainscientific and technological advances, such as ecology, geology,
astronomy, psychology, archaeology, cybernetics, astrophysics, communications
and the technology of the bio-renaissance can be positively evolutionary and
in harmony with the accelerating advance of planetary consciousness. What we
oppose is the senseless use of industrial technology to wreak havok with the
planetary ecosystem, often in the name of the Biblical injunction that Man is
to have "dominion over the Earth." We percieve our not as dominion, but as
responsible stewardship.

Applying evolutionary concepts to each individual, we agree with Erich Fromm
that the purpose of life is "to become what we potentially are." We identify
strongly with the concepts of human self-actualisation identified by Abraham
Maslow and found in transpersonal psychology and ethics. Rejecting utterly
concepts of predestination and inherent sin, we affirm the ultimate freedom
and responsibility appropriate to conscious entities, which we express in the
phrase "Thou Art God/dess," derived from Robert Heinlein's novel, 'Stranger in
a Strange Land.' This implies that each one of us must define our own specific
purpose. There is no excuse; no shelter from the awesome responsibility of
total freedom.

Recognising that all Life on Earth comprises a single vast living Entity,
which has been intuitively conceptualised as a feminine from time immemorial,
we are in harmony with our Pagan ancestors who worshipped The Goddess: Mother
Earth, Mother Nature. Thus we also affirm mystically and mythically the
pantheistic conceptualisation of immanent divinity inherent in all living
entities, as synergic living Nature, for we define divinity as the highest
level of aware consciousness accessible to each living being, manifesting
itself in the self-actualisation of that being. Hence, "Thou Art God/dess"
applies equally to a person, a tree, a grasshopper or a planet.

As Neo-Pagans, we are concerned, not with life after death, but with life
after birth. We have no dogmas of immortality, considering that whatever one
believes about an afterlife, may very well be what one gets. We view death as
an evolutionary prerequisite for the emergence of new life, and so we return
the dead to the Earth, from which the elements of their energy and matter will
eventually be recycled and reconstituted into the energy and matter of other
life forms. Other than our ecological responsibility of returning to the Earth
that which we have taken from Her, we are not concerned with dying, but with
living.

We are deeply concerned with improving the quality of that life, to which end
we agree with population ecologists that its quantity (in sheer numbers of
people) must be drastically reduced. Thus we are strongly supportive of the
various measures of birth control advocated by such agencies as Planned
Parenthood, including full legalisation of abortion. We greatly fear that if
humanity does not choose to limit its numbers by reducing births, Nature will
do it for us by increasing deaths.



  WHERE WE'RE GOING:

The word 'Religion' means "re-linking." The basic committment of the Church of
All Worlds is to the re-integration of people with themselves, their fellow
humans, and with the whole of living Nature. In company with all other Pagan
peoples, we create no artificial demarkations between the sacred and the
secular, for we recognise that religion must ultimately be an entire way of
life, not merely some ritual acts performed once a week. We are committed to
developing an organic, vitalistic philosophy of life and its expression in an
organic culture.

To this end, then, the Church of All Worlds devotes itself to those who need
or want the help and understanding through the processes of unlearning and
learning. It is our aim to offer assistance through any personal expansion
programs found to be effective. Furthermore, we intend to remain openminded
and receptive to new ideas, interests and goals, and learn to live responsibly
and responsively with each other.

We advocate envolvement with every conceivable aspect of the emerging Gaian
culture, from religious service and mythology to family relations and child
rearing; from education to ecology; from psychic development to space travel;
from the sensual to the sexual; from intentional communities to planetary
government and world peace. "Nothing short of everything will ever really do."
We are engaged in the eclectic reconstruction of ancient Nature religions,
combining archetypes of many cultures with other mystic and spiritual
disciplines. But we are not just trying to re-create a Paradise Lost; we are
actively working to actualise a visionary future. With roots deep in the Earth
and branches reaching towards the stars, we evoke and create myths not only of
a Golden Age long past, but also of one yet to come...

Since we are concerned with the emergent evolution of a total new culture and
lifestyle, and since we perceive no distinction between the sacred and the
secular, we consider every activity to be essentially a religious activity.
For us, taking our cans and bottles to the recycling centre is as much a
religious duty as prayer and meditation. And so are composting our garbage,
growing organicl vegetables, practicing birth control, using bio-degradable
products, boycotting tuna, training and study, protecting animals and
celebration of the seasons. We recognise that the essence of a religion is in
the living of it.


  WHERE WE CAME FROM:

The Church of All Worlds traces its history back to 1962, when a "water
brotherhood" called "Atl" was formed by Tim Zell and Lance Christie at
Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. During the mid 60's the group was
centered on the University of Oklahoma campus at Norman and operated under the
name "Atlan Foundation". A periodical "The Atlan Torch" (later "The Atlan
Annals") was published from 1962-1968. In 1968, following a move to St. Louis,
the Church of All Worlds was incorporated, becoming the first of the
Neo-Pagan/Earth Religions to obtain full federal recognition. In March of that
year, the Green Egg appeared. From its inauspicious beginnings as a one page
ditto sheet, it grew over 80 issues into a 60 page journal, evolving into the
most significant periodical in the Pagan movement during the 1970's. After a
10 year hiatus while the original staff moved to northern California to
experience a life of homesteading in the mountain wilderness, the Green Egg
resumed publication in 1988 with its 81st edition.

The Church of All Worlds took much inspiration from the 1961 science fiction
classic, 'Stranger in a Strange Land' by Robert Heinlein. In the novel, the
stranger, Michael Valentine Smith, was an earthman born on Mars and raised by
Martians. Among his other adventures upon being brought to earth was the
formation of the "Church of All Worlds". The "Church" was built around
"Nests," a combination of congregation and expanded family. A basic concept
was "grokking" ie the ability to be fully empathic. It also emphasised the
experience of co-equal love between sexes. The common greeting was "thou Art
God;" as recognition of the immanent divinity in each person.

The basic theology of the real-life Church of All Worlds is a form of
pantheism which focusses on immanent rather than transcendant divinity. The
most important theological statement came in the form of revelatory writings
by Tim (now Otter) Zell in 1970-1973, on the theory which later became known
as the "Gaia Thesis". This concept is a biological validation of an ancient
intuition: that the planet is a single living organism; Mother Earth (Gaia).
Pantheists hold as divine the living spirit of Nature. Thus to CAW recognises
Gaia, Pan and other nature spirits as the Divine Pantheon. In this manner, the
Church of All Worlds became a forerunner of the Deep Ecology movement.

Though the Church maintains an egalitarian rather than matriarchal social
structure, nevertheless, through its focus on Mother Nature as Goddess, its
recognition and ordination of women to the priesthood, and the important
central policy making positions held by women in the Church, CAW can rightly
be held to be the first Eco-Feminist Church. We are not a secret or members
only organisation, and we welcome participation by all who are sincerely
interested in our path regardless of race, sex, national or cultural origins
or sexual preference. We support unity through diversity. Our only creed
states: "The Church of All Worlds is dedicated to the celebration of life, the
maximum actualisation of human potential and the realisation of ultimate
individual freedom and personal responsibility in harmonious eco-psychic
relationship with the total Biosphere of Holy Mother Earth"

Worship in the Church involves weekly or monthly meeting which are held
usually in the homes of nest members on a rotational basis. The basic
liturgical form is a Circle where members take turns in sharing their
creativity. A chalice of water is always shared around the Circle either as
the opening or closing of the ceremony. Other events are celebrated at the
Church retreat sanctuary, a 55 acre parcel of land called "Annwfn" in Northern
California. It is maintained by a small residential community of caretakers.
In addition to various campfire and ritual areas, the land has several
hand-built buildings including a two-storey temple, plus a garden, an orchard
and a small pond. It has limited solar electricity, propane hot water and a
radio telephone, but no TV. In addition to the eight Celtic seasonal
festivals, we hold handfastings, vision quests, rites of passage, workshops,
retreats, work parties, summer camps and staff meetings on the land.

As in "Stranger in a Strange Land", congregations of the Church of All Workds
are called nests, and quite a few are currently in existance around the world.
See the latest issue of Green Egg for listings to find the nest nearest you.

Over the years, the Church has founded a number of subsidiary branch
orders through which we practice and teach our religion. These include:

 NEMETON - Founded in 1972 by Gwydion Pendderwen and Alison Harlow, this is
           the publishing arm. Tapes, records, songbooks, T-shirts, figurines,
           jewellery and philosophical tracts. Catalog $US 1.

 FOREVER FORESTS - Founded in 1977 by Gwydion Pendderwen, this is the Churches
           ecology branch. Sponsors tree planting rituals and environmental
           actions. Has stewardship of Annwfn, the Church land.

 ECOSOPHICAL RESEARCH ASSN - Founded in 1977 by Morning Glory Zell, the ERA is
           devoted to research and exploration in the fields of history,
           mythology, and natural sciences.

 LIFEWAYS - Founded in 1983 by Anodea Judith, this is the teaching order.
           Offers workshops, classes, healing rituals and training for the
           priesthood.

 PEACEFUL ORDER OF MOTHER EARTH - Founded 1n 1988 by Willowoak, POEM is
           dedicated to children and child nurturing. Provides enriching
           activities for children at gatherings, summer camps,and a quarterly
           childrens magazine, 'How About Magic?'



FOR MORE INFORMATION:

   Director of Australian Operations,
   PO Box 408,
   Woden, ACT, 2606,
   AUSTRALIA.

   FAX (06) 299 4100
   PHONE (06) 299 2432
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