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The Science of Identity Foundation (SIF) is a spiritual and religious organization. It was founded by Chris Butler in 1977, and is based out of Hawaii, United States.

History

Chris Butler, son of a communist anti-war activist, had entered the spiritual counterculture in 1960s, while enrolled at University of Hawaiʻi. Soon, he joined the burgeoning Hare-Krishna movement as a guru, taking the name Sai Young, and amassed a group of disciples.

He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as a disciple of the movement's founder, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and received the name Siddhaswarupananda. But their relationship turned sour as he deviated from the group's ways, choosing to marry and allowing his disciples to keep their heads unshaved.

After the death of Swami Prabhupada, Butler broke away from ISKCON and founded SIF, then known as the Hari Nama (Holy Name) Society. Simultaneously, he began to deemphasize ISKCON's rigid adherence to Vaishnava texts and promoted a range of eclectic views. In 1977, The Honolulu Advertiser ran an investigative series on SIF's ties with a new political party, called the Independents for Godly Government, which presented themselves as a "multifaith coalition of conservative-minded reformers". By the 1980s, he even had a late-night television show called "Chris Butler Speaks" on Channel 13.

Since the 90s, Butler has kept a low profile, rarely speaking in public; in 2017, the New Yorker reported that Butler presents himself less as a Hare Krishna dissident and more as a member of a worldwide Vaishnava movement.

Theology

The organization combines the teaching of yoga with aspects of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology. Followers must practice vegetarianism and are not allowed to drink alcohol, smoke, have illicit sex, or gamble.

Reception

Multiple ex-members of SIF have described it as a "cult"; Butler was "akin to a God". He has also been accused of preaching homophobia, skepticism of science, Islamophobia, and misogyny. The New Yorker notes Butler's teachings from the 80s to assert that engaging in hedonism like bisexuality would lead to pedophilia and bestiality. Butler denies the allegations.

Adherents

Tulsi Gabbard, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election and two-time U.S. representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, was associated with the SIF since her childhood; she accepts Butler as her spiritual guide. Her father, Mike Gabbard, a Hawaii State Senator, noted for his opposition to homosexual marriage, too was associated with SIF; he viewed spirituality as a weapon against sexually deviant practices.

References

1. ^ "Science of Identity Foundation business information on the website of Hawaii State Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs". Hawaii State Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
2. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (October 30, 2017). "What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe?". New Yorker. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
3. ^ Han, Yoonji. "Tulsi Gabbard's ties to the Science of Identity Foundation, a controversial religious sect that some call an abusive 'cult'". Insider. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
4. Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Siddhaswarupananda, Jagad Guru". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor. New York: Facts On File. pp. 411–412. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9. remained with ISKCON until after Prabhupada died in 1977. He founded the Science of Identity Foundation as a vehicle to facilitate his teachings. The Science of Identity Foundation (originally the Hari Nama or Holy Name Society) is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
5. ^ Christensen, John (November 23, 1982). "Chris Butler: About this guru business". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. B-1.
6. Ronck, Ronn (December 9, 1983). "Arts Scene". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
7. Reflections on Hindu Demographics in America: An Initial Report on the First American Hindu Census. Archived 2019-10-20 at the Wayback Machine J. Gordon Melton & Constance A. Jones. A paper presented at the Association for the Study of Religion, Economics & Culture meeting in Washington, D.C., April 7–10, 2011. p. 14.
8. "Science of Identity one of founders". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. July 1, 1991. p. A-4. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
9. ^ Hurley, Bevan (2022-10-16). "Tulsi Gabbard's ties to secretive cult may explain her perplexing political journey". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
10. Howley, Kerry (2019-06-11). "Tulsi Gabbard Had a Very Strange Childhood". New York. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
11. Issenberg, Sasha (2021). The Engagement: America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage. Knopf Doubleday. pp. 112–114. ISBN 9781984898517.

External links

• Official website

• Hindu organizations based in the United States
• Organizations based in Hawaii
• International Hindu organizations
• Yoga organizations
• Hindu new religious movements
• Religious organizations established in 1977
• 1977 establishments in Hawaii
• International Society for Krishna Consciousness
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism