This is an old revision of this page, as edited by DougsTech (talk | contribs) at 02:13, 4 May 2009 (Reverted edits by 203.58.120.11 to last revision by DougsTech (HG)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 02:13, 4 May 2009 by DougsTech (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by 203.58.120.11 to last revision by DougsTech (HG))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Grail Movement is an organization which originated in Germany in the late 1940s, inspired by the work of Oskar Ernst Bernhardt (also known by his pen name Abdruschin or Abd-ru-shin), principally In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message. Abd-ru-shin did not found the organization; the movement as it exists today was formally organized by followers.
The Grail Movement has been described both as a new religious movement and as a cult. Most members reside in Western Europe (primarily Germany and France), and the group claims to have hundreds of members in Britain and thousands worldwide. It can also be found in Quebec, Canada and in some West African countries such as Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire.
Worldwide, there are about 10,000 members of the Grail Movement. A declaration of the personal commitment to adhere to the principles of the Grail message can be made by a request for the “Sealing”; a Grail Act (ceremony) that takes place during one of three annual festivals. This, however, is a personal decision on the part of the individual and leads neither to commitment to an organisation nor to formal links with other adherents.
Background
The world view of members of the Grail Movement is based mainly on the work In the Light of Truth, written by Oskar Ernst Bernhardt and published under the name Abd-ru-shin, which believers consider to be more important than the Christian Bible. The original teachings of Jesus form a central theme throughout the Grail message.
Religious teaching leads to inhumane atrocities
Authorities believe that both cases by the perpetrators were due to the teachings of the Skrla Sect the break away faction of the Grail Movement in accordance with their beliefs.
“The teachings of the Grail Movement concentrate on the effort to become a better independent human being,” said Artur Zatloukal, leader of the Grail Movement in the Czech Republic, who is quick to distance the group from Adam’s activities. “We believe that each person is responsible for his or her own actions and thus any sectarian tendencies go against our teachings,” he said.
Slave Labor and Death
Jiří Adam, who served as the group's spiritual leader for close to twenty years, has been accused of using five female pensioners as slave laborers, some for as long as 20 years, and causing the death of one of them in 2006. In 2000 he had all his followers sign over all their property and forced them into hard labour.
““I’ve never seen a case like this,” said detective Oldřich Kříž, who took part in the investigation. “The women looked like concentration camp victims.”
2008: "Followed order from leader of religious cult"
In 2008 the Skrla sect formed by Joseph Skrla a former member of the Grail Movement until 1996 was implicated in a case of cannibalism, sexual abuse, torture and child abuse (physical) in the Czech Republic. Klara Mauerova, Barbora Skrlova and four others stand accused in the shocking abuse case. Klara Mauerova, 31, admitted in court proceedings to torturing her two sons and feeding their flesh to relatives. In court testimony it was discovered that the abuse of the children was coordinated via text messages sent by a leader of the Skrla cult who was known only as the "Doctor".
Publications
Grail Movement Books
- In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message, Vol. 1 (Paperback). Abd-ru-shin, Grail Foundation Press, 1998,ISBN 10 157461-000-7
- The Ten Commandments of God and The Lord's Prayer, Abd-ru-shin,Grail Foundation Press,1995, ISBN 10 157461004X
- Knowledge for the World of Tomorrow, Herbert Vollmann, Grail Message Foundation,Germany, 1975,ISBN 10 3878600747
- What Lies Behind It...?, Herbert Vollmann, Grail Message Foundation, 1977, ISBN 10 3878600836
- Concerning Grail Activities, Herbert Vollmann, Grail Acres Publishing Co Ltd, 1998, ISBN 10 3878601166
- From the Heart of Africa, Irmingard Bernhardt, Grail Message Foundation,Grail Acres Publishing Co Ltd, 1981,ISBN 10 3878601018
References
- ^ "Boy 'skinned, eaten by family'". The Australian.
- ^ "Czech Republic: Cult Mum Feeds Sons' Flesh To Relatives, Court Hears". myfoxatlanta.com.
- ^ "Cult Mum 'Caged And Tortored Sons'". SkyNews.com.
- ^ "Cannibal mum fed son's flesh to relatives". Metro.co.uk.
- ^ "Five women were kept as slaves for 20 years by an evil sect leader". The Sun co.UK.
- ^ "Sect leader accused of slavery, By Ondřej Bouda,". The Prague Post.
- "Cult family 'dined on little boy's flesh'". Adelaidenow.com.au.
External links
Official Website of the Grail Movement
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