The Four Gods

Beliefs of the Process Church included a foundational view of four gods. This idea was their main belief. They said God had four parts. Each part had a different role. All four were separate. All four were also one. Each part was worthy of worship. The beliefs surrounding these gods were central to their teachings.

Jehovah: Law and Judgment

Jehovah stood for law and judgment.
He showed anger and power.
The Process Church said this anger was not evil.
They said it was a force that cleared away lies.
Jehovah kept order in the world.

Christ: Love and Care

Christ stood for love.
He also stood for kindness and sacrifice.
The group used some Christian ideas like baptism and communion.
But they said Christ was only one part of God, not the whole.

The beliefs in love and sacrifice were emphasized in their teachings, showcasing a unique interpretation of Christian elements.

Lucifer: Light and Freedom

Lucifer’s role in their beliefs emphasized the importance of freedom and enlightenment in their spiritual journey.

Lucifer meant “light-bringer.”
He stood for freedom.
He also stood for knowledge and awakening.
In this group, Lucifer was not a fallen angel.
He was a guide toward inner truth.

Understanding Satan’s role in their beliefs was critical to grasping their views on life and transformation.

Satan: Change and Destruction

Satan stood for darkness and wild energy.
He represented breaking old things apart.
This destruction made room for new life.
The Process Church said Satan was not evil.
They said he helped push growth.

The beliefs of the group indicated that the reconciliation of opposites was essential for spiritual growth.

Unity through love was one of the core beliefs that the group held dearly as they navigated their spiritual path.

The Reconciliation of Opposites

Members shared their beliefs through prayer and meditation, allowing for a deeper connection to each god.

The group believed that all four gods would one day unite.
They said this would happen at the end of time.
Opposites would come together.
Light and dark.
Love and anger.
Christ and Satan.
All would join as one.

They believed that a new world would emerge from the beliefs they held about the unity of the four gods.

Unity Through Love

The group taught that love could bring opposites together.
They took the idea “love your enemies” very seriously.
They said this law applied to the whole universe.

Strict discipline was part of their beliefs that shaped the structure and focus of community life.

Worship in Stages

Members found ways to express their beliefs through various activities that contributed to their spiritual mission.

Members prayed to each god at different times.
They moved through each stage to learn balance.
This helped them explore all sides of themselves.

A New World

Weekly gatherings allowed members to reinforce their beliefs through shared experiences and communal worship.

The group said the end of the world would not be simple doom.
They said it would be a change.
The four gods would come together.
A new order would begin.

The sacraments served as reminders of the beliefs that guided their practices and community life.

Community Life and Practice

Members rejected traditional magic, reinforcing their beliefs in prayer and devotion as the true spiritual path.

Discipline

Life in the group had many rules.
These rules helped members stay focused.
Sex, drugs, and alcohol were limited.
Only coffee and cigarettes were allowed.
The group had strict ranks.
Members worked to rise through these levels.

Work and Service

Animal protection exemplified the group’s beliefs in compassion and respect for all living beings.

Members worked in many ways.
They wrote and printed magazines.
They talked to people on the street.
They raised money.
They helped others.
All work was seen as spiritual work.

Helping people in need was a manifestation of their beliefs about love and community support.

Ritual Life

Sabbath Assembly

Members met weekly for worship.
They sang hymns made for the group.
They read their own teachings.
They sat in silence and prayed.
They shared news and guidance.

Sacraments

They used baptism and marriage.
These looked Christian but had their own meaning.

No Magic

The group did not use spells or magic.
They did not do occult rites.
Their path was prayer and devotion.

Social Work and Animal Care

Animal Protection

They believed harming animals was wrong.
This focus later helped them become Best Friends Animal Society.

Helping People

Members also helped people in need.
They gave food.
They offered support.
They shared their message with the public.

The Fear Campaign

The group also taught about fear.
They said fear shaped human life.
They held events and wrote about it.
They wanted people to face fear with honesty.

Theological Influences

Gnostic Ideas

They used some Gnostic ideas:

• Hidden knowledge
• The world as an illusion
• Light and dark as two sides of one whole

Christian Ideas

They kept:

• Teachings of Christ
• Rituals like baptism
• Belief in an end of times

Occult Ideas

They also used ideas from old occult and mystical systems:

• The idea of unity behind all things
• The joining of opposites
• The link between the inner world and the outer world

Next: The Movement Years