Church symbol on red background. Red symbolizes struggle. White represents emergence of Whiter world.[1] |
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The Creativity symbol as it appeared on the first edition of Nature's Eternal Religion |
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| Founder | |
|---|---|
| Ben Klassen | |
| Scriptures | |
| Nature's Eternal Religion, The White Man's Bible, Salubrious Living |
Creativity is a nontheistic, ethnocentric religion founded in 1973 by Ben Klassen with the publication of the book Nature's Eternal Religion and was later expounded upon in the books The White Man's Bible, and Salubrious Living. Creativity is known for being "antisemitic, racist and...anti-Christian."[2]
Contents |
The adherents of this religion are individually known as Creators and as a group are known historically as the Church of the Creator, although this name was lost in a trademark infringement case against the World Church of the Creator.[3] The names "Creativity" and "Creator" are derived from the foreword of the first edition of Nature's Eternal Religion, which states, "We call our religion Creativity, and members thereof, Creators, because, we believe these words, in essence, best describe the characteristic soul of the White Race."[4] The term "creator" does not refer to any deity. The term "Church of the Creator" is more or less synonymous with the term "Church of the White Race."
Creativity has sixteen commandments and five fundamental beliefs that deal primarily with adherents' conduct. Creators are encouraged to recite the five fundamental beliefs daily. There are also the 14 Points of Salubrious Living which deal with a Creator's diet.[5] There is also a list of "What We Believe In" that essentially expounds about the basic Five Fundamental Beliefs of Creativity, and there is also two lists of what a Creator is and what a Creator is not, which serves as a basic guideline for certain behavior as a Creator.
Their Golden Rule teaches that what is good for the White Race is the highest virtue, and what is bad for the White Race is the ultimate sin. In the majority of one's actions, adherents are to ask themselves "how will this accrue to the benefit of the White Race?" If an action doesn't harm themselves and isn't harmful to their people, then it basically is alright, whereas if an action is harmful to either themselves or their people, it is a bad decision and they are therefore not encouraged to partake in it. The religion places a heavy emphasis on action, or as they term it "activism for the White Race." A Creator's primary mission is to convert others to Creativity.[6]
Ben Klassen adopted the phrase "racial socialism" to describe his political ideology based on Creativity's golden rule. He was highly critical of democracy, believing that strong, effective leaders should have the ability to rule. Under racial socialism, "whites would work together toward common goals but without the massive economic planning in the style of the Soviet GOSPLAN".[7] Klassen supported a limited version of a market economy. His main concern was that social and economic activities be directed in the best interests of white people. Criticizing the "leftist proclivities" of those who attempted to recruit solely from the white working class, Klassen believed that "all members of the national or racial community...had an important role to play."[7]
Klassen stated that many people were "confused" about what socialism really is or what collectivism really entails. He believed that the term has been confused and abused by Jews, Christians and conservatives to the point that it "could mean anything." Klassen and the Church of the Creator's position on what they viewed socialism as is "Organized Society." Klassen's socialism does not "imply state ownership of the means of production," nor does it, in his definition, "imply confiscation of private property." The Church of the Creator is opposed to state ownership of the basic means of production, such as farms, factories, stores, etc. However they are for the ownership of private property by individuals. They believe that there is a category of functions that are best performed by organized society as a whole. In this category they place highways, airports, harbors, national defense, law enforcement and many others. However, being a religious movement, they don't talk about it much because they are "not particularly interested" in all the dogmatic political terms with which the White Race has been tearing itself apart in arguing the theoretical aspects of each.[8]
Klassen viewed the essence of democracy (or republicanism) or the two (or more) party system as a system in which parties which are always in opposition to each other. He considered this a Jewish tool of divide and conquer. He believed that in practice that means that no matter how clear and urgent the problems, the approach is division and opposition. Then, after prolonged hassle, no matter what compromised decision is "voted" on, there is an opposing group, hampering, blocking and scuttling the course of action. The average participant in a democracy has no more understanding of the thousands of complex problems of the affairs of state that the average passenger has in the intricacies of flying the huge jumbo jet which is being piloted by a trained professional. Without a comprehensive knowledge of the problems he is voting on "his vote is less than useless, it is dangerous."
Racial Socialism, as postulated by Ben Klassen and promoted by the church, is simply teamwork elevated to its highest perfection for the welfare of the whole race, led by its ablest leaders. It combines the best elements of both teamwork and competition. Klassen argued that if "team spirit" and rooting for the "home team" are such noble attributes, then having a whole race united in a team effort for their common good is the highest goal that can be striven for. As such, Creators believe in a blending of church and state.[9] They are for harmonizing the goals, objectives and the philosophy of the government with that of their (Creativity) religious thinking. Creators don't believe in the separation of church and state but instead aim for unity of the "White Racial Religion" with the "White Racial State."
Klassen, in the book Salubrious Living, expounded the facet of Creativity dealing with physical health on individual and group levels. The word "salubrious" comes from the Latin word "salubris" meaning "healthy; wholesome; sound; useful; vigorous."[10] Salubrious Living encourages eating raw organic foods, fasting, heliotherapy, exercise, and racial hygiene.
Creators believe in "living the good life" and take a "positive approach" on life. They believe that spending excessive money on space exploration is a waste and instead believe that the money should be used on improving the conditions on Earth. They are strongly anti-superstitious, and believe that the fear of death has been exploited by "religious charlatans." Creators do not believe in heaven and hell, immortality or life after death, except genetically through one's offspring. Creators have "little concern" for eternity, and are concerned about "real problems." Their philosophy is life-oriented and they are interested in having the best life possible — productive, interesting and useful. They are also supportive of eugenics and euthanasia.[11] Their religion is "four dimensional," based on the idea of "a sound mind in a sound body in a sound society in a sound environment."
Creators believe that if there is one thing in this world worth "preserving, defending, and promoting, it is the White Race." They believe that Nature is "governed by law." The laws of Nature are "unchanging, unbending and unyielding." They theorize that one of the inexorable of the "laws of Nature" is the survival of the fittest, or those who have the will to survive. They believe that Nature is "continually striving" to upgrade each of the species by dividing them into sub-species and having each one of the sub-species compete against each other. Those who cannot compete supposedly fall by the wayside and forever fade into oblivion or in other words, extinction. They believe that Nature is for the inner-segregation of the species and for instance, point out that hummingbirds have been segregated into some 320 different species, sparrows have been segregated into some 263 species, wrens into over 60 species, and so on. Whether we look at the species of mice or rabbits or cats in their natural habitat, they claim, we find that they have been segregated into dozens of different species, each following its own pattern for its survival, propagation and multiplication in competition within its own sub-species and the other creatures of the earth. Each has its "peculiar means of protection, of mating, of propagation." Each has its natural enemies.[12]
A common language is a unifying element among people. Ben Klassen proposed a revitalized form of Classical Latin being used in modern times as a form of communication between various white European peoples of the world. He saw the idea as a tool for unification for whereas language differences are divisive, a common language is unifying. He therefore postulated the idea of Latin being established as the second language among all the White peoples of the world until it becomes the primary language, then keeping the regional languages as secondary languages. By choosing Latin as the common ground, instead of,English, German, French or Spanish, it would "avoid the partisanship and opposition that would ensue should we try to settle upon one of the leading modem languages." Therefore he suggested that Creators promote the historic Latin language until one day it again becomes the "common bond and the universal language of a regenerated White Race."
1973 was the date of the first publishing of one of the main texts, Nature's Eternal Religion and the official year in which the Church of the Creator was founded by Ben Klassen. Several religions have their own calendars, and Creativity is one of them. Creativity doesn't follow the Gregorian calendar for religious purposes. 1973 is considered the Incepto de Creativitat (Inception of Creativity), or I.C. Years following are called Anno de Creativitat. Thus 1974 CE is called 1 AC. The years before PC are called Prius Creativitat (Before Creativity). Thus 1972 CE is called 1 PC, and 2011 would be 37 AC.[13]
Creativity has numerous holy days that are celebrated and held sacred by Creators. Creators are encouraged to take the time to acknowledge these holidays, and to set them aside as a time to spend with their families and with friends of the religion.
Creativity has four religious ceremonies, or sacraments, including a wedding ceremony, a pledging ceremony for children, a confirmation ceremony and a eulogy ceremony for the deceased. The names of these ceremonies in Latin, the language that Creativity promotes use of are Carimoni Nuptiae Creatora (Wedding Ceremony), Carimoni Fidem Obligari (Pledging Ceremony), Carimoni Confimationis (Confirmation Ceremony) and Memoria Celebritas (Sayings of Goodbye to Departed Brethren Ceremony).[15] All ceremonies are performed by church ministers. For the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom exchange their vows before Nature. The pledging ceremony is conducted ideally within the first week after the birth of a child. Both parents pledge to raise their child as a "loyal member of the White Race and faithful to the church." The confirmation ceremony can be performed by a minister on or after a child's 13th birthday.[16]
While it was Klassen's intention that every worthy Creator be an ordained minister in the church,[17] not everybody is a leader and some have more experience than others. Ordained ministers in Creativity are those who have proven themselves to be the right material, and have passed the Minister's Exam, written or vocally. The written Minister's Exam consists of 150 questions, in which a written paragraph response is written for each question. Follow up is done vocally, and potential Reverends are to write a several page essay as to why they wish to be ordained a minister in the religion. Having recommendations of three other already established Reverends is recommended as well. It is required that the person pass a written test and sign an oath.[18] Both men and women can be ordained as ministers in Creativity.
Ben Klassen described the organizational structure of the Church of the Creator as "monolithic and... authoritarian"[19]
The Pontifex Maximus (Latin, literally: "greatest pontiff") holds almost complete power in the organization. He serves for a ten year term.
Twelve reverends form the Guardians of the Faith Committee, established by Klassen upon his transfer of title to Richard McCarty. The Committee either renews the term of the Pontifex Maximus, or elects a new one from among their ranks. In unusual situations, they have the power to remove a Pontifex Maximus who is partway through a term, if three quarters of the reverends on the committee elect to do so.
Within the United States, a director will be appointed for each state. These directors will respond to a national director who reports directly to the P.M. Under the state directors come country directors and city directors.
A "Primary Group" is a cell which consists of a minimum of 2 members, and an optimum level of 5. Each group selects a leader and a unique name.
Experienced, committed members with strong leadership potential may be ordained as a minister. This requires that he pass a written test and sign an oath.
The church's Security Legions are the only uniformed members. They consist of two groups:
Other significant materials released by the church are "Facts that the Government and Media Don't Want You To Know", gathered by Matt Hale, which the group claimed to distribute 500,000 of between 1996 and 2003, as well as Hale's The Truth About 9-11: How Jewish Manipulation Killed Thousands. Some church-suggested reading material, that is recommended, while not necessarily being Creativity-oriented is: Robert Klark Graham's book The Future of Man, ordained minister Christine M. John's booklet, Christianity Exposed, and the Cosmotheist Trilogy written by William L. Pierce. The works of Friedrich Nietzsche are often read.
Nature's Eternal Religion is the founding text of Creativity. It is divided into two sub-sections, which can be considered books in their own right: Book I — The Unavenged Outrage and Book II— The Salvation. The first chapter discusses nature, and what Klassen sees as nature's laws. The second chapter states the religious belief that the White race is "Nature's Finest."[20] The first book goes on to critique Christianity, including the Christian Bible. A large number of biblical stories, including the story of Adam and Eve, Jonah and the whale and the Resurrection, are ruled to be historically unlikely. The historicity of Jesus is also questioned, with the author concluding that he can find no independent evidence for the existence of the man.[21]
The second book in Nature's Eternal Religion, Book II— The Salvation, explains the religion of Creativity. It has a chapter entitled "Sixteen Commandments" which includes the basic idea to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with White people, and that it is the duty of every species, and race to aid and abet their own kind. It looks at the concept of racial socialism and also has a chapter titled "Foundations of our White Society." Klassen also offers advice and guidance to White teens, teaching that self-employment is a something worth looking into. A goal of the Church of the Creator is stated to be to make a form of Classical Latin the primary language between White people who speak different languages. The book ends with a chapter about their future which contains Klassen's view on the Whiter and brighter world that adherents wish to attain.
The White Man's Bible was the second book to be published by Ben Klassen and the Church of the Creator. First printed in 1981, it consists of 73 chapters (referred to as "Credos") and elaborates on topics and adds and expounds on Nature's Eternal Religion.
Its "Dedication" reads: "Dedicated towards developing the tremendous potential of Nature’s Finest – the WHITE RACE. May this book give our great race a religion of its own that will unit, organize and propel it forward towards a Whiter and Brighter World."
Creativity was officially formed in 1973 when Klassen self-published the book Nature's Eternal Religion. Initially, Klassen attempted to recruit Neo-Nazis into the church because, aside from disagreements over religion, there was no fundamental conflict between the church's doctrine and National Socialism. Klassen eventually established a rapport with National Alliance leader William Luther Pierce.[22] Klassen met Pierce twice in 1975 and they maintained a relationship "on and off" for at least 18 more years. Klassen noted that although he "never did understand the logic of what he called his Cosmotheism religion...it has not been of any significance as far as our common goal of promoting White racial solidarity was concerned." In Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs, Klassen describes Pierce as "a great man and an outstanding intellectual thinker, and as one of us."[23] Although Pierce never became a Creator, he went on to create his own racial religion, Cosmotheism.
In 1982, Klassen established the headquarters of his church at Otto, North Carolina. Although the Klassen family expected resistance to their beliefs from the local people, Klassen states that "we were not quite prepared for the viciousness of the onslaught by the local paper..." The opposition grew to the point that in the Franklin Press on May 13, 1982, the headlines said "Pro-Hitler, anti-Christ Leader Headquarters Here".[24]
On October 14, 1983, the bulldozers started clearing and leveling the site that would become the School for Gifted Boys, and on October 25, the foundations were poured for the building itself. The school measures 2,460 square feet. There is a 400 yard long foot path between the school and the church building. Klassen stated that the purpose of this school, and future such schools, would be "for orienting and educating our children...to start first with our gifted — the most precious — and finally all our children in our own White schools where they will be oriented first and foremost to respect and cherish the value of their own race."
The original curriculum consisted of a two-week summer program that included activities such as "hiking. camping, training in handling of firearms, archery, tennis, white water rafting and other healthy outdoor activities" as well as instruction on "the goals and doctrines of Creativity and how they could best serve their own race in various capacities of leadership."[25][26]
On August 6, 1993, at the age of 75, Klassen committed suicide by swallowing four bottles of sleeping pills. Suicide is not considered dishonorable in the Creativity religion for one who has accomplished much and feels that they have lived their life.[27]
April Gaede, the mother of Lynx and Lamb Gaede who sang under the band name Prussian Blue, is a long time supporter of the doctrines of the Creativity religion and was once a member of the World Church of the Creator.[28] Prussian Blue's song "Stand Up" was written and sung for the unreleased Free Matt Hale cd[29]. A CD intended to be released in support of currently incarcerated,[30] former Pontifex Maximus of the World Church of the Creator, Matt Hale. Lamb and Lynx Gaede, both of the duo have in recent times have stepped away from racial politics citing that they are more "liberal" now, albeit not rejecting the racialist viewpoint in totality.[31][32]
Craig Cobb is a longtime Racialist activist who operated the now-defunct video sharing website named Podblanc.
Also known as Reverend George Eric Hawthorne, Burdi was the lead singer of the Canadian metal band RaHoWa, leader of the Toronto branch of the Church of the Creator, and founder of Resistance Records.[33] He was convicted of assault and renounced racism after serving time in prison, yet according to the SPLC, appears to be supportive of the White Racialist movement.[34] Burdi has been credited by some with playing a role in ensuring the survival of Creativity after the death of Ben Klassen.[21]
After Klassen's death in 1993, Hale founded the New Church of the Creator which, after Hale was appointed Pontifex Maximus, was changed to World Church of the Creator. Hale made national news when he was denied admission to the Illinois State bar three times due to his racist beliefs.[35] On November 12, 1999, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to further consider the denial of Hale's law license. Instead, the court decided to "let stand a decision by its Committee on Character and Fitness that said Hale lacked the moral character to practice law."[36] The committee's denial of Hale's law license may have provoked the actions of Benjamin Nathaniel Smith.
On January 9, 2003 Hale was arrested and charged with attempting to direct his security chief Anthony Evola to murder Judge Lefkow.[37][38] Judge Lefkow's husband and mother were later murdered by Bart Ross who had no connections with Hale. Hale was found guilty of four of the five counts (one count of solicitation of murder and three counts of obstruction of justice) on April 26, 2004. In April 2005 he was sentenced to 40 years in a Federal penitentiary.[39]
Two Afrikaner Creators who were killed in a gun battle with South African police, while they were allegedly attempting to smuggle weapons and explosives into a survivalist compound in Namibia. The two Creators were stopped by police suspicious that their vehicle had been stolen. According to the report, while being escorted to a nearby police station, the two detonated a smoke bomb and attempted to escape. After coming across their abandoned vehicle five miles away, police came under fire from the two suspects, who lay in ambush. Two officers were shot, one fatally, before law enforcement agents returned fire. The two are said to have "died valiantly in the ensuing gun battle" by Creators. Some have suggested that the pair were murdered by South African Military Intelligence.[40][41]
Ron McVan, known for his extensive promotion of Wotanism, a brand of Nordic racial paganism, is a former high-ranking member of the Church of the Creator. He played a large role in early Creator artwork design and has written two books, Temple of Wotan, and Creed of Iron in support of Wotanism, after choosing to leave Creativity.
The Creativity Movement, formerly known as the World Church Of The Creator and before that the New Church of the Creator, is an ethnoreligious organization, founded in 1996 by Matthew F. Hale, that promotes Creativity. As the chosen successor of Ben Klassen and the final Pontifex Maximus of the original Church of the Creator, Dr. Rick McCarty, had filed for that organization's dissolution on February 22, 1994.[42] They have 24 regional and local branches and members "all over the world."[43]
In 2000, the Oregon-based TE-TA-MA Truth Foundation filed a lawsuit against the World Church of the Creator for using the name Church of the Creator, which the Oregon group had recently registered as a trademark.[44] U.S. District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow ruled in favor of the World Church of the Creator. However, this decision was appealed by TE-TA-MA, and in November 2002, in a reversal of the previous ruling, a panel of three judges in the appeals court overturned the previous decision. District Judge Lefkow then enforced the appeals court injunction in favor of TE-TA-MA; barring the use of the name by Hale's organization.[45] In December 2002, the World Church of the Creator announced it was moving its headquarters to Riverton, Wyoming, in what the Anti-Defamation League claimed was an effort to avoid the court injunction barring use of the name.[46]
The Creativity Alliance is an amalgam of many formerly independent Church of Creativity groups and individuals under the one umbrella. The regional groups of the Creativity Alliance are known as the Church of Creativity followed by their regional designation, such as the Church of Creativity Italy. The group has its own Guardians of the Faith Committee and an elected Pontifex Maximus. Members of the Creativity Alliance do not associate with those of the Creativity Movement. Unlike other White Supremacist groups, the Creativity Alliance claims a policy of "non-participation in the White Power social scene." According to the SPLC, the Creativity Alliance’s declaration of non-participation in the movement shows that more active Creators are showing definite signs of life. The SPLC also lists the Creativity Alliance as a "spin off" from The Creativity Movement, which the group denies. The group is currently led by former World Church of the Creator member Cailen Cambeul, formerly known as Colin Campbell[47]. The Creativity Alliance was formerly known as the White Crusaders of the Rahowa (WCOTR), which was founded by former Church Members after the breakdown of the World Church of the Creator following Hale's arrest in 2003.[48][49][50] A number of older pre-established Church Primary Groups within the Creativity Alliance cite their origins on their regionally based web sites. An example is the Church of Creativity Queensland, which "was formerly known as the World Church of the Creator-WCOTC Rockhampton."
Two notable examples of membership in the Creativity Alliance are former Klassen stalwarts George Loeb and Joseph Esposito. Both members are currently serving extended prison sentences in Florida penal institutions. Although the Creativity Alliance maintains a web site known as the Reverend Matt Hale Archive, the Creativity Alliance claims that it does not support Hale.[51]
The Creativity Alliance is known for creating disturbances by distributing fliers in Australia[52][53] and New Zealand.[54][55][56]
The South Australian Attorney General and Minister for Multicultural Affairs have made numerous attempts to close the website of the South Australian representative and current Pontifex Maximus for the Creativity Alliance and have Creativity declared an outlawed organization.[57][58]
Creativity Alliance web pages and published books stress the fact that it makes no attempt to assume or supersede the US registered trademark now owned by TE-TA-MA Truth Foundation.[59]
Creativity was recognized as a religion by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Peterson v. Wilmur Communications (205 F.Supp.2d 1014) (2002).[60][61] The American Civil Liberties Union intervened on behalf of the World Church of the Creator.[62]