American Vision is a "a full service, nonprofit Christian ministry" founded in 1978 by Steve Schiffman. Its mission statement calls for "equipping and empowering Christians to restore America’s biblical foundation." The Southern Poverty Law Center has described American Vision as one of "a dozen of today's most influential anti-gay groups" as well as labeled it a "hate group." A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American non-profit legal, educational, and intelligence-gathering group for the purposes of advocacy for civil rights and against racism. ... A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates hate, hostility or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, or other sector of society. ...
The president of American Vision, Gary DeMar, is a graduate of Western Michigan University (1973) and Reformed Theological Seminary (1979). He was employed fulltime by American Vision in 1981 as a research analyst and became president in 1986. DeMar is the author of 23 books. A Media Matters article from February 14, 2006 describes DeMar as "a leading promoter of an extremist theology called Christian Reconstructionism, also known as Theocratic Dominionism." and states that "DeMar has advocated the installation of a theocratic government in the United States in which homosexuals, adulterers, and abortion doctors would be executed." Screenshot from Media Matters for America (Jan 6, 2006) Media Matters for America is a non-profit organization founded by former journalist David Brock. ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Christian Reconstructionism is a highly controversial religious and theological movement within Protestant Christianity. ... The term theocracy is commonly used to describe a form of government in which a religion or faith plays the dominant role. ... The word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings over time. ... Man and woman undergoing public exposure for adultery in Japan, around 1860 Adultery is generally defined as consensual sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their lawful spouse. ...
Media Matters for America - "American Family Association opened its airwaves to advocate for executing gays, adulterers, abortion doctors" (February 14, 2006)
Southern Poverty Law Center - "A Mighty Army"
Article from the "summer 1991 edition of Free Inquiry magazine"
All of them agree that crying for a vision in the true sense of the word is seeking the highest in man: the highest level of his physical nature; the highest level of his feeling nature; the highest level of his mind nature; and the highest level of his spiritual nature.
The ideal Vision Quest is one where the seeker is naked (everyone is born naked), puts himself or herself on the mountain without any external guide -- only his or her own inner guide; fasts during the four-day quest, and communes with the Great Spirit in silence.
When the four days are over, the seeker leaves the now sacred vision grounds, silently goes home, continues to practice solitude for the next three days, and gradually returns to the normal routine of his or her life.
In its own way - the vision quest is an Initiation not unlike the days of the ancient mystery school teachings where one learns about themselves and the mysteries of the universe are often revealed to them.
In a vision quest, conditions are set up that allow the soul to move beyond the illusions of the little self and enter the unity of the inner whole.
Today, there are companies which sponsor vision quests; they provide a wilderness area in which it is to occur, and they give instructions and guidance before and after the event.
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