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The Assembly of the Church of the Universe, an entheogen religion, was established by Walter Tucker in 1969 in the Canadian province of Ontario. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... This entry covers entheogens in the strict sense of the word (i. ... Michael A. J. Baldasaro and Walter Tucker are eccentric fixtures in the Hamilton, Ontario, area. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English (de facto) Government - Lieutenant-Governor David C. Onley - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area...

It is a church which some see as a new religious movement, or cult, which uses marijuana as a sacrament and promotes nudity as a demonstration of human equality. Many question the sincerity or depth of this religion, seeing it as an excuse to indulge in otherwise frowned-upon activities. The church's use of cannabis is allegedly founded in ancient Judaic practises involving Kaneh-Bosm, meaning cannabis. This translation is based on the findings of Polish anthropologist Sula Benet in the mid-1940s. A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith, or an ethical, spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that isnt part of an established denomination, church, or religious body. ... This article does not discuss cult in its original meaning. ... Cannabis, known as marijuana[1] or ganja[2] in its herbal form and hashish in its resinous form,[3] is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa L. subsp. ... In Christian belief and practice, a sacrament is a rite that mediates divine grace, constituting a sacred mystery. ... Nude redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Theology

The guiding rules of the church are variations on the Golden Rule: 1. Do not hurt yourself. 2. Do not hurt anyone else. However, there are other greater and lesser aspects of their worship. The ethic of reciprocity or The Golden Rule is a fundamental moral principle which simply means It is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights. ...

The Church of the Universe is a syncretic religion. Although often quoting from the Bible and other scriptures, the church disclaims a direct connection to Christianity. Indeed, it also accepts as valid sources of inspiration the ancient and modern sources such as culture of Sumer, pagan holidays of the solstices, Canada Day, the Knights Templar, Chaldeans, Gnostic gospels and the Desiderata. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Sumer (or Å umer) was the earliest known civilization of the ancient Near East, located in lower Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), from the time of the earliest records in the mid 4th millennium BC until the rise of Babylonia in the late 3rd millennium BC. The term Sumerian applies to all speakers... “Summer solstice” redirects here. ... Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is Canadas national holiday, marking the establishment of Canada as a self-governing Dominion on July 1, 1867. ... For other uses, see Knights Templar (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Chaldean. ... Gnosticism is a blanket term for various religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D. General characteristics The word gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (γνῶσις), referring to the idea that there is special, hidden mysticism (esoteric knowledge... Gospel, from the Old English good tidings is a calque of Greek () used in the New Testament (see Etymology below). ... 1976 edition of The Desiderata of Happiness poetry collection This article is about the poem. ...

Their sacrament is cannabis, and followers are encouraged to smoke marijuana and use hemp products. They draw on accounts in Genesis and associate the tree of life with the hemp plant, additionally quoting Psalms 22:30 and Revelations 22:2,14. For other uses, see Genesis (disambiguation). ... Psalms (from the Greek: Psalmoi) (originally meaning songs sung to a harp, from psallein play on a stringed instrument, Ψαλμοί; Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or praises) is a book of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh or Old Testament. ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ...

Nudity also finds its origins in Genesis, since Adam and Eve were unclothed until they partook from the tree of knowledge rather than of life. However, members are enjoined to cover their heads on any official occasion or when interacting with government agents. The nudism is no longer practised in many communities within the Church of the Universe. Each person does so as God directs.

Since members are also ministers, and the church sells ordinations, there is theoretically no distinction between clergy and members. However, founder Walter Tucker and leading member Michael Baldasaro often appropriate religious titles such as reverend, archbishop, bishop and abbot with little consistency or apparent official basis. Michael A. J. Baldasaro and Walter Tucker are eccentric fixtures in the Hamilton, Ontario, area. ...

Activities

Tucker founded the church at a water-filled former quarry in Puslinch, Ontario in Wellington County between Hamilton and Guelph. When he leased the site for a nominal fee, he renamed it Clearwater Abbey. Puslinch, township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the County of Wellington south of Guelph. ... Wellington County (population 75,000) is a county located in Ontario, Canada. ... Motto: Together Aspire - Together Achieve Location in the province of Ontario, Canada Coordinates: , Country Province Incorporated June 9, 1846[1] Government  - Mayor Fred Eisenberger  - City Council Hamilton City Council  - MPs List of MPs Dean Allison Chris Charlton David Christopherson Wayne Marston David Sweet  - MPPs List of MPPs Sophia Aggelonitis Andrea... Nickname: Motto: Faith, Fidelity and Progress Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Ontario County Wellington County City Wards There are 6 Wards Founded April 23, 1827 Incorporated April 23, 1879 Government  - Mayor Karen Farbridge (elected November 2006)  - Governing Body Guelph City Council  - MPs Brenda Chamberlain (LPC)  - MPPs Liz Sandals (OLP) Area  - City...

Church occupation of the area was not without controversy, including biker parties, the unexplained discovery of a corpse on the property in 1975, the termination of its lease in 1982, and subsequent ejection by police and sheriffs. An attempt to relocate to a disused foundry, renamed Hempire Village, in Guelph in 1994 met a similar fate. The church is now located in north Hamilton.

Marijuana use and nudism have attracted the most attention to the religion from people in general and the police in particular. Criminal charges of possession and trafficking are common for members, although the recent semi-legality of marijuana for medical purposes had reduced them despite the fact that sacraments are not medicines.

Frequent court challenges, based on charges or the exercise of political rights, have created an additional pair of intertwined activities: the Legal Self-Defence fund and the University of Universe. Members who defend themselves or others in court are granted degrees from this non-accredited university, the level depending on the level of court involved.

Baldasaro and Tucker are perennial candidates for various public and party offices, whether standing as candidates for various parties or as independents. Like the Natural Law Party, the Church of the Universe uses politics to further its religious goals rather than the reverse. A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is either infrequent or non-existent. ... The Natural Law Party was a trans-national political party with national branches in over 80 countries. ...

References

• Assembly of the Church of the Universe. The Assembly of the Church of the Universe Sacramental Tree of Life. Hamilton, Ont.: The Church, n.d. [acquired ca. 1985]. Pamphlet.
• Hamilton Public Library. Church of the Universe. Hamilton, Ont., n.p., various. Clipping scrapbook.

1. Encyclopedia Judaica. Volume 8. p. 323. 2. ^ Sula Benet, Early Diffusions and Folk Uses of Hemp. (Reprinted in Cannabis and Culture, Vera Rubin, Ed. The Hague: Moutan, 1975.) 3. ^ Sara Benetowa (Sula Benet), Tracing One Word Through Different Languages. (1936). (Reprinted in The Book of Grass, 1967.)

External links

Many stories in such local newspapers as The Hamilton Spectator and The Guelph Mercury on the church and its members do not remain online for long. The following links have been chosen for their stability on the web.

• Church of the Universe official site
• Marijuana & Hemp article
• pot-tv.net television documentary