A New Age spiritual organization with a focus on prophecy, survivalism, and the teachings of the Ascended Masters.
Religion: New Age
Denomination: Ascended Master Teachings
Founder: Mark L. Prophet
Founded: 1958 (restructured in 1975 by Elizabeth Clare Prophet)
Location: Worldwide, with a significant presence in the United States
Size: Several thousand members (peak membership in the 1980s)
The Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT), also known as the Summit Lighthouse, is a new age religious organization that emerged from earlier movements such as Theosophy and I AM Activity. It was officially established in 1975 by Mark L. Prophet and later led by his wife, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, after his death. The church is headquartered near Gardiner, Montana, with local congregations in more than 20 countries.
Rooted in the teachings of the Ascended Masters of the Great White Brotherhood, CUT believes in the existence of reincarnation and the concept of ascension as an escape from this cycle. The organization teaches that its leaders, referred to as messengers, are in direct communication with these Ascended Masters, including Jesus Christ, Saint Germain, and El Morya, each believed to impart wisdom and guidance specific to the modern era. Their doctrine is marked by millenarian beliefs, including predictions of apocalyptic scenarios and the necessity of spiritual and physical preparation for surviving such events. The church blends religious and political concerns, advocating for a right-wing political stance and emphasizing conservative social issues, such as the defense of the family unit and opposition to abortion. Music, specifically rock music, and substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are frowned upon within the church’s community, which also recommends a macrobiotic diet with limited red meat.
The foundation of CUT’s practices includes affirmations and decrees, a form of invocational prayer intended to mitigate karma and attune the Earth to the power of light. This practice was inherited from the New Thought movement and the earlier I AM Activity. During the 1980s, the church gained notoriety for its survivalist strategies, including the construction of bomb shelters in Montana in anticipation of nuclear disaster and societal collapse. This period of heightened alert, dubbed the “shelter episode,” led to increased government scrutiny and legal challenges, including the arrest of church members for the illegal purchase of military-style weapons and a brief revocation of the church’s tax-exempt status by the IRS.
Despite facing criticism and being labeled a cult, CUT has managed to survive and adapt over the years. Following Elizabeth Prophet’s retirement in 1999 due to Alzheimer’s disease, the church underwent significant reorganization, decentralizing its structure and placing its temporal affairs in the hands of a new president. Today, CUT continues to operate, focusing on a simpler, more positive message and maintaining a presence on social media. In recent developments, the church has ventured into alternative healing by opening a hot springs spa at the Royal Teton Ranch, signaling a pivot towards wellness and spiritual healing services.
image via Wikimedia Commons
