Love Family: Difference between revisions
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In 1984, 10 years later, it was reported that membership dwindled from 500 to 40 as the group was forced to give back assets and money to disenchanted members. Notably, the Love Family returned to former member Daniel Gruener aka Richness Love $1.6 million and 14 Seattle properties.<ref>{{citation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19840530&id=v5hUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6606,6163480&hl=en|title='Love Family' broke|date=May 20, 1984|accessdate=2016-02-03|publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record}}</ref> |
In 1984, 10 years later, it was reported that membership dwindled from 500 to 40 as the group was forced to give back assets and money to disenchanted members. Notably, the Love Family returned to former member Daniel Gruener aka Richness Love $1.6 million and 14 Seattle properties.<ref>{{citation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19840530&id=v5hUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6606,6163480&hl=en|title='Love Family' broke|date=May 20, 1984|accessdate=2016-02-03|publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record}}</ref> |
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In 2016, Love Israel had passed away.<ref name="auto"/> Gruener died in 2019.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/statesmanexaminer/name/daniel-gruener-obituary?id=15497373|title=Daniel Gruener Obituary|date=April 1, 2019|accessdate=2022-12-15|publisher=StatesmanExaminer.com}}</ref> |
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In 2016, Love Israel had passed away.<ref name="auto"/> |
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==Current status== |
==Current status== |
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Revision as of 23:33, 15 December 2022
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (June 2012) |
 Members of the Love Family perform at the 65th Anniversary Celebration of Pike Place Market, 1972. From left to right, Strength Israel, Zeal Israel, Courage Israel, Reality Israel, Integrity Israel, and Encouragement Israel. | |
| Founder | |
|---|---|
| Paul Erdmann aka Love Israel | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States | |
| Religions | |
| Christianity |
The Love Family, or the Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon, was a U.S. communal religious movement led by Paul Erdmann, who renamed himself Love Israel. The Love Family began in 1968 as a communal household on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, with their charter being written in 1971.[1] Within the first ten years, it expanded to a network of communal homes and businesses. As more people arrived and settled in the surrounding neighborhood, Erdmann, as the leader, continued to inherit land and homes (primarily from those who joined) in other, more rural areas of Washington state, Alaska, and Hawaii. Most of the property is no longer under the control of Erdmann, having been sold or returned to the original owners via litigation.[citation needed]
Sources differ on the Love Family's duration; some[who?] claim after a fractious conflict in 1984, the community was reduced to a small fraction residing in suburban Bothell, Washington. According to The Seattle Times and an article written by Serious Israel,[clarification needed] the Love Family continued living on their 300-acre (1.2 km2) property in Arlington, Washington. The Love Family flourished on that acreage from 1984 until 2004, when, according to the Seattle Times, some families moved to smaller properties.[2] The Arlington commune supported both a local organic restaurant and an annual festival open to the public called the Garlic Festival, which drew crowds to the property.
Spiritual foundations
 |
"Love Israel" is a play on one of the fundamental affirmations of the group, "Love is real". Equally important to the remaining members are three other commonly used affirmations: "We are one", "Love is the answer", and "Now is the time". These statements reflect three of the most widely experienced phrases of the 1960s and were the foundation stones of the earlier Love Family culture, even after the bulk of the group had moved on. These three 'fundamental belief' statements were used to stave deeper curiosity and invoke a deeper discussion into the role of humanity on this earth. Remaining family members still maintain they were called together to help each other cultivate love, oneness and the presence of God in everyday family life. Very little is spoken about the continuing belief that Love Israel is a leader directed through his vision from God. They also believe that their gathering has Biblical roots and that their purpose is to help fulfill directed prophecies to benefit man and the promises of Jesus.
The current members still claim to view themselves as both the spiritual tribe of Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon, where Armageddon means the time and place of the gathering of God's family. A few family members continue to be renamed (and newborns named) to remind all that each person's character is gifted with a predominant attribute such as Charity, Honor, Honesty or Contentment, that may already be who they are or part of where they need to be.
History
The pioneers of the family came together gathered by vision and aggressive recruiting in Seattle's hippie community. Erdmann was a salesman with a vision; charismatic and well spoken. Members came to hold him as better than themselves over time, working hard to make sure there was as seamless a hierarchy as possible. The small remaining core of Erdmann's community continues to this day.[3]
In 1974, plenty of Love Israel Family members danced and sang on stage at the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington.[4]
In 1984, 10 years later, it was reported that membership dwindled from 500 to 40 as the group was forced to give back assets and money to disenchanted members. Notably, the Love Family returned to former member Daniel Gruener aka Richness Love $1.6 million and 14 Seattle properties.[5]
In 2016, Love Israel had passed away.[1] Gruener died in 2019.[6]
Current status
The Love Family evolved from being a highly concentrated communal society with a shared economy to what some non-members[who?] call a cult with their own laws and ways. The greater community became a social network of autonomous households that interacted through a shared culture they have continued to create together, without the robes and peer-enforced order. Presently, those that continue to claim membership in what remains of the Family are concentrated in homes and lots on the shore of the Columbia River (Lake Roosevelt), where they own the China Bend Winery, just south of Canada.
In 2007, the former Arlington family grounds became Camp Kalsman, a Jewish summer camp.[7]
In January 2016, it was reported that a founding member of Love Israel was battling stage 4 cancer[8] and, on February 1, reportedly died.[9]
In film
A film It Takes A Cult, about the Love Israel Family (directed by Eric Johannsen who grew up as part of it), was shown at the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival.[10][11]
References
- ^ a b "Love Israel Family – WRSP".
- ^ Controversial, colorful Israel family moves to more open spaces, Seattle Times, April 19, 2004, retrieved September 6, 2011
- ^ "Love Israel Family". www.historylink.org. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ "Love Israel Family – WRSP". Retrieved September 22, 2022.
- ^ 'Love Family' broke, Ellensburg Daily Record, May 20, 1984, retrieved February 3, 2016
- ^ Daniel Gruener Obituary, StatesmanExaminer.com, April 1, 2019, retrieved December 15, 2022
- ^ Teens spend summer in Love family's footsteps at Camp Kalsman near Arlington, Everettt Herald, August 2, 2008, retrieved December 27, 2011
- ^ Counterculture icon Love Israel near death, King 5, January 29, 2016, archived from the original on January 31, 2016, retrieved January 31, 2016
- ^ "Love Israel, founder of troubled Seattle commune, dies at 75". March 30, 2016.
- ^ "It Takes A Cult at SIFF". Archived from the original on May 28, 2009.
- ^ It Takes a Cult at IMDb
External links
- Bringing The Vision Down To Earth by Serious Israel at the Wayback Machine (archived March 9, 2016)
- Steve Allen's Son Brian Saw God on An Acid Trip: It Turned Him into Logic Israel at the Wayback Machine (archived March 17, 2016)