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The Oracle Institute is a 501(c)(3) educational charity founded in 2004 by Laura M. George and located in Independence, Virginia.[1] Oracle operates a multi-faith spirituality school, an award-winning publishing house, the Peace Pentagon conference center, and programs that support pluralistic and progressive values. Oracle's stated purpose is to serve as "An Advocate for Peace and a Vanguard for Conscious Evolution," and its formal mission statement is an adaptation of Thomas Jefferson's Act for Establishing Religious Freedom.[2]

Oracle's spirituality school offers courses, conferences, and retreats which focus on the five primary religions (Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam), indigenous wisdom traditions, New Age philosophies, peace-building, social justice, and sustainability. In 2015, Oracle sponsored the "Building the New World Conference" at Radford University, which featured futurists Barbara Marx Hubbard, Jerome C. Glenn, and Charles Eisenstein.[3][4]

Oracle publishes books under its imprint, Oracle Institute Press. Genres include religion and spirituality, personal growth and social evolution, mysticism, the arts, and children's fiction. Oracle Institute Press has won two Independent Publisher Book Awards in the Religion category,[5][6] the Young Voices Seal of Approval for children's fiction, and two Indie Book Awards in the Spirituality and Performing Arts categories.[7]

In 2012, after two years of litigation,[8][9] during which Oracle was represented by The Rutherford Institute,[10] Oracle achieved the right to build the "Peace Pentagon" along the New River in Grayson County, Virginia.[11] The Peace Pentagon is an energy-efficient PassivHaus structure with a multi-faith sanctuary and conference facilities.[12]

In 2015, Oracle founded an intentional community called the "Valley of Light" for cultural creatives who live and work at the Oracle campus. The Valley of Light micro-community was inspired by the Federation of Damanhur, whose Ambassadors regularly visit the Oracle campus.[13] The Valley of Light is a member of the Fellowship for Intentional Community.[14]

Publications

Authors published by the Oracle Institute include Oberto "Falco" Airaudi, Yuval Ron, Patricia Albere, Valerie Tarico, and the Institute's main founder, Rev. Laura M. George, J.D.

  • The Truth: About the Five Primary Religions. Laura M. George (1st Ed. © 2006; 2nd Ed. © 2010). Winner of a 2006 IPPY Award. The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-0-9773929-1-9
  • The Love: Of the Fifth Spiritual Paradigm. Laura M. George with contributions from Desmond Tutu, Bill McKibben, Aung San Suu Kyi, Maya Angelou, David Suzuki, Wendell Berry, Stephen Dunn, Alex Grey, Brian McLaren, Chris Mercogliano, Andrew Cohen and others (© 2010). The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-0-9773929-2-6
  • Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light. Valerie Tarico, Ph.D. (1st Ed. © 2010; 2nd Ed. © 2017). Winner of a 2011 IPPY Award. The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-1-937465-22-3
  • Deas and Other Imaginings: Ten Spiritual Folktales for Children. Valerie Tarico, Ph.D. (© 2011). Winner of Young Voices Seal of Approval. The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-0-9773929-8-8
  • Bral Talej: Damanhur Divination Cards. Shama Viola and Oberto Airaudi (© 2011). The Oracle Institute Press: UPC 8032937910017
  • Dying to Learn: First Book of the Initiate. Oberto Airaudi with a Foreword by Laura M. George (Revised English Ed. © 2012). The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-1-937465-01-8
  • Reborn to Live: Second Book of the Initiate. Oberto Airaudi with a Foreword by Alex Grey (Revised English Ed. © 2013). The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-1-937465-05-6
  • Seven Scarlet Doors: Third Book of the Initiate. Oberto Airaudi with a Foreword by Barbara Marx Hubbard (Revised English Ed. © 2013). The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-1-937465-09-4
  • Divine Attunement: Music as a Path to Wisdom. Yuval Ron with a Foreword by Zia Inayat-Khan (© 2014). Winner of two Indie Book Awards. The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-1-937465-162
  • Evolutionary Relationships: Unleashing the Power of Mutual Awakening. Patricia Albere with a Foreword by Katherine Woodward Thomas (© 2017). The Oracle Institute Press: ISBN 978-1-937465-23-0

References

  1. ^ IRS Website, "Organizations Eligible to Receive Tax-Deductible Contributions (Pub. 78 data) - Search Results," May 21, 2013: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/pub78Search.do?ein1=26-0108053&names=oracle+institute&city=independence&state=VA&country=US&deductibility=all&dispatchMethod=searchCharities&submitName=Search
  2. ^ Thomas Jefferson, Act for Establishing Religious Freedom: http://www.virginiamemory.com/online_classroom/shaping_the_constitution/doc/religious_freedom
  3. ^ "Building the New World: An International Networking Event," Fellowship for Intentional Community Website: https://www.ic.org/building-the-new-world-an-international-networking-event/
  4. ^ "Building the New World Conference 2015." Kurzweil Network Website: http://www.kurzweilai.net/building-the-new-world-conference-2015
  5. ^ Independent Publisher Website: http://www.independentpublisher.com/newsdetail.php?page=1049
  6. ^ Independent Publisher Website: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1442
  7. ^ Indie Book Awards Website: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-08-17. Retrieved 2015-08-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Proposed Interfaith Retreat Center in Virginia Tests Founder, Community," The Washington Post, July 7, 2011: https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-07-07/local/35237903_1_grayson-county-prayer-groups-civil-liberties-group
  9. ^ "The Religious Fanatics are Already Here," Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 19, 2011: http://www.timesdispatch.com/archive/the-religious-fanatics-are-already-here/article_15fa8cf4-4e4a-576a-b90d-74c7a46357b6.html
  10. ^ Rutherford Institute Website: https://www.rutherford.org/issues/religious_freedom/victory_grayson_county_board_of_supervisors_green_lights_development_of_spi/
  11. ^ "Oracle Institute Breaks Ground," Galax Gazette, May 25, 2012: http://www.galaxgazette.com/content/oracle-institute-break-ground
  12. ^ "Grayson Approves Oracle Institute Special Use Permit," Galax Gazette, December 13, 2011: http://www.galaxgazette.com/content/grayson-approves-oracle-institute-special-use-permit
  13. ^ "Oracle Institute Explores Eco-Spirituality,"Galax Gazette, October 12, 2010: http://www.galaxgazette.com/content/oracle-institute-programs-explore-eco-spirituality
  14. ^ Fellowship for Intentional Community Website: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-05-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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