Brotherhood of the Cross and Star

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Bethel in Elephant and Castle, London

Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) is a religious organisation founded in 1956 by Olumba Olumba Obu in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. It differs from mainstream Christianity in that it maintains that BCS is not a church but the new Kingdom of God on Earth and that its founder, Olumba Olumba Obu, is the Holy Spirit personified, the God of all creation; while his eldest son Olumba Olumba Obu is the returned Jesus Christ. BCS incorporates into Christian teaching ideas of Incarnation, , reincarnation and traditional African religions.[1] In the 1990s it was a millenarian religion.

Beliefs[]

Central belief: Love towards other men.[2]

God: God is biospiritually interconnected with all things in nature, is male and female, and good and evil.[3]

Jesus: Jesus did not have time to fully communicate his beliefs before crucifixion, and Obu’s role has been to explain, expand upon and add to his teaching. This is why a part of Brotherhood teaching has no counterpart in either the Old or the New Testament.[4] His son, Rowland, continues to add to the teachings. BCS followers suggest that Obu's achievements exceed those of Jesus.[3]

Reincarnation: Because of a belief in the transmigration of souls between humans and animals, BCS members practice vegetarianism and veganism.[5] (They are also teetotal.)

Medicine: The BCS website says that "BCS do not believe in medicine of any form".[5]

Olumba Olumba Obu: In official BCS literature, it is suggested that Obu has the attributes of God,[5] although Obu has gone on record as saying "I am not Jesus Christ or God.".[6] BCS says that it believes that calamity will come if the world does not worship Obu as God.[7]

Millenarianism[]

In the 1990s BCS, through Olumba Olumba Obu, said that something spectacular and unprecedented would occur in 2000, and that members of the fold should eschew evil, but should embrace love. Olumba predicted that the 3 days of darkness predicted by many religious leaders would not hold.[8] BCS members now say that this was not referring to the apocalypse, but was a spiritual statement indicating the unconditional reign and rulership of his son Rowland Obu who took over from Obu that year. [8]

National politics[]

BCS is not politically inclined, but her members are involved in Nigerian politics. Their spiritual leader Olumba Olumba Obu makes declarations and predictions about Nigerian politics.[9] Many political candidates go to the spiritual leader for blessings, and make large donations.[10]

International aspirations[]

BCS has bethels (churches) in several countries other than Nigeria, and formed a "Government", sending ambassadors to several countries.[11] The BCS has a cable TV station called "Starcross TV".

References[]

  1. ^ "A New Typology for Africa's New Religious Movements by Friday M. Mbon". dialogcentret.dk. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  2. ^ What is Brotherhood Of the Cross and Star Archived October 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b "Olumba Olumba Obu and African Traditional Culture" by Friday M. Mbon, 1985
  4. ^ "Brotherhood for Beginners" by Sister R.Goring Archived April 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b c Some Doctrines of BCS Archived February 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "I AM NOT GOD BUT OLUMBA OLUMBA OBU". www.wordcenter.org.
  7. ^ A Divine Message Archived October 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b BCS_Site_Administrator. "Who are the elects?". www.ooo.org.uk.
  9. ^ BCS Press Release
  10. ^ Akpabio: A governor on spending spree Archived April 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Religious leader sets up alternate govt; appoints ambassadors". legisreportsng.com.

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Further reading[]

External links[]

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