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Adam Walks Between Worlds, CAW, OTO, et al.
Voice: 800/370-5263
iopan@mcimail.com
iopan@aol.com
iopan@well.com
Where on Earth is the Church of All Worlds?

Where we're at:
     The Church of All Worlds offers a religious position
uniquely suited to the enlightened, inquiring modern mind.
In harmony with the principles and conclusions of science,
receptive to the values and wisdom of the ancients and the
great religions of humanity, cherishing diversity and
individuality, sensitive to the deep psychological and
spiritual needs of all people, the Church of All Worlds
aspires to be the kind of free, growing and unifying religion
that today's and tomorrow's world so urgently needs.
     The Church of All Worlds is Neo-Pagan: a modern Earth
Religion a path chosen because of its traditional
sanctification of Life and the processes of Nature, which we
consider an appropriate religious orientation for the
emerging Aquarian Age. We are in accord with the
Greening of our Planet as both political and spiritual goals
which are not incompatible. As western civilization has
been to a great degree the product of the past two thousand
years of Piscean Age Christianity, so do we envision a new
whole-Earth culture of transformational religious ecology to
become the product of the next epoch of Aquarian Age
Nature Religion. In common with many other Neo-Pagan
religions, CAW presents a life-affirming religious
philosophy for the joyous unification of eros, ethos and
ecos.
     We consider the Church of All Worlds to be radically
evolutionary in concept, rather than merely revolutionary.
We see the evolution of Life on Earth as moving towards a
point of actualization whereby the entire planet will come to
share a single vast global consciousness. We see
humanity as being instrumental in the course of that
evolution. As humans seem to be the only creatures on the
planet capable of disrupting entire ecosystems, it becomes
our manifest responsibility through our unique freedom of
choice to prevent such systems from being disrupted. We
are not anti-technology or science, for we recognize that
certain scientific and technological advances, such as
ecology, geology, astronomy, psychology, archaeology,
cybernetics, astrophysics, communications and the
appropriate technologies of the bio-renaissance can be
positively evolutionary and in harmony with the
accelerating advance of planetary consciousness. What
we oppose is the senseless use of industrial technology
and the economics of greed, which wreak havoc with the
planetary ecosystem, often in the name of the Biblical
injunction that Man is to have "dominion over the Earth."
We perceive our role not as dominion, but as responsible
stewardship.
     Applying evolutionary concepts to each individual, we
agree with Erich Fromm that the purpose of life is "to
become what we potentially are." We identify strongly with
the concepts of human self-actualization identified by
Abraham Maslow and found in transpersonal psychology
and ethics. Rejecting utterly concepts of predestination and
inherent sin, we affirm the ultimate freedom and
responsibility appropriate to conscious entities, which we
express in the phrase "Thou Art God/dess," derived from
Robert Heinlein's novel, Stranger in a Strange Land. This
implies that each one of us must define our own specific
purpose. There is no excuse; no shelter from the awesome
responsibility of total freedom. We do not seek power over
other individuals for domination; rather we seek the
shaman's goal of power within for healing ourselves and
the Earth.
     Recognizing that all life on Earth comprises a single
vast living Entity, which has been intuitively
conceptualized as a feminine divinity from time
immemorial, we are in harmony with our Pagan ancestors
who worshipped The Goddess: Mother Earth, Mother
Nature. Thus we also affirm mystically and mythically the
pantheistic conceptualization of immanent divinity inherent
in all living entities, as synergetic living Nature, for we
define divinity as the highest level of aware
consciousness accessible to each living being,
manifesting itself in the self-actualization of that being.
Hence, "Thou Art God/dess" applies equally to a person, a
tree, a grasshopper or a planet.
     As Neo-Pagans, we are concerned, not with life after
death, but with life after birth. We have no dogmas of
immortality, considering that whatever one believes about
an afterlife may very well be what one gets. We view death
as an evolutionary prerequisite for the emergence of new
life, and so we return the dead to the Earth, from which the
elements of their energy and matter will eventually be
recycled and reconstituted into the energy and matter of
other life forms. Other than our ecological responsibility of
returning to the Earth that which we have taken from Her,
we are not concerned with dying, but with living.
     We are deeply concerned with improving the quality of
that life, to which end we agree with population ecologists
that its quantity (in sheer numbers of people) must be
drastically reduced. Thus we are strongly supportive of the
various measures of birth control advocated by such
agencies as Planned Parenthood, including full
legalization of abortion. We greatly fear that if humanity
does not choose to limit its numbers by reducing births,
Nature will do it for us by increasing deaths.

Where we're going:
     The word religion means "re-linking." The basic
commitment of the Church of All Worlds is to the re-
integration of people with themselves, their fellow humans,
and with the whole of living Nature. In company with all
other Pagan peoples, we create no artificial demarcations
between the sacred and the secular, for we recognize that
religion must ultimately be an entire way of life, not merely
some ritual acts performed once a week. We are committed
to developing an organic, vital philosophy of life and its
expression in an organic culture.
     To this end, then, the Church of All Worlds devotes
itself to those who need or want the help and
understanding of others through the processes of
unlearning and learning. It is our aim to offer assistance
through any personal expansion programs found to be
effective. Further, we intend to remain open-minded and
receptive to new ideas, interests and goals, and learn to
live responsibly and responsively with each other.
     We advocate involvement with every conceivable
aspect of the emerging Gaean culture, from religious
service and mythology to family relations and child
rearing; from education to ecology; from psychic
development to space travel; from the sensual to the
sexual; from intentional communities to planetary
government and world peace. "Nothing short of everything
will ever really do." We are engaged in the eclectic
reconstruction of ancient Nature religions, combining
archetypes of many cultures with other mystic and spiritual
disciplines. But we are not just trying to recreate a
Paradise Lost; we are actively working to actualize a
visionary future. With roots deep in the Earth and branches
reaching towards the stars, we evoke and create myths not
only of a Golden Age long past, but also of one yet to
come...
     Since we are concerned with the emergent evolution of
a total new culture and lifestyle, and since we perceive no
distinction between the sacred and the secular, we
consider every activity to be essentially a religious
activity. For us, taking our cans and bottles to the recycling
center is as much a religious duty as prayer and
meditation. And so are composting our garbage, growing
organic vegetables, practicing safe sex and birth control,
using bio-degradable products, boycotting ivory, training
and study, protecting animals and celebration of the
seasons. We recognize that the essence of a religion is in
the living of it.
     Where we came from:
     The Church traces its history back to 1962, when a
"water-brotherhood" called Atl was formed by Tim Zell and
Lance Christie at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.
During the mid-to-late 1960s the group was centered on the
University of Oklahoma campus at Norman and operated
under the name Atlan Foundation. In 1968, with a number of
Atlans in St. Louis, the Church of All Worlds was
incorporated, becoming the first of the Neo-Pagan/Earth
Religions to obtain full state and federal recognition. In
March of that year, the Green Egg appeared. From its
inauspicious beginnings as a one-page ditto sheet, it grew
over 80 issues into a 60-page journal, evolving into the
most significant periodical in the Pagan movement during
the 1970s. After a ten-year hiatus the Green Egg resumed
publication in 1988 with its 81st issue and has been
published quarterly ever since.
     The Church of All Worlds took much of its original
inspiration from the 1961 science fiction classic, Stranger
in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. In the novel, the
"stranger," Valentine Michael Smith, was an Earthman born
on Mars and raised by Martians. Among his other
adventures upon being brought to Earth was the formation
of the fictional "Church of All Worlds." The church was built
around "nests" a combination of a congregation and an
expanded family. A basic concept was grokking, i.e., the
ability to be fully empathic. It also emphasized the
experience of non-possessive love and joyous expression
of sexuality as divine union. The common greeting was
"Thou art God;" a recognition of immanent divinity in each
person.
     The basic theology of the real-life Church of All Worlds
is a form of pantheism which focuses on immanent rather
than transcendent divinity. The most important theological
statement came in the form of revelatory writings by Tim
(now Otter) Zell in 1970-73, on the theory which later came
to be known as the Gaia Thesis. This concept is a
biological validation of an ancient intuition: that the planet
is a single living organism; Mother Earth (Gaia). Pantheists
hold as divine the living spirit of Nature. Thus the CAW,
recognizes Gaia, Pan and other nature spirits as the Divine
Pantheon. In this manner, the Church of All Worlds became
an early forerunner of the Deep Ecology movement.
     Though the Church maintains an egalitarian rather than
matriarchal social structure, nevertheless, through its
focus on Mother Nature as Goddess, its recognition and
ordination of women as priestesses, and the important
central policy-making positions held by women in the
Church, CAW can rightly be held to be the first Eco-
Feminist Church. We are not a secret or members-only
organization, as are many Wiccan covens, and we
welcome participation by all who are sincerely interested
in our path regardless of race, sex, national or cultural
origins or sexual preference. We support unity through
diversity. Our only creed states: "The Church of All Worlds
is dedicated to the celebration of life, the maximal
actualization of human potential and the realization of
ultimate individual freedom and personal responsibility in
harmonious eco-psychic relationship with the total
Biosphere of Holy Mother Earth."
     Worship in the Church involves weekly or monthly
meetings which are held usually in the homes of nest
members on a rotational basis. The basic liturgical form is
a Circle where members take turns sharing their creativity.
A chalice of water is always shared around the Circle either
as the opening or closing of the ceremony.
     Other events are celebrated at the Church retreat
sanctuary, a 55-acre parcel of sacred land called Annfwn,
in Northern Califia. It is maintained by a small residential
community of caretakers. In addition to various campfire
and ritual areas, the land has several handbuilt buildings
including a two-story temple, plus a garden, an orchard and
a small pond. It has limited solar electricity and propane
hot water, but no telephone or TV. In addition to the eight
Celtic seasonal festivals we hold handfastings, vision
quests, rites of passage, workshops, retreats, work parties,
summer camps and staff meetings on the land.
     As in Stranger in a Strange Land, congregations of the
CAW are called "Nests," and quite a few are currently in
existence throughout the world. See the latest issue of
Green Egg for listings to find the Nest nearest you. Over
the years, the Church has chartered a number of
subsidiary branch orders through which we practice and
teach our religion. These include:
     Nemeton  2140 Shattuck #2093, Berkeley, CA 94704.
Founded in 1972 by Gwydion Pendderwen and Alison
Harlow, this is the publishing arm. Tapes, songbooks,
books, T-shirts, Goddess figurines, God & Goddess jewelry
and philosophical tracts. Catalog available for $1.
     Forever Forests  POB 1542, Ukiah, CA 95482. Founded
in 1977 by Gwydion Pendderwen, this is the Church's
ecology branch. Sponsors tree planting rituals and
environmental actions. Has stewardship of Annwfn, the
Church land.
     Ecosophical Research Assn.  POB 982, Ukiah, CA
95482. Founded in 1977 by Morning Glory Zell, the ERA is
devoted to research and exploration in the fields of history,
mythology, and natural sciences. ERA focuses on the
borderline between science and magic. Sponsored the
Living Unicorn project, the New Guinea Mermaid
expedition, a Peruvian Pilgrimage and other "magical
mystery tours," and a Goddess collection and sculpture
series. Publishes a quarterly journal, Amargi, as in insert
in Green Egg.
     Lifeways  2140 Shattuck #2093, Berkeley, CA 94704.
Founded in 1983 by Anodea Judith, this is the teaching
order. Offers workshops, classes, healing rituals and
training for the priesthood. In 1990, Lifeways president
Marilee Lewis inaugurated a Pagan recovery program
called WEBS (Women Emerging and Becoming Sane).
     Peaceful Order of the Earth Mother  POB 212, Redwood
Valley, CA 95470. Founded in 1988 by Willowoak, POEM is
dedicated to children and child nurturing. Provides
enriching activities for children at gatherings, summer
camps, and a quarterly magazine for Pagan Youth, How
About Magic? (HAM). HAM is available by subscription for
$6/yr (US) from POB 1542, Ukiah, CA 95482.
     Green Egg  POB 1542, Ukiah, CA 95482. Founded in
1968 by Tim (now Otter) Zell, GE is a professionally-
produced quarterly magazine of Neo-Paganism. 52-64
pages, with a four-color glossy cover, GE features articles,
fiction, interviews, comics, environmental action, columns
and an extensive "Readers' Forum." Cover price $3.95.
Back issues $5. Subscription $13 (US), $18 (Canada), $27
(trans-Atlantic), $30 (trans-Pacific). POB 1542, Ukiah, CA
95482.

Membership:
     Membership in the Church of All worlds is based on a
nine-circle system of involvement which falls into three
main bodies (Rings): Seekers, Scions and ordained Clergy.
The Church is governed by a Board of Directors with
members from all Three Rings. For more information and
membership applications, write to CAW, POB 1542, Ukiah,
CA 95482

For other information:
     Adler Margot, Drawing Down the Moon; Witches,
Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in
America Today, Beacon Press, Boston, 1979 (revised and
expanded 1986).
     Guiley, Rosemary Ellen, The Encyclopedia of Witches
and Witchcraft, Facts on File, New York, 1989.
     Melton, Gordon, The Encyclopedia of American
Religions, from the Institute for the Study of American
Religions, POB 90709, Santa Barbara, CA 93190 ( 3rd
edition, 1988).