The New Order of Starry Wisdom

\*\*All information on this page is only confirmed accurate to the Ε - dimension\*\*

A group encountered by the Agents in the Ε - dimension, where it seems to have replaced Scientology and also expanded to become a vast reaching and dangerously powerful cult. Founded by Herbert Price in 1954.

## History

### *Inner Science*

In 1950, Herbert Price published his bestselling book *Inner Science*, a self help book that described among other things techniques Price claimed to have used to heal himself of several serious war-related ailments from his time serving in the US Navy during World War II.

*Inner Science* describes an idea that each human individual possesses a well of untapped latent potential - gifts and abilities that seem to go well beyond what is considered normal human potential and seem to venture into the realm of the para-natural. In times of severe stress, pain or other trauma, Price postulated a person's subconscious could take over, thus tapping this well of latent potential and leading to nearly superhuman feats of strength or endurance.

It is through this subconscious tapping of our innate potential that we would hear stories of people performing supposedly impossible feats, such as a mother lifting a car of an injured child or a firefighter heroically rushing into a burning building to save someone and miraculously coming out unscathed. According to Price, through dedication, effort and training people could indeed learn to tap into this previously unknown potential and could harness it, not only for the betterment of their own life, but for the betterment of the lives of those around them.

### Foundation of the Order

Post World War II audiences proved receptive to Price's claims of the para-natural powers of the mind and his book quickly became a bestseller. *Inner Science* groups spread across the country and abroad, even as the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and other organizations questioned Price's claims regarding the scientific nature of his approach. This did not seem to matter to those who followed Price's teachings; they had found not just a new diversion, but a new source of faith.

On February 18th, 1954, incorporation papers were filed in Providence for the *Novus Ordo Sidereum Sapienta* (The New Order of Starry Wisdom) of Rhode Island, the first official *Inner Science* based religion. Of course, in the wake of the horrific communist attack on Burbank, CA in 1952, the idea of starting a new non-Christian based religion in American drew more than simple skepticism from parts of the government.

Senator Joseph McCarthy personally led an investigation into the Order, initially claiming he believed it could potentially be a front for gathering together "subversive elements intent on destabilizing our country." In 1955 Price readily agreed to meet with Senator McCarthy and the rest of the Committee on Un-American Activities. In a series of private hearings, Price testified before the committee for more than a total of thirty hours over the course of several days. By the end of these hearings, Senator McCarthy not only seemed satisfied that the Order was not a threat to America, but was so impressed by Price that he became the first truly high-profile member of the Order.

"The order is not a replacement for Christianity, but merely an extension. It offers a way for us to truly live up to our fullest potential - the potential that Jesus bled and died to give us," said McCarthy in the now famous closing remarks of the inquiry, making the Order a household name.

### Schism

Herbert Price was the unquestioned leader of the Order until his death in 1986. Every decision and teaching went through him, and he would personally oversee the opening of each branch within an ew region, meeting with the prospective new leader of the church in private and giving them his personal blessing before they opened their chapter to the public.

His death however led to a power vacuum exacerbated by his failure to name a successor. This led to a schism within the Order.

By the early 1990s it is believe there were as many as a dozen different versions of the Order in operation around the world, each with its own leadership structure, organization, teachings and beliefs. Since then most of the disparate factions have faded into obscurity or absorbed into the more successful factions, leading to two remaining viable contenders for successorship.

The first contender is Jan Witwer, the head of the Celestial Providence sect based out of Chicago. He is married to Maria Price, the granddaughter of Herbert Price.

The second is Jerimiah Kross, the head of the Church of Starry Wisdom branch based out of West Hurley, NY, often referred to as New Zion by Order members. Kross was Herbert Price's final protégé and his closest confidant.

## The Order Today

There have been many injunctions filed and legal battles fought between the two dominant factions over the course of the past three decades but no decision reached. The church's main temple in Providence, RI remains contested with no legal claim being laid to it.

The Order has over the course of sixty years become one of the fastest growing religions in the world, and now has facilities in all fifty states of the US as well as in most of the major world cities around the globe. According to the Order's website, there are now more than 11,000 churches in 184 countries, with more than 4.4 million new members each year. These numbers are contested by some scholars who believe the numbers for new members range in the thousands, not millions.

The Order has been decried by Pope Francis and the Catholic Church as well as a number of other critics who say it is no more than a cult.

### Members Past & Present

* Herbert Price
* Joseph McCarthy
* Jan Witwer
* Maria Price
* Jerimiah Kross
* Tom Cruise
* Kirstie Alley
* John Travolta
* Isaac Hayes
* Klara Witwer (potentially)

## Beliefs

The beliefs and teachings of the order are centered around three pillars.

### The First Pillar

The concept that every human possesses a well of spiritual energy and latent potential that can be tapped in through proper guidance and be used to better one's self, family, nation and the world. These abilities can manifest in a wide variety of ways, including strength, healing, invulnerability or even the ability to influence others.

### The Second Pillar

The concept that the human soul is unique and not fixed within a specific host or even a specific point in time. This tenet seems to borrow a great deal from many eastern religions and the concept of reincarnation. Specifically the Order believes that the human soul was once perfect and is now a fragmented thing, later teachings even going so far as to suggest this is what the Bible meant when Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden.

All agree that the human soul as we know it is fragmented - residing simultaneously in multiple iterations of what could eventually become a singular, unified being.

### The Third Pillar

This pillar deals with the concept of reunification.

The Order teaches that our current state of spiritual dissolution is not the manner in which we were meant to experience the world or to exist, and that the human soul is mean to be properly connected once again. This can only be achieved through intense study, meditation and hard work.