Alleged cult to hold several seminars on campus this weekend

A national group known to many as a cult and accused by former members as being anti-Semitic will hold four meetings in Houston Hall this weekend. Church Universal and Triumphant, formerly known as Summit Lighthouse, will conduct a "Success Course for the '90s" tonight, twice tomorrow and once on Sunday. According to flyers, the course will present teachings of "prosperity, health and happiness?to have to do or to be whatever you desire." CUT is associated with Summit University, an organization located in Livingston, Montana. According to flyers, a video of CUT leader Elizabeth Clare Prophet will be shown. Lecturer and seminar leader Helen Collier will also speak. Prophet has preached that she knows the word of God and said, in 1990, that the world would end within 12 years. Former followers of CUT have said that the organization, and Prophet in particular, have preached anti-Semitic teachings. Marie Mar, a former CUT member was quoted in Anti-Defamation League material as saying that CUT "is one of the organizations in the forefront of [a] movement which is thoroughly anti-Semitic in nature." "Evidence of this can be found in their books, tapes and lectures by Elizabeth Clare Prophet," Mar added. According to the ADL, CUT member Sarah Buchanklian voiced similar sentiments, saying that Prophet has "a total lack of human Christian compassion." Buchanklian quoted a tape of Prophet that said "the Jews control much of Lebanon in effect." "[Prophet] fully supports the [Palestine Liberation Organization] and their terrorist actions," Buchanklian said in the ADL material. "[She] also states her wanton dislike for the Jewish population." Despite these claims, Religious Studies Professor Stephen Dunning, who studies cults and has taught a class on the "Cult Controversy," said one should be careful when making accusations of anti-Semitism against religious cults. "You have to watch out for confusion that many people experience between anti-Semitism and anti- Judaism," he said. "You have to see if the comments being made are, in fact, racial slurs on Jews or are they just disagreement with the Jewish theological tradition," Dunning added. According to a 1993 Houston Chronicle article, CUT's "retreat" in Montana houses weapons. Prophet herself has admitted that the compound has a bomb shelter in preparation for Armageddon. CUT denies the allegations that they are anti-Semitic and stockpiles armaments. Dunning said many rumors associated with CUT were simply "bad publicity in connection with Waco." "There hasn't been any substantiation [of major weapon buildup]," he said last night. "Those who have done work on this group have found them to be very open, straightforward and legitimate." According to Director of Activities and Facilities Fran Walker, CUT has a full right to use campus facilities to espouse the organization's views. "The guidelines on open expression allow anyone to meet for any purpose that is not a violation of law," Walker said, noting that reserving space in Houston Hall must be done through her office. She added that she did not know who completed the reservation or what group officially reserved the space. Walker said the group reserving space must be "up front about who they are." She said she did not know enough about this weekend's event to determine whether the group identified itself properly. The flyer promoting the event does not mention CUT anywhere and does not indicate beliefs in Armageddon or divine providence. Dunning said he believes CUT is an open and honest group that does not practice "deceptive recruitment." "I don't see anything wrong with this," he said. Dunning said people have to "be careful about jumping to conclusions" about the organization, since cults are "often accused of things that aren't true." Summit University's presentation will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight in the Ben Franklin Room of Houston Hall, and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tomorrow, the course will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Bowl Room. The cost is $75 per person and $125 for a married couple.