Cult material cross-over?

[lunaverse]

I found something weird today. One of the books I read is "Spiritual Perversion" by Steve Sanchez, accounting his experience in a New Age/Christian combo cult in California, called SRF.

My friend is now reading it, because she was in a new age cult that has a lot of parallels.

So we were looking at SRF's website, and I found this:

http://www.celestia.com/SRF/church/church.pages/071600bulletin.html

Look familiar? That's because that was painted by Mormon artist Greg Olsen.

That's not all:

http://www.celestia.com/SRF/church/church.html

Follow each of the links to their church services. I didn't have time to research it, but nearly all of those pictures have been used in Mormon publications. I would bet that research would bear out that nearly all of those images were painted by Mormon artists.

I really have no idea what to make of it. Bill Duby, the founder of this cult (now dead of a heart attack) has no known connections with the Mormon Church.

Did he just happen to like these images, and all of them just happened to be Mormon Art? Did the Guy In Charge of making bulletins just happen to be an ex-Mormon who still liked the images? Did Bill Duby research other successful high-demand religions to steal ideas, and found the art that way? Did he just happen to attend the International Conference of Cult Leaders and Evil Dictators and the good ol' boys swapped copyrights over beverages allowed by their respective cults?

I dunno... but it's weird.

Luna

P.S. Ocham's razor would suggest maybe a Google image search for "Jesus" turns up lots of Greg Olsen art.. but no, I tested this theory. The first three pages are of nativity scenes, old school catholic art, and toast.

[helemon]

toast.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fs earch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Djesus%2Btoast%26ei%3DUTF-8%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%253Aen-US%253Aofficial%26fr%3Dmoz2&w=250&h=333&imgurl=www.blacktable.com%2Fimages%2F0412pics%2Fje sus%2Foven.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blacktable.com%2Fgillin04120 2.htm&size=10.3kB&name=oven.jpg&p=jesus+toast&type=jpeg&no=7&tt=42&ei=UTF-8

http://www.blacktable.com/images/0412pics/jesus/28000.jpg

[nate]

Interesting. Your question could probably be answered by finding the answer to this question:

Is SRF using those images legally? Their use of the images does not fall under the fair use clause in copyright law, so they are either using the images illegally or they have obtained permission to use them by Olsen. If the former, then notifying Olsen could lead to a cease and desist order and possibly a lawsuit. If the latter, then it's even more interesting...

Nate

I found something weird today. One of the books I read is "Spiritual Perversion" by Steve Sanchez, accounting his experience in a New Age/Christian combo cult in California, called SRF.

My friend is now reading it, because she was in a new age cult that has a lot of parallels.

So we were looking at SRF's website, and I found this:

http://www.celestia.com/SRF/church/church.pages/071600bulletin.html

Look familiar? That's because that was painted by Mormon artist Greg Olsen.

That's not all:

http://www.celestia.com/SRF/church/church.html

Follow each of the links to their church services. I didn't have time to research it, but nearly all of those pictures have been used in Mormon publications. I would bet that research would bear out that nearly all of those images were painted by Mormon artists.

I really have no idea what to make of it. Bill Duby, the founder of this cult (now dead of a heart attack) has no known connections with the Mormon Church.

Did he just happen to like these images, and all of them just happened to be Mormon Art? Did the Guy In Charge of making bulletins just happen to be an ex-Mormon who still liked the images? Did Bill Duby research other successful high-demand religions to steal ideas, and found the art that way? Did he just happen to attend the International Conference of Cult Leaders and Evil Dictators and the good ol' boys swapped copyrights over beverages allowed by their respective cults?

I dunno... but it's weird.

Luna

P.S. Ocham's razor would suggest maybe a Google image search for "Jesus" turns up lots of Greg Olsen art.. but no, I tested this theory. The first three pages are of nativity scenes, old school catholic art, and toast.

[silverfox]

Interesting. Your question could probably be answered by finding the answer to this question:

Is SRF using those images legally? Their use of the images does not fall under the fair use clause in copyright law, so they are either using the images illegally or they have obtained permission to use them by Olsen. If the former, then notifying Olsen could lead to a cease and desist order and possibly a lawsuit. If the latter, then it's even more interesting...

Nate

If we have any church lurkers from headquarters I am sure they will be right on it. If the artist allowed permission and if he is Mo, hmmmm, I wonder if action will be taken against him in a court of love?

[dogzilla]

Man, I'm really hungry for toast.

[helemon]

Man, I'm really hungry for toast.

Hmmm, that must be the power of the HG (hungry ghost).