Ranker
July 7, 2017
The German Grail Movement began prior to WWII. Its founder and self-proclaimed Messiah, Oskar Ernst Bernhardt, lived in Austria and purchased a large piece of land that he planned to turn into a compound for his followers. He called his religion the Grail Movement and published a book titled In The Light of Truth, which explained all of their beliefs.
The Grail Movement cult beliefs are a mix of Christianity and New Age, with a dash of violence. Even though the cult isn't extremely widespread, its followers have made headlines for things like treating women as slaves and cannibalizing one of their own children. That particular act of Grail Movement cannibalism took place in 2008 – proof that the cult is still around, and its leaders are still quite powerful. Really, it's only a matter of time before more Grail Movement abuse ends up in the news. After all, it's a cult that's still active today.
Most of the followers of the Grail Movement are located in Europe. There are also sects in Africa, most notably, Nigeria. Germany, France, and the Czech Republic (where the most violent actions have taken place in the name of the Grail Movement), as well as Great Britain, claim to have plenty of Grail Crossbearers. There are also a few thousand in the United States.
Oskar Ernst Bernhardt, who called himself Abd-ru-shin (Servant of the Light) was the founder of the Grail Movement cult. The idea came to him while he was imprisoned on the Isle of Man for four years, simply for being a German citizen traveling to New York City during WWI. After his release, he wrote the first book of the cult's canon, which describes his new belief system – centered around the idea of reincarnation, or, as he put it "living multiple earth lives." He also claimed to have had visions of himself as Moses in a past life.
Most religious services use music to emphasize an idea, augment a feeling, or make a point. The Grail Movement chose something unexpected for their musical accompaniment – classical works by composers like Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel. Not much else is known about the worship service, other than the fact that it involves a public lecture, and members aren't expected to donate money to the religion; instead, they must give the gift of their time. In fact, a reporter noted that the main service takes place behind closed doors in their Iju Temple in Lagos, Nigeria, and most members of the cult are not allowed to witness it.
Although the Grail Movement is based on Bernhardt's writings, each splintered sect is considered independent. The modern Grail Movement was developed by the people who follow it. This allows them to interpret Bernhardt's ideas as needed, which has taken some of them in a violent direction. It is also why they insist that they are not a cult. Instead, they take on cult forms due to their unusual beliefs and insular ways. Each segment, or "Grail Circle," tends to communicate with the others.
Despite their name, Crossbearers in the Grail Movement cult don't think that the Holy Grail is the same as the one described in the Bible. Rather than being a physical, earthly chalice, the Grail is instead some sort of means to transfer power from one being to another. It exists on some plane of high consciousness that only the divine can access.
The Grail Movement cult beliefs are a mix of Christianity and New Age, with a dash of violence. Even though the cult isn't extremely widespread, its followers have made headlines for things like treating women as slaves and cannibalizing one of their own children. That particular act of Grail Movement cannibalism took place in 2008 – proof that the cult is still around, and its leaders are still quite powerful. Really, it's only a matter of time before more Grail Movement abuse ends up in the news. After all, it's a cult that's still active today.
Some Of The Cult's Followers Skinned And Ate Their Own Child
In 2008, members of the Grail Cult partially skinned and ate their own son. Acting on instructions from a Grail Cult member, a man they called "Doctor," Klara Mauerova, her sister Katerina, and a friend named Barbora Skrlova kept Klara's sons Ondrej, 8, and Jakub, 10, locked in the cellar of their shared house in Czechia. Both boys were kept in cages, gagged, whipped, tortured, and sexually abused. By sheer accident, a neighbor picked up footage of the abuse on a baby monitor; he witnessed one of the children being beaten while naked and chained to a table. When the boys were freed, courts heard testimony that Mauerova has skinned Ondrej, and the other women in the house ate his raw flesh.A Leader Of One Sect Of The Cult Forced Women To Work As Slaves
Jirí Adam, leader of a Grail Movement sect in Brno, Czechia, was arrested in 2008 for treating some of his female followers like slaves. The women were forced to build a house out of bricks and pave a road on the cult's property. They were treated poorly and punished with increasingly tiny food rations for acting out. One of the women even died while working, and she was buried in a corner of the compound. The workers believed that Adam had healing powers. Unfortunately, by the time the women were freed, Adam couldn't answer any questions, as he had suffered a stroke and was on life support.Adolf Hitler Banned The Grail Movement When Germany Annexed Austria Prior To WWII
In 1938, Adolf Hitler, who had gained enough power in Germany to take over other countries, annexed Austria, taking away land that was owned by Bernhardt and used for Grail Movement purposes. Hitler also banned all literature supporting the cult, including its main book, In The Light Of Truth. Bernhardt was arrested by the Nazis and exiled in the Saxony mountains. He was forbidden to write anything else, or even speak of the religion that he founded. He died in exile before the end of WWII.Most Of Its Members Live Outside Of The United States
Most of the followers of the Grail Movement are located in Europe. There are also sects in Africa, most notably, Nigeria. Germany, France, and the Czech Republic (where the most violent actions have taken place in the name of the Grail Movement), as well as Great Britain, claim to have plenty of Grail Crossbearers. There are also a few thousand in the United States.
The Cult Is Based On A Book Written By Oskar Ernst Bernhardt, Who Called Himself 'Servant Of The Light'
Oskar Ernst Bernhardt, who called himself Abd-ru-shin (Servant of the Light) was the founder of the Grail Movement cult. The idea came to him while he was imprisoned on the Isle of Man for four years, simply for being a German citizen traveling to New York City during WWI. After his release, he wrote the first book of the cult's canon, which describes his new belief system – centered around the idea of reincarnation, or, as he put it "living multiple earth lives." He also claimed to have had visions of himself as Moses in a past life.
Their Worship Services Use Music From Classical Composers – And They Take Place Behind Closed Doors
Most religious services use music to emphasize an idea, augment a feeling, or make a point. The Grail Movement chose something unexpected for their musical accompaniment – classical works by composers like Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel. Not much else is known about the worship service, other than the fact that it involves a public lecture, and members aren't expected to donate money to the religion; instead, they must give the gift of their time. In fact, a reporter noted that the main service takes place behind closed doors in their Iju Temple in Lagos, Nigeria, and most members of the cult are not allowed to witness it.
The Grail Movement Is A Blend Of Christianity And New Age Beliefs – And Gnomes
The Grail Movement's beliefs are an interesting blend of New Age ideas and basic, run-of-the-mill Christianity. Adherents worship a standard Christian God, and their belief system begins with a creation tale. God, in this belief system, is nothing but "eternal Light" that "radiates." Their theory of creation also contains various subdivisions of "matter," which branch out from the divine center of Light (God). These include, for example, the Spheres of Ethereal Matter (thoughts) and the Spheres of Gross Matter (earth). Humanity consists of what they call "spirit germs" and exists on the level of Spiritual Substantiality. Followers also believe in gnomes, sprites, and other similar creatures, as well as the idea of reincarnation.Members Undergo A Sealing Ritual To Prove Their Commitment
In order to officially join the Grail Movement cult, a person has to undergo a sealing ritual. The actions involved in this ritual are secret, and they bind that person in a new covenant with their version of God. However, people who are "sealed" to the cult are supposedly not tied to the Grail Movement or any of their fellow members. They remain somewhat independent. Once members are sealed, they officially become "Crossbearers" (sometimes spelled "Cross Bearers").There Were Plans To Build A Castle On The Grail Settlement's Land
Ernst Bernhardt and his followers were pretty pleased with the land they found to build their settlement upon in Austria; after all, they believed it to be the site of where the Biblical Abraham saw the "Mountain of Salvation." Before Bernhardt's land was seized by Hitler and his men, they planned to create a Grail Settlement, or compound, there. And they accomplished some of this, constructing houses, temples, and festival grounds. The settlement was also supposed to house a giant stone and white marble castle that they dubbed the Grail Castle. The castle was intended to be large enough to hold 22,000 worshippers, and it would be surrounded by temples and other religious structures. However, the Nazis seized the grounds before Bernhardt and his followers had the chance to bring the castle to fruition.The Movement Split Into Multiple Sects Due To Internal Disputes
In 1990, a schism occurred that led to the Grail Movement breaking into two smaller groups. This started in 1985, when Irmingard Bernhardt, Oskar's daughter, created a will that left the rights to the Grail writings to the International Grail Foundation. Other members of the Bernhardt family weren't happy with that decision, and they took the religion in an entirely different direction in 1999, after years of internal disputes. This splintering left the religion with the many independent sects (and diverse sets of worship practices) that it has today.The Movement Claims To Not Be A Cult
Although the Grail Movement is based on Bernhardt's writings, each splintered sect is considered independent. The modern Grail Movement was developed by the people who follow it. This allows them to interpret Bernhardt's ideas as needed, which has taken some of them in a violent direction. It is also why they insist that they are not a cult. Instead, they take on cult forms due to their unusual beliefs and insular ways. Each segment, or "Grail Circle," tends to communicate with the others.
The Grail Message Contains Three Basic Laws
Members of the Grail Movement believe in the Grail Message. There are three main parts to this message, which is supposed to contain what they call the Primordial Laws of Creation. These are: the Law of Gravitation, which effects a person's inner life, weighing down their thoughts; the Law of Reciprocal Action in which everything is connected, kind of like the idea of karma; and the Law of Attraction of Homogenous Species, which states that things that are alike will stick together, even on a molecular level.
They Don't Believe That The Holy Grail Is A Physical Item Found On Earth
Despite their name, Crossbearers in the Grail Movement cult don't think that the Holy Grail is the same as the one described in the Bible. Rather than being a physical, earthly chalice, the Grail is instead some sort of means to transfer power from one being to another. It exists on some plane of high consciousness that only the divine can access.
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