Editing Niscience (section)

==Overview==
The Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience, Inc., headquartered in Glendale, California, was co-founded in 1953 by Ann Ree Colton and her husband Jonathan Murro.<ref>{{cite web |title= About the Founders: Ann Ree Colton and Jonathan Murro |url= http://www.niscience.org/founders.html |website= niscience.org |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 24 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3274100116.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170716/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3274100116.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-09-24|year=2009}}</ref> The Niscience website states that it is a “non-profit religious and educational foundation.” The word “niscience” means knowing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}</ref>{{fcn|date=September 2023}}

The Niscience website states that Niscience is based upon the teachings of "Jesus, the Bible, and other sacred scriptures of the East and the West.<ref name=About>{{cite web |url= http://www.niscience.org/about.html |title= Niscience: The Next Step |website= niscience.org |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 24 March 2014}}</ref>

“It is a renaissance faith that blends nearly all facets of humanity, religion, science, the creative arts and philosophy.” <ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Jean |title="Niscience Religion Starts Here" |newspaper= Lansing State Journal |date= 23 November 1985}}</ref>

The first NIscience book, written by Ann Ree Colton, [[Islands of Light]], was published in 1953. In 1957 property was purchased on Colorado St. in Glendale, California, where the Foundation is still located.

The Foundation's credo is: “To inspire others, to create, and to serve God.” Its motto is “Christ for this Age.” <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}</ref>{{fcn|date=September 2023}} The front wall of the foundation property reads: Religion, Philosophy, Science, and the Creative Arts.

Niscience is a ministry training school “sustained by the theme of participation; each member is given the opportunity to qualify to become a Lay Minister. At present the majority of members are active participants in the Lay Ministry.”<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}</ref>{{fcn|date=September 2023}}

Services are held in “The Chapel of the Jesus Ethic”, which was built in 1965.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson |first=Anastasia | title=The Early Years of Niscience | date=2002 |publisher=OM Publishing, CA}}</ref>

After Colton's death in 1984 Murro ran the foundation until he committed suicide in November 1991. After his death the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', describing Niscience as "an obscure Glendale-based religious group", wrote that "several former members--including one who had sat on the board of directors--recently sent open letters to church adherents, calling Niscience an oppressive, deceptive cult, and urging members to leave. Membership reportedly numbers several hundred."<ref name="Kazmin1991">{{cite news |last= Kazmin |first= Amy Louise |title= Leader's suicide stuns church : Some Niscience Foundation members say minister was grieving over charges he led a cult and stole money |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-14-gl-2008-story.html |access-date= 24 March 2014 |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]] |date= 14 November 1991}}</ref>

Since that time, Niscience has operated under the guidance of an Administrator, appointed by the Board of Directors, a Board of Directors who are elected from its membership, and its ministers.