Editing Church Universal and Triumphant (section)

===Origins===
[[File:Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.jpg|thumb|The Russian-born [[Helena Blavatsky]] founded [[Theosophy]], one of the two major influences over the CUT]]
The Church Universal and Triumphant was strongly influenced by two earlier religious movements, Theosophy and I AM.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=376|2a1=Whitsel|2y=2003|2p=7|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Abravanel|3y=2009|3p=172}} Theosophy had been established largely by [[Helena Blavatsky]], a woman born in the Russian Empire but who moved to the United States. There, during the 1880s, she presented the claim that she had been contacted by spiritual adepts known as the Masters and that she was relaying their messages through her publications.{{sfn|Melton|1994|p=2}} Barrett described the [[Theosophical Society]] as the "spiritual great-grandparent" of the CUT.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=380}}
 
I AM adopted the idea of Ascended Masters from Theosophy.{{sfn|Melton|1994|p=2}} In 1929, an American named [[Guy Ballard]] claimed to have encountered an Ascended Master named [[St. Germain (Theosophy)|Saint Germaine]] while on [[Mount Shasta]] in California. He subsequently began delivering messages to his followers that he maintained were from these Ascended Masters.{{sfnm|1a1=Melton|1y=1994|1pp=2, 4|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Abravanel|2y=2009|2p=172}} It was Ballard, the scholar of religion [[J. Gordon Melton]] claimed, who was responsible for "developing much of the Church [of Universal and Triumphant]'s thought and practice".{{sfn|Melton|1994|p=1}} I AM taught that the Ascended Masters had designated the United States as the place where the new [[Golden Age|golden age]] of humanity would begin.{{sfn|Whitsel|2003|p=8}} Its political stance was right-wing, characterised by firm American patriotism and strident anti-communism, features that would influence the CUT.{{sfn|Whitsel|2003|pp=7, 44}} Ballard died in 1939.{{sfnm|1a1=Melton|1y=1994|1p=4|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Abravanel|2y=2009|2p=172}} While I AM became embroiled in legal issues, new groups formed from people claiming to be Messengers from the Ascended Masters during the 1940s and 1950s.{{sfnm|1a1=Melton|1y=1994|1pp=13-14|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Abravanel|2y=2009|2pp=172-173}}