Editing Brotherhood of the Cross and Star

{{short description|Religious organisation founded in 1956 by Olumba Olumba in Nigeria}}
{{pp-protected|reason=persistent  NPOV editing evidently by adherents not understanding our policies|small=yes}}
[[Image:Cross and Star.jpg|right|thumb|Bethel in Elephant and Castle, London]]
'''Brotherhood of the Cross and Star''' ('''BCS''') is a [[new religious movement]] founded in 1956 by [[Olumba Olumba]] in [[Calabar]], Cross River State, [[Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria|Nigeria]]. It differs from mainstream [[Christianity]] in that it considers itself not a church but the new Kingdom of God on Earth, and that its founder, Olumba Olumba Obu, is the [[Holy Spirit]] personified, the [[God]] of all creation. BCS incorporates into Christian teaching ideas of [[incarnation]] and [[reincarnation]] and also advocates [[veganism]].<ref name="Clarke 2004">Clarke, Peter (2004). ''Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements''. Taylor & Francis. pp. 80-81. {{ISBN|978-1134499700}}</ref><ref name="Chryssides 2012">Chryssides, George D (2012). ''Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements''. Scarecrow Press. p. 66. {{ISBN|978-0-8108-6194-7}}</ref>

== Beliefs ==

The BSU has been described as a new religious movement with a mixture of influences.<ref name="Partridge 2004">Partridge, Christopher (2004). ''Encyclopedia of New Religions: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities''. Lion Publishing. pp. 70-71. {{ISBN|0-7459-5073-6}}</ref> A central belief of BCS is love towards all.<ref name="Partridge 2004"/> BCS members wear white robes, extensively study the Bible and practice [[fasting]]. BCS is open to all races, classes, ages and genders. They teach that faith should be used to cure disease and medicine should be avoided.<ref name="Partridge 2004"/> The BCS website says that "BCS do not believe in medicine of any form".<ref name="auto1"/>

During prayer, BCS have "sitting members" and those who give "public witness".<ref name="Chryssides 2012"/> The latter wear white robes, and pray barefooted on their knees after knocking their head three times on the ground as a gesture to God. The white robes refer to (Revelation 7:13) and the barefootness to an incident when Moses was asked to take off his shoes (Exodus 3:5).<ref name="Chryssides 2012"/>

BCS teaches that Jesus did not have time to fully communicate his beliefs before crucifixion, and Obu’s role has been to explain, expand upon and add to his teaching. This is why a part of Brotherhood teaching has no counterpart in either the Old or the New Testament.<ref>[http://www.ooo.org.uk/index.php/publications/96-brotherhood-for-beginners--a-book-by-deaconess-rgoring "Brotherhood for Beginners" by Sister R.Goring] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407174650/http://www.ooo.org.uk/index.php/publications/96-brotherhood-for-beginners--a-book-by-deaconess-rgoring |date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref> 

BCS rejects the existence of [[witchcraft]] and condemns divination and [[polygyny]].<ref name="Melton 2010">Melton, J. Gordon; Baumann, Martin (2010). ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition''. ABC-CLIO. pp. 409-410. {{ISBN|978-1598842043}}</ref> BCS have published books through the Brotherhood Press.<ref name="Melton 2010"/> They have over 2 million followers mostly in Nigeria and Ghana, Britain, France, Germany, Ukraine and the United States.<ref name="Partridge 2004"/>

== Incarnation ==

BCS teaches that [[Adam]] was the first "divine [[incarnation]]", followed by [[Enoch]], [[Noah]], [[Melchizedek]], [[Moses]], [[Elijah]], Jesus Christ and finally Obu.<ref name="Clarke 2004"/> The eight incarnations are described as "God in mortalization" as God is omnipresent but occasionally incarnates as mortal life.<ref name="Clarke 2004"/> BCS teaches [[reincarnation]]. Because of a belief in the transmigration of souls between humans and animals, BCS members practice veganism.<ref name="auto1">[http://www.ooo.org.uk/index.php/about-bcs/some-of-bcs-doctrines Some Doctrines of BCS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208175632/http://www.ooo.org.uk/index.php/about-bcs/some-of-bcs-doctrines |date=February 8, 2011 }}</ref>

As the final ‘divine incarnation’, Obu was declared to be immortal by Brotherhood members, who will not say today whether he is physically still alive (it has been suggested he died in 2003). His son, Rowland, has assumed his father’s name and the two personalities are often conflated.

== Veganism ==

The consumption of alcohol, meat and tobacco is forbidden.<ref name="Partridge 2004"/> BCS members are vegan and disapprove of [[processed food]].<ref name="Chryssides 2012"/> Meat is blamed for causing aggression and disease in society.<ref name="Chryssides 2012"/>

== Millenarianism ==

In the 1990s Obu made pronouncements that led followers to believe that the physical world would end in the year 2000 (and when this did not come to pass, in 2001). Members of Brotherhood have subsequently re-interpreted this as their misunderstanding of Obu’s teachings, claiming that he meant only that they would be entering a new spiritual era.

== National politics ==

BCS is not politically inclined, but its members are involved in Nigerian politics. Their spiritual leader Olumba Olumba Obu makes declarations and predictions about Nigerian politics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://247ureports.com/?p=27900 |title=BCS Press Release |date=15 March 2013 |access-date=2014-03-31 |archive-date=2014-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331192742/http://247ureports.com/?p=27900 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== International aspirations ==

BCS has bethels (churches) in several countries other than Nigeria, and  formed a "Government", sending ambassadors to several countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legisreportsng.com/cross-river-newsreligious-leader-sets-up-alternate-govt-appoints-ambassadors/|title=Religious leader sets up alternate govt; appoints ambassadors|website=legisreportsng.com|access-date=2014-03-31|archive-date=2014-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331191631/http://legisreportsng.com/cross-river-newsreligious-leader-sets-up-alternate-govt-appoints-ambassadors/|url-status=live}}</ref> The BCS has a cable TV station called "Starcross TV".

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official|http://www.bcs-uk.org/}}
* [http://reachouttrust.org/other-groups/brotherhood-of-the-cross-and-star/ Reachout Trust]

{{New Religious Movements}}

[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Religion in Nigeria]]
[[Category:Religions that require veganism]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1950s]]