Editing Fiat Lux (UFO religion)

{{Short description|Neo-revelationist UFO religion}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox religion
| type               = [[UFO religion]]
| image              = FiatLux Ibach1.jpg
| founder            = Erika Bertschinger-Eicke
| founded_date       = 1980
}}

'''Fiat Lux''' (Latin for "[[let there be light]]") is a [[neo-revelationist]] [[UFO religion]] whose members are primarily located in the [[Black Forest]] of [[Germany]]. It was led by Erika Bertschinger-Eicke, who went by '''Uriella'''.

== Background ==
Erika Hedwig Gessler was born in Zurich on February 20, 1929.<ref name="RelInfo">{{Cite web |title=Uriella gestorben |url=https://www.relinfo.ch/2019/02/25/uriella-gestorben/ |website=relinfo.ch |language=de}}</ref> She grew up in conservative Catholic family.  As an adult, she travelled to England and the US.<ref name="RelInfo"/> After a first marriage, she married Max Bertschinger, who died on January 12, 1980.<ref name="RelInfo"/>

== History ==
The 'religious order' of Fiat Lux was founded in 1980 by [[Switzerland|Swiss]]-born Erika Bertschinger-Eicke who adopted the name Uriella as its spiritual leader and [[mediumship|trance medium]]. According to members, Bertschinger receives divine messages from [[Jesus Christ]] as well as [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary, mother of Jesus]].{{sfn|Partridge|2003|p=185}}

The group also believes the [[apocalypse]] is coming, and that [[extraterrestrial life|alien]] ships will arrive to evacuate adherents, followed by the transformation of the earth into a new paradise, called "Amora". According to Bertschinger, the end of the world was due to arrive in 1998, but has since been postponed "due to the immense praying energies of the faithful".{{sfn|Grünschloß|2004|p=425}}

Characterized as a cult,<ref name=DieWelt /><ref name=Blick /><ref name="Dame2001">{{cite book|author=Frederick William Dame|title=History of Switzerland: Modern Switzerland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1iUkAQAAIAAJ|year=2001|publisher=[[E. Mellen Press]]|isbn=978-0-7734-7250-1}}</ref> Fiat Lux has been estimated to contain an "inner circle" of approximately 135 members in addition to 800 "dedicated followers" and 2000 "sympathizers". Devotees reportedly follow a monastic lifestyle, including scheduled prayer times, the wearing of white ceremonial robes, and adherence to a strict vegetarian diet.{{sfn|Grünschloß|2004|p=425}}{{sfn|Partridge|2003|p=185}}{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|pp=309–310}}

The order's founder, Uriella (born 20 February 1929 in Zurich, Switzerland), died on 24 February 2019.<ref>[https://www.suedkurier.de/region/hochrhein/ibach/Uriella-ist-tot-Sektenfuehrerin-aus-Ibach-stirbt-im-Alter-von-90-Jahren;art372602,10062607 Uriella ist tot: Sektenführerin aus Ibach stirbt im Alter von 90 Jahren] {{in lang|de}}</ref>

According to German newspapers, Bertschinger called for the release of accused pedophile Beat Meier.<ref name=DieWelt>{{cite web|last1=Huwiler|first1=Sira|title=Sektenchefin Uriella fordert, Pädophilen freizulassen (Cult leader Uriella calls to release pedophile)|url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article145967829/Sektenchefin-Uriella-fordert-Paedophilen-freizulassen.html|website=[[Die Welt]]|publisher=[[Axel Springer AG]]|accessdate=22 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=Blick>{{cite web|last1=Dammann|first1=Viktor|title=Uriella now defends a Bubenschänder|url=https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/die-neuste-botschaft-der-sektenfuehrerin-jetzt-verteidigt-uriella-einen-bubenschaender-id4086842.html&usg=ALkJrhj5TrF8T9N2EO7oNOc33k-Ur-PT-Q|website=[[Blick]]|publisher=[[Ringier]]|accessdate=22 November 2015}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{Cite book |last=Partridge |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Partridge |title=UFO Religions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-415-26324-5 |location=New York |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |title=Alien Worlds: Social and Religious Dimensions of Extraterrestrial Contact |publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8156-0858-5 |editor-last=Tumminia |editor-first=Diana G. |series=Religion and Politics |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Grünschloß |first=Andreas |author-link=Andreas Grünschloß |title=The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements |year=2004 |publisher=[[ Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-514986-9 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |pages=419–444 |language=en |chapter=Waiting for the "Big Beam": UFO Religions and "Ufological" Themes in New Religious Movements}}
{{New religious movements}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:UFO religions]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:Religious organisations based in Germany]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1980]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1980s]]