Editing Mark-Age

{{Short description|American UFO religion}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{infobox religion
| image               = Mark-Age logo.gif
| caption             = Mark-Age logo
| alt                 = Blue logo with a yellow 7 in a circle, reading around it in a circle Mark-Age, Love in Action
| type                = [[New religious movement]]
| main_classification = [[UFO religion]]
| headquarters        = [[Pioneer, Tennessee]], U.S.
| founder             = Pauline Sharpe and Charles Boyd Gentzel
| founded_date        = 1962
| founded_place       = [[Miami]], Florida, U.S.
| other_names         = Mark-Age MetaCenter
| website             = {{URL|https://www.thenewearth.org/markage.html}}
}}
'''Mark-Age''' (formerly '''Mark-Age MetaCenter''') is an American [[UFO religion]]. It was founded in 1962 in [[Miami]], Florida by Pauline Sharpe (Nada-Yolanda) and Charles Boyd Gentzel (Mark). Its headquarters later moved to [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]] in the 1970s and then [[Pioneer, Tennessee]] by the 2000s. The group incorporates [[New Age]], UFO [[contactee]], and [[Theosophical]] elements. Mark-Age believes itself to be a contact point with extraterrestrials who govern the [[Solar System]], and believe in an alien-assisted [[Second Coming]]. It was one of the most significant and largest contactee groups. 

Founded after the founders claimed to receive a spiritual message in the 1950s, members believe in [[Channeling (New Age)|channeling]] messages which are supposedly communicated through [[telepathy]] and [[automatic writing]]. Members were affiliated with the contactee [[Gloria Lee]], and claimed to channel her after she died, writing a book claiming to contain her messages from beyond. The group has published its beliefs in several publications and periodicals. 

== History ==
Mark-Age was founded as the Mark-Age MetaCenter in 1962 (some sources say 1960){{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}}{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}} in [[Miami]], Florida by Pauline Sharpe (born 1925) and Charles Boyd Gentzel (born 1922).{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|pp=22, 310}}{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=253}} Both were [[channelers]], and Sharpe was a [[contactee]].{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|pp=22, 310}} Charles Boyd Gentzel was known as Mark and Pauline Sharpe was known within the group as Nada-Yolanda.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}}{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}} While it was officially founded in the 1960s, the group was based on a spiritual message Gentzel had supposedly received in 1956, with the name "Mark-Age" being "revealed" in 1949, which was deepened by a second message on the significance of the name six years later.{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}} Among the early members were several claimed psychics, including Jeanene Moore (Astrid), James Hughes Speed (Wains), and Holden Lindsey (Zan-Thu).{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}}  

Mark-Age was affiliated with [[Gloria Lee]], the founder of the Cosmon Research Foundation. She died in 1962 during a hunger strike, communicating with the group shortly before her death, and after her death members claimed to commune with her. The year after her death they published ''Gloria Lee Lives!'' which purported to be her communications from beyond. This publication increased the group's size.{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}} At some point the group shortened its name to simply Mark-Age, Inc.{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}} The group moved to [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]] in 1972.{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}} They bought a location there in 1977, buying an estate in [[Santa Monica Canyon]] in California the same year, which was used as a retreat center.{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=564}} Gentzel died in 1981; that year, Sharpe became executive director of Mark-Age.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}} Sharpe maintained this position until her death in 2005.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}} A 1995 source says it was led by a group of 4.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=9}} {{As of|2007}}, the group's headquarters are located in [[Pioneer, Tennessee]].{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}}

== Beliefs ==
Mark-Age is a contactee or [[UFO religion]],{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=xxv}} as well as a [[New Age]] one,{{sfn|Melton|1988|p=732}} with [[Christian]] elements.{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|1998|p=224}} Their beliefs are heavily influenced by [[Theosophy]],{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=253}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=564}} and may have taken influence from ufologist [[George Adamski]].{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=22}} Scholars [[J. Gordon Melton]] and George M. Eberhart listed it in 1995 as one of the major contactee groups,{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=253}} and it was also one of the largest.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=9}} Their beliefs also incorporated older contactee stories.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=xxix}} They described themself as dealing with "the relationships and the responsibilities between the angelic and the man kingdoms [...] the actual words of the seven archangels [...] spiritual guidelines for the Latter Days and the Second Coming.{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|1998|p=224}} The [[problem of evil]] is blamed on the spiritual inadequacy of current humanity; they wrote in their texts that "the human race is responsible for evil … There is no such thing as Satan, except the evil that lives in men’s minds, hearts, desires, ambitions and greed"; despite saying Satan does not exist, they use Christian terminology. They reinterpret [[Armageddon]] as instead being "where each person must accept responsibility for the conditions prevailing everywhere on the planet".{{sfn|Partridge|2004|p=185}}{{sfn|Partridge|2003|p=19}} 

The researcher [[John A. Saliba]] noted them as illustrating "the belief in beings from outer space can be incorporated in what is essentially a contemporary form of spiritualism",{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=29}} while [[Christopher Partridge]] listed it with the [[Aetherius Society]] as especially prominent examples of a specific kind of Theosophical religion, which while they were "fundamentally physicalist, expound a more traditionally theosophical worldview".{{sfn|Partridge|2003|pp=37–38}} Placing UFO religions on a spectrum, Partridge argued that they had a spectrum of religiosity, from the basically secular [[Raëlianism]] at the extreme end of the secular and physicalist end, the Aetherius Society in the middle, and Mark-Age at the extreme of supernatural and only slightly physicalist religions.{{sfn|Partridge|2003|pp=21–22}}

=== Hierarchical Board ===
The beliefs of Mark-Age involved a "communication plan" for the transition to the [[Age of Aquarius]].{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}} Mark-Age believes itself to be a contact point with the "higher beings" of the "Hierarchical Board" (also spelled Hierarchal Board; effectively the Theosophical [[ascended master]] figures){{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=29}} which have spiritually governed the [[Solar System]] since the beginning of the "transition" from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius (the 1960s). Members would [[Channeling (New Age)|channel]] from these beings, supposedly distributing them through [[telepathy]] and [[automatic writing]].{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}}

They claimed to be "commissioned by the Hierarchal Board to implant a prototype of spiritual government on Earth, the I Am Nation. The I Am Nation is a government of, for and by the I Am Selves of all people on Earth [...] It is not a political government, but is a spiritual congregation of all souls who seek to serve God, first and foremost, and the I Am Selves of all people on Earth."{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}} While initially done by many members, Nada-Yolanda became the main figure later on and did most of the channeling, seen as a telepathic [[Mediumship|medium]].{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}}{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=29}}

=== Extraterrestrials ===
Mark-Age also believe in ethereal, non-corporeal [[Space vehicle|spaceships]], created by an alien species on another planet with superior technology, with which one could communicate with other planets using telepathy.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=29}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|pp=563–564}} They believe that UFOs have interfered in the Earth's history on many occasions, and believed that [[Jesus]] would return come the Year 2000. God would then form a worldwide government of a spiritual nature, and the planet would be transformed and purified.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}}{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}}{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=xxv}} Even past this date in 2007 the group still believed in an alien-assisted future [[Second Coming]].{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}} 

Another belief of the group was that Sananda (Jesus), a member of the Hierarchical board had been orbiting the Earth in an ethereal spacecraft since 1885, and that he would manifest once the planet was cleansed.{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=119}}{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=564}} They quote Jesus in their texts as claiming "I have come many times to the Earth planet as a leader and as a spiritual ruler responsible for that which does happen in this plane or cycle", and Mark-Age writes of his past incarnations that they count "[[Khufu]], [[Melchizedek]], [[Moses]], [[Elijah]], [[Zarathustra]], [[Gautama Buddha]], [[Socrates]], and Jesus of Nazareth".{{sfn|Partridge|2003|p=12}} They believe that, among others, the theosophical master [[Morya (Theosophy)|Morya]], other theosophical masters, Gloria Lee, and U.S. president [[John F. Kennedy]] have sent them messages through channeling.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}}{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}} After Gentzel died in 1981, members believed he sent them messages as Morya.{{sfn|Tumminia|2007|p=310}}

== Publications ==
Mark-Age produced a large amount of written materials covering their beliefs and channelings, which were written in several books. The most important book distributed by the group was their introductory work ''Mark-Age Period and Program'', which has much of their material in condensed form. It outlines their organization, how to raise the spiritual status of man using meditation and psychic advancement, and defines their hierarchy; scholar J. Gordon Melton noted it as "very Theosophical", barring the aliens.{{sfn|Lewis|1998|p=331}}{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=564}} 

They published works for associated groups and also operated the ''Mark-Age Inform-Nations'', or MAIN, as the group's periodical, as well as the ''I Am Nation Newsletter''.{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=564}}{{sfn|Partridge|2003|p=40}} Another creed was their "Spiritual Creed for Light Workers", though this was generically New Age and not specific to their beliefs.{{sfn|Melton|1988|p=732}} Mark-Age and their material also influenced other religious groups, among them Dave W. Bent and the Last Day Messengers.{{sfn|Melton|1987|p=563}}
== Bibliography ==
<!-- more complete biography in Lewis 1995. -->
* {{Cite book |title=Gloria Lee Lives! My Experiences Since Leaving Earth |publisher=Mark-Age MetaCenter |year=1963 |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |author=Nada-Yolanda |title=Mark-Age Period and Program |publisher=Mark-Age |year=1970 |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |title=Group Guidelines for New Age Light Centers |publisher=Mark-Age MetaCenter |year=1971 |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |title=Cosmic Lessons: Gloria Lee Channels for Mark-Age |date=1969–1972 |publisher=Mark-Age MetaCenter |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |author=Nada-Yolanda |title=Visitors from Other Planets |publisher=Mark-Age |year=1974 |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |title=Plan a Nation |publisher=Mark-Age |year=1974 |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book |title=1000 Keys to the Truth |publisher=Mark-Age |year=1976 |location=Miami |language=en-US |ref=none}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin|25em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Beit-Hallahmi |first=Benjamin |author-link=Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Active New Religions, Sects, and Cults |publisher=[[Rosen Publishing Group]] |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-8239-2586-5 |location=New York |language=en |chapter=Mark-Age Metacenter}}
* {{Cite book |last=Clark |first=Jerome |author-link=Jerome Clark |title=Extraordinary Encounters: An Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrials and Otherworldy Beings |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-57607-249-3 |location=Santa Barbara |language=en |chapter=Hierarchal Board}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Gods Have Landed: New Religions from Other Worlds |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-7914-2329-5 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Albany |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions |publisher=[[Prometheus Books]] |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-57392-222-7 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Amherst |language=en |chapter=Mark-Age, Inc}}
* {{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |author-link=J. Gordon Melton |title=The Encyclopedia of American Religions |edition=2nd |place=Detroit |pages=563–564 |language=en |chapter=Mark-Age |publisher=[[Gale Research]] |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-8103-2133-5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |author-link=J. Gordon Melton |title=The Encyclopedia of American Religions: Religious Creeds |place=Detroit |language=en |chapter=Spiritual Creed for Light Workers (Mark-Age) |publisher=[[Gale Research]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-8103-2132-8|page=732}}
* {{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 journal |last=Partridge |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Partridge |date=2004-07-01 |title=Alien demonology: The Christian roots of the malevolent extraterrestrial in UFO religions and abduction spiritualities |journal=[[Religion (journal)|Religion]] |language=en |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=163–189 |doi=10.1016/j.religion.2004.04.014 |issn=0048-721X}}
* {{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}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* {{Official website|https://www.thenewearth.org/markage.html}}

[[Category:Ascended Master Teachings]]
[[Category:Esoteric Christianity]]
[[Category:New Age organizations]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1962]]
[[Category:Religious organizations based in Florida]]
[[Category:Religious organizations based in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Theosophist groups]]
[[Category:UFO religions]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in Florida]]