Nov Religion of the Day - Nation of Yahweh (ben Yahweh)

Today I will be highlighting the religion of the Nation of Yahweh. While some might claim this is a Christian cult, I would beg to differ with that assessment because Christian implies belief that Jesus was Christ, a belief that The Nation of Yahweh, founded by Hulon Mitchell aka Yahweh ben Yahweh (God son of God translated from the Hebrew) does not ascribe to. Born in 1979, the religion (or cult) claimed that Hulon Mitchell (Yahweh ben Yahweh) was indeed the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament. Furthermore, YbY claimed that Jesus of the New Testament never existed and was basically a story made up by white people to control black people. YbY claimed that African Americans were the true Hebrews, and in lengthy text describes the confusing family tree of Hebrews landing in America against their will, and how they needed to reclaim the Nation of Israel for the African Americans in the country. Amid scandal of racketeering, fraud, and… well, MURDER, YbY was convicted in 1990 on a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conviction after he and several other Nation of Yahweh members were convicted of conspiracy in more than a dozen murders. He was acquitted of first degree murder in 1992, and sentenced to eighteen years in prison, of which he served eleven.

I think it’s important to know where a religion came from in order to more effectively ascertain its viability. I immediately take issue with this religion, however, due to the simple fact that when the religion was formed, YbY aka the Messiah made it very clear that white people cannot be saved and I have a foundational problem with any religion that excludes people based on race, PARTICULARLY if that race happens to be mine. However, in the nineties (which YbY apparently spent writing books and articles in prison), they changed their stance on whites, and today YbY’s daughter claims that whites can indeed be saved.

The theology of YbY appears by all counts to be based upon the Bible in its entirety. Which begs the question, if Jesus was a made up character, then why include him in the doctrine of your religion?
The tenets of the Nation of Yahweh are as follows (keep in mind, all Yahweh ben Yahweh references refer specifically to Hulon Mitchell):

HISTORYIn 1979, Yahweh ben Yahweh (God, son of God) came to Miami and became the Spiritual Leader and Founder of The Nation of Yahweh. Although He took a vow of poverty, in seven years He guided The Nation to amass a $250,000,000 empire. Under His direction, The Nation of Yahweh has grown to encompass disciples, followers, and supporters in over 1,300 cities within the U.S. and 16 foreign countries.

Yahweh ben Yahweh is bringing about changes in the lives of individuals and is giving the world the keys to success in life Politically - Economically - Educationally - Socially - and Spiritually.


BELIEFSThe Nation of Yahweh believes that there is one God, Yahweh, the Father of all men. That the Holy Bible and Yahweh ben Yahweh are the great light and the rule and guide for faith and practice of the laws, statutes, judgments, and commandments of Yahweh, and those who believe in Him and His name are immortal. Character, integrity, and morality determine destiny. The love of moral men is next to love of and His Son, Yahweh ben Yahweh, man's first duty. That prayer and communion of man with is helpful.


TEACHINGSYahweh ben Yahweh teaches His disciples and followers to practice charity and benevolence, to protect chastity, to respect the ties of blood and friendship, to adopt the principles and revere the laws of Yahweh, to assist the feeble, guide and open the eyes of the blind, heal the ears of the deaf, raise up the oppressed and downtrodden, shelter the widow and the orphan, guard the altar of Yahweh, support the government of Yahweh, inculcate (that means indoctrinate. I had to look it up) morality, promote learning, love moral men, fear Yahweh, implore His mercy, work for happiness, and be industrious.


ASCENSIONOn Monday, May 7, 2007 at 7:55 p.m., our Founder and Savior, Yahweh ben Yahweh, completed His first journey on earth and ascended to stand with His Father, Yahweh, in the Heavens.

Therefore doth My Father, Yahweh, love Me (Yahweh ben Yahweh), because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father, (John 10:17-18). Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). ...the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me (John 10:25).

And there was given Me dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Me: My dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and My kingdom that which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14). And My kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of My kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Me (Daniel 7:27). To be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:11).

Afternote:
Upon reviewing this religion and checking the news articles related to it, I discovered that YbY said that he would die and in three days be raised again, this time born as if for the first time, as a little girl. Three days after YbY's death, a little girl was born who is now three years old. Many followers of YbY believe that this is indeed their spiritual leader come back. They say at three years old, the little girl is wise beyond her years and bears a striking resemblance to YbY.

For more information, check out the Nation of Yahweh website. Their newsletters are particularly interesting, and it is certain that YbY had a dictionary in prison, as he quotes extensively from it in them.
Sources:
http://yahwehbenyahweh.com/
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/n04.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/us/09yahweh.html?_r=1