Raven brothers

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The Exclusive Brethren (also Raven'sche brothers , Plymouth Brethren no. 4 , most internationally Exclusive Brethren , since 2012 officially Plymouth Brethren Christian Church ) are a free church community through a separation within the "exclusive" part of the 1890 Brethren movement was . Due to the strict regulation of their private life, outsiders often regard them as a sect .

history

The English “exclusive brother” Frederick Edward Raven spread teachings about eternal life and the essence of Christ from 1888 , which were met with violent opposition from some of his fellow believers. After various disputes, a minority separated in 1890 under the leadership of William Joseph Lowe (1838-1927) from Raven and his supporters (so-called Lowe brothers). In the rest of the world, especially on the European continent and in the USA , Raven's opponents were in the majority, so that there was a split from Raven supporters (in Germany initially about 40 communities).

After Raven's death in 1903, New York businessman James Taylor Sr. was increasingly recognized as the spiritual leader of the Raven brothers. He introduced further theological innovations, including the worship of the Holy Spirit and the teaching that Jesus Christ (although eternal God) only became “Son of God” when he became human. He also placed great emphasis on segregating believers from the world, a demand that was further radicalized by his son James Taylor, Jr. , who took over the leadership of the Raven brothers in 1960. Taylor jun. forbade among other eating together with non-Raven-brothers (including family members), the use of common inputs in tenements, completing insurance (if they were not required by law), membership in associations of any kind (including trade unions and professional associations ) , studying at universities , owning radios and televisions, etc. The doors were locked during services. These regulations led to an increasing isolation of the Raven brothers from the outside world and to a concentration on the community life, which was perceived as a special "atmosphere of blessing".

Shortly before his death in 1970, Taylor jun. Faced with allegations of adultery, which divided the community. Those who differ from Taylor jun. separated, fell out again in Edinburgh in 1972 ; it was the "Walker" or "Strang group", which basically differed from Taylor jun. distanced (named after Alex Walker and George M. Strang), and the "Renton Group", which only rejected Taylor's way of life but not his teachings (named after James Renton). Those that Taylor jun. remained loyal, were led after his death by the American farmer James Harvey Symington , then from 1987 by the Australian businessman John Stephen Hales , and since 2002 by his son Bruce David Hales . The spiritual leaders from Raven to Hales are viewed as the "men of God" through whom God today communicates His thoughts. Since the time of Symington, all meetings around the world have been in English, as God used it to "restore and maintain the truth."

Commitment to Jews in occupied France

In southeast France, the Raven brothers became known for their help for Jews during the German rule 1940–1944 in the remote valleys of Vivarais-Lignon. B. in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon . Members of other Protestant denominations (and Catholics as well) also provided such assistance there.

Todays situation

Assembly building of the Raven brothers in Bad Endbach, Herborner Straße 18-20

Worldwide there are currently almost 300 congregations of the Raven Brothers with around 43,000 members, especially in the English-speaking countries ( Great Britain , USA , Australia , New Zealand ). In Germany the Raven brothers have about 550 members; the largest communities (more than 100 people) are in Bad Endbach and Düsseldorf .

More recently, the Raven brothers have become known primarily for setting up their own schools (including in 2003 in Reichshof-Sotterbach in North Rhine-Westphalia ). Under Bruce D. Hales there was a partial departure from the previous strict segregation requirement; In Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Sweden, for example, conservative politicians were repeatedly supported financially and through leaflets and newspaper advertisements.

In addition to the main direction of the Raven brothers led by Hales, there are still less strict variants without a pronounced leadership structure, but with a relatively close network, often as house churches of individual (large) families with corresponding cohesion. Most of these parishes are in England and Scotland . B. in the north of Cologne , in the Ore Mountains , also in Bad Endbach , in the Netherlands , France , Italy , Switzerland , the USA, Australia and New Zealand. The teachings up to James Taylor senior are generally affirmed by these groups, but a “legal”, strict lifestyle is denied. Christians who think differently are treated in a friendly, but rather distant way, their events are not attended or only attended with reservations. Contacts with the Hales direction no longer exist; there they are treated as "apostates".

Movies

  • The 2007 British feature film The Son of Rambow tells of a boy who grows up in the strictly religious community of the Raven Brothers and wants to go his own way.
  • In the documentary The Root of All Evil? Community-raised psychologist Jill Mytton is interviewed by Richard Dawkins . She describes religious upbringing as mental child abuse.

literature

  • Kurt Karrenberg: The Ravenschen Brothers . (PDF; 90 kB) In: The Message , 105 (1964), pp. 157–159, 169–171, 185–187.
  • HM Riveter O'Leary: The Fanatical Brothers . In: Die Zeit , January 29, 1965, p. 38.
  • Balthasar Berg: The exclusive brothers . In: Der Stern , April 18, 1965, pp. 183-185.
  • B [ryan] R [onald] Wilson: The Exclusive Brethren: A Case Study in the Evolution of a Sectarian Ideology . In: Bryan R [onald] Wilson (ed.): Patterns of Sectarianism. Organization and Ideology in Social and Religious Movements . Heinemann, London 1967. pp. 287-342.
  • Hermann Ruttmann: The Plymouth Brethren IV in Bad Endbach . In: ders .: Diversity of religions using the example of religious communities in the Marburg-Biedenkopf district. REMID / diagonal, Marburg 1995. pp. 82-85.
  • Ngaire Thomas: Behind Closed Doors. A startling story of Exclusive Brethren life . 2nd Edition. Random House New Zealand, Auckland 2005.
  • Michael Bachelard: Behind the Exclusive Brethren. Scribe Publications, Carlton North (Australia) 2008.
  • David Tchappat: Breakout. How I escaped from the Exclusive Brethren. New Holland Publishers, Sydney 2009.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See the official website
  2. ↑ See Caroline Moorehead : Village of Secrets. Defying the Nazis in Vichy France, Vintage, London 2015, passim.
  3. ^ "House of Learning" - elementary school, secondary school and vocational college of the association of the school and learning community e. V. (see official website ).